Review About Automotive Industry

Automobile industry has a special impact on the daily life of the modern day man, which requires fast mobility with reliability. The rapid growth in automobile industry has had its ebbs and flows. Currently it is undergoing a recession globally. The auto industry is evolving new strategies and signing up new contracts and joint ventures in an effort to stabilize itself and avoid further slump.

There is a particular need for rationalization of taxation and customs policies in order to support enterprises producing automobile components.

Automobile and automotive parts & components manufacturers make the major portion of the automotive industry throughout the world. Automobile manufacturing sector consists of truck manufacturers, motor vehicle body manufacturers, motor vehicle parts and supplies manufacturers. This is engaged in manufacturing of automotives and light duty motor vehicles, personal utility transport vehicles and chassis, cabs, trucks, automobile and utility trailers, buses, military small and heavy vehicles and the main parts of the motor vehicle engines.

In 1997, the majority of automobile construction enterprises have passed through the lowest critical point and began to increase production volume, restructuring themselves while taking into account consumer requirements, their solvency, and the overall economic situation. Thus, in the first six months of 1997 there was a substantial increase in the volume of production compared to the corresponding period in 1996.

The global automotive industry is highly diversified and includes different sectors like manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, retailers, original equipment manufacturers, automotive engineers, spray painters, motor mechanics, auto electricians, aftermarket parts manufacturers, body repairers, fuel producers, environmental and transport safety groups and even many of trade unions.

The global leaders in auto industry are United States, Japan, China, Germany and South Korea. The United States of America is the world’s largest producer and consumer of motor vehicles and automobiles accounting to almost 6.6 million direct and indirect-jobs. Automobile industry is one of the significant ones in the world that provides employment to 25 million people across the globe. This industry is largely dominated by the five giant automobile manufacturing corporations namely Toyota, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen AG and Daimler Chrysler. These corporations have their presence in almost every country of the world and they continue to invest into production facilities in emerging markets namely Latin America, Middle East, Eastern Europe, China, Malaysia and other markets in Southeast Asia. To overcome certain production costs many mainstream auto corporations have established there units worldwide.

Engine parts form one of the largest segments of the automotive components industry. The latest trend in this sector is of outsourcing a part of the engine to different vendors who provide good comparative technological expertise as well. Recently auto industry is going through its worst periods. The global giants are facing the toughest economical crisis. This is also resulting in heavy losses to the work force in the form of lost jobs. There are varied factors behind this decline of automobiles industry that have badly affected it as a whole. Nonetheless, it is hoped that this industry, which is an integral part of the modern day life and has stood the test of time in previous recessions, has the tenacity and the resilience of bouncing back once again.

By: Brenda Williams

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In 1870, when Nikolaus Otto and his partner Karl Benz independently developed their internal combustion engines, which were four-stroke at the time, Germany was placed on the map as the birthplace of modern autos and the history of German Automobiles had begun. During the latter part of 1870, Karl Benz began experimenting with their engine design and some how ended up attaching it to a couch. This would forever be the genesis of todays modern automobiles. And by 1901, the country of Germany produced roughly 900 autos per year.

Robert A. Brady, an American economist, documented extensively Germanys rationalization movement which helped to mold their industry’s focus during the 1920s. While Bradys general theories about this movement were applicable to Germanys auto industry, the Weimar Republic in its latter years saw the industry in declining health. And because of Germany being extremely reticent when trying to develop its automotive industry, they opened the floodgates for American automobile manufacturers like General Motors who bought out German automaker Opel and Ford Motor Company who possessed a very successful subsidiary in Germany.

However, the German automobile industry tumbled as the worlds economy folded during the late 1920s and early 1930s when the Great Depression raged on. This was a sad day indeed for the history of German automobiles. After the Great Depression had subsided, only twelve automakers in Germany survived. That small group included Opel, Fords Cologne factory and Daimler-Benz of out of an astonishing total of 86 automobile companies operating before the Depression. Also, four of Germanys top auto manufacturers-Dampf Kraft Wagen, Horch, Audi and Wanderer-came together in a joint venture to form the Auto Union. This Union would play a significant part to lead Germany back from their troubles with the depression.

