Review About Automotive Industry

If you go online and you will find hundreds of thousands of articles written on automobiles, and if you pick up nearly any newspaper you will find at least one article concerning the auto industry, or some new type of car that is going to be coming out next year. These are one type of automotive articles we find in the news, and in magazines, but if you are well versed and have a lot of experience in the automotive sector or haps you could write articles on the automotive business industry itself.

Indeed, over the years I have written over 550 articles on this subject, and of those nearly 200 are on the business side of the auto industry. These articles have been well received, and I would recommend that any article author that wishes to sell articles involving economics, the future, and the business of our automobile nation to consider the following things.

First, accuracy is the most important factor, so you must check sources. Just because you read a lot of articles in the newspaper, or page through magazines like Road and Track, or Car and Driver, or read articles in the Wall Street Journal about the automotive sector does not mean you know what you’re talking about. Most of these articles are focused on specific subcategories of niches.

Even if you’ve recently read a book such as; “The End of Detroit” or have clippings of articles over the last couple of years from “Investor’s Business Daily” on the automotive industry, this won’t make you an expert. And if you don’t check sources you are liable to get something wrong or incorrect. You must remember that things change very fast. What might’ve been observed last year is no longer the case.

In fact, within the last year the automotive industry has been turned upside down and nothing is as it was. I hope you will please consider this when writing your automotive articles, for the automotive industry.

By: Lance Winslow

About the Author:

With the rising level of automobile production and its corresponding worldwide stocks based on the rapid industrialisation in Asia, Africa and Latin America plus the rising demand in Eastern Europe, the proportion of textiles in a motor car is increasing in response to more stringent comfort and safety needs in industrialised countries like the USA, Japan and Western Europe.

Automobile textiles, which are non apparel textiles, are widely used in vehicles like cars, trains, buses, aircrafts and marine vehicles. Hence, the term automobile textile means all type of textile components e.g. fibers, filaments, yarns and the fabric used in automobiles.

Nearly two third of the automobile textiles are for interior trim, i.e. seat cover, carpets and roof and door liners. The rest is utilized to reinforce tyres, hoses, safety belts, air bags, etc.

It is projected that nearly 45 square meters of textile material is utilized in a car for interior trim (seating area, headlines, side panel, carpet and trunk). According to a survey, the percentage of textile in a motor car amounts to 2 per cent of the overall weight of a car. Apart from this, visible textile components, eliminating hidden components such as in tyres and composites, hoses and filters; amount to 10-11 kg per vehicle in absolute terms. Industrial textiles are largely utilized in vehicles and systems including cars, buses, trains, air crafts and marine vehicles. In automobile textile industry, four types of fabrics are used, namely:

. Air bag fabrics

. Fabric used as a basis for reduction in weight of body parts

. Tyre cord fabrics

. Automotive upholstery and other textile fabrics used inside the vehicle

The airbag and seat belts used as safety measures are one of the latest types of textiles in automobiles and have a potential market for technical textiles that has a considerable scope for growth and development. Because of government legislation and consumer interest, the applications have been extremely successful over the last ten to fifteen years.

In the last decade, airbags or inflatable restraints have received noteworthy significance as a safeguard for the driver and the passengers in case of an accident. Initially, the bags were made for head-on collision, but now, there are many other safety devices like side impact bags, knee bolsters, side curtain, etc, available for safety in any type of crash. Because frontal collisions are a main reason of accidental deaths, airbags are being presented as a standard product in vehicles by legislation, which has given the quick increment of airbags business in the last decade. NHTSA and HHS report that airbag systems have played an important role in saving thousands of lives since 1985. In 2002 alone, due to the airbag system a 20 per cent reduction in fatalities resulting from fatal collisions has been observed.

In 1999, there were 55 million vehicles with 81 million airbags. In 2004, the number of frontal airbag units was nearly 100 million and the number of side-impact airbags nearly 65 million. In the same year, nearly 23 per cent of the new vehicles in North America had side airbags for chest protection and 17 per cent had side airbags for head protection. By 2005, this has increased to 180 million airbags and 65 million vehicles.

Fabric application demand has increased to 325 million square meters in 2005, and 83 tons of fibre, mostly nylon has been used.

The world airbag market is estimated to rise from 66 million units in 1996 to over 200 million units in 2006, a compound annual growth rate of 12 per cent. Over this decade, Europe will put in 60 million units, Asia-Pacific 30 million units and North America 24 million units.

While North American and Western European markets are growing, considerable development is also seen in the international market. As new applications are developing for airbags, including rear seat bags, inflatable seat belts and an outside airbag system for pedestrians, new fabrics and combinations are being applied. The front and passenger bags have different requirements because of the distance from the occupant, but they both have rapid increment and deflation in a very short time span.

