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AUTOMOTIVE / INDUSTRY

Bose Moves From Ears To Backsides
First it was sound systems; then came suspension systems; now Bose is having a crack at making expensive truck seats.


Ford Falcon To Become Wi Fi Hotspot?
Consumers who buy a Ford Falcon could in the near future be driving around in a Wi-Fi hotspot. The new in-car technology will be shown at the 2010 CES Expo in Las Vegas, where Ford is set to give a keynote speech.


Headcam Parking Officers Coming Soon
Local Australian councils that are concerned over the safety of their rangers and traffic enforcement officers can now use web cams built into a hat to help identify what happened in the event of an incident.


Pioneer To Promote Safe Driving
Pioneer is launching a new campaign that will highlight the safety aspects of its own in-car navigation and entertainment products.


ACCC Takes Action Over Tool King Trolly Jacks
Incorrectly labelled trolley jacks have been withdrawn from sale after Australian Competition and Consumer Commission intervention. The move comes after it was revealed that 29 people alone have died in Victoria from the failure of trolly jacks.


Taxis To Improve GPS Traffic Service
Intelematics is planning to utilize traffic cameras and taxis to improve its real-time traffic channel service.


Saab Sold To Company Than Only Builds 18 Cars A Year
A company that builds only 18 cars a year with 45 staff is set to buy Swedish car company Saab from the struggling General Motors for $700M.


TEAC Sponsor Ford Performance Racing
TEAC Australia has announced the company’s sponsorship of Ford Performance Racing (FPR) for 2009 and 2010.


Pioneer Looks For Deal On Car Navigation
Pioneer who last month walked away from the plasma display market is believed to be in talks with Mitsubishi Electric, Alpine Electronics and Clarion over thesetting up of a common manufacturing operation for car navigation and auto entertainment systems.


Electric Bikes An Option For Harvey Norman
If the going gets tough at Harvey Norman there is always another option-electric motor cycles which are proving to be in big demand during the economic downturn. According to reports out of the US the biggest consumer electronics retailer Best Buys will next month start selling a $12,000 electric motorcycle with Geek Squad workers providing repair services in empty car A/V installation bays according to TWICE Magazine.


Strathfield Calls In Administrators Debts Close To $40M
The Strathfield Group, who are better known as Strathfield Car Radio, has been placed into administration. Contributing to the company's problems were poor Christmas/New Year trading and a lack of capital to buy new stock. It is also believed that two major risk insurers refused to extend credit to the troubled group.


Panasonic To Connect A Car To A HD TV
Powerline technology that allows devices to be seen and managed over existing electrical cables is set to be big at CES 2009 with several Companies ranging from audio distribution Companies to traditional networking Companies set to roll out new poweline based products.


Panasonic Set To Be Massive With Sanyo Deal
Panasonic is set to become a massive consumer electronics Company next year when they take over the struggling Sanyo Electric. Turnover will be over $116 Billion with the acquisition set to deliver Panasonic additional expertise in batteries and solar panels two of the biggest growth areas going forward for the consumer electronics industry.


OZ Electric Car Set To Be Plugged In Near You
Australians may have an electric car in a few years and recharge it at special plug-in points at home, the office or shopping centres. Energy pusher AGL and finance group Macquarie Capital signed with international group Better Place to provide infrastructure to support the project.


Linked Speed Cameras Set To Big Revenue Earners
The cash strapped NSW Government is investigating the use of digital speed cameras that will monitor drivers’ average speed on roads from the start of a trip to the end of a trip.Currently being tested in the UK the camera are expected to be big revenue earners.


Digital Radio Gives On-The-Spot Traffic Conditions
RACV subsidiary Intelematics has begun testing a new free-to-air service that will allow radio stations to deliver traffic flow information directly to motorists’ digital radios, including time taken to travel along motorways and major arterial roads.


JVC Kenwood To Take On Pioneer In Car Entertainment
After two years of courting JVC and Kenwood have finally revealed what their long-awaited merger will deliver with an announcement that their primary focus will be the car electronics business, a market that will take them smack up against Pioneer Electronics.


Councils To Use Detection Technology To Grab Parking Revenue
First they hid round corners now traffic wardens are using the latest in detection technology to nick people who overstay in a parking bay. And guess what? Local councils who lost millions in the recent Wall Street melt down are groveling to get their hands on the new money generator sensors


Cable Free Powerline Technology Is Here But What Is The Benefit?
The launch by NuVo of a new distributed multi zone audio system that can operate over a common old electrical wiring network without the need for addditional cables is a major step forward for home owners who do not have the money or the capacity to run new sound and ethernet cables. Described as ideal for the retro fit renovation the new system according to NuVo can be installed in a day by an electrican. But what is Powerline HomePlug technology and how advanced is it.


iPod Claims Another Victim, Car Stereo
Car stereo is on the nose with the humble iPod cannibalising sales. Among those set to be hurt are Kenwood, Alpine Electronics and Pioneer Electronics. Instead drivers are investing in a new generation of navigation systems that are not made by the traditional car sound manufacturers.


