Autobook Review: “Six Men Who Built the Modern Auto Industry”

Based on the lives of six great icons of the auto industry, this book takes you through their inspiration, egos, collaborative and competitive spirit, and their passion to succeed. Enchantingly written by Richard Johnson, it compels the reader to ride the surf of the auto industry with the six icons.

Each of the six personalities discussed in the book had an aura of zeal about them and have left everlasting imprints on the automotive industry.

Henry Ford II (September 4, 1917 — September 29, 1987): The grandson of the founder of Ford Motor Company was a strategic thought leader and autocratic/aggressive managerial style. His hiring and firing of Lee Iacocca, and propelling the company to become the fourth largest industrial corporation in the world by 1980 when he retired are some of the popular events of his career.

Lee Iacocca (October 15, 1924 - ): He's known as the brains behind the success of the Ford Mustang and a savior of Chrysler. His recognition for his "56 for 56" campaign, then moving up to become the President of the Ford Division, and his differences with Henry Ford II that led to him being fired are some popular parts of his career.

Soichiro Honda (November 17, 1906 – August 5, 1991): He was the father of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., who took the company as well as Japanese car manufacturing industry to new heights. Even at age 77, he held a private pilot's license, loved to ski, hang-glide and enjoyed ballooning.

Eberhard von Kuenheim (October 2, 1928 - ) He's considered as the father of modern BMW, who's credited with transforming a small Bavarian manufacturer into a worldwide name. One of his famous quotes is "At great altitude, the eagle prefers to fly alone."

Robert A. "Bob" Lutz (February 12, 1932 - ) He was instrumental in changing the fates of a Chrysler, GM, and BMW at different points of time. Not just earlier but even recently he was in news when he was criticized by the environmental community for calling global warming "a crock of shit."

Ferdinand Piëch (April 17, 1937 - ) As the Chairman and CEO of the Volkswagen Group, he aggressively led the company to expand to newer market and to make the brands Volkswagen and Audi highly successful.

Six Men Who Built the Modern Auto Industry is a unique book that tells the tales of these high profile men in their own words. It showcases their novel approaches to engineering, manufacturing,
sales and marketing and design, which made their companies highly
successful and made these men into icons.

The book is also distinct as it brings to light several instances that weren't in the public domain before. Coupled with an impeccable research analysis, judgment and eloquence of Richard Johnson, the book provides a uniquely integrated insight into the minds and careers of these geniuses, in addition to the functioning of the post war global auto industry.

During the course of reading one may find repetition at some points in the text, the whole text however is an enjoyable, informative and a memorable read.

Book Details

Title: Six Men Who Built the Modern Auto Industry
Author: Richard A. Johnson
Publisher: Motorbooks (May 28, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0760319588
ISBN-13: 978-0760319581

Purchase It From: Motobooks or Amazon

GM's Torchbearer: CEO, Rick Wagoner

The personality in the limelight of the auto industry at present is the CEO of the world's largest manufacturer of automobiles, G. Richard Wagoner, Jr., General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Rick Wagoner draws the attention of, and inspires confidence in the stakeholders of GM, even during the tough times the US auto industry is faced with. The WSJ reports that the lead independent director of the company, George Fisher thinks that Rick “has a winning formula despite recent setbacks that recently pushed GM's share price to a 26-year low and its market value to below $10 billion.”

The Beginnings

After he earned his MBA from Harvard in 1977, he joined GM the same year as an analyst in the Treasurer's Office in New York. During this time he earned several promotions before he earned the position of a treasurer of GMB (General Motors do Brasil) in São Paulo. Three years past his work as a treasurer he became the executive director of finance for GMB in 1984.

GM Canada

The position of being the vice president and finance manager at GM Canada Limited was his next stop in 1987. Only a year had passed after his stay in Canada and in October 1988, he became group director, strategic business planning, for the erstwhile Chevrolet-Pontiac-GM of Canada Group.

GM Europe

GM Europe beckoned him next, where he served as the vice president in charge of finance for General Motors Europe, Zurich, Switzerland, from 1989 till 1990. However, it seems that General Motors do Brasil's (GMB) affinity attracted him again where he worked as the president and managing director of General Motors do Brasil from 1991 till 1992.

