Autoblog

Delphi to offer clever DIY smartphone interface for older cars

Chris Tutor — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, CES, Technology

Those of us with an older car might be feeling a bit jealous of all the new cars with their fancy smart phone apps. But if you have a 1996 or newer vehicle, you may soon be able to bring your car closer to those new-fangled models.

Autoblog spoke with Craig Tieman, advanced concepts and market development manager for Delphi, at the 2013 CES in Las Vegas Monday night about Delphi's Connected Car device. The matchbox-sized box plugs into a car's OBDII port to provide a link from your smartphone to your car.

From there, things get really interesting. After scanning your car's onboard computers, the little black box pairs with your smart phone and offers a choice of key fob designs on the screen. Choose the one that most resembles your car's original fob, and you're ready to go. Essentially, the smartphone app replaces all of the functions of your fob. Honk the panic button, open the doors, remote start, etc.

Using the OBDII connection, Delphi's gadget can also be used as an error code scanner to help you determine the source of your car's problems. Depending on the model of your car, the smartphone app can even display fuel level, battery health, and several other datapoints including a list of all trips, average speed, etc.

More? Okay. The Connected Car also can provide location information. If your teen driver sets out in the snow, you can track the vehicle's route in almost real time. Using your smart phone, you can even set up virtual geofencing boundaries that, if crossed, will send you an email. So you'll know when Junior is taking your Camaro to the drag strip, or when your little Snowflake is visiting that older boy you told her she couldn't see any more.

All this is can be done using Verizon's mobile service, so you can access the information from anywhere your phone can receive a signal. No phone? A web browser interface is also available.

If you're trying to unlock your car deep within your underground bunker and have no cell service, the Connected Car also includes a Bluetooth module. Once paired, cell service isn't needed for most of the basic functions.

Tieman says this is only the beginning, pledging to expect new functionality soon after the device is launched in February. Pricing of the Connected Car, to be sold by Verizon, as well as the service fees, haven't been determined. But, hey... it's got to be cheaper than buying a new car.

Delphi to offer clever DIY smartphone interface for older cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UAW calls for investigation into Romney ethics violations over possible profits from auto bailouts

Scott Burgess — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:21:00 EST

Filed under: UAW/Unions

The United Autos Workers, which has endorsed President Barack Obama, announced Thursday that its members want the US Office of Government Ethics to investigate Gov. Mitt Romney for violations.

The UAW leadership held a press conference in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday, alleging that Romney profited from the 2009 automotive bailout of General Motors and Chrysler Group through an investment in a company that itself was invested in Delphi Automotive. The irony, of course, is that Romney opposed a government bailout of the auto industry.

"The American people have a right to know about Governor Romney's potential conflicts of interest, such as the profits his family made from the auto rescue," said UAW President Bob King in a press release. "It's time for Governor Romney to disclose or divest."

The UAW based its claim that the Romney family profited on an article published in The Nation magazine. That article claimed Romney's family made more than $15 million through the auto bailouts based on investments in a company invested in Delphi.

However, after carefully examining the article, as well as another article in The Huffington Post, it remains unclear exactly how that money was made. Furthermore, the original article noted that Romney's disclosures were not illegal, meaning, in fact, that they were legal.

No matter for the UAW.

"While Romney was opposing the rescue of one of the nation's most important manufacturing sectors, he was building his fortunes with his Delphi investor group, making his fortunes off the misfortunes of others," King added.

Personnel at the Office of Government Ethics could not be reached for immediate comment.

UAW calls for investigation into Romney ethics violations over possible profits from auto bailouts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill proposes U.S. sell GM stock to fund Delphi retiree pensions

Scott Burgess — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions

A new proposal to sell $1 billion of government-held General Motors stock to help restore Delphi white collar retirees pensions was balked at by one group attempting to build up the underfunded pension.

The Delphi Salaried Retires Association has said it would prefer to reestablish its pension fund through other methods than selling government stock. Den Black, chairman of the association, said the organization would prefer to refund the pension without using taxpayer money or undergo the slow legislative process. However, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was still planning to introduce the bill to help get money for the pension.

In any case, the retiree pension fund will need an infusion it is to meet its original obligation. When the supplier went into bankruptcy in 2005, it ended up leaving 21,000 nonunion retirees with a billion dollar shortfall. The pension was moved into government hands and many retirees have still not received their pension checks.