Rollover bags must remain inflated for five seconds. In addition to new uses, expected trends include lighter fabric for use with newer “cold inflators,” blended with materials like fabric and film, new coating polymers (Silicone now dominates having replaced neoprene).

Growth of safety devices in the car interior

Increasing electronics and safety devices require more space in the interior together with new concepts for arrangement.

Worldwide market for PA airbag yarns

The fibre manufacturer Accordis Industrial Fibres BV, Arnhem/ Netherlands reported that the global market for PA airbag was 84,000 tons in 2005.

Airbags

Airbags were first introduced in the late 1960s, but it is only in the 1990s that their use increased amazingly and it is set to grow further. This validates the research and development still being made on design, deployment and base fabric material.

The prospects for the textile and making-up indus?tries are huge in the area of airbag production. This is due to its large requirement particularly in view of the legislation, which is already imposed by many countries.

Around 1.42 meter2 of fabric is required to produce driver? side airbags on light trucks. This estimation gives the idea that the airbag market is of great importance for the use of technical textiles. Airbags are normally made by coated or uncoated fabrics of PA 6.6 yarns with lesser air permeability.

A fabric cushion is included as a part of textile ingredient for an airbag, which is folded into the center of the steering wheel (for the driver) or in the glove compartment (for the front seat passenger). Generally, the bag is woven by nylon 6, 6 filament yarns, which are in demand in huge quantities because of their high strength-to-weight ratio, favorable elongation, adequate thermal properties and relatively low cost of production. Other properties required are high tear strength, high anti-seam slippage, controlled air permeability and be capable for being folded into confined places for over ten years without deterioration.

Function

A triggering device sets-off explosive chemicals when it senses an accident above 35 km/h is about to occur. These chemicals hold back and cushion the car occupant from collision with harder objects. The fabric from which the bag is made must be competent for withstanding the strength of the propellant chemicals. More over, the hot gases must not penetrate the fabric and burn the skin of the car occupant.

For airbags to perform their protective function, each function in the system must work with reliability and predictability. In frontal airbag initiation, the cushion begins to deploy within 20 ms after collision and is fully set up in 50 ms. Within this period of time, the bag has to spread through the plastic cover, blown up and fill the space between the dashboard and occupant.

Material applications

Airbags are generally made from high tenacity multifilament nylon 6, 6 in yarn quality fineness from 210, 420 to 840 denier, although some polyester and even some nylon 6 is utilized. As Nylon 6 is softer, it is used to lessen skin abrasion. Airbag fabric is not dyed, but has to be scoured to eliminate impure substances, which could encourage mildew or other problems. Airbags are created in compact size, plain woven fabrics.

The amount of fabric required to make an airbag depends on its location in the car and the market it serves. The fabrics utilized to produce a driver’s and a passenger’s airbag are quiet different. Most drivers’ side airbags are coated by using lower denier yarns that give strong and light-weight fabrics. The looser weave has been permitted by stronger nylon 6, 6 yarns that create fabrics with lighter weight, less stiffness and better packagabiIity.

The fabric which is used to produce passenger airbags is generally uncoated. These kinds of passenger bags are larger so they create lower gas pressures, have longer inflation times, and possess gas which is cooler. The constituent yarns are of relatively heavy denier. Normally, airbag fabrics are made by rapier weaving machines or air jet looms with electronic dobbies.

Airbag fabrics varieties

The earliest airbags were Neoprene coated and woven Nylon 6, 6, but later lighter and thinner silicone coated versions followed. Afterwards, though, uncoated fabrics have emerged. The majority of these fabrics are coated with an elastomeric material such as neoprene or silicone. The long lasting popularity of coated materials for airbags has been seen because of its capability to work as a heat shield and the comparative ease that design engineers can expect wider performance in their use.

Though, there are some intrinsic problems with coated airbags, which cover their large thickness, incapability to be folded into small spaces and inclination of decay over time. Coated fab?rics are simple to cut and sew and the air porosity can be well managed.

The drawbacks linked with coated airbags and their subsequent substitution with uncoated materials has warranted significant developments from two sectors of the industry. The uncoated airbags can be recycled in a simple manner. The first development has come from the yarn and fabric producers, who have concurrently developed the performance of the fabrics. Their gas permeability has fallen under specific scrutiny since the way an uncoated fabric discharges gas and establishes the capability of an airbag to resist impact. The second development has gained from the inflator producers, who have started to substitute the original inflators, which release air, with devices that emit air like argon and helium. This is greatly helpful because these gases are equally as effective at lower temperatures and discharge less hot particles.

