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New cars in India will have to face mandatory crash testing, while the cars of the next Bond film will almost certainly end up crashed.
68 Comments on “While You Were Sleeping: February 9th, 2015...”
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“The Golf SportWagen comes out this year, and an all-wheel-drive cross-over-style version, dubbed the Alltrack, will land in 2016. ‘Now we’ll have a Subaru fighter.\'”
Took VW long enough: over 20 years.
So your 4WD wagon choices are VW Alltrack, V60 T5 / T6 AWD, Legacy Outback wagon, A4 Avant Quattro, and BMW 3 x-Drive wagons?
That’s not a bad amount of choice, though a notable lack of US contenders…
Also VW did have the Passat 3.6 4Motion wagon but it wasn’t lifted… or reliable… but was so. Damn. Comfortable. And really fun to drive.
“An EU-US trade agreement will surely exempt both parties from their vehicle tariffs, either immediately or else after a phase-out period. The tariffs will remain on the books, but they won’t impose them on each other.”
That is how FTA’s are supposed to work. Cannot see at this stage any getting up between Europe and The US, Canada and Mexico Yes
That is a very inhumane way to decrease the over-population in that country!
I know, right? If they don’t strengthen their crash standards, they’ll be no one to talk to when my computer crashes
it’s funny how we Americans like to bash (or in this case be sarcastic about) foreign call centers in India or the Philippines but almost always it is American executives chasing profit margins that make the decision to go with foreign support…
I never see sarcastic remarks against “ourselves” for making these decisions and supporting these companies. We’re always bashing the easy target of the foreign support with their “funny” accents.
Perhaps they laugh at us as we do them.
There has to be some reality show in this somewhere: “Stupid s#!t people say to call support…” or “Can you recognize your call support country…”
“Perhaps they laugh at us as we do them.”
I’m sure they do, it’s nice that people with cultural differences thrown together in the name of corporate profits can get a chuckle out of the constant absurdities that situation festers
Like watching people of the Hindu faith flipping hamburgers at Dairy Queen and wondering how they do that without being totally grossed-out
A friend of mine worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development and for a while he was stationed in Kathmandu, Nepal. There aren’t any kosher butcher shops in Nepal so his parents (who happened to own a small meat packing house) would ship him cryovac’ed kosher meat. They were careful to label cuts as “chops”, “steaks”, “roasts”, but never “beef” so as not to have trouble with the Nepalese customs officials.
I keep a kosher diet but when I was in college I had a job in a restaurant, working the grill, so I’ve made more than a few cheeseburgers. I just don’t eat them.
” I’ve made more than a few cheeseburgers. I just don’t eat them.”
I’m not Jewish, but I’m pretty sure you didn’t believe those cheeseburgers you made were your great-grandparents
Since most of the people reading and posting this likely have 401k retirement funds, you have to consider that we are tiny shareholders in most of the large, mid-size, and small companies that do things like outsource call centers overseas in order to fulfill legal obligations to maximize ROI for us, the shareholders.
Of course, CEOs do plenty well by themselves, so well, in fact, that they need not pool their dollars with ours investing in the same funds. If you’d really like to point fingers, you’ll have to grow more fingers. We’re all guilty in one way or another.
Regarding call centers, Despair.com video: Addressing Employee Complaints
http://video.despair.com/art-of-demotivation/the-art-of-demotivation-addressing-employee-complaints/
I’m confused: I’ve read in the comments section of this website that every nation outside of the US follows the same safety standards. Yet now I’m seeing that not only does India have its own rules but that they aren’t as stringent as they are in other places.
And this isn’t the first time when I’ve seen examples of safety standards varying widely around the world.
Is it possible that some of those who post frequently about this subject don’t know what they are talking about? Say it isn’t so…
Nah, it ain’t so, those people from under the planet, or was that the bottom of the barrel of stupid, hmm? … anyway, they know everything
The Times of India is world famous in Australia for being a UAW troll website.
No,no, no; Australasia is the world leader in vehemently adhering to any and all UN automotive regulations (which are as useful as a used condom) and severely chastising any and all who might have may have vocal or intellectual doubts about the One True Way of The World. Failing that; one of their bureaucrats, who I no doubt has access to numerous studies done by various consulting corporations PLT,LLC and terabytes of power point slides to show and statistically prove the grossly assumed self worth of said bureaucrat, will have orgasmic throes both “educating” and berating us Silly Yanks.
All jokes aside, one of BAFO’s problems is that he doesn’t understand much of what he reads. Consequently, he posts links that don’t necessarily say what he thinks that they say, and he responds badly to correction and criticism because he doesn’t quite grasp what has been said.