He spent the tenure from 1992 through 1994 as the executive vice president and chief financial officer with an added responsibility to manage GM's worldwide purchasing from 1993 onwards during the same period.

Homecoming To North America

He continued his stint as the executive vice president of GM and took an additional role of being the president of North American Operations since 1994. After four years in these positions and after achieving profitability for the division by effectively curtailing manufacturing costs, he was elected as the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1998. Two years later in 2000, Wagoner became the youngest CEO (at 47) in GM's history, and in 2003 earned the title of chairman.

Wagoner is well known for bringing in top talent to the company from outside, and this practice wasn't a norm for GM till Wagoner started it. His first hire was Steve Harris senior vice president of communications at DaimlerChrysler, whom he persuaded to join GM in 1999.

Now 55, and married to Kathleen "Kathy" Kaylor since 1979, Wagoner has three adult children. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and raised in Richmond, Virginia. When he went to college at the Duke University he discovered his liking for numbers. Encouraged, he went on to graduate in economics. However, this wasn't his original plan, as after playing for the Blue Devils basketball team he wanted to pursue the game professionally!

Wagoner is known to keep personal and professional lives separate and balanced.

Automotive Trade Show: SEMA 2008

The SEMA Show is a leading automotive specialty products trade show in the world. Held annually in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the show attracts more than 120,000 industry experts from over 100 nationalities, thus creating huge business opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV and RV markets.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association or SEMA exhibition throughout its history has been held during the first week of November and on a Tuesday. However, last year's show (SEMA Show 2007) was held from October 30-November 2, 2007. However, the exhibition is NOT open to general public!

Just like the previous years, the 2007 exhibition was a grand success. The SEMA Show 2007 attracted about 60,000 domestic and international buyers for exhibits organized in ten categories. The intriguing part of the show was New Products Showcase where more than 2,000 newly introduced parts, tools and components were displayed. The exhibits alone occupied two million square feet of exhibits.

The show features state of the art products pertaining to the following categories:

1. Business Services: This category entails services with a focus on automotive industry and showcases hardware, software, computers, financial services, store fixtures, warehouse equipment, fleet services, personnel & human resources services and systems, CAD systems and consultants.
2. Hot Rod Alley: The products featured in this category include street rod/hot rod custom and specialty parts, tires and accessories, bodies, alternators, catalytic converters, brake systems including disc brakes, electrical systems and components, chassis parts, gauges, aluminum radiators, exhaust systems,valve covers, sheet metal, shocks, and wiring kits.
3. Mobile Electronics & Technology: This category includes sound systems, LCD video devices & systems, MP3, DVD, CD, satellite radio, telematics, security systems, CB, GPS, on-board technology, antennas, cellular telephones and accessories, computer chips and PROMs and radar detectors.
4. Performance Tires & Wheels (Sponsored by TIA): This special category caters products for racing, performance, street, track and off-road tires and wheels for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. Furthermore, you'd also find single and multi-piece wheels, aluminum alloy, steel, forged and cast. Tire and wheel accessories, including lug nuts, hubcaps, wheel studs, and spinners. Additionally on display are tires meant for agricultural, industrial, medium-duty, heavy-duty and OTR vehicles. Lastly featured are, there's alignment equipment, changers balancers, and tire changing tools.
5. Racing & Performance: As the category title suggests, this section includes performance and racing products, including engine parts, fuel injection, carburetors, shifters, gears, nitrous oxide systems, racing fuels, racing safety equipment, sport compact enhancements, superchargers, performance brakes, turbochargers, gears, racing accessories, performance enhancements, racing suits, lighting, car haulers and engine building equipment.
6. Restoration Marketplace: This unique section is the place to look for replacement parts, tires and accessories for muscle cars, classics and restored vehicles 20 years of age and even older.
7. Restyling & Accessories: This category has been customized for customization products that include paints, striping and graphics, lenses, interior enhancements, ground effects, headliners and door panels, louvers, sun visors, shades, power windows and door accessories, light bars, headlight/taillight covers, dashboards and covers, floor mats, seat covers and sheepskins, steering wheels and steering wheel covers, sun-roofs, window film, ground effects, racks and spoilers.
8. Tools & Equipment: Without this category around the automotive industry would come to a standstill, it features lathes, grinders, dynamometers, air conditioning, hand tools, body shop, hoists and lifts, jacks, power tools, paint booths, containers, electrical, testers.
9. Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road: Truck and SUVs are unique by their very nature and hence a distinct section is dedicated to this class of vehicles. The category entails caps, bedliners, camper shells, tonneau covers, carriers, bed rails, grilles, towing accessories, bumpers, tool boxes, nerf bars, roll bars, roof racks, brush guards, off-road lighting and light bars, fender flares, running boards, shocks and struts, suspension components, springs and boosters, tie downs, tow ropes, straps, van accessories, off-road accessories and winches.
10. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM): One of the highlights of the show is that its serves as a catalyst in promoting the benefits of sharing in business-to-business transactions. Consequently it continues to build upon mutually beneficial linkages between its member companies and OEMs.