In 1930, when the Nazi Party came to power, a significant change came about for Germanys auto industry and for the history of German automobiles. Motorisierung, a policy instituted by the Nazi Party, was a policy about transportation that Adolf Hitler himself believed to be a key part of his attempt to raise his citizens living standards in order to make the Nazi Party seem more legitimate to them. The Nazis began work on highway schemes while at the same time undertaking the Volkswagen project in order to build and design the inexpensive yet robust peoples car.”

As of today, Germanys auto industry is one of its top employers, featuring a total labor pool of roughly 866,000 workers. Additionally, the country boasts of having the biggest percentage of automobile production in all of Europe with a 29% share of the market, next is France with 18%, Spain with 13% and finally the United Kingdom with a 9% share of the market.

There are currently six major German companies which are dominating the automobile industry there: BMW, Porsche, VW, Opel (General Motors owns them), Audi (part of the Volkswagen Group) and Daimler AG. Roughly six million new vehicles are produced each year in Germany whilst around 4.8 million vehicles are produced each year by German brands overseas. Along with the top two auto manufacturers Japan and the United States, the country of Germany is number three on the list of top auto manufacturers around the world.

By: Candis Reade

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Eco friendly cars are all the rage in today’s economic turmoil. General Motors and Chrysler both wagered heavily on the fuel thirsty, big horsepower inefficiency of large vehicles and have since found themselves, as we all know near collapse. Ford on the other hand has followed behind the eco friendly footsteps of both Honda and Toyota and have seemingly secured themselves within the environmentally conscious hearts of the North American car buying public. Both Honda and Toyota have long been the fuel sipping masters of the automotive industry and still are able to hold the crowns of eco friendly cars.

Toyota launched into the fuel miser, eco friendly car market more then forty years ago with the introduction of the Corolla. Honda followed suit in North America with the CCVC which is also known as the Civic. Both of these eco friendly cars have continually allowed drivers fuel consumption of approximately 5.5 litres of fuel being burned per 100 kilometers of driving. Both manufacturers have maintained this level of fuel consumption even with the ever increasing size of their cars. They have also both been able to deliver phenomenal fuel consumption from their larger vehicles, Camry and Accord, as well. Both vehicles have survived an approximate 6 litres per 100kms even with their substantial increase in size.

Honda took the first steps in the next generation of environmentally friendly cars with the introduction of the first mass produced hybrid vehicle for North America, the Honda Insight. The eco friendly Insight was based on the Honda J-VX concept which was unveiled at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, and these eco friendly cars hit the market in December 1999. It featured an optimized blend for fuel economy from aerodynamics, a lightweight aluminum structure and Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist). The car remained the most fuel efficient machine available in the U.S. while it was produced and is still the leader of any current mass market car. The Insight earned an EPA fuel efficiency estimate of 70 miles per US gallon or 3.4 L/100 km which equals 84 mpg. The Honda Civic Hybrid was introduced in the 2003 model year to compliment Honda’s commitment to eco friendly cars and environmental sustainability

Toyota entered into the Hybrid market of friendly cars with the introduction of the Prius. It was first introduced in Japan in 1997 and then went on sale worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold in more than thirty five countries, with the largest markets being Japan and North America. As a top seller, the U.S. Toyota Prius made up more than half of the 1.2 million Prius’ sold around the world by early 2009. The Prius is rated to get 3.7 litres per 100 kms on city streets and 4.0 litres per 100kms on the highway. Even with its higher price tag it is a benchmark for the hybrid eco friendly car market.

For the 2010 model year Honda challenged Toyota for the benchmark hybrid crown with the introduction of the second coming of the Insight. The second generation of the Insight has taken a shot at the environmentally friendly cars thrown with a less expensive yet similarly designed vehicle. The Insight which now shares its platform with the Honda Fit has an estimated fuel economy of 4.8 litres per 100 kms in the city and 4.5 litres of fuel burned for every 100 kms driven on the highway.

