Daily News
GM: Mary Barra to Lead Global Manufacturing Engineering
14 Jan 2008
PRESS RELEASE
January 2008
GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced that Mary Barra, currently executive director, vehicle manufacturing engineering, will be appointed GM vice president, global manufacturing engineering, effective February 1. In her new position, Mary will report to Gary Cowger, GM group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations. She will succeed Jim Wiemels, who will retire April 1 after 43 years of service.
"We are pleased to have a leader of Mary Barra's capability ready to step into this important role, heading up engineering for our assembly plants worldwide," Wagoner said. "We thank Jim Wiemels for his 43 years of exemplary service in a wide range of manufacturing and general management leadership roles around the globe."
Barra, 46, was most recently executive director, vehicle manufacturing engineering. She joined GM in 1980 as a co-op student. She earned her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1985, and an MBA from Stanford, where she was a GM Fellow. Prior to her current assignment, Barra was plant manager for the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Center. Among other assignments, Barra also served as manager for manufacturing planning for GM Midsize Car Division, as general director for internal communications for GM North America, and as executive director of competitive operations engineering for North American Vehicle Operations.
Wiemels, 61, also attended General Motors Institute, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, attended the Harvard program for management development, and received an MA in business management from Central Michigan University. Among his many assignments, Wiemels was a general manager for the Lansing Automotive Division, chairman and managing director of GM Holden Ltd., and vice president for manufacturing for GM Europe. He has been a GM vice president since 1994.
January 2008
GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced that Mary Barra, currently executive director, vehicle manufacturing engineering, will be appointed GM vice president, global manufacturing engineering, effective February 1. In her new position, Mary will report to Gary Cowger, GM group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations. She will succeed Jim Wiemels, who will retire April 1 after 43 years of service.
"We are pleased to have a leader of Mary Barra's capability ready to step into this important role, heading up engineering for our assembly plants worldwide," Wagoner said. "We thank Jim Wiemels for his 43 years of exemplary service in a wide range of manufacturing and general management leadership roles around the globe."
Barra, 46, was most recently executive director, vehicle manufacturing engineering. She joined GM in 1980 as a co-op student. She earned her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1985, and an MBA from Stanford, where she was a GM Fellow. Prior to her current assignment, Barra was plant manager for the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Center. Among other assignments, Barra also served as manager for manufacturing planning for GM Midsize Car Division, as general director for internal communications for GM North America, and as executive director of competitive operations engineering for North American Vehicle Operations.
Wiemels, 61, also attended General Motors Institute, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, attended the Harvard program for management development, and received an MA in business management from Central Michigan University. Among his many assignments, Wiemels was a general manager for the Lansing Automotive Division, chairman and managing director of GM Holden Ltd., and vice president for manufacturing for GM Europe. He has been a GM vice president since 1994.
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Honda Pilot Balances Ideal Combination of SUV Strengths
14 Jan 2008
PRESS RELEASE
January 2008
DETROIT, U.S.A., – A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot is being unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced.
The prototype conveys design features of the more boldly-styled 2009 Pilot, set to debut in spring 2008, which emphasizes authentic SUV styling, clever and more accommodating interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.
“The Pilot’s pioneering formula improves for 2009 by enhancing its combination of refinement and efficiency with even more traditional SUV strengths,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “A powerful exterior design communicates strength and allows for more space inside.”
Functional eight-passenger seating, a hallmark of the Pilot, becomes even easier to access in the third row as key dimensions for legroom, cargo and occupant space increase in all seating positions.
A redesigned platform allows even more refined handling and ride comfort to exist seamlessly with all-weather and medium-duty off-road capabilities.
To further enhance safety, the Pilot will feature the Honda-exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE®) body structure and the most extensive use of high-strength steel in any Honda product to date.
The ACE body structure enhances frontal collision compatibility with vehicles of different sizes and bumper heights. A pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle is designed to help absorb energy in the event of a collision.
A crossover SUV platform underpins the Pilot to provide the best of the car and truck worlds by integrating the refined traits and packaging advantages of a unit body car design with the utility and capability of an SUV design. A V-6 engine introduces the latest generation of Honda fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that operates in 6-cylinder mode for power and 4- and 3-cylinder modes for efficiency, an improvement compared to the existing Pilot’s available VCM system that works exclusively in 6- and 3-cylinder modes.
Three rows of seats provide a high degree of adaptability for people and large cargo loads.
The first row provides a commanding view of the road from two captains’ chairs. A wide center stack and center console form the styling anchor for the interior with a design that emphasizes spaciousness and power, while allowing for convenient access to navigation, entertainment and climate-control systems.
The 60/40 split second row, now more spacious, slides further forward for increased ease of access to the third row. The 60/40 split third row, now supplies enough knee room for an above-average-sized adult male to fit comfortably, making the Pilot’s third row among the most practical in the industry.
Each side of the second and third row independently folds down for cargo. A flat floor is created when the second and third rows are folded down.
The Pilot originally debuted as a 2003 model in July of 2002. Design and development of the 2003 Pilot and the 2009 Pilot were carried out at Honda R&D Americas in Raymond, Ohio, and Torrance, California.
The Pilot is assembled at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln.
January 2008
DETROIT, U.S.A., – A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot is being unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced.
The prototype conveys design features of the more boldly-styled 2009 Pilot, set to debut in spring 2008, which emphasizes authentic SUV styling, clever and more accommodating interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.
“The Pilot’s pioneering formula improves for 2009 by enhancing its combination of refinement and efficiency with even more traditional SUV strengths,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “A powerful exterior design communicates strength and allows for more space inside.”
Functional eight-passenger seating, a hallmark of the Pilot, becomes even easier to access in the third row as key dimensions for legroom, cargo and occupant space increase in all seating positions.
A redesigned platform allows even more refined handling and ride comfort to exist seamlessly with all-weather and medium-duty off-road capabilities.
To further enhance safety, the Pilot will feature the Honda-exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE®) body structure and the most extensive use of high-strength steel in any Honda product to date.
The ACE body structure enhances frontal collision compatibility with vehicles of different sizes and bumper heights. A pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle is designed to help absorb energy in the event of a collision.
A crossover SUV platform underpins the Pilot to provide the best of the car and truck worlds by integrating the refined traits and packaging advantages of a unit body car design with the utility and capability of an SUV design. A V-6 engine introduces the latest generation of Honda fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that operates in 6-cylinder mode for power and 4- and 3-cylinder modes for efficiency, an improvement compared to the existing Pilot’s available VCM system that works exclusively in 6- and 3-cylinder modes.
Three rows of seats provide a high degree of adaptability for people and large cargo loads.
The first row provides a commanding view of the road from two captains’ chairs. A wide center stack and center console form the styling anchor for the interior with a design that emphasizes spaciousness and power, while allowing for convenient access to navigation, entertainment and climate-control systems.
The 60/40 split second row, now more spacious, slides further forward for increased ease of access to the third row. The 60/40 split third row, now supplies enough knee room for an above-average-sized adult male to fit comfortably, making the Pilot’s third row among the most practical in the industry.
Each side of the second and third row independently folds down for cargo. A flat floor is created when the second and third rows are folded down.
The Pilot originally debuted as a 2003 model in July of 2002. Design and development of the 2003 Pilot and the 2009 Pilot were carried out at Honda R&D Americas in Raymond, Ohio, and Torrance, California.
The Pilot is assembled at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln.
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