◆
25 ◆
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE
OCTOBER 3, 2005
Suppliers to the new Mercedes-Benz S class
The eighth-generation Mercedes-Benz S class is available with an infrared
night vision system from Germany’s Robert Bosch. The system uses
sensors built into the front-light module to help extend the driver’s visual
range at night. Mercedes says that during trials drivers could recognize
test dummies dressed in dark clothes 164 meters compared with
72 meters without the system. Automotive Lighting supplies the front
INSTANT START SYSTEM
FOR DIESELS:
BERU
TAILOR WELDED
BLANK:
ARCELOR
PASSENGER AIRBAG
HOUSING AS TIER 2 TO TRW:
ALCOA
EXHAUST MANIFOLDS:
TENNECO
lights themselves. German climate control specialist Behr delivers the
car’s air conditioning system, which can provide different levels of heating/cooling to four separate zones of the car. Starting in 1999, the
previous-generation S class was the first car to offered optional adaptive
cruise control. The system came from A.D.C., which was majority owned
by Temic Telefunken at the time. Temic, which is now a part of
STANDARD TUNER/
AMPLIFIER FOR
EUROPE AND JAPAN:
ALPINE
FRONT & REAR
HVAC:
BEHR
INTERIOR AUTO-DIMMING
MIRROR:
GENTEX
SUNROOF:
INALFA
Continental Automotive Systems of Germany, supplies the S class with its
new ACC solution, which functions in stop-and-go traffic. The old system
worked at speeds as low as 30kph. The S class gets its brakes and electronic stability control system from Continental Teves, which is also part
of Continental Automotive Systems. The previous S class had braking
and ESC from Bosch.
– Alex Graham
PANORAMIC SUNROOF FOR
LONG-WHEELBASE VARIANT:
WEBASTO
ALARM:
DELPHI
REAR
PARCEL SHELF:
BORGERS
MODULAR
HEADLINER:
LEAR
ACTIVE CONTROL
RETRACTOR SEAT BELTS:
TRW AUTOMOTIVE
ACOUSTIC HEAT
SHIELDS:
SEVEX
REAR SEAT
ENTERTAINMENT:
JOHNSON CONTROLS
CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS:
ELRINGKLINGER
EXHAUST SEATS FOR 5.5-LITER
V-12 BI-TURBO GASOLINE ENGINE:
FEDERAL-MOGUL
BUMPERS:
DYNAMIT NOBEL
ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCKS
FOR 3.0-LITER V-6 DIESEL ENGINE:
HYDRO
CLEARCOATS:
BASF, PPG
ADAPTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM:
THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN
VARIABLE GEOMETRY TURBO
FOR 3.0 LITER V-6 DIESEL ENGINE:
HONEYWELL
SEAL FOR AIR SPRING:
BUSAK + SHAMBAN
SEALS FOR 3.O-LITER
V-6 DIESEL ENGINE:
FREUDENBERG
AIR SPRINGS:
VIBRACOUSTIC
HEADLIGHTS:
AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING
BRAKE SHIMS:
EAGLEPICHER WOLVERINE
NIGHT VISION:
BOSCH
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE AS
TIER 2 TO CONTINENTAL TEVES:
KÜSTER
RADIATOR:
VALEO
DOOR SYSTEMS:
BROSE
CONDENSOR:
MODINE
GLASS RUN
CHANNELS PROFILES:
WAGON
ADAPTIVE CRUISE
CONTROL:
CONTITEMIC
DOOR PANELS:
FAURECIA
TURBINE DAMPER:
LUK
EXHAUST PIPE
CONNECTIONS:
RASMUSSEN
(NORMA)
RESISTANCE WELDING
ELECTRODES:
OUTOKUMPU STEEL
POWER STEERING
OIL COOLER:
DANA
TECHNICAL ADHESIVE TAPES:
SCAPA
FRONT STABILIZERS:
ALLEVARD REJNA
WHEEL ARCH
LINERS:
SEEBER
ACTIVE BODY
CONTROL DAMPERS:
ZF
BRAKE BOOSTER
LINES:
COOPER-STANDARD
STEERING GEAR:
THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA
STEERTEC
GLOVEBOX LATCH
SYSTEM:
SOUTHCO
Audi designed its Q7 SUV for the US, where it expects to sell half of its annual volume.
Audi aims to triple US sales
Company expects
Q7 and Q5 SUVs
to lead volume charge
DIANA T. KURYLKO
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE
Audi has set its sights on challenging BMW and Lexus in the US luxury-car market over the next eight
years.
