AUTOMOTIVE
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PUTTING THE SPARK BACK
INTO THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Electric vehicle technology is the leading contender
in meeting consumers’ demands for alternative power
generation sources in cars.
By Mark Kleszczewski
The economic downturn of the last two years has affected all manufacturing and consumer sectors immensely, but few more so than the automobile
industry. Household names have been buffeted by safety
recalls, government regulations and bailouts, spiraling
legacy costs and changing consumer preferences. Yet as
the economy rebounds, certain trends are emerging in
the development of auto technologies, the retooling of
production facilities, and shifts in industry workforce
deployments.
Bouncing Back To The Future
Boosted by reduced costs and rebounding growth in
U.S gross domestic product (up 3. 2 percent in Q1 2010),
U.S. auto sales jumped 20 percent in the second quarter
with the majority of car makers seeing sizable profits. As
stability returns, the next phase of growth appears to be
taking hold, especially in “next generation” vehicles,
where both new and established companies are ramping
up the introduction of new vehicles and technologies.
