1999-2003 Acura Tl Driver Window Regulator (front Left) on 2040-parts.com

Laurenz Schaffer Appointed President of BMW Group’s DesignworksUSA

There's a game of musical chairs being played at DesignworksUSA, the BMW Group's design consultancy subsidiary. Starting December 1 this year, two key executives will be taking on new roles within the design consultancy, while the company's current President will be moving on to a new position within BMW Group Design. The first appointment is that of Laurenz Schaffer, currently Director of the Munich studio of BMW Group DesignworksUSA.

New techniques cut cost of carbon fiber

Carbon fiber, once so costly that it was the preferred material only for fighter planes and supercars, is catching the attention of weight-conscious automakers. Carbon fiber's cost is falling dramatically, thanks to production advances that let suppliers speed the material's finicky, and costly, curing process. One technological breakthrough that makes carbon-fiber auto parts more affordable may come from a process used to make carbon-fiber golf clubs.

Fleet-footed Ford speeds tech developments for advanced work vehicles

From supplying Kraft Foods with 2,500 Fusions to leading police fleet sales for 15 years, Ford is the major player in the fleet market--and it intends to keep things that way. “Fleet is not a bad word at Ford,” said Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas. “It's like anything else in life--done in moderation, it can be very healthy.” In 2009, Ford had the largest share of U.S.