Autoblog

Polaris recalling GEM electric runabouts over parking brake fears

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Electric

Polaris is recalling 4,394 GEM electric vehicles due to faulty parking brakes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the mechanism may prematurely wear, leaving the brake inoperable. If the brake fails and the driver exits the vehicle, the EV could roll away and cause a crash. The recall only applies to models built between January 14, 2010 and November 23, 2012.

As you may recall, Polaris purchased GEM from Chrysler in 2011 and promptly shifted production from Fargo, North Dakota to Minnesota and Iowa.

Owners can expect Polaris to replace the parking brake lever assembly free of charge once the recall campaign gets under way on February 4. You can read the full recall notification below for more information, or head over to the NHTSA site.

Continue reading Polaris recalling GEM electric runabouts over parking brake fears

Polaris recalling GEM electric runabouts over parking brake fears originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab finds another investor, hopes to pay workers soon

Zach Bowman — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Saab, Earnings/Financials

The Saab saga continues. According to Reuters, the Swedish automaker has announced that the company is issuing more shares in an attempt to drum up funds to pay its white-collar workers. GEM Global Yield Fund, an investment company, has committed to purchasing around five million of the new shares, giving it a 17 percent stake in Saab. Even so, most analysts predict the move will only raise around €6.9 million (around $10M U.S.) when the automaker needs at least €50 million ($71.5M) in order to be able to pay its suppliers and fire up its production lines once again.

Reuters reminds us that that just last month, Saab managed to evade having to claim bankruptcy by settling with a supplier. Unfortunately, the company then made it clear that it couldn't pay its employees because investments from its foreign partners hadn't materialized in time. Saab says that it hopes to use the new funds from GEM to finally pay the automaker's white collar workers.

Saab finds another investor, hopes to pay workers soon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS condemns use of mini trucks and low-speed vehicles on public roads

Chris Shunk — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:39:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Ford, Smart

If you live in the U.S. sunbelt or in an upscale gated community, you've probably seen quite a few of those hopped-up electric golf carts trolling around your neighborhood. These low-speed vehicles are great for zipping to the mailbox or heading over to the clubhouse, and the vehicles are currently allowed on select public roads in 46 of the 50 United States. But even though they're perfectly legal in many areas, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a pretty serious warning for anyone looking to take these vehicles onto high-traffic areas. IIHS tested both a GEM electric cart and a minitruck in side impact crashes, and the results were sobering to say the least.

The first test was a side impact affair between a GEM EV and a crash barrier moving at 31 miles per hour. The crash test dummy, which was buckled up and in the driver's seat, showed injuries consistent with catastrophic injury or death. IIHS then performed the same test with a Smart ForTwo replacing the barrier, but the results were very similar. The crash, which typically nets relatively low injury risk for vehicles with high safety scores, was so severe that the crash dummy's head almost hits the ForTwo's windshield. Chief research officer David Zuby said that the test shows that these vehicles "weren't designed to protect people in a crash with a microcar like the Smart ForTwo, let alone larger cars, SUVs, and pickups in everyday traffic."

After demolishing a few GEMs, the IIHS then focused its glare on the 2008 Tiger Star minitruck. The Tiger was pitted against a 2010 Ford Ranger in an offset front crash with the minitruck going 25 mph and the Ford 35 mph. The results were similarly catastrophic, with the Ranger dummy relatively unharmed while the Tiger dummy's head hit the steering wheel hard in spite of the fact that it was wearing a safety belt. Hit the jump to read over the IIHS' strongly worded press release.

[Source: The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS condemns use of mini trucks and low-speed vehicles on public roads

IIHS condemns use of mini trucks and low-speed vehicles on public roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata and Chrysler sign deal to import electric Ace

Dan Roth — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Chrysler, India

One way or another, we're going to see a Tata vehicle here in the United States. Whether or not it's through the Jaguar/Land Rover brands or something actually wearing the Tata nameplate, India's top vehicle builder is moving aggressively to become a world player. To that end, Tata Motors has entered into a new deal with Chrysler, LLC to develop an electric version of Tata's Ace mini truck for sale in North America. Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars division (GEM) is working with Tata to import fully-assembled vehicles that meet all the appropriate U.S. regulations. The battery-operated Ace has successfully navigated the required safety tests, and they're reportedly ready for production. Tata wants to eventually export up to 50,000 vehicles to the US, but they've pegged the goal for 2008 at 10,000 units. This is definitely the year to keep an eye on Tata.

[Source: Reuters]

Tata and Chrysler sign deal to import electric Ace originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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