Is car becoming an important topic in Technology Blogs?

Do you think that car or auto is a gadget? In real world, most people perhaps do not think so. They separate an automobile from a laptop or cell phone. However, in the leading technology blogs, I can find increasing coverage of cars these days. For example, today, I can found two stories about the auto industry in Engadget and TechCrunch:

AutoTech: 2012 Acura TL Quick Look (Video)

Hawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo'

Yes, both of these posts are directly related to technology. So, I find nothing wrong in Engadget or TechCrunch covering them. However, my understanding is that we will see more coverage of cars in the coming months because of two reasons.

First of all, cars are getting increasing number of gadgets. Secondly, auto industry is a big one and the potential of revenue from advertisements is huge. On the other hand, price of gadgets is decreasing. Just 5 years ago, you could not get a decent laptop below $1000. Now, you can get the best tablet PC under $1000. 

GM and Toyota Planning to Cut Jobs in Thailand to Reduce Production Cost

Global economic slump is now well-documented across the world. In fact, the ongoing credit crunch has already affected many a sectors in several countries. Many people lost their jobs, many business organizations shut down and different business have been badly affected. Amidst world wide economic recession, two giants of automotive industry, General Motors and Toyota, are now planning to production in Thailand due to drop in demand.

IHT reported:

GM Thailand said that its factory at Rayong, which has a capacity of 130,000 units a year, would close for two months starting in mid-December and that it planned to cut 258 jobs there.

"We plan to close the plant to help control costs, and our 2,000 workers will be paid 75 percent of their monthly salary during the shutdown," Chartchai Suwanasevok, the director of public relations, said, without giving details on the production impact.

Besides General Motors, Toyota is also planning to cut production costs in Thailand. 340 of 1,850 temporary workers at Toyota’s Gateway plant in Thailand might be imposed early retirement. Toyota is leading the auto market in Thailand. However, Toyota saw 21 percent drop in sales in October, compared with the same period of last year. Political instability also played a role behind the sales drop.

Maruti Suzuki India to Launch ‘End of Vehicle by 2010

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) is aiming to launch its first “End of Life Vehicle (ELV)” by 2010, following all the ELV norms set by European Union (EU). This End of Life vehicle would reduce the fuel consumption of MSIL cars by 10-15% in what would give the consumers a big sigh of relief amidst continuous hike in fuel price in the global market. Maruti Suzuki’s ELV car will not have harmful raw materials like lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium, etc. in its manufacturing process. However, lead will continuously be used in the batteries.

newsline365 reported:

As per the ELV norms in use, each homogeneous material for car manufacturing is allowed to support maximum concentration of 0.1 wt. per cent of lead and mercury and 0.01 wt. per cent of cadmium. Though, India has yet not officially implanted the ELV norms, but MSIL’s refurbishing has become need of the day to stay fit in the global competition, said a market analyst. Easy disposal, dismantling, and recyclability are the few most important characteristics of the ELV specifications.

ELV norm is being strictly followed in the EU countries since 2003 as it is environment friendly technology with better eco-disposal of the vehicles. Maruti Suzuki is planning to implement ELV compatible technology very soon and has already instructed its vendors to use technologies that suits EU’s ELV norms.