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Hyundai reportedly considering second U.S. plant to meet rising demand

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai

The millionth vehicle built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

The millionth vehicle built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama rolls off the line in 2009

Every automaker wishes it had this problem: not enough supply to meet demand. The solution? Expand production, of course. That’s the situation Hyundai is reportedly facing, and the automaker says that if it’s going to build another plant, it should be right here in the United States.

Hyundai currently builds the Sonata and Elantra at its solitary American plant in Montgomery, Alabama. (The Santa Fe, meanwhile, is built at the Kia subsidiary facility in West Point, Georgia.) And with demand for its compelling lineup rapidly increasing in the United States – up nearly 25 percent in 2010 versus 2009 – the Korean automaker is seriously considering expanding its production capacity with another plant to meet growing demand.

Executives will reportedly evaluate the possibility next year after they observe whether the upward trend in demand will continue enough to warrant such an expansion.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Hyundai reportedly considering second U.S. plant to meet rising demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S.

Automotive News Europe is reporting that BMW may be looking into expanding the number of models that the company manufactures here in the States. While the German automaker says that there are no solid plans on the table right now, it’s possible that both the 3 Series and the 5 Series could join the X3, X5 and X6 on the production line at the BMW facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina (shown above). The move is being considered as the U.S. threatens to overtake Germany as the company’s largest auto market. In 2010, the U.S. fell a mere 252 vehicles shy of taking the sales crown from Germany.

BMW currently holds a 2.3-percent market share in the U.S. with 266,000 vehicles sold in America in 2010. With the U.S. economy in a slow but steady state of improvement, the company fully expects to eclipse that number in 2011. As a result, the Spartanburg facility will operate at its full capacity of 240,000 units this year.

So far, it’s unclear as to whether the company would eye building a new facility for the American-built 3 and 5 Series vehicles or if BMW would simply add on to its South Carolina plant.

[Source: Automotive News Europe – sub. req.]

BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari reportedly developing biometric driver aids

Filed under: Technology, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO cockpit

A true driver’s car can seem to know exactly what the driver’s thinking, but that’s really not the case. Right?

According to the latest reports, Ferrari is developing a series of systems that will actually read a driver’s mind and body to bring the relationship between man and machine that much closer. The reports stem from a patent application wherein Ferrari describes a network of technologies that will aim to read a driver’s respiration, perspiration, blink rate, heart rate, blood pressure, cranial activity and other parameters, adjusting the vehicle’s dynamics accordingly.

The hopefully non-invasive gizmos would be placed in the cabin ceiling, dashboard, steering wheel and seat, and are being developed in response to one simple conclusion: drivers think their abilities are beyond what they actually are. But is this one step too far in the development of electronic nannies?

[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari reportedly developing biometric driver aids originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler reportedly patents new Smart roadster design

Filed under: Convertible, Smart

Smart Roadster Patent

Smart roadster patent drawings – Click above for high-res image gallery

We aren’t quite sure what Daimler is working on here, but these patent drawings of what appear to be a Smart Fortwo-based roadster were submitted for trademark approval on November 16, 2010. The folks at Carscoop suggest that this could be a redux of the automaker’s Crossblade cabriolet, sold in the early 2000s with very limited production (just 2,000 were made). Us? We aren’t so sure.

While the design of this recent patent submission looks like it could preview the next-generation design of the Smart family, we doubt that any sort of roadster is in the works for the immediate future. Could this show up as a concept at one of the 2011 auto shows? We won’t rule it out, but for now, we won’t be holding our breath for any sort of Smart-branded roadster in the not-too-distant future.

Gallery: Smart Roadster Patents

Smart Roadster Patent

[Source: Carscoop]

Daimler reportedly patents new Smart roadster design originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce reportedly planning to expand Ghost family with coupe, cabrio, LWB sedan

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

Rolls-Royce Ghost – Click above for high-res image gallery

The new Ghost has been a runaway success for Rolls-Royce, the (relatively) more accessible saloon more than doubling its sales figures and outselling the larger Phantom by order of magnitude. And as might be expected, the BMW subsidiary has every intention of cashing in its success with a family of new models.

Much as it has with the Phantom, Rolls-Royce is reportedly planning on spinning the Ghost sedan into a full range, including a long-wheelbase version, a coupe and convertible. The stretched limousine is expected to come first, with about half a foot of extra length added between the B and C pillars for more rear-seat space. The coupe and convertible versions are expected to follow.