The undisputed winner is still yet to be decided and will inevitably change constantly. Eco friendly cars are with no doubt the future of the automotive industry and with an ever increasing selection of cars designed to save fuel, the champion of the environment is still up for grabs.

By: James Hand

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Detroit was once the envy of the world. In the early 1900′s it was the heart of the automotive industry the pinnacle of luxury and technology. During World War II it was called ‘The Arsenal of Democracy’ when factories were retooled to build war machines. The Milwaukee Junction, the center of the automotive industry in was vibrant and alive, full of business and prosperity. Detroit is where the middle class was born and the rich ordered cars made to order.

Dodge Main, Ford Model T plant, American Axle, Murray Body. Pole town, named for the community GM bought to build its plant; a huge sprawling facility. The Ford Piquette building built in 1904 was the prototype for the assembly line. There men walked the line, the line did not move. The most fascinating ruin was the old Packard plant in the Milwaukee Junction.

Milwaukee Junction was the heart of the automotive industry in the early 1900′s. Packard was a brand with the cache of Lexus or Mercedes. In the beginning of the automotive industry, the manufacturing model was outsourcing. Packard built Chassis. You could order the frame, the engine, transmission. Then you had a catalog to order the body from a number of body manufacturers. What you actually ordered were the body components. There was a good deal of customization. You literally designed your own car. Truly a bespoke business model. Packard was an elite brand priced for the wealthy. You’d order your car like a fine suit. They only built around 200-1000 cars of any one model a year. At their peak, they built 55,000 vehicles per year.

During WWII Packard built Rolls Royce Merlin engines for our fighter planes. Detroit and the automotive industry were called the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’. Without the industrial might of Detroit Germany would have won WWII. It was surreal to stand outside and to walk around the decrepit ruins that used to be the pinnacle of luxury and technology in another era. You could almost imagine what it must have been like so many years ago. The Packard plant ruins must be a mile long and they’re as high as eight stories. Vehicles moved from floor to floor in an assembly line using huge hoists. Giant sliding doors separated sections of the assembly. Thousands of middle class Americans must have worked there, coming and going during shift change. Imagine at lunch, thousands of people leaving the factory to eat at the restaurants, shop in the stores or enjoy the beautiful Michigan day. Today hardly a soul lives in the Milwaukee Junction, it’s a ghost town.

Detroit is a melting pot of humanity. The waves of immigrants influenced the culture and fabric of life in the city. The first wave was from Europe. Germans, Finnish, Dutch, French, English, Irish. The next wave was from Eastern Europe, Poles, Ukraine, and Serbs. In the 1930′s and 40′s blacks immigrated to Detroit from the south to escape oppression. Each culture brought with it their customs and cuisines, their religions and values. There were micro cultures. Each wave of immigrants built their own churches and clustered together. You’ll find four catholic churches in one area. One for Germans, one for the Irish, one for the English and so on. Many of the churches and buildings still stand. Many are crumbling like the Packard plant.

There’s a bridge over the road by the plant, it used to have the Packard emblem on it and the tag line ‘ Ask the man who owns one’ above the door to the plant. During the depression, Packard decided to ‘go down market’, to produce a cheaper car for a larger audience. They built the 120 model. The 120 had the Packard quality, and looked like a Packard but it was at a lower price point. This move marked the demise of Packard. They lost their cache and exclusivity among the wealthy.

Their timing was off. In 1941, they built and introduced the Clipper. Then came the war and they had to retool for the war effort. Four years later, after the war, they reintroduced the Clipper. They sold a lot, and even through the late 1950′s they sold more Packards that GM sold Cadillac’s but the management was too conservative. The new Clipper design for 1949-1950 was nick-named ‘the pregnant clipper’ . They had some supplier problems when Chrysler bought Briggs one of their body suppliers. What finally killed Packard were quality problems.

