Autoblog

Looking to exit, stage left on a melodious note, Doc Zee has bid the Chrysler team a semi-farewell via email. The message was a polite "thank you," instead of the possibly more appropriate "thanks for letting us swoop in from Stuttgart, blast through your cash and let your product line languish." Dieter Zetsche and Tom LaSorda dashed off the e-mail to all Daimler and Chrysler workers this morning. The sale of the Chrysler unit to Cerberus Capital Management is wrapping up, and the executives extended thanks to employees for all the hard work they've performed over the past nine years. While they are splitting, the rhetoric in the e-mail indicates that there will be some intertwining of the two businesses going forward.

Collaboration will continue on electrical components (we hope Chrysler can teach Mercedes a thing or two about making reliable electrics), platform architectures for unitized SUVs and power units. Those collaborations were likely far underway when the schism occurred, and both companies will benefit from the cross pollination. We bet Dieter can bang out a convincing "Free BIrd" on that axe.

[Source Detroit Free Press]

There are plenty of reports today that morale at Chrysler is in a tailspin right now due to all of the rumors swirling about the potential sale of the company. Having been through several buyouts and mergers (both attempted and successful) in the past 15 years, I know that one of the worst things that can happen to productivity is rumors about the company's fate. Whenever this happens, people spend their days polishing resumes, calling headhunters and speculating about what's going to happen.

This morning Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda sent out a mass e-mail to all employees trying to minimize this impact. He starts off by explaining that management cannot comment on anything that might happen, for legal reasons. He then goes on to tout the support given by the management board to the latest restructuring plan, all the new products in the pipeline and how this crisis is different from all the previous Chrysler meltdowns. It's understandable that LaSorda felt he needed to send this message, but the reality is that it will make no difference whatsoever. Anything short of a definite announcement that either a deal is done, or an unequivocal statement that Chrysler is not on the market, will likely only make things worse. The entire e-mail message can be read after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems, Inc. (IMS) has unveiled a new device called the iLane that enables a driver to access his/her email in a hands-and-eyes free way. The iLane is designed to handle all incoming information, including emails, phone calls and even text messages. The voice-based interface means that one can listen to, compose and forward emails just as if they were accessing an email account on a computer. The small device works by interacting with your Bluetooth-enabled phone or email device and can also route the audio into a vehicle's audio system or Bluetooth headset.

Though IMS bills the iLane as a way to safely access and manage emails on the go, undoubtedly people will question the safety of a device that encourages such activity while driving in the first place. Vehicles today, however, are moving ever closer to becoming fully functioning mobile offices, and how long will it be before Windows or Mac OSX are factory installed options? While we can personally wait until we're parked to check our email, the iLane might be helpful for that white-collar up-and-comer on the go. Though not yet available, the iLane is currently being shopped around by IMS to distributors and even automotive OEMs.

(Check out a full press release on the iLane after the jump and the iLane website here)

[Source: iLane]