I gave up on the guy quite some time ago when I bothered to read one of his links and it became apparent that he had completely misunderstood what he had read. He’s obviously not well educated and he’s trying very hard to sound credible, but he’s in too far over his head to grasp a typical Wikipedia article, let alone a research paper. If he’s an engineer, then I’m Vladimir Putin.
“then I’m Vladimir Putin”
Somehow I have a hard time picturing you bare-chested on horseback
BAFO works for the Board of Education in their data processing department
If you have a problem comprehending those comments from Downunder that is your problem. India and China do not adhere to Global Standards, but have too to sell there products to Countries in Europe and other places that do
Must be a UAW problem
How difficult is it to comprehend that an overwhelming number of the commenters on this site have absolutely nothing to do with the UAW; do not support any of the UAW’s workplace, political, or philosophical polices; don’t get warm fuzzy feelings about the UAW and want to take long soapy showers with UAW members; or in general are much more worried about breaking wind in public than what the UAW does? Yet, “UAW lackeys, trolls, goons, paid mouth pieces, etc” is your normal response. Can you show us evidence of pervasive UAW influence on the American public? It is perfectly legal for the UAW and any other union or group to hire PR flacks, lawyers, and lobbyists to advanced their agenda. By using this logic and these standards you could state the Sierra Club and The United Way have sinister intentions and undue influence over the American public. UAW shills and lackeys, my flat white a$$
I earn $5000 a month from home shilling for the UAW, you can too…
I gotta get in on some of this action
This member of the Aussie duo of dumb has the IQ of lawn furniture. Whether that lawn furniture was union-made, I have no idea.
Another dim witted reply from the clueless one. Only time you have a clue is when your researcher feeds you information, that is usually out of date as well
Gosh, maybe you make a summing up of all Automotive attitudes that exist in NA? So you know the backgrounds of all the pseudonym s on this site? You are amazing
Mr Ryan, speaking as a member of the British Commonwealth myself, I must say that Australia is letting the side down badly, what with BAFO and yourself commenting here.
Dimwitted, slow, argumentative, silly – are just the polite terms I use when reading your outright guff. Mate, if you are employed at something more than stocking shelves at the local supermarket, you should consider a career downgrade to something you can actually handle. Even if your handle is a pseudonym for the CEO of Macquarie Group.
Both you and BAFO are incapable of understanding what you read. That’s why you subject us to the same, unchanging load o’rubbish repeatedly. Your UAW comments show this. Why in hell you lot in Australia care about the UAW is beyond me. Worry about the endangered Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat instead.
When you shine a light on this site the Union Trolls come up and want to escape I wonder how much the companies and unions collectively pay you? Why do we care about the UAW? Maybe your “agenda” is really hurting what could be a great Automotive site. Thanks for confirming the heavy UAW influence on this site
Ryan ….Just so you know the, I doubt the UAW is aware TTAC even exsists.
FYI Yes, I am a semi illiterate , former UAW/CAW member, AND I don’t get paid.
@mikey
Your credibility just died with that one. UAW news stories carried on regular basis, on a prominent or what was a prominent Automotive site. No they probably not aware Obama is President either
Pch101, just barely passing the US government safety standards would be the kiss of death for cars in many categories in the US. Consumers demand that cars score well on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests too.
Would be great if the US and European crash test methods could be harmonized such that passing the tougher test counted for passing the easier one too. It just seems wasteful to destroy extra cars to cover differences between the different government safety tests.
The IIHS test is very similar to Euro NCAP.
US NHTSA standards are generally tougher, although the Europeans have a more stringent pedestrian safety standard.
If the automakers wanted “harmony” that favored rigor, then they would go for a US standard that adds the European pedestrian component. But they don’t want harmonized standards because those would raise costs — instead, they want to be able to go jurisdiction shopping.
No they are not. Yes it would be easier to have one standard, but UAW is very much lopposed to the notion. Just like it is opposed to dropping the Chicken Tax.
@Robert Ryan – You make zero sense. The UAW would have the most to gain from complete harmonization. Yes all OEMs would save millions upon millions, with just one set of standards. Except all kinds of new markets would open up for UAW made vehicles.
This of course assumes FREE trade between the US and the EU. Except which the EU’s INSANELY protective 10% to 22% tariffs are NOT likely to be dropped! EVER!!!
But please explain why OEMs like Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Infinti, Mazda, Subaru, etc (who’s biggest markets are the US), would be looking forward to suddenly more competitive EU autos?
And this with new competition from (more competitive) Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, etc, targeting mostly Japanese OEMs for sale in the US?