Finishing procedure of airbag fabrics

After weaving, the airbag fabric is scouring to reduce size. To gain accurate air permeability, the airbag fabric can be calendered. Apart from influencing the air permeability by weaving and finishing, accurate permeability control can be achieved by coating. When the airbag material has been finished, it is sewn together; the best practice is by using it with a laser.

Airbags are sewn with Nylon 6, 6, polyester, and Kevlar aramid yarns, the sewing patterns and densities being selected to maximize performance. When a bag is sewn it is folded inside its cover. Packing should permit for tethers connected to the bag to manage operation. Finally, a cover can be set up over the bag to safeguard it from abrasion.

Airbag sizes

Airbags are available in various sizes and configurations depending on the type of car and steering. Moreover, the driver’s side airbag is smaller than the front passengers by about 65 liters capacity upwards.

Suppliers

In airbag systems, there are mainly five suppliers of the airbag module itself, representing 32 per cent of the value of the airbag system. The key airbag control unit has four suppliers representing 24 per cent of the value, and the seat belt portion of the system has two suppliers with a 31 per cent contribution. Yet, the remaining part with only 13 per cent of the value of the airbag system has over 40 suppliers.

Two years back INVISTA, formerly DuPont Textiles & Interiors, had expanded nylon 6, 6 fiber production capacity, totaling 7.5 kilotons (kt.) at two facilities; one in Qing Dao, China, and the second in Gloucester, UK.

A wide range of highly specialized polyamide 6.6 airbag yarns, Enka Nylon, are made by Polymide High Performance at its Obernburg (Germany) and Scottsboro (Alabama/USA) plants.

Zapata Corporation in December, 2005 announced that it completed the sale of all of its 4,162,394 shares of Safety Components International, Inc. to private equity investor Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. for nearly $51.2 million. Zapata’s stake stands for nearly 77.3 per cent of Safety Components’ total outstanding common stock. Safety Components is an independent producer of air bags and the company’s fabrics are largely utilized for automobile safety air bags and in niche industrial and commercial applications. Safety Components headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, has plants situated in North America, Europe, China and South Africa.

Takata is a manufacturer of automotive seatbelts. Takata started researching seatbelt technologies in 1952. After eight years of research and development Takata became the first safety company to offer seatbelts as standard equipment to the Japan market in 1960. In the early 1970′s, Takata worked with NHTSA to satisfy new high speed crash test requirements and supplied the first energy absorbing seat belt system to pass a 30 mph crash test. Irvin Automotive is another company within the Takata Corporation. Irvin makes armrests, cargo covers, molded consoles, seat covers and sun visors.

Narricot Industries, LP, located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, is a producer of woven narrow fabrics in North America. With manufacturing facilities in Boykins and South Hill, Virginia, Narricot is the number one supplier of seatbelt webbing to the North American automotive industry.

Autoliv is a manufacturer of airbag, seatbelts and other automotive safety devices. Autoliv has nearly 80 wholly or partially owned manufacturing facilities in 30 vehicle-producing countries. Autoliv and its joint ventures and licensees make over 80 million seat belt systems annually.

Toray Industries, Inc, that makes nylon 6, 6 fiber and textile for use in automobile air bags, plans to start manufacturing base fabric for automotive airbags at its Czech textile subsidiary in January 2006. The company plans to invest in the necessary equipment to its subsidiary Toray Textiles Central Europe. The production output is projected at 600,000 meters in 2006 and 4 million meters in 2010. At present, Toray makes the fabric in Japan, Thailand and China mainly for airbags used in Japanese cars.

Performance tests and standards

Many individual tests carried out with airbag yarns and fabrics is said to number over 50. The ASTM, the SAE and the Automotive Occupant Res?traint Council (AORC) have established various standards that express appropriate tests for airbags.

Seat belts

The seat belt is an energy absorbing device that is designed to keep the load imposed on a victim’s body during a crash down to survivable limits. Basically, it is designed to offer non recoverable extension to decrease the deceleration forces that the body comes across in a crash. Non recoverable extension is significant to prevent the occupants from being restrained into their seats and sustaining whiplash injuries right away after a collision. To prevent more webbing from paying out after an accident, the automatic belt has a locking device known as inertia reel. An efficient seat belt will only permit its wearer to move forward a maximum of about 30 cm to avoid contact with any fixed parts of the car.

It is believed that the seat belts were invented concurrently in America as well as Sweden. The only difference was that the American belt was a strap to encircle the waist and the Swedish belt was a diagonal band made to defend the upper body. Now, a blend of the two designs is a most prevalent arrangement and is called the 3-point belt, which is secured by two fittings on the floor and a third on the sidewall or pillar. Racing drivers wear other patterns, particularly two shoulder straps and a lap belt. The earliest automotive seat belts were set up and were adjustable so that they could fit the wearer manually. The automatic belt superseded this pattern by providing the wearer more space to move.

