Detroit Oems Beat Europe's in Quality Study

®TechCenter News ® WARREN,MICHIGAN

VOL. 44 NO. 41 Covers the Tech Center and the Immediate Area JUNE 24, 2019

Regrets From Failed FCA Renault Deal by ELAINE GANLEY Associated Press

PARIS (AP) – Renault’s chairman on June 12 expressed his frustration with the French government for resisting a merger 2019 Ford Ranger 2019 Dodge Challenger 2019 Chevrolet Equinox deal proposed by rival carmaker Fiat Chrysler, and at a critical time – ahead of what he views as a coming “tsunami’’ from China’s auto industry. Detroit OEMs Beat Europe’s in Quality Study Jean-Dominique Senard told a by Jim Stickford “This was the first without an gent said. If a part or system oper- “Think about it,” Sargent said. shareholders’ meeting in Paris PPV industry average improve- ates exactly as designed, but new “You’ve just gotten a new car. that “I have rarely seen a merger The Koreans led the way in the ment since 2012-2014,” Sargent buyers have problems with it, You want to take it home and proposal that could give so 2019 J.D. Power Initial Quality said. “So this kind of thing is un- then there’s nothing to be done. show it off. You don’t want to sit much positive synergy, incredi- Study (IQS), but Detroit automak- usual, but it’s not unheard of.” “I always say, you shouldn’t in it at a dealership while some- bly validating and robust.’’ ers took four of the top 10 quality The survey found two kinds of have automotive engineers de- one shows all the systems.” He said that at a board meet- rankings. problems, Sargent said. They sign for other automotive engi- Advanced Driver Assist ing convened to discuss the Dave Sargent, vice president of could be broken down into a “de- neers. They’re not normal people Systems (ADAS) are gaining plan, everyone had approved Global Automotive at J.D. Power, fect” category and a “design” cat- when it comes to cars,” Sargent consumer interest, but more the plan “with enthusiasm’’ ex- spoke to the Automotive Press egory. They saw a lot more de- said. “So having an entertain- vehicles with ADAS means there cept one. Board members from Association at a special gather- fect category issues – like paint ment system or a GPS system are more systems out there Renault’s alliance member, Nis- ing in Detroit on June 19, present- dents, noisy brakes and such – that is too complicated for peo- where things can go wrong. san, abstained but in a “very ing the results of the 2019 IQS. this year. ple to use is a problem – and it’s ADAS is improving, but its positive way.’’ He said that once again the Ko- “These are what we call ‘tradi- not something that the dealer- popularity is almost working Senard said the French gov- rean brands – Genesis, Kia and tional’ defects,” Sargent said. “As ship can fix, like a paint chip.” against it. ernment, which is Renault’s Hyundai – took the top three to why we saw more, we can’t There’s only so much that a “Our survey shows that cus- biggest shareholder with a 15 spots. Ford and Lincoln brands prove this, but given the fact that dealer can do in a situation like tomers want these systems,” Sar- percent stake, had not shared finished fourth and fifth, the first there was a sales slowdown, the that, Sargent said. People refuse gent said. “The OEM who can de- his analysis of the benefits of the time those two brands were in sales turn rate was longer, it to read the operating manuals liver them in a way that works merger “at this stage.’’ the top five spots in the same makes sense to consider that and having them sit through a and has the trust of drivers will “I can frankly say that disap- year. Chevrolet took the sixth having a car sit out longer can three-hour demonstration of how be the winner in ADAS.” points me,’’ he said. spot and Dodge took the eighth cause thinks like paint chips.” every system works is not some- Sargent said that, traditionally, Senard opened to the possibil- spot. As to the concept of design de- thing most people want to do These results put these four fects, that’s something else, Sar- when they get a new car. American brands ahead of both CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Toyota and Lexus, Sargent said. The survey methodology was the same as in past years. J.D. Ford Creates Local Information and Community Center Power surveyed about 76,000 by Jim Stickford place where people in the neigh- 2019 model year new vehicle borhood can go to learn about buyers about the quality of their Ford is working hard to be a the progress of Ford’s efforts in vehicles 90 days after initial pur- good neighbor. Corktown. chase. The rankings were broken That, according to Lucia Soto, It is also meant to be some- down into problems per 100 vehi- acting spokesperson for Ford at thing of a community anchor, cles (PPV) to get a score. the opening of the company’s said Soto. “We covered just about every “Michigan Central Information “We want this to be a place major brand in the auto indus- Center” at 1907 Michigan Avenue where people can go to get infor- try,” Sargent said. “The lower the in Detroit. mation, not just on the progress PPV, the better. The industry av- The office had its debut on of Ford’s construction, but on erage was 93 PPVs. The Buick June 19, exactly one year after events and people who are in the brand had a PPV of 92, finishing Ford announced that the Dear- neighborhood,” Soto said. “If ahead of the industry average. It born automaker was purchasing someone has anything to an- placed 11th on our list.” the old Michigan Center train sta- nounce, they can come here and Genesis’ PPV was 63, Kia 70, tion for the purpose of refurbish- we can put it up as sort of a com- Hyundai 71, Ford 83, Lincoln 84, ing. munity bulletin board.” Chevrolet 85, Nissan 86, Dodge The information center is lo- John Vincent, a technical spe- 90, the same as Toyota and cated in a building known as The Lexus. Factory and is meant to be a Corktown residents check out Ford’s new local information center. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Lawrence Tech Engineering Students Win Design Event For the third consecutive year, ing to the effort were a pair of Lawrence Technological Univer- Ann Arbor high-tech firms. Soar sity has won first place in the Technology Inc. provided a LI- Self-Drive Challenge event at the DAR (laser-based radar) unit to 27th annual Intelligent Ground help the vehicle find its way, Vehicle Competition. while Realtime Technologies Inc., LTU was crowned champ on a simulation technology firm, June 10 after four days of compe- and the auto supplier Denso pro- tition at Oakland University in vided cash donations for on- Rochester, said LTU spokesman board computers and other Matt Roush. parts. Veoneer, a spinoff of the The winning vehicle is called Swedish auto supplier Autoliv, ACTor, for Autonomous Campus provided a 3D LIDAR as well as Transport/Taxi. The two-seat Po- automotive radars. laris Gem electric vehicle was The win included a $3,000 donated to the university prize and plaque. through a gift from Hyundai MO- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical BIS, the parts and service divi- University of Daytona Beach, sion of the Korean automaker. Fla., finished second in the event, Dataspeed Inc., a Rochester while Bob Jones University of Hills engineering firm specializ- Greenville, S.C., finished third. ing in mobile robotics, converted Other competitors in the Self-Dri- the vehicle to a drive-by-wire These LTU engineering students carried on a school tradition by winning a ground vehicle design contest. system, Roush said. Also donat- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 View This Week’s Edition at http://TechCenterNews.com PAGE 2 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN JUNE 24, 2019

