Automotive Design & Production articles

Recent articles from Automotive Design & Production

Rise & fall & rise again.(Marginal)(human development)
February 1, 2009... If you read just one book this year about what it takes to be successful, then it ought to be Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin (Portfolio; $25.95). Forget about Malcolm Gladwell *. If you're going to readjust one book this year, then (1) this book will cause you to read more books,...

Why does the shift in consumer demand toward small cars seem so surprising?(Surprise?)
June 1, 2008... So now people are buying small cars. The Ford Focus, despite that it is considered by some to be lacking vis-a-vis the benchmarks in the category (e.g., the Honda Civic, which has styling but not Sync), has become a crazy hit in the Ford lineup. The popularity of the Focus--the company moved...

Farley's job one: Jim Farley has what some might say is the most difficult--yet possibly the most rewarding -- job in the auto industry, if he can pull off a monumental task.
June 1, 2008... He's only been on the job leading Ford's marketing and communications group for four months, but Jim Farley admits that shortly after taking the job he went to visit a psychologist. No, it's not because he was second-guessing his decision. It was his neighbors' reaction that caused concern....

Euro developments in hybrids (including hydrogen); Although this still may be in the conceptual stages, aggressive work is going on in the U.K. focused on alternative powertrains.
June 1, 2008... European Correspondent Earlier this year, the first-ever manned flight of a fuel cell-powered light aircraft completed testing in Spain. It was modified by Boeing Research Technology Europe to incorporate a hybrid low-emission engine, containing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell...

India rising: while there is plenty of attention placed on China, don't overlook the power of India.
June 1, 2008... It doesn't take much examination of the global competitive landscape to see that India is emerging as a formidable competitor to the United States. Over the next decade, India's growing economy and burgeoning automotive sector will present perhaps more of a threat to the U.S. than China. With...