Seat belts are available in multiple layers and are woven in narrow fabrics in twill or satin fabrication from high tenacity polyester yarns, generally 320 ends of 1100 dtex or 260 ends of 1670 dtex yarn. These structures permit highest yarn packing within a given area for highest strength and the trend is to utilize coarser yarns for good abrasion resistance. For ease they require to be softer and more flexible along the length, but rigidity is needed along the width to facilitate them to slide easily between buckles and retract smoothly into housings. Edges require being scuff resistant, but not disagreeably rigid and the fabric must be resistant to microorganisms. Nylon was utilized in some early seat belts, but due to of its higher UV degradation resistance; polyester is now widely used worldwide.

Performance standards

Normally, the performance standards require a seat belt to restrain a passenger weighing 90 kg involved in a collision at 50 km/h (about 30 mph) into a fixed object. Straight pull tensile strength should be at least 30 KN/50 mm. Other tests include accelerated ageing and in the made-up form, resistance to fastening and unfastening 10,000 times. The seat belt must be long lasting without any significant deterioration. In many cars, after ensuring the inclusion of the airbag, efforts have been made to link the function of the two devices (seat belt and airbag).

Conclusion

No doubt that the airbags help to save lives, but at times they can also be a source of serious injury. The search for a uniform smart airbag, which can perceive the size of the passenger or whether the seat is empty and react in that manner, is in progress. Such a ‘smart’ airbag will incorporate sensors to judge the weight, size and location of the car passengers and hence deploy more appropriately.

In addition, incorporated safety devices associated with the seat belt along with other safety items, particularly for child passengers, are under development. The trend towards uncoated fabrics is anticipated to continue and so is the improved trend towards more airbags per car and fuII-size bags. There is also a technical challenge of producing the bag by using more rational techniques and related specifications made by the automotive industry.

By: Gaurav Doshi

About the Author:

According to consumer reports, Japan cars still dominate the automotive industry. Consumers prefer Japan cars because of the reliability, performance and style. The count of Japan car owners is ticking every second. As per the predictions, Japan made vehicles will hold the top position based on reliability in every vehicle category by the year 2009. This tremendous growth of the Japanese automotive industry is due to the trust that the renowned Japan car manufacturers like Mitsubishi, Honda and Toyota have created among the customers.

Mitsubishi- The Unbeatable

Mitsubishi, the best Japan car manufacturer is well known for the style and dependability of their products. Starting from Mitsubishi Lancer, every Mitsubishi vehicle delivers unleashed power with great fuel economy. More than 6 million Mitsubishi Lancer variants were sold since its debut on 1973. The Japan trucks are the preferred one’s worldwide because of the same reason-”reliability”. The Mitsubishi L200 is a unique Japan truck (compact pickup truck). Style, dependability, comfort and great power to pull heavy weights are the attractions of this Japan truck. Mitsubishi L200 is still very popular since its launch on 1978.

Toyota – Reflecting Japanese Culture

Toyota’s existence in the automotive industry, as early as the 1930s has gained the automotive giants a lot of experience in manufacturing high quality cars. The aerodynamics of the Japan made Toyota cars is the noticeable feature. The exteriors of Toyota vehicles are considerably streamlined for proper aerodynamics to ensure great fuel efficiency and great riding comfort. Toyota cars reflect the simplicity and emphasize the fashionable design of classic styled Japanese culture. Toyota land cruiser “Prado” is the well known SUV. Toyota Prado has gained global attention and is one of the best SUVs that are available in the planet today.

Honda – Best cars from the world’s largest Engine manufacturer

Honda manufactures a whooping 14 million IC engines every year. Honda jumped into the automobile industry by manufacturing motorbikes. Later the debut of Honda S500 a 2-door roadster featuring a 492cc engine made them enter into the Car manufacturing spot in the 60s. Today, Honda boasts a wide range of top quality cars like CR-V, Civic, FR-V, Jazz, Legend and S2000. Honda CRV is the buzz in the SUV world today. The added luxury and comfort makes Honda CRV the dream SUV of all the SUV enthusiasts.

Buying used Japan cars is beneficial in many ways

Buying used Japan cars from a Japan car exporter is the wisest move that anyone can make. While the used cars will be as good as the new ones, they also come with the bundled accessories. Accessorizing your new car will drain your wallet. You can buy a used car at a 20-30% lower price than a new one and also save huge money spent in accessorizing your car. There are many websites who list the Japan car exporters online. These website are pretty simple to use and you can find your dream Japan car in no time.

