The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of Motorola’s automotive electronics systems business by Continental AG under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
Top Technician finalist Roy Lumley I.ENG.MIMI of Technical Car Services, York, has been crowned ‘Top Technician 2006’. Roy beat hundreds of entrants to the winner’s title, trophy and £2,000 cash prize. Lumley was one of only three finalists invited to the Top Technician 2006 Awards Ceremony in Birmingham on 26 May. Stuart White of Complete Car Maintenance, Surrey and Jerry Carroll MIMI of Carroll’s Garage, Renfrewshire were joint runners up and each received £250.
Bosch has reached a production milestone by announcing that it has produced 20 million Electronic Stability Program (ESP) systems since the technology was developed just over a decade ago. The company makes braking control systems at seven plants in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The active safety system detects the onset of skidding in a vehicle and works to counter it without any action by the driver. Recently published studies prove that car driver whose vehicle are fitted cause accidents much more rarely. If every new car were to be fitted with ESP, the number of “single vehicle accidents” resulting in serious injury could be reduced by up to 50 percent.
The names of finalists in the Top Technician 2006 competition will be announced on March 24. The live final will be held at the Automotive Trade Show (25-27 April, NEC Birmingham) on the Top Technician stand, number 1531.
Of the 500 technicians that originally entered, only 36 were invited to attend the semi finals at three regional ATA approved test centres in Croydon, Hinckley and Manchester. They undertook ATA at diagnostic level and were independently assessed for the purposes of the competition by Mark Softley from MototeK and Ian Gillgrass from the IMI.
(Akron/Tire Review) News reports say that Continental AG is looking to purchase portions of struggling Delphi Corp.’s non-U.S. businesses. Continental CEO Manfred Wennemer confirmed the talks at the Geneva Motor Show. “We wouldn’t want any UAW (United Autoworker) factories,” said Wennemer in an interview at the auto show. “There are a lot of other opportunities – Asia, Europe – where we’d be interested in buying. It all depends on what’s available.”
At the opening of a new development and manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China, Franz Fehrenbach, the Chairman of the Bosch Group Board of Management, announced intentions to significantly expand activities into the region.
The number of Bosch manufacturing facilities in the People’s Republic of China has doubled to 20 in the past five years. At the end of 2004, Bosch had invested some 550 million euros in the establishment and expansion of activities. The company now plans to invest a further 650 million euros during the next two years across the country. “Bosch has a strong focus on China. We see it as a core country for our business in the entire Asia-Pacific region” explained Fehrenbach.
TCD will be unveiling its new Bluetooth diagnostic kit at January’s Aftermarket Show.
The device links a Panasonic Tough-Book laptop via Bluetooth connection to Bosch’s KTS 520 diagnostic kit. Coding ensures that no other Bluetooth devices can interfere despite the 100 metre wireless operating range.
Kalyani Brakes Ltd, Bosch’s Indian subsidiary has set up a joint venture with Italian brake company Brembo. The two businesses are set to establish a 50:50 joint-venture company for the application engineering, production and sales of motorcycle brakes following an agreement signed on 17 October 2005.
Bosch, in collaboration with Michelin, has enhanced some of the traditional functions of its Electronic Stability Program, adapting them to work in conjunction with run-flat tyre technologies. The new cluster of enhanced ESP functions is called “Run-Flat Stability Control” (RFS). RFS contributes to maintaining the maximum level of driving safety and mobility even after a loss of tyre pressure.
Entrants who achieve the highest marks in this year’s Top Technician theory test, will be invited to a free training seminar on modern vehicle technology. The seminar will be hosted by newly appointed technical partner, MototeK, helpline provider to many vehicle manufacturers.
The MOT turned 45 this week and has come a long way since its implementation in 1960. The annual check does not only test the brakes, steering, lights etc, as it did in the beginning, but now includes emissions testing too.
Ten years ago Bosch was the first supplier to begin series production of its Electronic Stability Program (ESP) technology. What started as an option for high-end passenger cars is now available as a safety feature on most new cars and vans. The development of ESP can be traced back to 1983 when engineers at Bosch sought to optimise anti-lock braking systems (ABS).
To mark this milestone, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, patron of RoadSafe, attended a reception at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in London to celebrate with leading representatives from the road safety and motor industries.
In a speech at the event, Prince Michael congratulated Bosch on the development and pointed out the important safety benefits that can be derived from the fitment of ESP to all vehicles. He also noted that the installation rate on new cars being registered in the UK had increased from 20 to 29 per cent in only 12 months
Bosch has released the updated 2005 version of its range of DVD-based technical information, ESI[tronic]. The new version of the company’s software package will provide garage technicians with more technical knowledge for problem solving on a wider range of modern vehicles.
Bosch is to open a new development and technology centre in China as part of its 500 million euro investment planned for the Chinese market over the next three years. The facility will be located at Suzhou approximately 80km west of Shanghai and will cost 50 million euros.
The new technology centre will employ around 220 employees and will extend over of some 200,000 sq metres of space. It will concentrate on automotive electronics and brake systems.
On Sunday 17th April thousands of people took to the streets of London to run the 25th Flora London Marathon. BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund, had a team of nine industry members running to raise money for the charity. This is the largest team BEN has ever entered into the gruelling 26.2 mile race and the Fund hopes to raise around £10,000 in sponsorship thanks to the participation and hard work of the runners.
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