TechCenter News ® Ford Creates Corktown Information Center 31201 Chicago Road South Warren, Michigan 48093 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 586-939-6800 cialist mobility researcher at Ford, was also at the information Contact us: center’s debut to show how Ford [email protected] is using the latest technology to Deadline: Thursday 5:00 p.m. try to mitigate any traffic prob- for the next edition of Monday lems in the neighborhood as a result of new businesses visiting as William Springer II, publisher a result of the Michigan Central Lisa A. Torretta, operations project. Jim Stickford, editor “Ford is investing in new forms Tech Center News is a registered of mobility,” Vincent said. “So we trademark of Springer Publishing Co. need to monitor how these vehi- www.TechCenterNews.com cles perform across the city’s eco-system, and how they move and how they interact with the neighborhoods. We need to know LTU Team Wins what impact they will have on the city.” Ground Vehicle To that end, Ford is using computer modeling and computer Design Contest simulations as part of the company’s research, Vincent said. Some CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 of the work was shown on table ve challenge included Oakland and wall displays to people visit- University, the University of De- ing the information center. troit-Mercy and the U.S. Military “The table display shows our re- Academy at West Point. search and the progress it has Coached by C.J. Chung, profes- made,” Vincent said. “It shows Vincent explains how Ford is collecting data to find ways to mitigate traffic issues caused by its presence. sor of computer science at LTU, how our solutions in new mobili- the team was comprised of un- ty, such as e-scooters and shared Michigan Central Station,” said The crowd-sourcing program is tions to improve mobility for cur- dergraduate computer science mobility shuttle service, might af- Mary Culler, Detroit development designed to bring together resi- rent and future residents of the majors Sean Bleicher of Fenton, fect traffic in the neighborhood director for Ford Motor Compa- dents, businesses and community Michigan Central Station devel- Charles Faulkner of Aurora, Ill., around the Michigan Central proj- ny. “Our new information center groups to propose and pilot solu- opment area, Culler said. and Mitchell Pleune of Rochester ect. This information includes, but will provide an ongoing opportu- Hills, team captain. Nick Paul of is not limited to carbon emissions, nity to share our plans, celebrate Plymouth, an LTU IGVC team energy consumption, street space the culture of the area and con- alumnus now employed at Soar and curb space. With this infor- tinue learning from the communi- Detroit OEMs Initial Quality Technology and an adjunct pro- mation, we hope to be able to vi- ty. In this historic neighborhood, fessor at LTU, was a co-coach. sualize and analyze the trans- we’re building a place where peo- The IGVC was established in portation demographic and other ple can solve real-world chal- Scores Beat Europeans 1993 by the U.S. Army’s Combat data in support of a better trans- lenges and create future opportu- Capabilities Development Com- portation system.” nities together.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 mand (CCDC) Ground Vehicle Vincent said that the simula- In December, the company when a new vehicle is launched Systems Center (formerly known tions go up to the year 2023, launched a pilot program using it has more problems. It usually as TARDEC) and the Association comparing what the traffic would its ride-hailing service GoRide to takes about a year for an OEM to for Unmanned Vehicle Systems be like if Ford wasn’t doing any- help families pick up meals and work out all the bugs of produc- International. Sponsors include thing to projected traffic patterns attend appointments at local tion. That pattern held true in GLS&T, RoboNation, Hyundai as Ford’s project progresses. food banks, Culler said. Spin, an 2019. Newly-launched vehicles MOBIS, the Michigan chapter of “Ultimately, we are looking at electric scooter startup Ford ac- had a PPV score of about 10 high- the National Defense Industrial things like self-driving cars, Spin quired last year, has expanded its er than carryover models. Association, Continental, e-scooters and shared mobility fleet of scooters in Corktown to Detroit manufacturers took the Northrop Grumman, Veoneer, shuttles and how their use might make it easier for residents and top spots in several categories, Molex, OpenJAUS, Roush, Robot- mitigate traffic issues,” Vincent visitors to get around. Sargent said. The Chevrolet Mal- ic Research, FCA, FEDITC LLC, said. Argo AI, Ford’s partner for au- ibu and the Ford Fusion tied for FEV, IAmRobotics, Magna, Gener- “We’ve learned a lot from local tonomous vehicle system devel- first in the Midsize Car category. al Dynamics Land Systems, residents and businesses over opment, started on-road testing The Chevrolet Equinox took Brightwing, Dataspeed, and the past year as we further our of a Ford Fusion Hybrid self-dri- first in Compact SUV, while the MathWorks. plans for the development of ving vehicle in Detroit earlier this Ford Escape was second. The Dave Sargent month, Culler said. Similar vehi- Dodge Grand Caravan was sec- “GUARANTEED Tired… At The End Of The Day” cles are already deployed in ond in the Minivan Category. The the Ford Expedition took third. Pittsburgh, Palo Alto, Miami and Dodge Challenger was the high- The Ford Ranger was first in Washington, D.C., in an effort to est rated vehicle in the Midsize the Midsize SUV category, Sar- learn more about how au- Sporty Car category. The gent said. That was unusual be- tonomous technology can be Chrysler 300 took the third spot cause it was launched in the U.S. DAYCARE BOARDING used in various urban environ- in the Large Car category. market in 2019. ments. Ford’s self-driving vehicle Detroit OEMs also did well in In the Large Premium SUV cat- Starting at $27 per Animal business unit, based at The Fac- the Compact SUV category, with egory, the Cadillac Escalade took • 10 Years of Dog Care • LiveCameras tory at Corktown, has made a $1 the Chevrolet Equinox finishing first and the Lincoln Navigator • CageFree• 5,000 sq. ft. of Outdoor Space billion investment in Argo AI, an first and the Ford Escape finish- took second. In the Large Heavy artificial intelligence company. ing second. Duty Pickup Truck category, the • 4,000 sq. ft. of Indoor Space • Toys & Pools Ford’s City:One Challenge is also The Chevrolet Tahoe was top Chevrolet Silverado HD was first • Safe Supervised Playtime launching in Detroit this month. in the Large SUV category, while and the Ford Super Duty was second. GM EMPLOYEES RECEIVE AN In the Midsize SUV category, ADDITIONAL 5% DISCOUNT the Ford Flex was second and the Jeep Grand Cherokee was third. 41124 Mound Road 18 Mile Rd. HOURS: Sterling Heights, MI 48314 Mound “I have to say that the Dodge Mon-Fri brand had a good year,” Sargent 6:30 am to (586) 991-5370 said. “This was the first time they 6:30 pm Visit us at www.dirtypawslounge.com finished ahead of the industry average. The Jeep Grand Chero- kee did well, and the Challenger won a by a pretty decent margin in its category. Chevrolet was tops in four pretty important categories. “Ford having both its brand and the Lincoln brand finishing in the top five is an accom- plishment. But Ford’s PPV score of 83 is closer to the industry average PPV score of 93 than the Genesis PPV score of 63, the Kia score of 70 and the Hyundai score of 71.