Bill proposes U.S. sell GM stock to fund Delphi retiree pensions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sbarro surprises Geneva with Intencity Concept

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Specialty, Design/Style

Among all the automakers unveiling their new wares in Geneva every year are a handful of independent designers and schools that aim to change the way we think about the automobile. They range from mainstream design houses like Pininfarina and Bertone to the zany obscurity of the IED Torino and - most especially - Sbarro.

Not to be confused with the Italian fast-food chain, Franco Sbarro has a history of creating off-the-wall show cars for the Geneva show. But while we were expecting to find the F1for3 concept created for Delphi, instead we found the vehicle you see above.

Called the Intencity, this vehicle is less a design of Franco himself and more that of his students at the Espera Sbarro school in Montbéliard, France. Details are few and far between, but what we can tell you is that the innovative design packs an electric powertrain into a 1+1 body-style with a giant front-hinged canopy.

Power (whether theoretical or otherwise) comes from a 100-kilowatt electric motor fueled by a 96-cell lithium-phosphate battery good for about 180 kilometers fitted in a tubular frame chassis for a package that weighs a lithe 980 kg overall. OZ provides the wheels and Recaro the seats, and you can check out the whole package in our high-resolution live images from the show floor.

Sbarro surprises Geneva with Intencity Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi will debut F1FOR3 concept in Geneva

Zach Bowman — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Technology

Delphi is headed to this year's Geneva Motor Show with a concept of its own. Details on the F1FOR3 Concept are slim at the moment, though the company says the vehicle will be a platform for demonstrating "high speed connectivity and user experience features." While that sounds about as thrilling as belly button lint, we're bolstered by the fact that the concept was created with input from Franco Sbarro. Sbarro has had a hand in creating some of the most beautiful and oddball concepts we've ever seen, which means the F1FOR3 should be plenty entertaining when it hits the show room floor.

The good news is that the technology on display inside the concept will likely be Delphi products that are currently available. While we were hoping to see a street-legal F1 car with seating for three, innovative on-board tech will simply have to do. Look for the vehicle to debut next month, and hit the jump for the brief press release.

Continue reading Delphi will debut F1FOR3 concept in Geneva

Delphi will debut F1FOR3 concept in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi planning $550M IPO

Chris Shunk — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials

It took Delphi four years to exit bankruptcy, but after a major restructuring and staggering losses, the parts maker is once again ready to sell shares to the public. The Detroit News reports that Delphi will offer a $550-million stock offering later this month. The move comes after Delphi announced in May of 2011 that it would seek an Initial Public Offering, though the $550 million sum is nearly half of the originally announced $1 billion IPO.

Though Delphi suffered massive losses over the past decade, the past two years have been very solid. The parts maker made $703 million in 2010, and through nine months of 2011 Delphi has earned $911 million. Investors will likely like the fact that the $911M in profits came on only $12.1 billion in sales. That's a very healthy margin of 16.3 percent, and with auto sales seemingly only going up, future profits could look even more impressive.

Delphi's labor costs are another reason for the vastly improved profits margins. Delphi got rid of 45,000 U.S. employees during bankruptcy, and now 90 percent of the auto supplier's workforce is located in low-wage countries. That's not a good sign for U.S. manufacturing jobs, but it's likely exactly what investors want to hear.

Delphi planning $550M IPO originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge tosses out suit by Delphi pensioners against Treasury

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

The Detroit News is reporting that a federal judge has thrown out a portion of the lawsuit brought against the federal government by Delphi retirees. The former employees of the automotive supplier brought suit against the federal government after their pensions were terminated in bankruptcy proceedings. U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow dismissed claims against the U.S. Treasury Department, Timothy Geithner, the auto task force, Steven Rattner and Ron Bloom, though the judge did allow the lawsuit to continue against the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation serves as the federal government's pension insurer.

Delphi Corporation walked away from pensions covering around 70,000 people during the company's bankruptcy proceedings in 2009. The Detroit News reports that those pensions were underfunded by around $7 million and that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation took responsibility for $6.1 million of the deficit. That marks the largest loss in the institution's history. Even so, some pensioners may lose as much as 65 percent of their benefits, including life and health insurance.