The show's key details are:

• Show Name: SEMA Show 2008
• Dates: November 4, 2008 till November 7, 2008
• Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

If you're an exhibitor, then the registration will be available in July, 2008. You can visit the official site for registration and other details, it can be found here: SEMA Show

The Canadian Auto Industry Present & Future

The Canadian auto industry’s production may well have declined this year with the profits projected to drop by 14.7 per cent to $1.5 billion, the latest report released by the Conference Board of Canada suggests a brighter outlook in 2009.

After a great showing in auto production and sales during the beginning of the millennium, Canada’s auto production has recently been negatively affected. Despite, the stepped down production, the Q1 sales for 2008 have been 372 243, which is still higher than the 2007 figure of 348 991 in the same quarter.

The Pale Present

Since the industry went down after 2002, the total number of job losses in Canada's auto parts industry has been 32,000 and was the highest in the year 2004. International competition from Mexico and China is said to have contributed to these job losses. However, as per the projections, the employment figures are slated to show some stability and range from 107,000 and 108,300 workers till 2012.

As has already been conceded by General Motors Corp that the US auto industry is in recession, this factor too has contributed to Canada’s falling production figures. Canada exported US $75.5 billion worth of automotive goods to the U.S. in 2006. Ranked at the 9th position in the world for motor vehicle production, Canada was a major automobile producer in North America with a share of 16.2 % in 2007. The Canadian suppliers are expected to face some rough weather ahead this year as about 57% of their products are shipped to the United States, the reports suggests. The decrease is expected to be around 14.7% or $1.5 billion in fiscal terms.

The present recession in the US markets have already forced the automakers to slash their prices by a big margin, however despite their efforts the sales are forecasted to be the lowest in the past ten years. On the other hand it is expected to be a third successive fall in sales for auto part manufacturers.

Amongst other challenges that the industry faces is the competing with low-cost foreign suppliers of auto parts viz. braking system, automobile transmission system, automobile engine, etc.

The Hale Future

The Canadian economists suggest that while the industry is experiencing tough time, the continuing investment in the sector, and the high efficiency of the Canadian manufacturers has the potential to lead to job sustainability.

The weather is supposed to change for the better by 2009 as the demand for products in the US gains pace and new manufacturing units surface towards the end of 2008.


Already in the pipeline is the opening Honda's Alliston, Ontario manufacturing unit by the end of 2008. Further, coupled with the production increases of the Toyota's new plant in Woodstock, Ontario it will perk up production by 6.9 per cent in 2009.

Adding to the momentum of growth would be the stable performance of the manufacturing units of Ford Motor Co, General Motors Corp in both US and Canada as a consequence of the new labor contracts valid till 2011. The measures taken to provide tax rebates by the federal and provincial governments would further aid suppliers of parts and automotive tools.

The forecast also includes better exchange rates, and export activity picking up to serve a varied international clientèle, and cause the profits to reach $1.9 billion by 2012. With so many changes taking place in the economic environment the profits after falling in the recent future would stabilize and continue to increase at the rate of 5.7% to 5.8%.

All in all, there’s undoubtedly some hard time ahead for the industry in the coming months, but thankfully the gloom isn’t going to last long and boom would surface by the year-end. At this point I remember a quote from Benjamin Disraeli, "Nothing can resist the human will that will stake even its existence on its stated purpose."

Recommended visit: Automotive-Online.com

Auto China 2008

Auto China 2008 that lasted from April 20 till April 28 and held in Beijing was an opportune moment for domestic automakers like Geely, Chery, and BYD as well as several international players to showcase their products and technologies. Many international players have already tied up with the Chinese manufacturers to produce medium and high-end models.