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JUNE 24, 2019 COVERS THE TECH CENTER AND THE IMMEDIATE AREA PAGE 3 Tech Center Gets New Hardware, Software Testing Labs Hoover Road Gets GM’s Global Technical Center software and hardware develop- More Road Work in Warren is home to one of the ment, validation and analysis. world’s largest vehicle hardware It is also home to some of GM’s Starting Today and software automotive test most highly skilled and technical More road construction work labs in the world. employees in engineering, cyber- will begin on Hoover in Warren, It is also foundational for real- security, and software develop- starting on June 24. izing GM's next-generation of ve- ment, Bay said. Jodi Johnstone of the Warren hicles, EVs, and technologies like “When you consider how com- Engineering Division of the city’s Super Cruise, all key to the complex vehicle systems have be- Department of Public Works said pany’s vision, said Cynthia Bay, come with increasing amounts of the construction will be actually director of Global Vehicle Motion new technology and features be- made up of two different proj- Embedded Controls, Software & ing offered to customers, you can ects. Cyber Security Validation. imagine the facilities, tools, and There will be a road repair At nearly 100,000 square feet of talent needed to properly test project between 13 and 14 Mile space, the high-tech Electrical In- and validate these systems,” said roads along Hoover, Johnstone tegration lab located inside GM’s Bay. “The highly technical and said. Alternative Energy Center is detailed work done by skilled en- Then there will be water main home to rows of mainframe-like gineers really sets GM apart from repair work being done along electrical benches that each rep- our competitors.” Hoover from 13 Mile to Masonic, resent a current or future vehicle Within the lab, new dedicated This GM employee is using the Tech Center’s new testing laboratory. as well. or technology, dedicated cyber- cybersecurity and speech recog- All told, the two projects will security and speech recognition nition areas are key to evaluating test various strategies for an in- nounced and goes into produc- require several months of contest areas, and other key func- and testing systems. creasingly robust and protected tion later this year first on the re- struction time. tions. Cybersecurity is a critical ele- electrical system. The speech cently unveiled 2020 Cadillac “We expect the projects, if The benches contain an entire ment built into GM’s next-genera- recognition laboratory confirms CT5 sedan, Bay said. everything goes according to vehicle’s electrical system – tion digital vehicle platform – in- and improves performance of The technology will be in most schedule and there are no un- switches, buttons, software mod- ternally known as Global B – GM’s in-vehicle speech recogni- vehicles within General Motor’s foreseen circumstances, to be ules, wiring, and more, Bay said. from the beginning, Bay said. tion systems. global lineup by the year 2025, completed in November,” John- The recently expanded lab is The lab allows a dedicated GM’s next-generation digital Bay said. stone said. ground zero for ongoing vehicle team of GM cyber employees to vehicle platform was recently an- Some Regret FCA Renault Merger Failure RED WINGS “I was surprised to see FCA (Fi- Answering questions from CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 at-Chrysler Automobiles) pose shareholders on the merger fail- ity of reopening talks, saying that an ultimatum, saying it’s ‘Take it ure, Senard said the wider indus- the merger proposal “remains in or leave it and we won’t let you try context was critical, notably • Safety Toes Where Fit my head potentially remarkable take the time to think about it,’’’ looming rivalry from the fast- Comes and exceptional.’’ said Herve Charron, a retiree growing Chinese auto industry. • Professional Fiat Chrysler had proposed a heading into the meeting. “It’s a “We face a period in which Fitting First… 50-50 merger that would have cre- bit scandalous. When the stakes the blossoming of the Chinese ated the world’s third-largest car- are at 30 billion euros, you have industry will probably translate •WideWidths maker worth almost $40 billion. to think and take your time.’’ into a form of tsunami’’ in our In Stock But the role of Nissan, Renault’s Another shareholder was more region, Senard said. Anticipation longtime alliance partner, was un- philosophical. and strength are essential, he The Preferred clear and the French government “I was quite surprised (after added. RED WING SHOE STORE wanted more time to sort out the negotiations with Fiat-Chrysler Senard said he quickly realized M-F 10-8; Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-4 Brand details. Fiat Chrysler pulled the fell through) but that’s business. that a merger with Fiat Chrysler 33289 Mound Rd. of Detroit’s Just North of 14 Mile Rd. in Stober Plaza – on the west side of the street proposal, citing political condi- Half of all mergers go awry. This had something for both Renault Auto Industry tions in France. one didn’t even happen!’’ said and the alliance between Renault, 586-264-4500 Renault’s alliance with Nissan Daniel De Rincquesen. Nissan and Mitsubishi. has become strained since the ar- rest last November in Tokyo of former chairman and CEO Carlos HIBACHI BUFFET Ghosn, who is no longer in the Learn How to Protect Data company. Ghosn has been The Macomb County Depart- Registration ends at 10 a.m. CALL FOR RESERVATIONS charged with falsifying financial ment of Planning and Economic June 25, Taber said. CATERING • CARRY-OUT reports in under-reporting com- Development (PED) is publiciz- On Wednesday, June 26, the pensation and breach of trust in ing several events that will help Oakland County Department of LUNCH We Serve Asian & American Cuisine having Nissan Motor Co. shoul- businesses learn how to protect Economic Developmet and Com- der investment losses and paying sensitive data. munity Affairs is holding a semi- STEAK • PRIME RIB a Saudi businessman. On Tuesday, June 25, the Small nar titled “Cyber Security Hacks SEAFOOD • CRAB LEGS BUFFET The upheaval led to a restructuring Business Development Center of in Health Care: Protecting Your HIBACHI GRILL of Renault with Senardbrought in and Michigan (SBDC) will be holding Health Data.” $ Thierry Bollore becoming the new a special Webinar between 11 The seminar begins at 8:30 FULL SUSHI BAR 8.99 chiefexecutive. a.m. and noon about how small a.m. and will last three hours. #### Mon-Fri • 11am-3:30pm While the Ghosn saga domi- businesses can protect their data It will be held at the Velocity Try Our New Buffet RATED 4 STAR! Price Excludes Beverages nated headlines for months, it from being breached. Collaboration Center, 6633 18 was the merger failure that was There is no cost to log onto Mile Road, in Sterling Heights. 33431 Van Dyke at 14 Mile (Same Shopping Center as Walmart) on the minds of many share- the Webinar, said Scott Taber, This event is for IT administra- holders on June 12. BDC’s Cyber Security Awareness tors, IT professionals and those 586-264-7000 Program specialist. in the general public who want to Fax: 586-264-8080 “Do you have a technology learn more about how the health New Bridge Plan plan to prepare for the worst? care industry can build an effec- Join us as we discuss how to be tive defense against cybercrime. Receives a Look prepared for a data breach and FBI Special Agent Benjamin Si- DETROIT (AP) – Details of what to do after you experience mon and FBI Intelligence Analyst community benefits tied to a one,” Taber said. “We’ll walk you Matthew Schwieger are members commuter bridge being built be- through a quick-paced webinar, of the FBI Detroit Cyber Task tween Detroit and Canada have ask a few poll questions of the Force. The Cyber Task Force is been released. audience, and give you time for responsible for criminal and na- Officials and elected leaders question and answer.” tional security computer intru- from Michigan and Canada said Taber said people interested in sion investigations in Michigan. Dr. Matthew Gray DDS June 14 that the plan calls for viewing the Webinar can register The costis free. To learn more NEW PATIENT SPECIAL! helping foster the growth of online by visiting sbdcmichi- contact Chelsea Schutz at SERVICES WE OFFER… small regional companies and gan.org/workshop. [email protected] . encouraging residents on both FREE • Family and General Dentistry sides of the Detroit River to ap- Exam, Full Mouth • Crowns and Bridges X-Rays & Fluoride ply for Gordie Howe Internation- • Root Canals • Extractions • Implants al Bridge project-related jobs when paying for cleaning. • Invisalign • Teeth whitening and training. The plan also has a (some restrictions apply) $20 million neighborhood infrastructure investment strategy Call for your appointment today! that includes about $8 million for aesthetics and landscaping. 