Judge tosses out suit by Delphi pensioners against Treasury originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi files for $100 million IPO

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 27 May 2011 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials

2009 was a rough year for most companies in the automotive industry. Delphi, a major automotive parts supplier, saw things a little differently. After entering bankruptcy in 2005, Delphi was able to climb out of its Chapter 11 hole in 2009. Now, two years later, Delphi is heading to Wall Street, and it looks like the parts supplier is about to make it rain.

Delphi has filled out an S-1 form and handed it over to the SEC. An Initial Public Offering will soon follow, and Delphi is looking to bring in $100 million. Delphi believes that number will fluctuate as analysts evaluate the company and the strength of its balance sheet.

If you've been following the recent rash of automotive IPOs, then you might think $100 million sounds low. Analysts agree with you.

The $100 million figure is merely a placeholder value, so that filing fees can be calculated. It's quite possible that millions will be turning into billions. Recent movement in the automotive industry has investors spending serious amounts of money. General Motors hauled in $23.1 billion during its IPO at the end of 2010. Delphi has cleaned up billions of dollars in debt while slimming down its overhead.

We'll be paying close attention when "DLPH" starts scrolling across the ticker.

Delphi files for $100 million IPO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Follow-up: Ex-Delphi CEO cleared of fraud, convicted of lesser charges

Zach Bowman — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

A federal jury has cleared Former Delphi CEO J.T. Battenberg of the most serious allegations levied against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC had charged both Battenberg and former Delphi accountant Paul Free with a variety of offenses, the most severe of which were fraud charges associated with misrepresenting a $237 million payment to General Motors. On Thursday, the jury cleared Battenberg of four of the most severe charges, but found him guilty of failing to maintain accurate books or records and misleading his accountants.

Meanwhile, the jury found that Free was guilty of violating rules associated with a smaller transaction that Delphi made with a bank.

The SEC had accused Battenberg of misreporting the payment to General Motors in order to make the company's bottom line appear stronger to investors than it actually was. The move was believed to have been made to secure larger bonuses for the CEO and other executives.

[Source: Reuters]

Follow-up: Ex-Delphi CEO cleared of fraud, convicted of lesser charges originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: SEC says ex-Delphi CEO Batterberg misled investors

Zach Bowman — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Securities and Exchange Commission has accused former Delphi CEO J.T. Battenberg III of intentionally working to hide his company's financial situation from investors. On Tuesday, an SEC lawyer told the jury in Battenberg's trial that the ex-Delphi boss made the company's financial numbers look better than they were in order to secure larger bonuses. The SEC sued both Battenberg and Paul Free, the former Chief Accounting Officer for Delphi, and several other former executives in 2006 for fraudulent accounting. Delphi entered into bankruptcy protection in 2005.

U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn began hearing the evidence against Battenberg, Free and other executives in October, and closing arguments in the case wrapped up on Tuesday. So far, two executives and the company's former treasurer have agreed to settle with the SEC over allegations that Delphi improperly reported a settlement that the company made with General Motors. Both Battenberg and Free remain as defendants in the case.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: SEC says ex-Delphi CEO Batterberg misled investors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Four former Delphi execs set to go on trial

Zach Bowman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM

The Securities and Exchange Commission is moving forward with charges against four former Delphi executives, including the company's ex-CEO, J.T. Battenberg III. Paul Free, the company's former controller and chief accounting officer, Milan Belans, who served as the director of capital planning and Catherine Rozanski, Delphi's former accounting director are all facing a civil suit along with Battenberg in relation to four suspect transactions the company made in 2000 and 2001. The SEC alleges that Delphi intentionally misled investors by understating expenses, overstating net income and falsely reporting reduction of company expenses, effectively misleading investors.

The group's lawyers, meanwhile, are expected to argue that the company underwent a "combative and confusing" process as it spun off from General Motors in 1999. As a result, GM pressured Delphi to keep prices low while the company was expected to meet earnings expectations. Delphi eventually declared bankruptcy, but not before closing down many of its U.S.-based plants and cutting pension benefits for many of its retirees.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Four former Delphi execs set to go on trial originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM agrees to terms to sell Nexteer steering operations to China's PCM

Chris Shunk — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: China, GM, Earnings/Financials

General Motors reports that it has come to an agreement to sell its Nexteer steering operations. Nexteer, which had $6.2 billion in revenue as recently as 2008, was acquired by GM as part of a deal to help Delphi exit bankruptcy. The buyer? Pacific Century Motors, which is part of The Tempo Group with ties to the government in Beijing.