So what exactly do the UAW’s biggest $$$$ producing X-overs, mid/fullsize SUVs and pickup trucks (what else is there?) have to fear from EU/US harmonization?
Don’t Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Nissan, etc, etc, have the most to lose? And also wouldn’t these have added competition from US OEMs, *including* UAW made vehicles, in places like Europe, where Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Nissan, VW, etc, already sell in?
The ending of Chicken tax “protection” would more negatively affect Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, VW, than anyone else.
Don’t ya think???
@Denmike
Thanks for the comment. Like The Chicken Tax, Harmonization is the last thing the UAW wants to happen,how can they then stop foreign imports?
You’re just on an endless loop, repeating the same while refusing to discuss the HUGE gaping holes in your mindless rants.
“Except which the EU’s INSANELY protective 10% to 22% tariffs are NOT likely to be dropped!”
You two need to get a room.
An EU-US trade agreement will surely exempt both parties from their vehicle tariffs, either immediately or else after a phase-out period. The tariffs will remain on the books, but they won’t impose them on each other.
Assuming that the TPP and EU-US trade deals are both ratified, the poultry tax will effectively be dead because virtually every country that would conceivably export vehicles to the US would be exempted by some kind of trade deal. The Aussie duo of dumbness will need to find something else to whinge about, but being Aussies, they will undoubtedly find plenty of reasons to keep moaning.
”
You’re just on an endless loop, repeating the same while refusing to discuss the HUGE gaping holes in your mindless rants.”
Well the Pot calling the Kettle black
@RobertRyan – This is the part where you offer rebuttal.
Stating the same talking points, over and over and over just affirms you’re just automated bot with zero ability to process the simplest of thought.
@Pch101 – If the EU is forced to drop the 10 to 22% tariff, harmonization will never happen. It won’t happen anyways. EU automotive rules/regs differ for a reason.
You don’t seem to understand what free trade agreements do.
The EU would not be “forced” to reduce or eliminate its tariffs on US goods — the whole point of having free trade agreements is to reduce and eliminate tariffs.
It’s pretty obvious that the US and EU are willing to eliminate their tariffs against each other, otherwise they wouldn’t be talking about it in the first place. The question is whether they will reach an agreement at all; if the deal gets derailed, it’s likely that cars will have nothing to do with it. (Agriculture is a much more critical issue to both sides.)
Harmonizing safety and emissions are different issues entirely. Those probably won’t happen, but that wouldn’t be the point of the FTA. Cars and trucks are not high on the agendas of the governments on either side.
@DenMike
Have heard the same tired and discredited arguements from you before. Now PCH101 does not agree with you.
“Now PCH101 does not agree with you.”
Oh no, wait until the UAW finds out that there’s dissension and free thinking among the minions, there’ll be hell to pay
@RobertRyan,
I just realized something quite odd.
PUTC must be having issues, you can’t post comments.
ALL1/Lee and the other names aren’t being posted.
But when ever ALL1/Lee isn’t posting DenverMike does???
Hmmmm………..join the dots.
Must be a conspiracy, eh?
”
Must be a conspiracy, eh?”
If you are looking after sectional interests within the Union, makes sense. Happens elsewhere
@Pch101,
Again, you disperse bullsh!t. Again omitting relevant information that you disagree with.
Technical barriers can be valued. The US automotive regulations do cost the consumer money.
FTAs do consider technical barriers as well.
If I remember correctly is was around $13 billion dollars in 2009. That is nearly $1 000 per vehicle sold to a US consumer.
This doesn’t take into account the $3 000 per US manufactured vehicle worth of subsidies, handouts, etc to the US auto manufactures.
Here’s a link explaining the impact of technical barriers on trade.
Again, Pch101, it doesn’t fit whatever you are attempting to sell or defend.
What are you protecting. Why the disinformation all the time?
http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/research/webpapers/paper_12453.pdf
@Pch101,
Here’s another link. It describes why technical barriers are used. It also describes your argument that some barriers are to “protect” the consumer, ie, your argument that the US has safer vehicles.
But how does the US have safer vehicles when you road fatality rates are higher than most others?
Here’s a cut and paste and the link,
Goods and services do not fl ow completely freely among countries,
even among those with excellent relations. Countries put up barriers
to trade for a number of reasons. Sometimes it is to protect their
own companies from foreign competition. Or it may be to protect
consumers from dangerous or undesirable products. Or it may even
be unintended, as can happen with complicated customs procedures.
