Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
Federal-Mogul unveils two products designed to make vehicle interior-lighting systems slimmer, cooler and more efficient.
The company's ultrathin lighting combines light-emitting diodes with its new NovaLens lamp lens to reduce interior lamps’ profile by up to 60%.
NovaLens improves headroom, creates more space for styling, provides consistent and even illumination and uses less power – a key factor in electric-vehicle design, the company says.
Federal-Mogul’s first production applications of its ultrathin lamp with NovaLens will reach the market next year. The company says it is in discussion with several OEMs regarding the technology.
Tokyo-based Teijin and General Motors will co-develop advanced carbon-fiber composite materials for potential high-volume use in global production of cars, trucks and cross/utility vehicles.
The pact involves Teijin’s carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastic technology. Ten times stronger yet only one-quarter of the weight of regular-grade steel, carbon-fiber composites can help improve fuel economy without compromising vehicle safety.
Conventional carbon-fiber components using a thermally hardened plastic material take at least 10 minutes to produce, curtailing its use in high-volume vehicles. Teijin says its plastic material melts when heated and hardens when cooled, cutting manufacturing time to one minute or less.
To support its relationship with GM, Teijin early next year will establish the Teijin Composites Application Center, a technical center in the northern U.S. The agreement does not involve any exchange of equity between the companies.
Johnson Controls acquires the automotive division of its Romanian supplier Spumotim, a manufacturer of polyurethane foam for the auto industry.
The deal includes the 300-employee company’s headquarters and plant in Timisoara, Romania, as well as its factory in Pitesti. Johnson Controls already runs factories in Pitesti, Mioveni and Ploiesti, which are major suppliers for Automobile Dacia, and in Craiova, where it produces seating for Ford.
Johnson Controls expects 80% growth in the Romanian automotive market over the next four years.
Agerois the new corporate brand name adopted by driver-assistance provider Cross Country Automotive Services and its ATX Group telematics-services subsidiary.
Agero says it is one of the pioneers of in-vehicle telematics technology, starting with the Lincoln RESCU program in 1996. It provides private-label connected-vehicle services to BMW, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Rolls-Royce and Toyota.
Its roadside-assistance services protect more than 75 million drivers a year in North America through response and management of in-vehicle and post-emergency safety and security situations.
Recently launched services include deployment of mobile recharging systems for electric vehicles in North America, and the use of GPS smartphone technology to provide detailed on-time arrival information of service trucks to stranded motorists.
Magna International’s Cosma International operating unit acquires ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems’ Brazilian subsidiary.
ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems do Brasil produces and assembles chassis structural components and modules at plants in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Ibirité, Camacari and São José dos Pinhais. Current production customers include Ford, Fiat, Renault-Nissan, Honda and PSA Peugeot Citroen.
The four TKASB facilities employ about 770 people. Magna says the acquisition expands Cosma's global footprint and positions the company to become a leading metalforming and chassis-system supplier partner to OEMs throughout South America.
Magna currently operates nine manufacturing facilities, two research and development centers and 3,650 employees in South America.
BorgWarner BERU Systems’new double-platinum spark plugs will be used in the next generation of Audi 4-cyl. engines.
The spark plugs feature a high-voltage connection specifically designed for the compact plug-top ignition coils used in Audi's 1.8L and 2.0L TFSI engines. The mills power the recently launched Audi A4 and A4 Avant series and will replace current engines in the Audi A5, A5 Sportback and A5 Cabrio.
The turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engines are expected to power more Volkswagen Group models in the future.
The new spark plugs "help optimize combustion for better fuel economy and lower emissions," says Brady Ericson, president and general manager-BorgWarner BERU Systems and Emission Systems.
Aisin Seiki will build an automotive parts-making plant in Northern India in its bid to increase production capacity in developing countries where market expansion is anticipated.
Construction will begin in 2012. The product lineup at the new facility has not been decided, but orders are expected from Maruti Suzuki, which is planning a large-scale increase in finished-car production.
Aisin already operates a factory in the southern Indian city of Bangalore that makes door parts for Toyota. The new site is in the state of Haryna, home to plants operated by Japanese auto makers including Honda and Suzuki.
Production at Aisin’s new parts subsidiary in Brazil begins in the second half of 2012. It is also is establishing an electronic-components plant in China’s Guangdong province and plans to build a sunroof factory in Jiangsu province.
Daicelestablishes a manufacturing and sales unit for airbag inflators in South Korea.
Daicel Safety Systems Korea will be set up as a wholly owned unit at an industrial park in the eastern city of Yeongcheon. The amount of investment in the project has not been revealed.
Operations at the new facility are to begin near the end of fiscal 2013. Production capacity is expected to reach 3 million units a year, with output mainly supplied to major South Korean auto makers.
This will become Daicel's sixth base for airbag inflators. It already has operations in Japan, the U.S., Thailand, Poland and China.
Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Div.completes its acquisition of Unipoint Group, based in Taipei, Taiwan.
The Bosch Group subsidiary says the purchase will strengthen its position as a leading supplier of starters and alternators, and add another Asian production base to its wiper-blade business unit.
Unipoint Group achieved $124 million in sales in 2010. It employs 2,360 people at two production locations in mainland China and Taiwan, as well as at various sales locations. The Unipoint and NSA brands will be retained.
