Volt’s Battery Executive to join California startup
General Motors Co.'s global director of rechargeable energy storage systems, in-charge of developing batteries for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is set to leaving the post to take a position with an unnamed startup battery company in California.
Denise Gray, 46, global director of rechargeable energy storage systems, will step down March 5 after more than three years in the post. This was “an opportunity that I could just not resist,” Gray said in a phone interview. “The good thing is I will be in the energy, advanced-battery area that I really truly believe has a promising future.”
The Volt, GM's flagship for a fuel-saving future, is designed to travel 40 miles on its battery before the gasoline engine starts. The vehicle will roll out slowly, starting in California. Production is targeted at 8,000 to 10,000 in the first full year. GM plans to ramp up to 50,000 to 60,000 annually.
Toyoda apologizes, says automaker must ‘rethink everything’
Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda apologized to U.S. lawmakers probing safety lapses and broke down, saying the automaker must overhaul the way it does business to recover.
Toyoda faced questions about a massive recall that has rocked Toyota's reputation and told U.S House members he was "deeply sorry" for accidents and injuries involving its cars.
He said Toyota had lost its way during a period of fast growth but vowed to steer it back to the values that made it a watchword for quality.
Cheered by Toyota plant workers and dealers at an event organized by the automaker Wednesday evening in Washington, Toyoda broke into tears under a giant display bearing the name of the company.
"I believe that Toyota has always worked for the benefit of the United States," Toyoda said. "I tried to convey that message from the heart, but whether it was broadly understood or not, I don't know."
He also offered a sober assessment of the challenges still ahead: "We at Toyota are at a crossroad. We need to rethink everything about our operation."
"It was good that the Toyota president himself appeared before the panel and testified," Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.
"I don't think this marks the end of everything. He spoke of working to make improvements. This is a matter involving cars -- that affects people's lives -- so the important thing is pay close attention to safety and to fulfill its aim to make improvements where they are needed. I'm hopeful, and I think they will do so."
Japanese Trade Minister Masayuki Naoshima said Toyota's problems could have an impact on the image of Japanese products and that he wanted the carmaker to win back customer trust.
Hummer sale fails
General Motors will wind down its famous Hummer brand after a proposed sale to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co. Ltd. fell through.
According to a statement released by GM - Tengzhong “was unable to complete the acquisition”. The Chinese company failed to win government approval of the sale.
GM will honor warranties, provide spare parts and will support service for Hummers worldwide, the automaker said. GM has 153 U.S. Hummer dealers, spokeswoman Ryndee Carney said in an e-mail.
The failed deal likely seals the fate of the last of GM's four U.S. brands on chopping block. GM is winding down Saturn after its sale fell through in September. Pontiac is also being phased out. GM yesterday completed the sale of Saab to Dutch niche carmaker Spyker Cars NV.
Complex car controls may confuse drivers
A study has shown that complex controls and complicated gadgets may be confusing drivers and can put them in a fatal situation during an emergency.
Cars are increasingly adopting newer technologies which enable drivers to control lot of new gadgets and also inroduce new ways of controlling cars like transmission's shifter and ignition switch. But, this technology can make critical functions, such as shifting into neutral or reverse or shutting off the ignition in an emergency, confusing for drivers. And confused drivers means less safety on roads.
Recently, the problems plaguing Toyota's cars have focussed attention to these newer and complex technologies which are phasing old older & familiar controls with complex alternative control schemes.
More deaths may be linked to recalled Toyotas
Complaints of deaths connected to accelerator in Toyota vehicles have risen in recent weeks, with the alleged death toll reaching 34 since 2000, according to new consumer data gathered by the government.
Complaints to a database maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the popular Toyota Prius hybrid rose by almost 1,000 in just over a week.
On Monday, Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair said NHTSA is quickly gathering information to help guide the government's examination of sudden acceleration, the Prius braking system and other safety issues.
Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles world over during the past four months because of problems with gas pedals, floor mats and brakes, threatening the safety and quality reputation of the world's No. 1 car maker. verified.