In 1952- 53, Packard brought in Jim Nance to run the company. He was talented and brilliant, but he saw the multi floored Packard plant as an albatross. He moved manufacturing to a new facility that was nicknamed ‘the cracker box’. It was just too small. It was so small men couldn’t move around, it was dangerously close. Quality suffered. The final Packards ever produced were beautifully designed with amazing engineering. Bu they fell apart and by 1956 the public had had enough.

Today the Packard plant ruins are stripped of almost all metal. A few frames remain with shards of broken glass. A musty smell exudes from the entry ways filled with garbage. Strange things like a boat, computer equipment, tires, shoes and plush toys. We didn’t see any vagrants, bodies or animals. Packard is the most decrepit.

We also went to the Rouge plant which is still operational. Raw materials go into the plant and cars come out. Raw materials like steel, rubber. Huge piles of coal sit ready to heat the furnaces to melt the steel , which is then rolled and formed and cut and assembled. Ford Rouge is the only plant where raw materials go in and a finished car comes out.

Outside the Rouge complex is a memorial. There’s a bigger than life bronze statue of Henry Ford. Along the courtyard are etched marble photos of historical events in Ford’s history. The images are not all favorable to Ford. They tell an amazing story. Then there’s the bridge where ‘the battle of the overpass’ took place. This is the very place where the UAW was born. Workers battled with Henry Ford’s goons and won the right to fair work conditions and pay. Since then the UAW has grown too strong and fallen out of favor, but there is still a need for unions. There’s a need for bargaining strength for the small and weak against the strong and rich who hold all the advantages. That’s another story.

Henry Ford while no philanthropist did see the benefit in paying his employees well. You could say he was the father of the middle class. He was the first to pay his workers enough so that they could afford to buy his products. He paid them enough so that they could afford to buy his cars and one of his homes. The basis of the Ford family’s wealth is the belief that the good of many is most profitable; much more profitable than today’s culture of ‘everyone for themselves’.

Those were the days.

Check out original pictures of the Detroit ruins tour in Club Fossati

By: Catherine Fossati

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Why do you need Automotive Translation?

Automotive translation involves a lot of technical jargon. It is important that the vehicle translation is accurate because it needs to convey important safety information to the vehicle’s users. Inaccurate translations may have far reaching consequences especially if car users are unable to operate their cars in a safe manner. In addition, many cars are now being assembled in the same country they are being sold in. Therefore, the local assembly plant workers will need accurate translated assembly manuals to aid them in the assembly process.

Companies that frequently employ vehicle translations are manufacturers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, helicopters, aeroplanes, lawn movers, quarry machineries, public works and agriculture handling equipment. Automotive translation will also be able to provide precise translations on mechanical and electronic systems. This would ensure that all the technical terms used in the translation are in accordance to the convention familiar to the local mechanics, engineers, suppliers and customers.

What Types of Documents Require Translation?

As the automotive industry is such a multi-billion business, there are plenty of different materials needing automotive translation. From user manuals to marketing catalogues, they will all need accurate translation. Here is a non-exhaustive list of materials commonly sent for professional automotive translation.

• Technical training manuals

• Repair manuals

• Technical update bulletins

• User manuals

• Catalogues

• Vehicle marketing brochures

• Service manuals

• Diagnosis manuals

• Warranty booklets

• Marketing campaign websites

• Compact disc with car information for customers

• Car owners manuals

• Parts lists

• Car security wiring diagrams

• Technician reference booklets

• Assembly manuals

Who does the Automotive Translation?

A professional translation company will choose only native translators that have experience in engineering, automotive or aero-sciences to do the job. This would ensure that the automotive translations are done only by translators who understand the local automotive industry. It is also common for qualified mechanical engineers to be part-time professional translators.

To begin with, the translation project manager will coordinate with the translators so that standard vocabulary can be established to ensure consistency. During the course of the translation process, a local technical engineer will be hired to carry out regular reviews so that early error detection can be detected, and corrections made quickly. Once the translation project is completed, another professional translator is called in to proofread the translated material. The proofreading ensures that the translated work is accurate and uses uniform technical terms throughout the work before handing it back to the client.

