Big news from Chrysler was the 2012 production of the Fiat 500EV, an all electric vehicle, in the United States. The power plant that will be making this car go will consist of three major components: an advanced lithium-ion, high-power electric powertrain module and an EV control unit to manage overall power flow.
More news and the alternative fuel front for Chrysler is the building of 140 Ram plug-in hybrids. Chrysler is receiving up to $48 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for this undertaking. The plug-in trucks will be used in a three-year demonstration project that will help in expediting the development of vehicle electrification technology.
In the world of legal issues we have Toyota and Kia.
Kia is in the middle of a lawsuit involving there Superbowl commercial which featured Muno, the large sock monkey, from Yo Gabba Gabba. The lawsuit is coming from the use of The Heavy's song "How You Like Me Now". Apparently the Heavys sampled the music from a different song, "Let a woman Be a Women" by Dyke and the Blazers. Now since the Heavy's song was released on their album "The House That Dirt Built" in 2009 one would think that all the samples that were contained in the album had already been settled. Even if it wasn't The Heavys should be the ones facing the lawsuit and not Kia. Obviously the big money for the recording label holding the rights though is to get Kia involved with the lawsuit. We'll have to see how this one plays out.
As far as Toyota goes they made their own mistake by not registering "Prius" as a worldwide trademark. Who knew an automotive company in India named Prius Auto Industries was going to spring up and nab the rights to "Prius". A court in New Delhi told Toyota sorry no exclusive rights. Toyota has deep enough pockets they could persuade the other company to change its name, but how many Prius' actually sell in India?
This story from Austin, Texas. Twenty year old Omar Ramos-Lopez apparently was not very happy about losing his job at Texas Auto Center so he decided to release some frustration on the dealerships unknowing customers. Omar, who probably had passwords into the computer programs for this, activated the GPS immobilizer systems on customers vehicles to disable them. Owners missed work, had horns repeatably honking and many paid for towing and repair. On top of that he changed customers names and information to keep the dealership from being able to make since of what was taking place. Unfortunately Omar's luck ran out and now he faces between 4 months and 2 years in state prison should he be found guilty. Word of advice to business owners. You may want to disable ex-employees passwords and logins to all company programs when you part ways. There is reason why some companies escort former employees from company property when they are fired.
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