I first met Akimasa Yasuoka at the California Air Resources Board meetings. I ran into him again at the 2009 Los Angeles autoshow. He updated me on the demands CARB is making on the auto industry. At the March 2008 Board Hearing, the California Air Resources Board (ARB or the Board) adopted modifications to the [...]
Michael Weiss is the Senior Manager & Strategic Project Manager for the Mercedes-Benz Car Group. Weiss took me on a ride in the Mercedes-Benz 450h. The MBZ 450h is Mercedes' full two-mode hybrid, the first European hybrid in the United States.
Robert S. Carter Group Vice President and General Manager - Toyota Division Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc met me at the Toyota Sienna at the 2009 Los Angeles auto show. Carter talked about the Prius, and the future of the plug-in electric Prius. Carter also talked about the recall because of the pedal/floor mats. Carter [...]
Mark Templin, Lexus division group Vice President and General Manager talked with me at the 2009 Los Angeles autoshow about the amount of hybrids that Lexus has on the market. We were in front of the LFA. Templin told me that only 500 would be made, at a cost of $375,000, and then they "would [...]
2009 Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS) Tony Posawatz, the vehicle line director for the Chevy Volt, and I drove the Chevy Volt in Los Angeles, CA. Posawatz shows me how the car works, the different modes and how to create more regenerative braking.
Ian Robertson is the Chairman of BMW's Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and a board member for the Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG group. The BMW group includes BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI. What is new for these three groups? Robertson talks about the Ghost, how it is made and the price. How is Rolls-Royce doing compared to [...]
Dr. Leopold Mikulic, Vice President, Powertrain, Mercedes-Benz Development talked to Lou Ann Hammond, CEO, www.carlist.com, at the 2009 Los Angeles autoshow. Mikulic compared the S400 and ML450h hybrids. When is the 400 and the 450h at their optimum? What is the difference in fuel efficiency between the gasoline and hybrid vehicles? The hybrid creates no [...]
Dr. Leopold Mikulic, Vice President, Powertrain, Mercedes-Benz Development talked to Lou Ann Hammond, CEO, www.carlist.com, at the 2009 Los Angeles autoshow. Mercedes-Benz has started bringing out hybrids. Mikulic talks about the alternative engineering and the optimization of the vehicle for sustainable mobility. Mikulic also talked about the F-cell, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that is [...]
Mazda North America CEO Jim O'Sullivan talked with Lou Ann Hammond, CEO, www.carlist.com, at the 2009 Los Angeles autoshow. Ford and Mazda used to share a lot of technology. Ford is still the major shareholder of Mazda. Mazda uses direct injection for fuel savings and enhanced performance. Ford uses Eco-boost with turbo-charging. Does O'Sullivan see [...]
2009 Los angeles Auto show - Peter Miles is the executive vice president of BMW. Miles was the first person to point out to me that BMW is the number one Non-Nafta auto exporter. BMW has invested $750 million in the Spartanburg, SC plant to build the X products: X3, X5, and X6. Who does [...]