Sony Announces Major Changes To Its AV Division
Sony Australia has announced a structural change to its consumer AV / IT sales division to “reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering an effective and efficient model for its retail partners”, according to the company.


Sanyo To Make Batteries For Honda & Ford
According to reports, Sanyo Electric may jointly develop lithium-ion batteries for the next-generation hybrid vehicles for Honda Motor and Ford, the company said.


Petrol Price Increases Fuel Sales Of Hybrid Car
Lexus says the 11.6 per cent increase in sales for its hybrid luxury vehicles is due to rising fuel costs. The companies recently released sales figures show sales of its hybrid models topped 470 at the end of May, which was up on the same time last year.


Sanyo To Make Electric Cars
According to a Reuters report, electronics giant Sanyo and Volkswagen car maker Audi are planning to work together on a new pilot hybrid project for the Volkswagen Group.


Sharp Points To Higher Contrast Car LCD Panels
Sharp says it plans to begin selling its car-use LCD panels with a contrast ratio of 2500:1 in this year, and tests for its incorporation into vehicles are being conducted, according to digitimes.com.


ACCC Ousts Audi Over Ads
Car dealer Audi Australia is in trouble with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for advertising which is classes as misleading in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974.


Buell Reduces Motorcycle Prices
Motorcycle Company Buell has reduced the prices of its XB models, will be providing free on-road costs with selected XB models, and will be releasing a limited edition Lightning Super TT for the Australian market.


Asus To Focus On Computers For The Car And Loungeroom
Computer-makers will spend more of their time researching and manufacturing technology for the digital home and in-car entertainment markets rather than the traditional PC, according to Asus product manager - component, Albert Liang.


$12 Tech Part Could Cost Lew Hamilton F1 Championiship
The UK newspaper the News Of The World has revealed that a $12 tech gadget found attached to a Ferrari Formula One car is now the subject of a $300 million dollar spy scandal that could cost British driving ace Lewis Hamilton the F1 World Championship.


Sony Makes Waves With Boat Audio
Sony has launched its first complete range of entertainment products designed for the marine market. The range consists of a splash-proof unit, four sets of 6-inch speakers, a 10-inch subwoofer, a four-channel amplifier, and a remote control.


AT&T Williams F1 Team Gets Lenovo Supercomputer
Lenovo has given the AT&T Williams F1 team a tech upgrade in the form of what it calls a powerful new supercomputer that aims to optimize the aerodynamics of the team’s Formula One cars.


A Harley-Davidson For All
If you have always wanted a Harley, but couldn’t swallow the price that goes with one, there is good news; Harley-Davidson has introduced an entry-level Sportster range with a model under $11,000.


Pollution Spy Camera Set To Nick Motorists
A "spy" camera that pinpoints heavy polluting cars is being tested in the UK. However, several Australian governments have been approached with a view to them buying the technology for use in this country.


Porsche To Go All Green
Car Magazine in the UK has claimed in an exclusive story that Porsche's next Cayenne and Panamera vehicles will get petrol-electric hybrid engines, as the firm strives to reduce CO2 emissions.


TomTom Unveils New Corporate Identity
Navigation solution provider TomTom has unveiled a new corporate identity and logo.


Who Has The Best In Car Entertainment Systems?
In car entertainment is a fast growing segment of the market with some big brands battling it out for supremacy. So who are the biggest and the best?


Lighten Your Load With 1800-Got-Junk?
With 230 franchises around the U.S.A., 1800-Got-Junk? is a rubbish removal service that recycles approximately 60 percent of all junk collected. The service is now available in Sydney with Australian resident, Gary Kemper, starting the first Australian franchise.


Smart Cars Talk Back
Smart Cars are about to talk back, or text back at least, with the launch of BeepMe this month.


BMW Joins Porn Sites
BMW has joined a long list of porn operators by being banned by Google for cheating. The giant search engine Company Google has flexed its muscles and dropped BMW from its global search engine following the German car manufacturer’s attempts to artificially boost its popularity ranking similar to the way porn operators attract traffic to a site. Also set to join the banned list is Ricoh.


Intel & BMW Team Up
The computer chip industry's biggest rivalry just expanded from the computer rack to the race track. Intel has said it will sponsor BMW's Sauber Formula One racing team, pitting it against competitor AMD which sponsors a Ferrari car.


Technology Failure Embarrases Mercedes: Picture
Mercedes has been seriously embarrased be a massive technology failure that has cost them 3 cars and more than $500,000.


HP Sacks BMW Williams
HP who are struggling to cut costs have sacked the highly succesful BMW Williams Formula 1 team. The move follows the sacking of 6,000 employees earlier this week.


iPod Phone For Cars Coming Soon?
Speculation is mounting that Apple and Motorola plan to unveil a mobile phone and music player next week that will incorporate Apple's iTunes software a phone and up to 3 Gigabytes of storage.



 



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