By: Shiba Yoichiro

About the Author:

Japan is credited for the creation of many types of vehicles some of which include Nissan, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota and Honda and over the years have become one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world. It is not possible to refer to certain vehicles without mentioning the Japan auto industry. They import vehicles to numerous countries across the world such as the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom. There are certain requirements that must be met before the importation process can begin and each country requires certain documentation before conducting this transaction within the Japan auto industry.

New Tax Regime

A seven-band CO2 emission system will apply from 1 July 2008, payable on category A vehicles will no longer be based on the engine size but rather on the level of CO2 emissions from the car.

VRT will now be charged as a percentage of the OMSP in accordance with the following table:

CO2 Emissions (CO2g/km) VRT Rates

0 – 120g 14% of OMSP

More than 120g/km up to and including140g/km 16% of OMSP
More than 140g/km up to and including 155g/km 20% of OMSP
More than 155g/km up to and including 170g/km 24% of OMSP
More than 170g/km up to and including 190g/km 28% of OMSP
More than 190g/km up to and including 225g/km 32% of OMSP
More than 225g/km 36% of OMSP

The new system of taxation will be applicable to new and imported category A vehicles.

As the new VRT rates differ from the current rates, the new regime is likely to impact on the VRT to be paid on all passenger cars registered after 1 July 2008. Thereafter, cars with lower CO2 emissions will have their VRT rates reduced. Reductions can be expected across the range of lower emitting vehicles. At the other end of the scale, larger, luxury and high performance models with higher CO2 emissions will be subjected to an increase in the VRT charged.

The Japan auto industry is continually growing due to the number of people that choose to import cars from this country. There are usually different prices associated with the type of vehicle being imported, the country it is being imported to along with other factors. The Japan auto industry makes it easier for people to import cars from their country due to their costs. The first thing you will need to do is find a reputable importer within the Japan auto industry. There are several trustworthy options that can be used for importing vehicles to the United Kingdom; some of them are AutoAdvan, JEM Japanese and European motors, Japanese imports direct and Universal Motor group Japanese car importers. These companies are trusted names throughout the Japan auto industry.

This relief is limited, on a sliding scale, depending on the age of the vehicle. The scale is as follows:

Age of vehicle Maximum amount which may be remitted or repaid.

New vehicle, first registration €2,500

Not a new vehicle but less than 2 years €2,250

2 years or over but less than 3 years €2,000
3 years or over but less than 4 years €1,750
4 years or over but less than 5 years €1,500
5 years or over but less than 6 years €1,250
6 years or over but less than 7 years €1,000
7 years or over but less than 8 years €750
8 years or over but less than 9 years €500
9 years or over but less than 10 years €250
10 years or over Nil

The minimum amounts of VRT that will be charged have also changed. Under the old scheme there was a minimum €315.00 charge for all cars regardless of the value. In recognition of the larger number of rates and the wider range from 14% up to 36% a limit for each CO2 band was introduced. The limits are:

VRT Rate Minimum VRT

14% €280
16% €320
20% €400
24% €480
28% €560
32% €640
36% €720

AutoAdvan usually takes four to five weeks to ship the vehicle, but the time frame can change depending on weather conditions. You can contact the company in advance to get a quote on the prices, but the cost is generally 130 pounds for the vehicle to be imported from Southampton to Birmingham. This company offers three ways to purchase and saves you at least 20% on the UK dealer prices. The Japan auto industry also imports vehicles to the United States and Ireland. Whichever country the car is going there will be a price to pay for shipping, insurance, duty and taxes.

The duty cost is usually required for both new and used cars within the Japan auto industry. Vehicles coming into the United States usually acquire a 25% cost for vehicles that are considered trucks and 2.5 % for autos. There are also taxes such as gas guzzler taxes, which is based on the fuel economy rating of the vehicle, but this is only for certain cars. Insurance fees are usually dependent on the type of vehicle and where it is being imported. However, used cars that are being imported within the Japan auto industry, cost significantly less than new vehicles.

It can be a long and arduous process trying to find a dealer within the Japan auto industry, but many companies can be found online. Most people use auctions as a way to find genuine Japanese vehicles within the Japan auto industry. Tradecarview, RamaDBK limited, Japan Trading and dolphin Motors are just a few of the dealers that offer a wide range of Japanese vehicles.

These companies have inside information about the Japan auto industry and can help acquire any type of Japanese vehicle that is needed. Their websites contain pictures and information about new and used Japanese transportation along with shipping and other costs associated with importing the vehicles. They usually ship to several locations across the world such as Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Kenya and Jamaica. You can also use reputable online car auctions such as Japaneseusedcars.com, japaneseautoauctions.com or usedcarexport.com/auction. These sites specialize in selling high quality cars and offer great deals on several different types and brands of vehicles.