The push, led by new and
redesigned products, will take the
German carmaker to US sales of
more than 250,000 cars and trucks a
year, executives said. Currently
Audi has US sales far below 100,000
units a year.
“We want to hit BMW’s level,”
Ralph Weyler, board member for
sales and marketing, said in an
interview at the IAA in Frankfurt.
BMW sold 260,079 vehicles in the
US last year.
“We want to be successful in the
US. We feel the potential is high,”
Weyler said. “We have sold 86,000
cars a year in the US, but we could
triple that.”
Audi sold a record 86,421 cars in
the US in 2003, but sales fell off
sharply last year to 77,917. Sales for
the first eight months of this year
are flat at 51,802.
Analysts skeptical
Analysts are skeptical of Audi’s
ability to hit the ambitious goal, but
Weyler said new product will lead
the charge.
Audi’s US dealers have never had
an SUV to sell, but soon they will
have two.
The roomy Q7 SUV, based on the
Volkswagen
Touareg/Porsche
Cayenne platform, debuts in the US
next year.
Audi expects US sales of the Q7 to
reach 30,000 units annually,
accounting for half of the car’s total
production.
The Q7 is expected to generate
the kind of magic for Audi that vehicles such as the Volvo XC90 and
Lexus RX330 have brought to
Audi’s competition.
The smaller Q5 SUV will debut in
2007 and give Audi a further
increase in volume. In addition,
Audi plans to bring a hybrid version
of the Q7 by 2008.
Also in the pipeline: A two-seat,
mid-engine halo car aimed at the
Porsche 911, which will debut in
the first half of 2007. It will be followed by a luxury coupe to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS
class.
This year, the new A3 five-door
hatchback reached showrooms, as
did the redesigned A4.
“These cars aren’t a wish list but a
clear strategy,” Weyler said. “We
have all the ingredients, style and
quality. We have to intensify our position and shape our profile.” ANE
STOWAGE BOX/
ARM REST:
OLHO TECHNIK
ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM:
DRÄXLMAIER
KEYLESS ENTRY DOOR HANDLES :
HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST
Suppliers wanted
If you are a supplier and have
questions or want your information
considered for our cutaway features,
contact Alex Graham at
[email protected]
supply line
we see the most promising growth
market over the next five years.”
– Paulo Soares de Oliveira
BorgWarner wins
transmission deal
Karsai plans 8th
plant in c. Europe
BorgWarner will supply an undisclosed European customer with
its dual-clutch transmission technology, which it calls DualTronic.
The US supplier says the program is expected to begin production in late 2007. The
technology allows a manual
transmission to work like an automatic transmission. The solution
can improve emissions and fuel
efficiency compared with traditional automatics.
BorgWarner also said at last
month’s IAA in Frankfurt that it will
supply its technology to Getrag, a
German powertrain manufacturer.
The technology will be used on
luxury passenger cars with V-6, V8 and V-10 gasoline and diesel
engines. It’s now on a number of
Volkswagen and Audi vehicles,
including the VW Golf and Passat
and the Audi A3 Sportback.
BorgWarner
also
supplies
engine-air management and allwheel-drive systems.
– Staff report
PRAGUE – Plastics group Karsai
Holding is building a E4.12 million
plant near Tiszaujvaros in northeastern Hungary.
The 10,000 square-meter factory
will start production in early 2006
and will employ 50 workers to
make plastic parts for cars, electronics and household appliances.
Karsai Holding currently has
seven factories in Hungary and
Romania that specialize in plastic
production.
– Lyle Frink
Globe Motors
expands in Porto
PORTO, Portugal – US supplier
Globe Motors is investing E40
million to expand its only
European plant here.
The company will add a
research and development facility
and expand its Porto plant to
15,000 square meters from 5,000
square meters. Globe Motors produces electric power-assisted
steering motors.
Said Greg Malenich, Globe
Motors’ European sales director:
“Steering technologies is where
Delphi wins
Hyundai contract
Delphi will supply Hyundai and
subsidiary Kia with its Multec
diesel common-rail system starting early next year.
The Euro 5-compliant system
will be used on two engine families in models sold in Europe,
Korea and other markets.
Formerly owned by General
Motors, Delphi is working to boost
business with other carmakers.
– Staff report
Bosch boosts
Turkey production
Robert Bosch will build a E15.5 million plant at Bursa, Turkey, to make
its third-generation common-rail
diesel fuel-injection system.
Production at the new plant is
due to start next spring.
Bosch currently manufactures
diesel-injection components in
Bursa and employs 3,900 people
at the site.
– Staff report