248-399-1200 Officials say the plan will be fi- nanced by Canada. 26831 Woodward Ave. Huntington Woods, MI. 48070 The $4.4 billion bridge is ex- [email protected] pected to open in 2024. When completed, it will connect Wind- NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!! sor, Ontario, with Detroit. PAGE 4 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN JUNE 24, 2019 TRAVELNG SOUTH Stop and See First Wrecker Did you know that the first tow “He did a lot of jobs at the truck was built using a Cadillac store,” Brumgard said. “He did body? some designing, worked in ship- Those driving South this sum- ping. Apparently, in those days mer might want to explore an un- you did whatever needed doing usual part of automotive history and jobs weren’t so clearly de- – the International Towing and fined. Anyway, he wasn’t very Recovery Hall of Fame and Muse- happy and his wife, named Hat- um in Chattanooga, Tenn., just tie, came into an inheritance and off I-24, near where it intersects suggested they use the money to with I-75. set up his own workshop.” Cathy Brumgard, director of And that’s what Holmes did, the International Towing and Re- Brumgard said. He started his covery Hall of Fame and Muse- own car repair shop. As vehicles um, said the museum has been became more popular, Holmes officially opened at its present lo- was getting a lot of telephone cation at 3315 Broad Street in calls from people whose vehicles 1995. had broken down. “It all really started back in “Chattanooga is by a mountain 1986,” Brumgard said. “Some and a river, so people were often men belonging to a group called driving their cars into the river ‘the Friends of Towing’ created a bank or into ditches by the display of towing paraphernalia. mountain,” Brumgard said. “So The first tow truck, seen here pulling a car out of a ditch, was actually built on a Cadillac body in 1916. I’m talking about things like Holmes would get six or eight flares and smudge pots and other men to come with him when he’d Other displays include 20 items that might be associated get a call to fetch a car. They’d lit- fully-restored tow trucks from with tow trucks over the years. erally tie ropes to the vehicles the past 100 years. Among them They put the gear in a tractor and the men would have to pull is a a 1948 COE Chevrolet Truck trailer and hauled the truck them out of the ditch or river with a Holmes 515 bed mounted around the country to display at bank. Holmes said that there had on the back. Peter Aspesi pur- car shows and such.” to be a better way, so he started chased this truck in 1996 from In 1995 it was decided to cre- experimenting. That’s how the Gannon Chevrolet in Westboro, ate a permanent museum and tow truck was created. The first Mass., and a W-45 wrecker was Chattanooga was chosen be- one was built off a1913 Cadillac manufactured in Chattanooga, cause the city is the birthplace of body. He patented it in 1919, and Tenn. by the Ernest Holmes Com- the tow truck, Brumgard said. liked to use Packards for his pany from 1941 until 1949. “The tow truck was invented in trucks because they were light A total of 7,238 units were 1916 by named Ernest Holmes,” weight and sturdy enough to built. This wrecker was manufac- Brumgard said. “When he was haul heavy cars.” tured in early 1943 and has a rat- young he had a neighbor who He started the Ernest Holmes ing of 15 tons. The wrecker was was a mechanic and Ernest loved Company, which manufactured used in France, after the invasion to watch him work.” tow trucks until it was sold to the in conjunction with the Red Ball Apparently Holmes wanted to Dover Corporation in 1973. Express. be a mechanic himself, but his The current museum is located The Red Ball Express was This reproduction of the first tow truck is on display at the museum. parents discouraged him after only three miles from Holmes’ the Army truck line that deliv- the neighbor poked one of original workshop where the first ered critically needed supplies The museum’s summer hours AAA members, $6 for children Holmes’ eyes. He took his par- tow truck was made, Brumgard to the front lines during WWII. are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday ages six to 14. Children five and ents’ advice and got a job at a lo- said. The museum features an ac- This wrecker was used by the through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 under get in for free. cal department store called Love- curate replica of Holmes’ first U.S. Army until December 1947 p.m. Sundays. To learn more about the muse- man’s. tow truck. when it was given to the French Tickets are $10 fod adults, $9 um and its exhibits, go to inter- Army. for seniors and military, $8.50 for nationaltowingmuseum.org. SEG’s 48V E-Motor Powers Bike to Third As their first venture into rac- The SEG development centre over 30 teams compete in both ing, a team of engineers from SEG in Miskolc has been involved in their engineering and motorbike Automotive of Novi competed in the development and the testing driving skills by driving modified this year’s Totalbike24 competi- of the BRM – so the engineering scooters for 24 straight hours, tion on June 15-16 in Kecskemét, team is well familiar with its effi- Hölzl said. This year’s competi- Hungary. The team finished third cient performance. tion on June 15 and June16 fea- in the eScooter category. “We believe in our people and tured both a traditional race and The team used a modified E- our products. Accordingly, SEG an e-scooter category. Schwalbe, said SEG spokesman Automotive is covering all costs Mang said the BRM also trans- Christoph Hölzl. It is a re- for entering the race to make our forms any conventional internal launched version of the bike employees’ dream of competing combustion engine car into an ef- from former East-Germany, and a reality and we decided to be- ficient mild-hybrid with minimal is powered by a 48V e-motor come an official sponsor of the effort: The 48V BRM replaces the made by SEG Automotive. event,” said Mang. 12-volt generator on the belt “Our engineers are driven by a Over the last weeks, the engi- drive (P0 topology), so there is passion for innovation at work – neers have dedicated countless no need for complex and expen- and a love for motor bikes in hours outside working time to sive high-voltage protection sys- their free time. Now they will turn a regular E-Schwalbe into a tems or wiring harnesses. bring their engineering and rac- customized version ready to face By recuperating braking ener- ing skills together to represent the trials of a 24 hour race, Hölzl- gy and re-using it to power the our company at this year’s Total- said. Among other modifications, vehicle, the BRM reduces fuel bike24,” said Uwe Mang, com- they added the possibility to consumption and CO2 emissions mercial general manager of the change battery packs to elimi- by up to 15 percent under real Miskolc division of SEG Automo- nate re-charging times. world driving conditionsm Man tive. Totalbike24 is a race where said.