For more tips on buying a car please go to: Tips On Buying A Car

By: Sean Casey

About the Author:

Back in the day the only accessories that you would be able to find were maybe some bumper stickers. Today there are all kinds of accessories for your car. You have everything from the outside of the car to the inside of the car and there are so many things that you can buy for your car. You have everything from neons being under the car to neons being under your seats in your car. You can put extra speakers in your car like sub woofers and amps. There is no limit to what you can do with your car and accessories.

You can even put logos across the back of your rear window to show love for your favorite sports team while you are tailgating. You can get one of those whole logos that take up the whole rear window but don’t take away your ability to see out of it. You just go to a car specialties shop to get whatever else you need.

Many people basically live in their cars so they already have many accessories but other people who just use their cars to go to and from work may not have a single thing to show. Some people that don’t have any accessories and have a long drive to work may like music. They should have some type of satellite radio or something shouldn’t they? Yes they should and nobody should have to go without customizing their own car.

You can put about just anything in the car you want as far as entertainment goes. You can put TVs, game consoles, and other things in the car. You can put DVD players in the car as well as VCRs so you can watch all of your favorite shows and movies in your car. You are not limited to what you can do with your car. You can do anything you want with your car all you need to do is buy the accessories and then start adding them to your car.

Most of the newer cars today like the ford models are coming out with satellite radios in them stock. So if you wanted something else for your car or truck you should be able to find it with ease and be able to install it as well. Many things that you can buy as accessories come with directions so that you can install your accessories yourself but on the other hand if you cannot install them yourself you can hire someone to help you.

The great thing about auto accessories in general is that you can use them anywhere as long as you are in your car and the motor is running.

Everyone would have loved to have had a TV and a DVD player in the car while their parents drove but that’s not how everyone lived. Now you can, you can put anything you want into your car and you can do it now. You don’t have to wait for anyone you can just go buy your accessories for cheap and then get them installed and start using them right away.

By: Gregg Hall

About the Author:

As per the recent reports, automotive industry is undergoing the recessionary period. The competition in the industry is on rise and the big companies like Ford Motors and General Motors Corp. are facing losses despite their best efforts.

So, if you are trying to market your products to automotive industry, you have to be more careful and planned. You have to provide the solution to their problems and not merely a product. You have to have an insight into their problems and customize your services accordingly.

How Can You Market To Automotive Industry?
In automobile business, there is great demand for hybrid cars and trucks. Due to this, there is an increase in derived demand for hybrid technologies. So, you have to market your products and services to these car makers with the aim of bringing the hybrid vision to marketplace at a faster pace.

Here are few tips that can help you:

● Traditional methods like trade shows still work very effectively to reach the prospects.

● If the client wants more information, you can give demonstrations.

● You can update your clients on latest information through newsletters, e-mails and mailing information booklets.

● You can provide the clients customized products and services that are cost-effective, improved and innovative too.

● You can also act as a manufacturing partner by offering services in the segments like supply chain management, operations and financial reporting.

● You can also provide an outsourcing solution. If the automaker is facing deficiency of experienced technical staff, you can provide solutions for the same. You can recruit and train young people according to the industrial needs.

● Strong performance and good after sales services should be the key point of your business

● You must provide good quality products and services at economical rates.

● You must have speed and delivery in your performance.

● You should not aim at providing a component to your client but at establishing and maintaining relationship with him.

There can be no end to sales and marketing. However, the only key for getting contracts on regular basis is rigorous performance. If your performance can make your customers feel delighted, you cannot only make a loyal customer base for your business but you can also win more contracts through referrals and goodwill in the market.

Before signing contract with any company, you also need to know the terms and conditions of getting paid. If you are not able to prepare a marketing program for this industry, you can take help of marketing professionals specializing in this field or you can surf internet for valuable tips.

By: Alexander Gordon

About the Author:

Tony Molla is the Vice President of Communications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in Leesburg, VA. With over 35 years experience in the automotive service industry, Tony has held positions at all levels, including technician, service manager, parts store manager, new car sales and automotive technical editor writing service manuals for the Chilton Book Company. He has authored more than a dozen technical and car care manuals. Prior to joining ASE in January, 2000, Tony spent nine years as the Editorial Director of Motor Age magazine and Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN).

ASK PATTY: Can you tell us a little bit about your job and your position at The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)?

Tony: I am responsible for all Corporate, external and internal communications at ASE. This includes things like press releases, industry presentations, trade shows and our website content. I also manage our Consumer Outreach efforts, which include free articles sent out to consumer publications like newspapers and magazines across the country. I also manage our outreach programs which involve our sponsorships in several areas. The largest is our participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where we sponsor Ted Musgrave’s No. 9 Team ASE/Germain Racing Toyota Tundra. We also have smaller sponsorships with the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, with a presence at air shows across the country, and a sponsorship of three Professional Bull Riders in the PBR Series. We also have a grassroots racing program called Team ASE which involves our ASE certified professionals who race their own vehicles. I am also the publisher of the ASE Tech News, our Corporate publication which goes to over 500,000 subscribers consisting mostly of ASE certified professionals and our industry supporters.