The General has been publicly looking to offload Nexteer since January, but the bidding reportedly became more intense after 2,100 workers at a Saginaw, MI plant agreed to concessions. Nexsteer has 6,200 employees in total and 22 manufacturing sites around the world. The steering company also has 60 global customers, though GM accounts for nearly half of its overall work.

Nexteer is being offloaded in part because steering technology is deemed to be a non-core asset. Investing in steering technology takes cash from core technologies like powertrain development. According to General Motors vice chairman Stephen J. Girsky, "The sale of Nexteer to PCM supports our objective to focus on our core auto business and is the final step in our efforts to position Nexteer as an independent supplier."

Official GM press release available after the jump.

[Sources: General Motors, Automotive News - sub. req.]

Continue reading GM agrees to terms to sell Nexteer steering operations to China's PCM

GM agrees to terms to sell Nexteer steering operations to China's PCM originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: UAW files suit against GM over $450M Delphi debt

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions

Once again, General Motors has found itself in hot water with the United Auto Workers. Way back when in 2007, GM signed a deal with Delphi to provide a total of $450 million for the UAW's Voluntary Employee Beneficiary - a trust set up to provide for retiree benefits, especially health care. So far, GM hasn't been willing to hand over the dough, and the UAW has decided to take The General to court over the issue.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the lawsuit claims GM denied the UAW its cash when the union asked for it last November and has refused to make payments ever since. As part of the automaker's bankruptcy filings last year, the company assumed all of its contracts with the UAW, including this one.

Delphi has been feeling the pinch of the economic slowdown in a big way, and found itself in bankruptcy court in 2005. When that happened, the company asked for concessions from the UAW, and managed to negotiate a pay cut of up to $10 per hour as part of the deal. GM has since snapped up four Delphi divisions during 2009, and word has it the automaker is seeking even further concessions from the union.

So far, GM hasn't said word one about the lawsuit.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: UAW files suit against GM over $450M Delphi debt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Delphi exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM, Earnings/Financials

For the first time in a very long while, you might say that Delphi is ahead of the curve. At a time when a number of automotive suppliers are finding life tough enough to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Delphi is finally emerging from its own four-year-old filing.

Delphi's financial savior is a group led by Elliot Management and Silver Point Capital, which has reportedly agreed to forgive $3.4 billion in loans while making a $900 million investment in the new Delphi. Certain bits of the old company were absorbed by General Motors - itself a recent Chapter 11 survivor and the company Delphi was originally spun off from.

The leftover (read: undesirable) portions of the company will be liquidated in a plan that will "allow Delphi to effectively serve its customers by focusing on its core business," according to a statement from GM CEO Fritz Henderson.

[Source: DealBrook | Photo: J.D. Pooley/Getty Images]

REPORT: Delphi exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi develops MagneRide engine mounts for Porsche 911 GT3

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Porsche

Delphi MagneRide Engine Mounts - Click above for high-res image gallery

The same magneto rheological damping technology that allows Chevrolet, Cadillac and Ferrari to control 500-plus horsepower in a car that's comfortable to drive on city streets will soon make its way to the engine bay of the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3. In this latest application, Delphi's engineers have made it possible to fine-tune the way engine mounts react to the various situations presented when driving a car.

For instance, these MagneRide engine mounts can automatically adjust their stiffness when the engine is initially started or when the transmission is shifted into Drive or Park. In the case of the 911 GT3, Porsche expects these engine mounts to improve traction and stability during hard acceleration and cornering.

Future applications are likely to include luxury automobiles with stop/start or full hybrid powertrains, as well as performance cars whose engine mounts can be tied to the other various active systems, perhaps stiffening when a vehicle is put into a sport mode. Hit the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: Delphi Magneride Engine Mounts

[Source: Delphi]

Continue reading Delphi develops MagneRide engine mounts for Porsche 911 GT3

Delphi develops MagneRide engine mounts for Porsche 911 GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Visteon books $2M profit. Delphi makes $556M. Wait... wha?!

Dan Roth — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials

When is a profit not a profit? When it's the result of bankruptcy prevention measures, like Visteon's report of a $2 million profit during the first quarter of 2009. The auto supplier is reporting that each share earned two cents during the period, compared to a $105 million loss last year. The company's books saw a gain after sending its British operations into Chapter 11, an occurrence that will not be repeated. The one-time nature of the accounting measures doesn't bode well for the next three months, but Visteon also points out that its sales force has been able to secure $240 million of new work between January and March. Despite the new business, Visteon's full-year outlook isn't so rosy, and will likely be down again for 2009.