The SEG 48 volt engine powered the company’s e-scooter to a third-place finish at this year’s Totalbike24 race. JUNE 24, 2019 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN PAGE 5 General Motors Petitions Feds On Takata Air Bag Recall See Lingenfelter DETROIT (AP) – General Mo- cause of the danger presented by A spokeswoman for NHTSA ing the inflators cooler and re- Collection Over tors is trying to avoid recalling the air bags. “They figure if they said June 19 that she would ducing hot-and-cold cycles that potentially deadly Takata air bag keep stalling, it’ll go away and check on questions about the cause the ammonium nitrate to Some Coffee inflators in thousands of full-size they won’t have to expend the length of time it’s taking to make deteriorate. From June 1 to Aug. 24, car en- pickup trucks and SUVs for the funds to address the issue.’’ a decision. Jason Levine, executive direc- thusiasts are invited to start fourth straight year, leaving own- Takata used the volatile chemi- The agency consolidated all tor of the Center for Auto Safety, each summer weekend enjoying ers to wonder if vehicles are safe cal ammonium nitrate to create a four GM petitions into one and a nonprofit consumer group, said auto “show and tell” at Lingenfel- to drive. small explosion and inflate air said it would take public com- NHTSA appears to be paralyzed ter Cars & Coffee, powered by The automaker petitioned the bags. But high humidity and hot ment at regulations.gov/docu- in the GM case. Information pro- LaFontaine Automotive Group. National Highway Traffic Safety temperatures can cause the ment?D=NHTSA-2016-0124-0246 vided by GM thus far isn’t suffi- Each Saturday morning event Administration to exempt it from chemical to deteriorate and burn until July 18. cient for NHTSA to approve the will open from 8 – 10 a.m., rain or recalls that were required under too fast, blowing apart metal can- In its petition, GM said petition, said Levine, who ques- shine. All makes and models wel- a 2015 agreement between Taka- isters designed to contain the ex- Northrop Grumman tested 4,270 tions the validity of some tests come, said Lingenfelter ta and the government. plosions and hurling shrapnel. At inflators by artificially exposing done for GM. He questioned the spokesman Chris Morrisroe. Takata inflators can explode least 24 people have been killed them to added humidity and tem- need for a delay by NHTSA in There is no fee to participate with too much force, blowing worldwide and 200 have been perature cycling, and there were making a decision. “There’s mil- but guests are asked to donate apart a metal canister and spew- hurt. no explosions or abnormal de- lions of these things on the road. to Gleaners Community Food ing shrapnel. The problem forced the Japan- ployments. It says GM has “es- It is not right. It’s bad policy, bad Bank. Twenty-four people have been ese company into bankruptcy pro- tablished that worse-than-worst- practice,’’ Levine said. “It only Nonperishable food items and killed and hundreds injured by tection and touched off the largest case humidity exposure and tem- engenders concern and fear po- monetary donations will be ac- the inflators worldwide. series of automotive recalls in U.S. perature cycling will not cause tentially unnecessarily. NHTSA cepted on-site this summer, Mor- For GM, the stakes are high. If history including up to 69 million inflator ruptures ... at any point needs to do its job.’’ risroe said. NHTSA requires it to do all the re- inflators in the U.S. alone. The re- within even unrealistically con- Under NHTSA’s agreement with Attendees will have the oppor- calls, the company will have to calls are being phased in based on servative vehicle service life esti- Takata, GM should be recalling tunity to enjoy refreshments in- repair more than 6 million trucks the age of vehicles and exposure to mates.’’ the 2010-2014 Chevrolet Silvera- cluding coffee by Laperfetto Cap- and SUVs at a cost of $1.2 billion, high temperatures and humidity. The company simulated aging do and GMC Sierra heavy duty puccino, browse the indoor more than half the profit report- Kohlhorst said he was afraid to of the inflators for an estimated pickups this year, as well as 2010- showroom, display their person- ed by the company in its most re- drive the Suburban because his 35 years, the petition said. 2013 light duty Silverados and alized cars, and meet other car cent quarter. wife and 15-year-old daughter sat GM said in a prepared state- Sierras. Also covered are the buffs from the community and GM’s petition, posted June 19 in the front passenger seat and ment that it’s confident the vehi- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe and around the country. by the government, says the in- would have been hit by shrapnel cles “do not present an unrea- Suburban SUVs, the 2010-2014 Updates on weekend special flators are unique to GM and are if the inflator exploded. Also, sonable risk to safety, continue Cadillac Escalade SUV, and the activities and featured cars from safe, with no explosions even shrapnel could have flown into to perform as designed in the 2010-2014 GMC Yukon SUV. the Lingenfelter Collection will though nearly 67,000 air bags the back seat where his 4-year- field and will continue to perform All of the recalls are being be posted on Lingenfelter Cars& have deployed in the field. old daughter sat. He traded in as designed.’’ phased in by age of vehicles and Coffee Facebook page and web- But Takata declared the GM the Suburban because of its age Tests on one inflator taken areas of the country where they site: www.lingenfelter.com, Mor- front passenger inflators defec- and rising cost of maintenance, from a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado are located. risroe said. tive under a 2015 agreement with but said the air bags made him showed abnormally high pres- Because General Motors filed Lingenfelter’s address is 47451 the government. GM’s efforts to trade sooner than he would have sure inside the canister, but it did its petition to avoid the recalls, Avante Drive in Wixom. It is avoid the recalls raise questions liked. In its place he got a new not rupture. owners will not be notified that close to where I-96 and Beck about whether the inflators are Toyota Corolla, largely for his GM also said its trucks have their vehicles have the potential- Road connect. safe and why NHTSA has taken older daughter to drive. solar-absorbing glass that holds ly dangerous inflators, according “Come on down, it’ll be a lot of more than three years to rule on Even though GM filed the peti- down cabin temperatures, keep- to NHTSA. fun,” Morrisroe said. GM’s petitions. The first one was tion in January, NHTSA didn’t filed in May of 2016. publish it in the Federal Register “Any fool can see that they’re as required until Wednesday. GM just stalling for time,’’ said Craig also had to file recall paperwork, Kohlhorst of Wellington, Fla., but NHTSA does not make that who recently traded in a 2007 public until a decision is made on Chevrolet Suburban in part be- the petitions. U.S. Grant’s Michigan Home Moved DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Civil War general and U.S. presi- home of President Ulysses S. dent.’’ Grant is being moved from the Grant lived at the house with former Michigan State Fair- his wife, Julia Dent, from April of grounds to the Eastern Market, 1849 until May of 1850. Their first where it will be refashioned as a son, Frederick, was born there. public education and resource The Michigan State Housing center. and Development Authority has Sandra Clark, the director the provided a grant to support the Michigan History Center, said move. Clark said it could cost as Thursday that the two-story much as $200,000 to get the white clapboard house that was house ready to relocate. The built in the 1830s will be renovat- move is tentatively scheduled for ed and established as a museum August, but the operation to ren- to celebrate the nation’s 18th ovate and secure the property president. could take as long as two years. “This will not be a traditional The home was saved from house museum,’’ said Clark. “Our demolition in 1936 when the hope is to make it a place to ex- Michigan Mutual Liability Co. in- plore Grant’s life and the impact surance company bought it and he made on Detroit while living presented it as a gift to the fair- here and in his later actions as a grounds.