By: Stephen De Greenwood

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The automotive industry degenerated into the poster company for the recession in 2009. Bankrupt and asking the U.S. government for funds, GM and Chrysler seemed to be banking on the impossible. They chose the tactic of emphasizing their problems to Washington while reassuring the public that it can still provide competitive vehicles. Ford evaded this marketing collision by refusing government help, despite losing $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2009.

With these dismal sales and Congressional hearings dominating 2009, do the Big Three have what it takes to boost consumer confidence and sales in 2010? Fourth quarter figures from 2009 suggest that the automakers can recover. Unsurprisingly, Ford made the biggest gains, increasing its total sales by 33.5% in December 2009 compared to sales in December 2008. Chrysler’s total sales dipped, but only slightly thanks to a big increase of 30.9% in car sales.

GM was the hardest hit. Yet, its total sales in December only dropped 5.6 from December 2008, hardly a doomsday decrease. At the starting gate of 2010, GM and Ford seem to have their engines revving, so to speak. Ford will upgrade their Ford Focus with lots of cool technologies and the higher-power 2.0L, direct-injected 4.0L engine.

This upscale C-class car features MyFord touch driver interface and an optional rear-view camera park assist camera. Consumers want fuel efficiency without sacrificing power and the Focus’s new engine adds 20hp and a 10% fuel consumption reduction. The Ford Taurus has traditionally been a reliable, albeit, tame, stand-by on Ford’s lineup. This year, the 2010 Taurus has been spiced up with cool, practical, and affordable technology, so much so, in fact, that it has won the first Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award.

Standard features of this tech-savvy car include 911 Assist and GPS navigation. The new Taurus can also be equipped with collision warning systems, rear-parking sensors, even heat and massaging seats. The 2010 Ford Taurus is an example of the digital cars of the future, with enhanced computers systems.

The Chevy granite is a trendy extended range electric vehicle. Swank french doors make this vehicle eye-catching. The Granite’s special design maximizes cargo space. It will come with a 1.4L four-cylinder turbo-charged engine. Set to come into production in 2011, the Granite’s unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show showcases GM as a leader in design innovation for the coming decade.

With leading-edge new models, electric vehicles, and fuel-efficiency, Detroit is finally giving U.S. consumers what they’re asking for, with enough trendy perks to make us notice. Chicago Chevrolet and Chicago GMC dealers are eager to spread the word. For consumers living in Chicago, bad credit needn’t be an issue with the contemporary C-class vehicles soon available. Also in Chicago, used cars are projected to be replenished in the coming year.

By: Nick Messe

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Automotive advertising agencies have been forced to take on additional responsibilities in today’s troubled economy. As the President of national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies and the host of an auto industry social networking resource portal I recently promoted the 2010 NADA Convention on my blog talk radio show as a real world venue similar to the online resources that I rely on to listen and learn and contribute to so I can presume to teach.

I consider the NADA convention as a must attend event for automotive advertising agencies, auto dealers, auto industry vendors and decision makers that regularly tune in to listen and learn from the auto industry experts regularly featured on various online resources. The NADA Convention is the real world version of online social networking communities focused on sharing best practices for the auto industry and a perfect platform to make new friends and connect with old ones in both the real and the virtual world.

The NADA Convention is a means to stay ahead of the competition by learning about the new Internet technologies and applications being introduced by the vendors and speakers that will be featured at the convention. The 2010 NADA Convention is being held in Orlando, Florida this February 12th. through February 15th., 2010 at the Orlando Convention Center. Additional information on the convention is available at their site — NADA.Org — and their online pre-registration savings of $50 -$75 has been extended to January 27th., 2010. I strongly advise anyone seeking to survive in today’s consolidating auto industry to register before the deadline to take advantage of the discount with the confidence that your investment of your time and money will provide a R.O.I. that can’t be duplicated by any online auto industry-centric venue; including my own.

