News

At last week's 32nd International Vienna Motor Symposium, the chairman of the Volkswagen Group, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, announced that the group will be going into production with a range of important models with plug-in hybrid technology starting in 2013/14.

There’s a handy, free tool to help you make the most of your visit to the 22nd ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition – a smarphone app, sponsored by IBM and Skyline Technology Solutions, that is compatible with iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android devices. Once loaded, you will be able to view the entire meeting program by day, track, or search by keywords; plan sessions, special events or workshops to attend; browse the exhibit hall and plan your time with vendors; rate the sessions you attend and prov

WebTech Wireless, a provider of vehicle fleet location-based services and telematics technology, has received a four-year contract from the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA), in Texas, to implement its NextBus Real-Time Passenger Information System (RTPIS) on an enhanced bus route. This will use nine dedicated buses equipped with NextBus GPS units, plus 17 NextBus LED signs installed at selected high-volume bus stops. The company also will implement its telephone information system to provide Fort

Visteon is expanding automotive component testing capabilities at its engineering test centre in Brazil, one of the most advanced automotive technical centers in Latin America. The Visteon Tech Centre, located at the company's Arbor manufacturing facility in Guarulhos (SP), will now start performing thermal cycle tests on internal and external components for vehicles.

The launch of the first two operational satellites of the EU's global navigation satellite system will take place on 20 October, the European Commission has announced. This is just the first of a series of launches due to take off from Europe's Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Galileo satellites at an altitude of 23,600km will lead to the provision of initial satellite navigation services in 2014. Successive launches will complete the constellation by 2019.

The International Road Federation has special cause to celebrate during 2011. This year marks the 20th anniversary for the International Road Educational Foundation’s (IREF) Future Fund. This endowment-style funding mechanism has been supported by IRF member organisations and individuals to ensure the long-term stability of the IRF Fellowship Programme. It also helps with the organisation's commitment to future generations of global transportation industry leaders.

Ford engineers have developed a car seat that can monitor a driver's heartbeat, opening the door to a wealth of health, convenience and even life-saving potential. A joint project undertaken by experts from Ford's European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany and Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, the seat uses six special embedded sensors to detect electrical impulses generated by the heart.

HaCon has won the contract for EVAplus, a large-scale Deutsche Bahn (DB) project which will see complete remodeling of the integration of the German operator's timetable data.

Klaus Schierhackl has been appointed as the new president of ASECAP, the European Association of tolled road infrastructure operators. The election of the new president took place yesterday at the 39th ASECAP Study and Information Days, the annual congress of the tolled motorways operators.

As America braces for $4 average price for gasoline and the potential fallout from breaching this psychological barrier, a new study has just been released by the Mobility Collaborative that predicts $4 per gallon is not enough to significantly reduce the number of people choosing to drive alone as single occupant vehicle travellers (SOV).

Hertz On Demand, the global car sharing club, and IBM are together piloting a programme in Germany to advance electric vehicle (EV) mobility and user adoption through intelligent recharging solutions. In a special agreement, Hertz On Demand in Germany will supply electric vehicles to the car share fleet used by IBM employees to drive between Stuttgart Airport and the company's campus in Ehningen, about 30 km away.