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*All prices and payments include GM rebates. Pictures may not represent actual vehicle. Pricing subject to change per GM incentives. Prices and payments are inclusive of active GM employee discount (unless otherwise stated). All leases are 10,000 *All prices and payments include GM rebates. Pictures may not represent actual vehicle. Pricing subject to change per GM incentives. Prices and payments miles per year with approved A Tier credit. All Vehicles shown are $999 down unless otherwise stated. Disposition Fee may be are inclusive of active GM employee discount (unless otherwise stated). All leases are 10,000 miles per year with approved A Tier credit. All Vehicles shown required at vehicle turn in. Must have lease loyalty or lease conquest vehicle in household on certain models. Prices and are $999 down unless otherwise stated. Disposition Fee may be required at vehicle turn in. 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JUNE 24, 2019 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN PAGE 9 GKN Powder Gets New Auburn Hills Ford Gets Its Dance On Via Community Grants Ford is taking its responsibili- Central Station for years to $55,000 – Record first-per- trepreneurship and job creation; Headquarters ties to the neighborhoods it op- come.” son accounts, oral histories mobility and innovation. GKN Powder Metallurgy has erates in seriously. The grantees are: and cultural perspectives of With phase two of the renova- opened its new North American As part of its Celebrating Cul- • S.A.Y. Detroit/Capturing Be- the rich diversity of people tion work underway, Michigan Powder Metallurgy Headquar- ture and Community Grants Pro- lief, $85,000 – Build a visual living in the area. Central Station is on its way to ters and Additive Manufacturing gram, Ford Motor Company is history of the community • Motor City Street Dance becoming a base for thousands (AM) Customer Center. awarding $250,000 this year to and mentoring young resi- Academy, $35,000 – Engage of entrepreneurs, innovators, de- The 38,260 square foot facility, support nonprofit projects that dents in photography and community members via signers, technologists and Ford located in Auburn Hills expands reflect the unique culture and creative writing. hip-hop and empower them employees to come together to the company’s global 3D printing history of the neighborhoods • Heritage Works, $75,000 – with the S.E.E.D. Program solve the world’s mobility prob- network and extends its scope of surrounding Michigan Central Activate community spaces (Spreading the Elements lems. It will host a mix of office, in-house powder metallurgy ca- Station. with music, movement, visu- Everywhere in Detroit). retail, entertainment, food and pabilities. The grants are tied to Ford’s al and spoken word artists in Grant recipients are expected hospitality spaces. Housing more than 80 employ- renovation of the 105-year-old green spaces, non-tradition- to complete their projects in Ford expects the renovated ees from the three GKN Powder train depot, which will be the al venues, existing events 2020. Topics for future grants train station to be ready for ten- Metallurgy’s businesses, Hoe- centerpiece of a new innovation and schools. may include streetscapes and ants and open to the public once ganaes, GKN Sinter Metals and and mobility hub in Detroit, said • Matrix Theatre Company, neighborhood beautification; en- again in 2022. GKN Additive, the space is de- Ford Company Fund spokes- signed to inspire teamwork and woman Stafanie Dunham. As part enhance exceptional customer of its commitment to the area, experiences, said GKN spokes- Ford is investing $2 million over woman Kayla Varicalli. The the next four years through the building includes 20,700 square Community Benefits Agreement feet of collaborative working ar- to support a variety of nonprofit eas and 17,700 square feet of projects aimed at bringing inno- shop floor space to complete the vative programs and opportuni- cohesive working environment. ties to residents in the communi- “We are excited to start a new ty. journey in Auburn Hills with a Grant recipients were selected space that is dedicated to our based on votes from a panel of team, our community and the judges, as well as approximately advanced technology we create 200 local residents and communi- for our customers,” said Reid ty leaders who attended a special Southby, President, GKN Sinter pitch session in late May. Metals Large Segment. “This “We want to thank everyone building reinforces our commit- who submitted creative and ment to the North American thoughtful ideas for celebrating market and continued global the vibrant culture of our neigh- growth.” borhoods,” said Pamela Alexan- The building includes a 3,200 der, director, Community Devel- square foot AM Customer Cen- opment, Ford Motor Company ter, equipped with two EOS M290 Fund. “With help from the com- Direct Metal Laser Sinter (DMLS) munity, we determined these printers. The DMLS machines in- four proposals represent a diver- corporate powder bed fusion sity of talent and topics. We look technology, creating functional forward to seeing the positive im- prototypes within a two-week pact they will have in the neigh- lead time and allowing cus- borhoods surrounding Michigan The Motor City Dance Academy, seen performing here, is getting at $35,000 community grant from Ford. tomers to test factors such as us- ability, ergonomics, manufac- turability and materials in the early stages of the development For Fun Driving, Younger Buyers Pick Top OEMs Autos process. (AP) – Ronald Montoya of Ed- dard with a surprising amount of so fun to drive around turns frills. You won’t find expansive el- This metro-Detroit location ex- munds recently analyzed the de- racy hardware, including a limit- thanks to its sporty handling. On bow room, high-tech features or pands GKN Powder Metallurgy’s mand for some vehicles by ed-slip rear differential for im- top of that, you get a lot for your generous trunk space here. But global 3D printing network, pro- younger car buyers. proved traction and an electronic money. Even a base Kona comes the Miata’s small size and nimble viding customers the exclusive “You’re likely familiar with the line-lock to facilitate burnouts (at with a decent set of features, in- handling contributes to the fun. opportunity for efficient lead stereotype of a middle-aged per- the track only, of course). cluding a 7-inch touchscreen with Its simple fabric top that can be times and local customer sup- son who impulsively splurges on Mustang EcoBoost starting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto lowered in just a few seconds. A port at their fingertips, Varicalli an expensive new car,” Montoya MSRP: $27,490. smartphone integration. Our pick, bevy of upgrades for 2019 makes said. said. “But there’s also a similar ex- the Limited, has the upgraded en- the Miata enticing, including a re- The building offers room for perience at a different life stage: 2019 HONDA CIVIC gine plus extras such as leather vised 181-horsepower engine that growth, and GKN Powder Metal- buying a flashy and fun vehicle Honda offers a variety of Civic upholstery and a premium sound gives the Miata quick accelera- lurgy stays committed to global right after you get your first well- models, but the Si is the one that system. tion. development in metal AM for paying job. You might call it a will get you through a quarter-life Kona Limited starting MSRP: Miata Sport starting MSRP: prototypes, medium series and quarter-life crisis car.” crisis. Available as a coupe or $26,595. $26,650. aftermarket. Most financial experts would sedan, the Si comes with a 205- “GKN Powder Metallurgy is at argue that the last thing these horsepower engine that provides 2019 JEEP WRANGLER 2019 VW GOLF GTI an exhilarating point in its jour- young people need right now is a quick acceleration. A lot of the en- Here’s what you don’t get with The Golf GTI blends a user- ney of growth and innovation,” big loan, Montoya said. But if joyment also comes from shifting the Wrangler: a quiet cabin, a friendly interior, practicality and Southby said. “We now have the you’ve got some disposable in- your gears via the standard six- cushy ride quality and lots of performance for an attainable opportunity to provide our cus- come, and