My affiliated agencies are connected by a proprietary online communication/distribution system I developed in December of 2001. I designed the operating system that links this national network of independent businesses as a means to leverage the resources of the participating automotive advertising agencies, production partners and select vendors to allow them to compete with national automotive advertising agencies. The resulting savings in fixed and semi-variable expenses coupled with access to a wide variety of production and creative resources for the member agencies was made possible through their use of several online technologies that were developed to support the growing World Wide Web.

I reference this history as evidence that I have practiced what I now preach. These same technologies must be applied to the internal processes of auto dealerships to allow them to survive in a consolidating auto industry. The combination of the resulting efficiencies realized in technology enhanced selling systems in brick and mortar auto dealerships integrated with their online showrooms, and the newly developing applications being applied by automotive advertising agencies to promote their auto dealer clients on the Internet, is the key to profitability today and survival tomorrow.

The NADA Convention allows auto industry vendors to present new cutting edge applications to auto dealers and automotive advertising agencies who are anxious to gain an advantage over the competition. More importantly, in a consolidating auto industry auto dealers must sell more for less to satisfy budget conscious and better educated online car buyers and the technology being applied to sell vehicles on the Internet Super Highway is the way to do it in a scalable and cost effective manner!

The blog talk radio station featured on my portal is another example of how a new technology platform can enhance the reach and performance of an automotive advertising agency in today’s Internet driven marketplace. I use various blog talk radio shows as an online communication system for my network to share best practices and new vendor applications with site visitors surfing the web to get the inside story on the auto industry. In addition, my shows attract new vendors anxious to tell their story to the decision makers who follow me on the World Wide Web which allows me to review cutting edge automotive advertising applications before competing agencies know that they exist.

Several vendor clients of mine were discovered during their online reviews and most of them will be represented at the NADA Convention. Why? Because the NADA Convention is the perfect real world venue to launch new products and services and this year is no exception.

Automotive advertising agencies know that they must apply cutting edge automotive advertising technologies to their online marketing plans that integrate with proven selling processes in their auto dealer clients’ real and virtual world showrooms but they don’t know where to find them. Online automotive advertising focused social networking sites provide an excellent filter to find the newest and the best but the NADA Convention is the place to see them all in one place and one time in an environment where the decision makers from both the automotive advertising agency and the vendor can sit across the table and work out the best deal for both. After all, what are friends for!

By: Philip Zelinger

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Infrared thermometers are today the best alternative to the traditional thermometer for gauging temperature in a non – contact manner. They are used in almost every industrial sector that requires measuring temperature in their operations such as in gourmet industry, in household appliances, in electrical appliances, and the automotive industry among many others. In this article you would find information regarding their uses in the automotive sector.

As mentioned above, infrared thermometers are used extensively in the automotive industry to diagnose problems ranging from air conditioning, brakes, to engines. They also help in avoiding dangerous car interiors by convenient temperature measurement with these non-contact devices. They are however most effective in diagnosing temperature-related engine problems. This is because, as with other traditional thermometers, the user doesn’t have to dissemble the whole engine, as it reaches even inaccessible areas. Among the various uses of these infrared thermometers in engine and exhaust troubleshooting are for scanning manifold temperature to determine low compression, for misfire condition, measuring and comparing exhaust system components for correct fuel/air mixture and for scanning both sides of the catalytic converter for temperature differences.

These are also used for cooling system diagnostics like checking for overheating problems, scanning radiators for core restrictions, measuring thermostat temperature and above all for measuring coolant temperature sensors and manifold air temperature sensors.

Even for measuring climate control, in automobiles infrared thermometers are used most of the times. With them you can check heaters, air conditioners, and vents at a convenient pace for any kind of malfunction or system output. These are equally powerful like digital multimeters, as gauging instruments.

Further, infrared thermometers are used for checking the condition of braking system in automobiles. This is very necessary because if the temperature is significantly higher than ambient or varied temperatures of rotors, drums or bearings, it would indicate excessive wear. Uneven braking can also be diagnosed with this amazing instrument.

Use infrared thermometers for simple, fast and frequent temperature gauging and enjoy the difference.

By: Genelia Winslet

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