Reports also indicate that Rolls-Royce is planning a green push by implementing more environmentally-friendly drivetrain options, although it has not yet decided exactly what form they’ll take. With sister-brands BMW and Mini taking the pressure of carbon emissions regulations off its back, the Spirit of Ecstasy is more concerned with pinpointing just what its customers want, and delivering it in a finely-crafted, leather-lined burlwood box.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 AOL
[Source: Inside Line]

Rolls-Royce reportedly planning to expand Ghost family with coupe, cabrio, LWB sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW reportedly catches ring of workers stealing up to $4 million in parts

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW

According to reports, a ring of 18 workers at BMW’s plant in Munich have been stealing from the German automaker for years. It seems the individuals would stop the lines for fake quality control checks and make off with the goods to be sold on the open market. The most lucrative business reportedly centered around reselling seats through internet auctions.

BMW’s own internal investigators discovered the thievery – but not until €3 million in goods ($4 million) was stolen – and reported the matter to local authorities. At least three ex-employees are currently in custody. Thanks for the tip, Gregg!

[Source: The Local | Photo: Drew Phillips/AOL]

BMW reportedly catches ring of workers stealing up to $4 million in parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear‘s Middle East tour reportedly shot for Christmas Special

Filed under: Etc., Middle East

Top Gear in Israel – Click above for high-res image gallery

Were you wondering what the Top Gear crew were doing in Israel when they were spotted there last month? Well wonder no more.

Reports from the British Isles are now stating that the tour across the Middle East was actually shot for a Christmas Special in which Clarkson, Hammond and May retrace the steps of the Three Wise Men who, according to Christian lore, visited the Virgin Mary and the Baby Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem. Only while the trio of yore did it on camel-back, two millennia later, the team of British auto journos – who may have picked up as many followers today as the Nazarene messiah did in his – rode in across Turkey and Syria in three old roadsters.

Looks like it’s going to be a Merry Christmas after all, Charlie Brown.

Gallery: Top Gear in Israel

[Source: Telegraph]

Top Gear‘s Middle East tour reportedly shot for Christmas Special originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Bull reportedly cutting employees fat bonus checks for winning world championships

Filed under: Motorsports, Earnings/Financials

Winning the Formula One World Championship may be motivation enough. But as an added reward, Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz is reportedly giving each of his employees at Red Bull Racing a big fat bonus for having taken home both titles this year.

According to reports, each of the 500+ staff members at the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, England, will receive at least £10,000 (~$16k), but that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Some senior staff members stand to rake in up to £42k ($67k), while Sebastian Vettel – the driver who took home the top prize – is expected to get €3 million, equivalent to over $4 million in American terms.

With Mateschitz many times over a billionaire and the team waiting for nearly $100 million in purse winnings for the titles, the team can easily afford the bonuses, and are certainly most deserving.

[Source: PistonHeads | Image: Vladimir Rys/Getty]

Red Bull reportedly cutting employees fat bonus checks for winning world championships originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mahindra reportedly inks deal to buy Ssangyong for $463M

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials, India, South Korea

Mahindra logo Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra has officially sunk its teeth into South Korean automaker Ssangyong to the tune of $463.6 million. For that low, low price Mahindra has effectively walked away with a 70 percent controlling stake in Ssangyong through the purchase of newly released shares in the company and existing corporate bonds. The move follows up on a pact to acquire Ssangyong that Mahindra signed earlier this year, and according to The Wall Street Journal, the two companies look to close the deal by March of next year.

According to Mahindra, the match is a partnership made in heaven, with the Indian carmaker able to supply both cash and marketing grunt that should mesh well with Ssangyong’s technological prowess.

We’re guessing that the South Korean carmaker is just glad to have someone to help pull it out of the throws of bankruptcy.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal – sub. req.]

Mahindra reportedly inks deal to buy Ssangyong for $463M originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat reportedly set to raise stake in Chrysler

Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, has reportedly indicated that the Italian automaker is interested in raising its stake in the Auburn Hills automaker. Currently, Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler and it wants to raise that figure to 35 percent by the end of 2011. Fiat has had a strong third quarter, earning around $236 million.

According to the Detroit Free Press, in order to increase its ownership stake by 15 percent, Fiat has to hit three specific targets that are worth five percent apiece. The first goal is to launch the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine being built at Chrysler’s plant in Dundee, Michigan. That engine is slated to go into the upcoming Fiat 500.

Second on the task list is for Chrysler to produce a car that achieves 40 miles per gallon. Marchionne believes this vehicle will enter production towards the end of 2011. It will be a compact hatchback branded as a Dodge.

The final five percent will be earned when Chrysler increases its sales outside of the US. Specifically, it will focus sales efforts to increase volume in South America. Per Marchionne, this last objective will prove the most difficult because of the way Brazil regulates its dealer networks. In fact, Fiat is looking for alternative ways to earn the final five percent stake it seeks from Chrysler.

Thirty-five percent is a hefty piece of the Chrysler pie, but much more can be made available in the not-too-distant future. Once Chrysler is able to repay both the Canadian and U.S. governments for the $8 billion in loans it received, the Italian automaker will be able to raise its stake to 51 percent.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Massimo Pinca/AP]

Fiat reportedly set to raise stake in Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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