don’t want to wait until speed manual transmission. Com- standard features. But it’s easy to price. VW’s formula is to take the tomers and strategic partners your 40s or 50s to drive a fun car, pared to a regular Civic, you also overlook that when you’re getting humble Golf hatchback and trans- with local and exceptional sup- Edmunds has picked out six vehi- get an adaptive suspension that iconic styling and an SUV that can form it with a more powerful en- port on all fronts of our busi- cles under $30,000 that deliver enhances both handling and ride be a capable off-roader or a gine (228 horsepower for 2019), a ness.” driving excitement without break- comfort, stronger brakes, a rugged-looking boulevard cruiser. sport-tuned suspension, upgrad- ing the bank. All of the listed man- unique rear spoiler, Si-branded It’s still the only SUV available ed brakes, and subtle enhance- ufacturer suggested retail prices sport seats, an upgraded 10- that has a removable roof and ments such as bigger wheels and Man’s Good Luck (MSRP) include destination fees. speaker stereo, and a unique in- doors, too. The base Sport trim sport seats. Golf GTI Rabbit start- strument panel. fits under our $30K limit, but it’s ing MSRP: $29,790. Turns Bad Over 2019 FORD MUSTANG Civic Si sedan starting MSRP: missing features you might ex- Montoya said it’s OK to splurge The Mustang has long provided $25,220. pect from a vehicle made in 2019, a little and replace your old hand- Lottery Split sleek styling. What you might not such as air conditioning. You’ll me-down car with a new ride. The PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) – A sub- know is how good the rest of the 2019 HYUNDAI KONA need to spend a little more to get cars on this list should help keep urban Detroit man who was in car has gotten recently. Despite The Kona is one of the best them. your budget intact. Additionally, the middle of a divorce when he representing the bottom rung of subcompact crossover SUVs on Wrangler Two-Door Sport start- many of our picks are available won more than $30 million must Mustangdom, the EcoBoost is the market. When equipped with ing MSRP: $29,540. used and are within the same ve- share the lottery windfall with powered by a turbocharged four- its optional 175-horsepower tur- hicle generation, which means his ex-wife. cylinder engine that makes a bocharged engine, it gets up to 2019 MAZDA MX-5 Miata that you’ll retain all the features The Michigan appeals court stout 310 horsepower. This entry- speed quicker than just about The Miata is a two-seat road- of their new counterparts but for says a marriage isn’t over until level Mustang also comes stan- everything else in the class. It’s al- ster that prioritizes thrills over far less money. it’s over. It means Mary Beth Ze- lasko can keep $15 million awarded by an arbitrator, although she and Rich Zelasko had been separated for two years when he bought the Mega Mil- lions ticket in 2013. Their divorce wasn’t final until 2018. In a court filing, an attorney for Rich Zelasko said, “Rich was lucky, but it was his luck, not Mary’s, that produced the lottery proceeds.’’ But arbitrator John Mills said the ticket was marital property. The couple had agreed to have Mills make certain decisions during the divorce case. The appeals court last week found no errors. 2019 Ford Mustang 2019 Jeep Wrangler PAGE 10 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN JUNE 24, 2019 Waymo, Renault and Nissan FCA Vehicles Tops in ASG Performance It’s a matter of science. when considering purchase and ments,” said Self. “In fact, the FCA US vehicles earned four operating costs across the first Compass has held this title for Enter Into AV Alliance awards from the Automotive Sci- 6.5 years of vehicle ownership. three consecutive years, while by MICHAEL LIEDTKE technology is widely considered ence Group (ASG) in their 2019 Similarly, ASG awarded the Fiat the 500L maintains its best value AP Technology Writer to be the world’s most advanced, Automotive Performance Index 500L the Best Economic Perform- proposition for the second year it still isn’t adept enough to be (API) study. ance award. running.” SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Self- trusted without a human poised The 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hy- The 500L is not only the lowest The Automotive Science Group driving car pioneer Waymo is to take control in case something brid continues to be a leader in priced vehicle in the wagon is a research group founded by teaming up with automakers Re- goes awry with the robot. its class, taking home two class, but also the 500L takes ad- Eco-innovations, LLC, an environ- nault and Nissan to make its first Waymo had hoped to launch a awards for the third consecutive vantage of vehicle light-weighting mental policy consultancy entity journey outside the U.S. with a fully autonomous ride-hailing year: Best All-around Perform- strategies that maximize opera- that was established in 2007. Self ride-hailing service that will dis- service last year in the Phoenix ance and Best Environmental tional efficiency, coming in as the said. patch a fleet of robotaxis in area, but instead is still keeping Performance. The 2019 Jeep lightest vehicle architecture, Self ASG is changing the way we de- France and Japan. human safety drivers in those ve- Compass and 2019 Fiat 500L won said. fine value in today’s automotive The partnership announced hicles more than six months af- the Economic Performance “The Jeep Compass and Fiat marketplace by providing life-cy- June 19 underscores Waymo’s ter it rolled out. Award in their respective seg- 500L both stand out in ASG's cle data-driven findings that help ambition to deploy its driverless That service, known as Waymo ments. said FCA spokeswoman 2019 study for their best-in-class consumers make purchasing de- technology throughout the world One, is still only offering rides to Claire Carroll. economic performance, with cisions that are ecologically sus- in an attempt to revolutionize a few hundred passengers that In ASG’s data-driven automo- both models providing the best tainable, socially equitable and the way people get around. previously participated in a test tive assessment, the Pacifica Hy- value in their competitive seg- economically viable,” Self said. The Mountain View, Calif., program. brid outperformed all minivan company can afford to try be- Krafcik told the German news- variants in its competitive seg- cause it’s backed by one of the paper Handelsblatt last year that ment, said Colby Self, managing world’s richest companies, Waymo will likely use a different director at ASG. The Pacifica Hy- Google, which secretly began brand of motor vehicle for its brid also earned a class-leading working on driverless technolo- ride-hailing services outside the environmental performance rat- gy a decade ago before spinning United States. ing, outperforming the average off that project into what is now That could be one reason Way- vehicle in its segment by 34 per- known as Waymo. mo is working with France-based cent, thereby producing 34 per- After launching its ride-hailing Renault and Japan-based Nissan, cent less CO2-e emissions over service in France and Japan, household names in their home the first 6.5 years in its life cycle. Waymo intends to explore the countries. “The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid possibility of operating in other Waymo has previously struck furthers FCA's position in the European and Asian markets deals with two other automakers ASG 2019 study with its 32-mile with Renault and Nissan. – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and all-electric range and advanced “This is an ideal opportunity Jaguar – but those involved or- gas-electric combination that not for Waymo to bring our au- dering tens of thousands of vehi- only reduces emissions, but also tonomous technology to a global cles to be equipped with self-dri- significantly reduces fuel costs stage,’’ Waymo CEO John Krafcik ving technology for services in by leveraging the increasingly said. the U.S. cleaner U.S. power grid as a fuel Waymo, Renault and Nissan So far, Waymo is only using Fi- source,” said Self. “The plug-in 2019 Jeep Compass didn’t set a timetable for when at Chrysler Automobile minivans remains unrivaled in the minivan their ride-hailing