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CES: GM to open the dashboard to developers

At last year's Autoweek Design Forum, father of the iPod and Nest Labs co-founder Tony Fadell suggested that automakers concentrate on designing and building cars, leaving handset makers to handle infotainment. The latest announcements from Ford and GM -- in conjunction with the International CES -- suggest that automakers would rather treat the dashboard space as a handset. Yesterday, Dearborn, Mich., announced the Ford Developer Program, which opens up Sync to outside application development; now General Motors has announced a similar initiative.

Mercedes SLK (2012) Undisguised

The Mercedes SLK 2011/2012 - almost undisguised Considering we’re not actually expecting the next generation Mercedes SLK to hit the roads until 2012 – although it will surface in 2011 – we’ve been picking up spy shots of the latest SLK for quite some time. More than a year ago we brought you spy shots of the 2012 Mercedes SLK, but that was on track and quite camouflaged. But the latest shots are practically undisguised.

Mobility Ventures builds dealer network for its wheelchair-accessible vehicles

Mobility Ventures LLC, the current builder of the MV-1, says it has now signed more than 50 dealers. The MV-1 is the only American-built vehicle designed from the ground up for people with mobility challenges; it meets or exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines as well as all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Last year, the original designer and builder of the MV-1 -- the Vehicle Production Group LLC -- was acquired by South Bend, Ind.-based AM General.