The Theme of the event was “Dream, Harmony, New Vision.” There were well over 1000 participants at the event. Many brands such as the Vios from FAW Toyota, the Mazda 2 from Changan Ford Mazda, the new Aveo from Shanghai General Motors, Yaris from Guangzhou Toyota appealed a lot to the Chinese customers.

Estimates put the figures of car ownership in China to grow to 100 per every 1,000 people by 2015 and for 2030 vary between 178 to 269 per 1,000 people.

The following are the key details of the event:

Exhibition Name: 2008 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition
Theme: Dream, Harmony, New Vision
Venue: China International Exhibition Center

The Supercar Weber F1: Is Automobile Engine The Secret Of Its Speed?

With its top speed claimed to be 249 mph plus (or 400km/h) this speedy monster is quite capable to give your neighbor sleepless nights. Weber’s Faster One seems to possess all the power it takes to make the owner proud.

Although the car’s been trashed by some for its looks, many don’t seem to share this opinion. The aerodynamics and the powerful engine generating nearly 900 horsepower are what intrigue most.

The Automobile’s Engine

The car houses the already existing LS7 Corvette small-block 7-liter, V8 engine, with a couple of tweaks to enhance performance. The engine’s featherweight Aluminum block has gotten a face lift with the installation of state of the art components. These high-grade automobile parts entail a precision-balanced crankshaft and precision-balanced piston rods coupled with forged pistons.

The camshaft of the engine is known to have high performance timing, which is supported by two cylinder heads with larger valves. Further the intake/outlet ports have been tuned for optimal mixture flow.

Moreover, even the peripherals of the engine of the automobile have been altered with the finesse of Swiss engineers. These engineering feats include a specially designed high-performance fuel injection system and a supercharging system assisted by a single mechanical belt-driven supercharger for each bank of cylinders.

As for the exhaust system, it’s been made from stainless steel and incorporates metal catalysts that has a low back pressure. It is further supported by a muffler bypass valve that unleashes a some great acoustic performance.

The engine’s enormously high capacity and forced induction leads to a magnificent power output of 662kW at 7 000r/min and 1050Nm at 3 800r/min.

Apparently, the car’s not so “aesthetic” design tuned for aerodynamics than appeal is also a big factor contributing to its speedy performance. For instance it totally lacks door handles as even they can increase drag, the underside too has been finished to matchless smoothness, and the whole Aluminum frame weighs only 65Kg.

Undoubtedly, with so much of adroitness going into its design, the supercar accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds. Needless to mention the price tag of this masterpiece is around US$1.5 million! So are you ready for it?

Gear Up For An Automatic Automobile Braking System!

Come year 2020 and the big automaker Volvo could roll out a car that’s supposed to be “injury proof.” This car would achieve this feat by incorporating an automatic braking system and a steering system as well. Its automated braking and steering would be heavily assisted by the data about what lies ahead of it, supplied by a high tech electronic system installed within.

Deaths on road due to crashes make up for the highest percentage of deaths due to injury. About 1.2 million people die and about 50 million are injured in road accidents each year. Further, each day over 1000 children and youngsters below the age of 25 years are killed in road traffic accidents. Apparently, the situation is quite grim, and with more and more automobiles surfacing on road everyday, the figures could be worse if proactive measures aren’t taken to curb it.

Showing prudence and resolve the popular carmaker seems to have led the way to make cars safer and their occupants safe. Although, still being worked upon by the R&D teams of the company, the would-be system of steering and braking in automobiles is being hailed as quite a revolution in car safety, akin to the invention of seat belts.

Be it any brake system, such as the ones comprising disc brakes, hydraulic brakes, drum brakes or power brakes, the proposed system supersedes them all by including automation as one of the brake components.

The development of the steering and braking system for Volvo's project has entailed borrowing knowledge from other industries such as aviation, and strives to build a safety system that forestalls the accident hours, rather than seconds before the accident.

Consideration of car safety is pertinent and widespread amongst buyers of new cars, perhaps improving car safety has a great potential to translate into real profits for car makers, in addition to its intended objective. If the technology’s implementation goes on smoothly, then in a couple of years’ time, car occupants could walk out safe from potentially deadly car crashes.