Tag: fires

Report: Audi fires head of R&D, Wolfgang Dürheimer

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Audi

Audi's former head of R&D, Wolfgang Durheimer

According to Car and Driver, citing a report in Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, Audi has fired Wolfgang Dürheimer, the brand’s head of research and development.

Dürheimer had originally signed on as Audi’s R&D boss in September 2012. Prior to that, he had served as the head for both Bentley and Bugatti, and was formerly the development chief at Porsche (where he is credited with helping get the original Cayenne into production, a move that ushered a new era of profitability for the company). Dürheimer moved to Audi following a management shakeup within the Volkswagen Group in mid-2012.

During his time at Bentley, Dürheimer spearheaded the brand’s efforts to launch an SUV. But at Audi, he reportedly quickly put a stop to costly projects such as the R8 E-Tron and the rotary range-extender engine for the A1 E-Tron. Furthermore, Car and Driver reports that Dürheimer shuffled the reporting structure within the brand’s design department, and that VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn had apparently disagreed with him several times on the styling direction for the brand.

Also of note, Der Spiegel posits that Winterkorn strongly disapproved of Dürheimer’s conservative E-mobility strategy, and that there was further tension between the two gentlemen on a personal level that could have led to this dismissal.

Dürheimer’s future within the Volkswagen Group is unclear at this time, and his position at Audi will currently be filled by the Group’s R&D chief, Ulrich Hackenberg.

Audi fires head of R&D, Wolfgang Dürheimer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Chrysler fires 13 workers involved in drinking on the job, suspends two

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler, UAW/Unions

Chrysler workers enjoying their break

A group of Chrysler employees have been in the news lately, causing a bit of a black eye for the automaker. Originally, a Detroit Fox affiliate snagged video of the UAW members really enjoying their break – by smoking weed and drinking beer. Chrysler reacted to the news swiftly, by identifying and suspending 15 employees who were ID’d in the clip. Now, after taking time to investigate the entire incident, Chrysler has put the hammer down – 13 of the Jefferson North Plant employees have been fired and the other two get an unpaid, one-month “vacation.”

It’s a shame that this happened, but it’s good to see Chrysler respond so quickly. The automaker has issued a brief statement on the matter, which you can read after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Followup: Chrysler fires 13 workers involved in drinking on the job, suspends two

Followup: Chrysler fires 13 workers involved in drinking on the job, suspends two originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some say he’s Ben sacked! BBC reportedly fires The Stig

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Celebrities, Rumormill

Frank and The Stig

We saw this one coming; the BBC has apparently sacked The Stig. Britain’s Daily Mirror tabloid reports that the Stig, a.k.a. Ben Collins, has been let go and that a new Stig has already replaced him on Top Gear. In fact, the Mirror says it already have pics of the new Stig at a Nürburgring track event, wearing the signature white coveralls and smoked visor helmet. How does the paper know it’s not Collins in the photos? Simple: it had another photographer at Ben’s house – 1,100 miles away – watching Collins play with his children at the same time.

The firing of the Stig comes a week after a battle erupted over Collins’ autobiography, slated for release in September. Details about the Stig’s true identity have been trickling out for some time, including the recent discovery that Collins Auto-Sport, a company owned and operated by Ben Collins, claimed income from “driving services for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear programme.”

Of course, this could still just be speculation, and TG may have hired another driver just for that one track event. If Collins has indeed been canned and the show follows form, a segment will be filmed showing the demise of the white Stig and the appearance of his replacement. At least that’s what they did when the original black-clad Stig, Perry McCarthy, left the show. Wonder what colors the new Stig will fly…

[Source: The Daily Mirror]

Some say he’s Ben sacked! BBC reportedly fires The Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Salon Privé 2010 fires up as Europe’s largest luxury and supercar show

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Design/Style

Jaguar D-Type at the 2010 Salon Privé – Click above for high-res image gallery

We can officially add the Salon Privé to the gearhead bucket list. The fifth annual automotive exhibit at London’s tony Hurlingham Club has established itself as a mecca of high-end metal, old and new, and while this year’s event lacks the major unveils and sneak peeks of 2009, it’s still packing more luxury and performance metal per square acre than just about any other show on the planet. For 2010, manufacturers from around the globe have rolled out their best and brightest, both from their past and present portfolios. Highlights of this June 21-23 gathering and concours include the always wicked-looking Veritas III, as well as the Lexus LFA, Lotus Evora and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

The new tin is cool and all, but we’re more interested in the smattering of old-school supercars in attendance. Want to get within sniffing distance of a McLaren F1? No problem. How about a Bugatti EB110 or a Ferrari F50? The Salon Privé will be happy to oblige. Check out our massive high-res gallery for a cross-section of the awesome in attendance.

Gallery: 2010 Salon Prive

[Source: Salon Prive]

Salon Privé 2010 fires up as Europe’s largest luxury and supercar show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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