ASK PATTY: What does it mean to be ASE certified?

Tony: ASE Certification works like any other professional certification. Auto and truck professionals must take and pass an industry-developed competency test in one or more areas of expertise to become certified. There are eight tests in the auto series, for example. If an individual passes all tests in a series, they achieve Master Technician status. Being ASE certified means you have demonstrated the knowledge necessary to be proficient at a given task, plus have at least two years of hands-on repair experience. ASE also certifies parts professionals, service consultants, machinists, alternate fuels technicians, transit bus technicians, truck and collision technicians. It’s important to note that ASE certification is a voluntary program, so the individuals who have achieved it have also demonstrated a pride and professionalism that goes above and beyond the norm. These are the individuals you want working on your car.

ASK PATTY: Why are you promoting automotive careers to women? Are more women needed in the automotive field?

Tony: ASE has continuously promoted the value of an automotive career to both men and women, but the demand for women in particular has risen in recent years. This rise in demand has several reasons, not the least of which is the growing shortfall in qualified technical individuals available, but women have been proven to be particularly effective in the role of service consultant. As more and more women assume the role of primary caretaker of the family automobile, it’s becoming more important to improve the communications process at the service desk–and it’s been shown that female service consultants are very effective in that role. It’s also important to note that traditionally, women have made up about one percent of the technician workforce as well. In fact, there are a few shops out there that are exclusively staffed by women.

ASK PATTY: Can you tell us about your speaking program at schools? How are you educating and inspiring young women to consider a career in automotive?
Tony: I participate as a speaker in several Career Day events around the country each year. It’s really more a question of being invited back rather than a formal program by ASE. That said, I consider my time in front of young people some of the most important work I do. I speak with kids from the elementary to the high school level and always make it a point to spotlight the opportunities for women within the industry. Some of the best automotive diagnosticians I’ve met have been women, and the opportunities for a woman with a good technical background in the automotive industry is outstanding. These presentations I mention also use some brochures ASE has developed which outline some of the opporutnities within the industry for both male and female candidates.

ASK PATTY: Are women aware of the opportunities available to them in the automotive industry?
Tony: Actually, I’m continuously surprised at just how few women and men are aware of the wealth of opportunities available. We in the industry work hard to keep both Guidance Counselors and parents informed of what a great career choice it can be, but it’s clear we have some work yet to do to get the message out more widely.

ASK PATTY: What other types of jobs are available in automotive that aren’t service or mechanic’s jobs?
Tony: The possibilities are almost limitless. What I find interesting is how a technical background can open doors down the road in ways most never even imagine. I myself started out as an auto technician and worked part time while I went to college. Once I graduated, I found the earning potential much better in the service bay. In fact, it was largely my technical background, along with a degree in Journalism, that led to my current position. Along the way, I’ve held positions writing service manuals and as Editorial Director of two national trade magazines for auto and collision shops. But I’m just one example. There are opportunities in the automotive industry in sales, marketing, engineering, design, manufacturing, human resources, advertising, the list goes on and on. If you think about it, the automotive industry is a lot more than just selling and fixing cars.

ASK PATTY: What are some resources to women who are interested in starting a career in the automotive industry?

Tony: Perhaps the best resource is your local Technical Training program at either high school or junior college level. Getting involved in the automotive program can provide a deeper insight into the possibilities. There are also several initiatives within the automotive industry to recruit young people into the business. You can find out more by contacting the University of the Aftermarket, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, or some of the dedicated technical colleges like Universal Technical Institute or Wyo Tech, just to name a few. You can also contact us here at ASE with any questions. We’ll be happy to help in any way we can.

Thank you for the great interview Tony!

By: Jody DeVere

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Business excellence is an ideal that all good entrepreneurs strive to achieve.? In fact, many organizations are devoted to honoring those businesses that best exemplify this concept.? However, business excellence cannot be strictly defined.? Rather, it varies from one industry to another.? For example, in the automotive industry, business excellence includes customer commitment, quality control, efficient supply, and innovative management.

Leaders in the automotive industry understand the need to form a strong bond with customers.? Perhaps more than other sectors, consumers are more likely to make a decision regarding an automobile purchase based upon their experience with those in the industry.? Thus, entrepreneurs need to be concerned with two key features relating to customer commitment.? The first is meeting the needs of the consumer, financially and socially.? People need automobiles that meet their economic means.? This not only means getting a good initial purchase price, but also finding a vehicle that will require minimal repair and maintenance down the road.? Consumers also want to purchase automobiles that will not require excess money to be spent on fuel.? Therefore, business excellence includes finding more cost-efficient production and distribution processes, and subsequently passing these savings on to the consumer.?