service will for the company’s Phoenix-area segment, providing the best all- ready to be launched and be service. around performance in its class available to the public as a regu- The partnership with Renault since the model was first intro- VW Employees Reject UAW lar service. They left most other and Nissan also involves a long- duced in 2017.” CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – VW employees in a closed-door details vague. time alliance they formed with The 2019 Jeep Compass, with Workers at Volkswagen’s plant in meeting that he believes “when I It seems likely it will still be Mitsubishi. But the fate of that al- its best-in-class retail price, com- Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted have a direct relationship with several years before Waymo will liance has been in limbo since bined with its competitive fuel June 14 against forming a facto- you, the worker, and you’re be in a position to be able to Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of economy rating, outperformed ry-wide union, handing a setback working for me, that is when the pose a serious challenge to Uber, both Renault and Nissan, was ar- 235 crossover variants in its to the UAW’s efforts to gain a environment works the best,’’ ac- the world’s largest ride-hailing rested late last year on charges competitive class, Self said. The foothold among foreign auto fa- cording to a recording obtained service. that included falsifying financial Jeep Compass continues to hold cilities in the South. by Labor Notes, a pro-union pub- Although Waymo’s self-driving reports. the lowest cost of ownership The vote of hourly workers be- lication. gan June 12 and concluded June In 2014, Volkswagen workers in 14. Preliminary results show 833 Chattanooga voted 712-626 employees voted against repre- against unionization through the sentation and 776 voted for it, Detroit-based UAW, heeding the the German automaker said in a advice of then-U.S. Sen. Bob statement. VW said about 93 per- Corker, then-Gov. Bill Haslam and cent of the roughly 1,700 eligible other GOP officials who urged a employees voted. “no’’ vote. “Our employees have spoken,’’ During that election, Corker Frank Fischer, president and CEO waited until voting had actually of Volkswagen Chattanooga, said started at the plant in his home- in the company statement. town when he all but guaranteed He said results are pending that the company would an- certification by the National La- nounce within two weeks of a bor Relations Board and legal re- union rejection that it would view. Fischer said the company build a new midsized SUV at its looks forward to “continuing our only U.S. factory, instead of send- close cooperation with elected ing the work to Mexico. officials and business leaders in Volkswagen announced a new Tennessee.’’ SUV would be produced in Chat- Volkswagen has union repre- tanooga five months after the sentation at all of its other major vote, essentially confirming plants worldwide. Corker’s prediction but on a dif- A win in Chattanooga would ferent timeline. have offered the United Auto UAW claimed “interference by Workers its first fully organized, politicians and outside special foreign-owned auto assembly interest groups’’ swayed the 2014 plant in the traditionally anti- election. The union ultimately union South. UAW officials have dropped an appeal of that vote questioned why Chattanooga After the loss, a smaller bloc of should differ from Volkswagen’s Chattanooga workers voted for other union-represented plants union representation in 2015, but worldwide, or Spring Hill, Ten- Volkswagen refused to bargain nessee’s General Motors plant with them unless all hourly work- with 3,000 UAW-represented ers had a vote. Instead of drag- workers. ging out the fight over the small- UAW organizing director Tracy er group, the union was granted Romero said she was proud of this week’s vote. the pro-union voters at the plant. Other than the smaller vote at “The company ran a brutal Chattanooga, the UAW has not campaign of fear and misinfor- fully organized a foreign-owned mation,’’ Romero said in a state- auto assembly plant in the South. ment, adding that the automaker A 2017 vote at the Nissan plant in tried to make workers afraid of Canton, Mississippi, failed by a losing the plant and suffer other wide margin . repercussions. Even with recent losses at VW Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. and Nissan, the UAW won’t stop Sen. Marsha Blackburn and other trying to organize assembly top Republicans urged a “no’’ plants in the South owned by in- vote, saying a union could cause ternational automakers, said economic harm. Blackburn said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of attempts to unionize will harm labor, industry and economics at workers, adding, “We don’t need the Center for Automotive Re- union bosses in Detroit telling search, an industry think tank in Tennessee what’s best for our Ann Arbor. workers.’’ “It’s never the end,’’ she said In April, Gov. Bill Lee drew before the vote. “Win or lose, it’s cheers and jeers when he told hard to organize.’’ JUNE 24, 2019 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN PAGE 11 PAGE 12 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN JUNE 24, 2019 Legislature Debates Road Taxes LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Sales taxes collected at the gas pump would be shifted to road repairs under a budget plan approved June 13 by the Michigan House, where majority Republicans called it a first step in response to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call for higher fuel taxes to fix deteriorating transportation infrastructure. GOP lawmakers said they structured their blueprint so schools and municipalities, which now get most of the sales tax on fuel, would be held harm- less. But Democrats were skepti- cal, saying the spending bills would not do enough to improve the roads and ultimately would create new fiscal problems for education and local governments. Michigan spends less per capi- ta on transportation than many states but has fuel taxes that rank among the country’s high- est. That is because it assesses a sales tax on gasoline – which is rare – while the revenue primari- ly helps fund education and local governments. “People expect when they pay at the pump that every penny paid in taxes at the pump is a penny that is going to go toward roads. That is what we just ac- complished with this budget while funding our roads at a record level without raising taxes one cent,’’ said Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield. The House action was the latest move in what appears likely to be a protracted budget process that that will extend into the summer months. Whitmer in March proposed her plan, including a 45-cents-a-gallon gasoline and diesel tax increase, while the GOP-led Senate passed its proposal in May. Her blueprint would eventually boost transportation spending by roughly $2 billion annually, while the Senate proposal would spend an additional $132 million earlier than planned. Under the House budget, the state would gradually direct $850 million more to roads a year – though Chatfield charac- terized it as a “first step’’ and said there will be further talks with Senate leadership and the Whitmer administration. Democrats opposed the transportation budget, K-12 budget and other spending bills that were passed June 13. The meas- ures would increase funding for schools and universities but less so than Whitmer wants. They also would cut public transit – shifting the money to roads – re- duce information technology spending across state government and not include water infrastructure improvements proposed by the governor. Quicken Loans Settles Federal Suit DETROIT (AP) – Quicken Loans has agreed to pay $32.5 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of fraudu- lently sticking the government with bad mortgages. The deal was disclosed June 14, and the case was dismissed by a Detroit federal judge. The government had accused Quicken of cutting corners when verifying the income of certain borrowers. Quicken also was accused of seeking improper appraisals so it could make a larger mortgage. The loans were insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which paid Quicken if a borrow- er defaulted. Quicken denied the allega- tions.