The recent tie-up of Bosch and Samsung follows the recent trend of various auto and auto-components manufactures joining hands with consumer electronics companies to manufacture Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The Li-ion batteries are used to help power the ever-increasingly popular hybrid cars, such as the GM Chevy Volt, which is already on the market, and Toyota is also planning to launch a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) version of its Prius brand by June 2009. Demand for the Li-ion batteries is so high that it is currently outstripping supply. Earlier this year, the industry also witnessed similar tie ups between Toyota and Matsushita, Volkswagen and Sanyo, and GM and LG amongst others.

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It is hard to believe that less than a century ago, windshields were offered as optional equipment. In 1909, Henry Ford offered his Model T with a windshield. Today, glazing continues to play an important part in vehicle design, providing a combination of aesthetic, functional and structural properties. As a result, automakers are increasingly looking for their glazing suppliers to play a key role in the vehicle development process as a new report discusses.

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Recent reports shows that the pressure is growing on the government to impose new US-style restrictions on young drivers after a series of fatal crashes involving teenagers. This would mean that they would be banned from driving during night time. Is this another sign of the ‘Nanny State’, or is it the only way of stopping you people from dangerous driving?

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What’s a low-cost car? It’s clearly defined on low-cost but it’s a very broad category in terms of the sorts of vehicles that qualify - there are different approaches to getting to that low price point.

One talking point in the industry is the Nano and whether it might be exported to Europe - it was shown in Geneva after all. I reckon Geneva was more about Tata announcing itself on the world stage, just ahead of the JLR deal. Nano got the firm plenty of column-inches in the world’s press.

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The ACEA has announced that over 50% of cars sold in Europe in 2007 had diesel engines.

Diesel cars accounted for over half of new car registrations in 2007. With fuel prices expected to stay high for the foreseeable future, the growing preference for diesel cars is likely to continue. However, while there is a general trend towards diesel cars in Europe, this is not necessarily the case in other markets. Fuel retailers with networks across borders need to take this into account.
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A new report, which profiles the 100 top earning companies in China’s electric motor industry, says that more and more multinational corporations are adopting new strategies and working to enter China’s booming motor market.

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Industry experts believe that Indian vehicle manufacturer, Tata Motors, are gearing up to take over Ford’s marques Jaguar and Land Rover. If the deal goes through, it will represent the first time that a major western car group has been bought by an Indian company. Financial Times reported that Jaguar bosses have said they are ‘relaxed’ about the impending takeover by India’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.

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2008 will see new card products emerge in the small business sector as oil companies need to make their fuel cards more attractive to untapped business sectors. Many small businesses want a payment card that is widely accepted as well as offering fuel rebates and management facilities. A new report titled Commercial Credit Cards and the Response of Fuel Card Providers’, states that on this basis, bank-issued cards will become more focused on the provision of fuel management services, forcing oil companies to reconsider their proprietary fuel cards and maximise fuel sales through partnerships with these expert card providers.

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Are you a stressed-out driver, looking for a sign from above more often than not while on the road? Stop. You could turn to your car instead, if it is kitted out with advanced driver assistance systems.

These systems not only give the driver ‘operational level’ advice such as suggesting he/she breaks on an emergency footing when the vehicle in front abruptly decelerates, they also offer ‘tactical level’ advice such as telling the driver when to change lanes depending on traffic congestion ahead. Research has also shown that driver assistance systems can significantly help prevent accidents, which aids car safety in particular as well as road safety in general.

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General Motors Corp. (GM) has announced the opening of a new design studio which will be a dedicated space for their next generation of electric vehicles. The studio contains clay and vinyl models of Volt, which was unveiled earlier this year.

The American automaker describes the Volt on their website as ‘radically different than any on the road today.’ The car has been touted as being able to travel 40 miles without using a single drop of petrol and is a symbol that GM is determined to move towards alternative-fuel vehicles.

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