The second aspect of customer commitment is meeting societal needs and desires.? This means staying informed of what vehicle features are most important to consumers.? Such information can be garnered using formal surveys and demographic research.? Once you understand the buyer, you are more capable of catering to him or her.? For example, people in some regions are especially concerned with the environmental impact of their purchases.? Thus, the automobile industry would need to show those people they are committed to using recycled materials and alternative fuels.? Additionally, many consumers want family vehicles that are safe and comfortable for children.? Therefore, excellent automobile entrepreneurs will focus their attention on crash test results and extra amenities.

In addition to customer commitment, business excellence must include exceptional quality control measures.? This means ensuring that automotive vehicles are safe and easy to maintain.? Appropriate testing should be undertaken for each new product model, and the results of these assessments need to be made public in a timely manner.? Additionally, individual dealerships should take care to ensure every vehicle is inspected prior to sale and stored under ideal conditions prior to purchase.?

Efficient supply is an aspect of business excellence that is frequently overlooked.? The balance between supply and demand is vital to the automotive industry.? Producing too many vehicles can lead to severely diminished profits.? It can also lead to a waste of resources that could have been better utilized for vehicles more likely to be purchased.? Meanwhile, a supply that is too short can cause companies to lose customers.? When an individual needs to purchase a vehicle, he or she may not be able to wait any extensive period for a desired product to come into supply.? As a result, they will simply find an alternative automobile to purchase.

Finally, business excellence in the automotive industry requires innovative management.? There are several parties involved in the manufacture and distribution of vehicles, and financial as well as labor resources need to be managed from the top down as well as controlled on a micro-level.? Thus, not only do large factories need to communicate with business executives and the dealerships that asses supply, but individual sales representatives need to be appropriately trained and supervised at each individual dealership.

By: Hani Masgidi

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Almost all of us drive our cars everyday to work. We use all safety provisions available in the car. However, we rarely think about the use of fabrics therein. I am not talking about the seat covers or other upholstery, which are of course, an important automotive textile. Here, I am talking about other fabrics- the narrow fabrics- particularly the webbings used in cars and other transportations. These webbings provide ultimate motor vehicle safety and are indispensable components of automotive, even more for racing and sports cars. Let’s explore how webbings are used in automotive industry and in what ways they make our driving experience safe and secured.

How Webbings are Used in Cars?

Webbing is a strong, closely woven, narrow fabric. It is used more commonly as safety harness. A safety harness is a protective equipment meant for protecting people, animals or objects from injury or damage. A seat belt, over-the-shoulder restraints used on roller coaster trains, full body harness used by fighter pilots, bungee jumping ropes- all of them are the examples of safety harness. However, the following paragraphs discuss the use of webbings in cars.

Seat Belts: A seat belt is an energy absorbing equipment which is meant to protect a person’s body in the event of crash down. It keeps the load imposed on the victim’s body in such an event. It allows the wearer to move forward for about thirty centimeters at the maximum avoiding contact with any immovable parts of the car. Nylon webbings had been the choice for seat belts till sometimes ago. However, due to its higher stretchability as compared to that of polyester webbings, the scope its of application has got limited. The strong polyester webbings that have lower rate of elongation under load are now the first choice for seat belts.

HANS Device: The Head and Neck Support device, or the HANS device- as it is popularly called- is a safety equipment compulsorily installed in racing sports cars. It minimizes the chances of head and neck injuries in the event of a crash. This U-shaped device is attached only to the helmet and not to the belts, driver’s body, or seat. Attachment is done with the help of two anchors on either side, much like the Hutchens device but placed slightly back. Hutchens Device is a harness that transfers head and neck loads to the seat belts. HANS device uses webbing tethers for attaching the driver’s helmet to the collar. The Hutchens device is made almost entirely of webbing.

Window Nets: The window nets are meant for protecting the driver of a racing car whenever the speedy cars roll over during a racing event. They also prevent objects from entering the driver compartment. The driver’s upper body parts are made safe with the use of seatbelt and HANS device, his legs are also tucked down under the dash hoops and they, in fact, don’t experience much motion. Arms remain the only vulnerable part of the body and window nets effectively protect them. Mostly made of polypropylene webbings, window nets are attached to the roll cage itself, so that arms don’t get crushed between body and cage. They prevent the driver’s arms from coming out in the any unwanted event.

The above description goes to show that narrow fabrics like webbings, in spite of their smaller structure, are no less important. They provide unimaginable safety to the car occupants, proving their worth as equivalent to other fabrics.

By: Deepa RC

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