Cessna Arc Encoding Altimeter Ea-401a on 2040-parts.com

BMW Brilliance New Energy Vehicle – it’s a plug-in BMW 5-Series Hybrid

The BMW Brilliance plug-in The Shanghai Motor Show is looming, and we’re starting to see pre-show reveals cropping up. But this is one reveal that has no real impact on anywhere but China, but is interesting nonetheless. BMW’s partner in China is Brilliance, and they build a China-only LWB 5-Series.

London Taxi maker Manganese Bronze bought by China’s Geely

China automotive giant Geely has bought Manganese Bronze – makers of the iconic London Black Cab – in an £11.04 million deal. The iconic London Black Cab has been an accident waiting to happen for years, as under investment in making the Black Cab fit for the 21st century saw competition – like the Mercedes Vito Taxi and the Nissan NV200 Cab – start to offer serious competition to the taxi that identifies London. Despite an investment by China’s Geely – when Geely bought 20 per cent of Manganese Bronze, makers of the Black Cab – and the bulk of the Black Cab being produced in China and bolted together in the Midlands, the final nail in the coffin for Manganese Bronze was the recall of 400 TX4 cabs over a steering fault.

LA Design Challenge 2009

The LA Auto Show has just announced the competitors in its 6th annual Design Challenge. The entries - coming from the Southern California design studios of Audi, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota - all revolve around a set theme which asked designers to envision the ultimate ‘youthmobile' for the year 2030. Automobiles have always played an important role in Southern California, enhancing the social lives of youth and acting as a means of self expression.