In unrelated but similar news, fellow Tier-1 supplier Delphi logged a $556-million profit in the first quarter, a number reportedly generated largely by a maneuver that saw them shave $1.2 billion in health care benefits for retired salaried workers. The bankrupt company posted profits of 98 cents per share, but it simultaneously reported that business to General Motors (by far its biggest client) fell by half, and the company posted a 52% quarterly sales drop (to $2.5 billion) as a result.

[Sources: Detroit Free Press]

REPORT: Visteon books $2M profit. Delphi makes $556M. Wait... wha?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chinese buy Delphi brake and suspension business

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

Delphi has reached an agreement to sell off its brake and suspension business. A consortium consisting of Tempo Group, Capital Iron & Steel Co. and the Beijing government will own Beijing West Industries Co. Ltd, a new company that will buy the remaining chassis and brake operations of Delphi. Almost all of Delphi's brake business has been with GM, but many of those contracts have been re-sourced over the last several years while the company has been under chapter 11 bankruptcy. Recently, the most prominent part of the business has been the magnetic ride system which has been adopted by customers including General Motors and Ferrari. The new Chinese-owned company gets the tooling, intellectual property and some of the factories along with remaining supply contracts. Whether this change helps the business survive and thrive remains to be seen.

Continue reading Chinese buy Delphi brake and suspension business

Chinese buy Delphi brake and suspension business originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi seeking court's permission to end retiree health care

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials

If you thought things were looking bleak at General Motors, perhaps you should take a peek at Delphi, the parts supplier that spun off from The General in 1997. It declared bankruptcy in 2005 after the revelation that its poor financial position was being masked by irregular accounting practices. Delphi has yet to emerge from bankruptcy and now says that its value has fallen to the point where it may be unable to pay back the debts it has amassed since filing for Chapter 11.

Sounds pretty bad, no? It gets worse. The supplier has filed paperwork with the court asking for permission to end health care benefits for retirees that had been salaried employees. This move could be made as early as April, after which current Delphi employees would no longer be eligible for health care benefits after retiring. If approved, Delphi says this move would save $70 million per year and free up over a billion dollars in liabilities.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Delphi seeking court's permission to end retiree health care originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi and Autonet partnering to bring mobile internet to the masses

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: I.C.E., Technology

One of the highlights of the recent Audi Mileage Marathon for participating journalists was the in-car internet connectivity. The Q7s and other vehicles used in the marathon were equipped with a Cradlepoint mobile WiFi router and USB wireless broadband adapter. We were able to open up our laptops (when we were in the passenger seat, of course!) and connect to the net to write our stories while on the go.

Delphi is now teaming up Autonet mobile to market in-car internet their connectivity products. Autonet is the company providing the in-car WiFi uConnect system that will become available from Chrysler dealers this fall. That unit is basically a standard WiFi router with a broadband adapter installed inside the box. The Delphi-Autonet partnership will take this technology and go a few steps further to add a variety of telematics services as well as improving the robustness of the systems. One of the issues that automotive engineers have to deal with on modern cars is radio frequency interference. Delphi will be using its experience in automotive electronics to help Autonet harden its systems and meet the requirements of carmakers for factory installation.

[Source: Autonet Mobile]

Continue reading Delphi and Autonet partnering to bring mobile internet to the masses

Delphi and Autonet partnering to bring mobile internet to the masses originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy a brick from a fallen Flint assembly plant

Dan Roth — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, UAW/Unions

Our first thought was "Boy, retirement plans sure ain't what they used to be." Reality, of course, is more banal, it's just UAW Local 651 going all nostalgic while demolition of the Flint East plant continues. The plant's last occupant was Delphi, but the plant has a history nearly as long as the automotive industry itself. With that much provenance, Local 651 is most likely right in assuming that some former workers might want to have a brick from the plant to put on their mantle. Michiganders looking for a memento will need to sign up on next Tuesday so the union can get a bead on how many people are interested. We'd like to sign up for the return of industry and good blue collar jobs, nevermind the old bricks.

[Source: Detroit Free Press, Photo: Getty/Jim Pugliano]

Buy a brick from a fallen Flint assembly plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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