Tariff barriers have been reduced considerably over the past few
decades but other obstacles remain. Getting rid of unnecessary trade
barriers would give a great boost to global economic welfare.
http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/0109121ec005.pdf?expires=1423568139&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=ED70964EB3254F69AFAABB2CEFD26787
Pch101, read this. Here’s a cut and paste and the link. Read the last sentence, it states that non tariff (technical) barriers have a higher cost than tariffs.
A growing body of theoretical, empirical and policy analysis, including the WTO’s 2005 World Trade
Report, recognises that technical regulations, standards and procedures for determining conformity can
have both positive and detrimental effects on competition and international trade. They ensure consumer
safety, increase the transparency of product information and compatibility of products and serve other
goals. Yet, business surveys and discussions in the WTO and other trade policy fora also indicate that, in
both developed and developing countries, these requirements often increase costs and are of greater
concern to exporters and governments than any other type of non-tariff measure.
http://www.oecd.org/trade/ntm/36223999.pdf
You’ve again been disproved.
By BAFO’s deductions. Denver Mike, PCH101, Lie 2 Me, and myself, are all the same person???? I think I’m the only guy even remotely connected to the UAW, and we separated from them in 1984.
Must be something in the water down there.
@Pch101,
As a matter of fact I don’t think you really have a handle or any comprehension of much outside of the US. Even much of what you contribute in your self obsessed fashion regarding the US market is generally not factual. As when others ask you to provide proof you fall into a heap and stop dead and not complete your point. As you generally are incorrect or a lack of sincerity is transparent.
You falsify statements on a continuous basis by this disregard of relevant information. What are you selling? Foolishness?
Do you misinform to sell these paradigms to the serfs/plebs as you view everyone around you. You are not superior, you have a bad case of inferiority, to the point where you fear. Learn respect, outwardly it’s similar to fear.
I do ask why do you project a total lack of integrity when in discussion, not just with myself but most who comment on TTAC. The only ones who tend at agree with you are the ones who have stated they are ex UAW workers or left wing socialist? Your support, like the propaganda link your provided the other day from President Bin Banana’s office is a classic example of where you are.
If you were factual you would have stated that the processes involved to gain entry as a signatory to ENCAP is quite involved, most any signatory to ENCAP are OECD economies. The benefit of ENCAP is the needless retesting of vehicles.
You also presented a rather porous argument a while back when Marcelo was discussing what is occurring in Brazil regarding how LatinENCAP is going to affect vehicles. If you read some of Marcelo’s latest articles you can already see the impact of the World Bank study into vehicle fatalities and what the less fortunate nations must address to save billions of dollars.
Most every nation is adopting ENCAP. Countries like India and even Brazil lack the resources to change their vehicles overnight.
These less fortunate nations will take decades before they reach our ADR Standards in Australia or even JapanENCAP. They will not adopt US vehicle standards as they are not trade friendly. Do a little bit of reading. The US standards suck and only suit the US in how they are managed as a technical barrier.
The US is actually adopting ENCAP in an more ambiguous way. They will not state they are adopting ENCAP regulations, but believe it or not Washington does hold global ENCAP meetings and there is much interaction between the US and the rest of the world. The US is gradually being forced into this position.
The US system works, but the US and to a slightly lesser degree the Qubecistanee’s. Sooner or later you will be driving what we drive. We will adopt a few of the US regulations on the way.
Within a couple decades the Chinese will be influencing the global vehicle industry far more than any individual nation, even the US.
It’s about time you realise the US as great as it is, is losing it’s influence. It’s economic pull is ever so slowly diminishing.
You really need to read some books. If I were you go out and buy some Lonely Planet publications and then travel you might find the lesser people of the globe outside of the US are actually no different. If you can’t achieve this and you find everything outside of the US so repulsive I do have great empathy in your plight.
There is probably specialist medical care that can help you overcome your phobia of “other people” who live in different nations.
You ain’t that great, you are an example of a foolish man, who does great damage to your country. I believe you should be patriotic, but whatever you are isn’t patriotic. I just plain ignorance and fear.
Does your shadow scare you?
@BAFO – “President Bin Banana”? How isn’t that racist? You’re nothing but a thug. And you demand respect??? At least RR is just stupid.
@ Like most of us, I laugh “at” these two guys, not “with” them.
I don’t seen anything remotely funny about racism, or for that matter, disrespecting the office of The President Of the United States.
We too have the Queens portrait on the back of our currency. I’m a proud Canadian. That being said, we to have our share of USA bashers.
I sleep better at night with the knowledge, that the might of the US military has our back. I’m sure that if push, came to shove, the USA would be there for the good folks of OZ. Even BAFO, and Ryan
@mikey,
As much as I enjoy your commentary when it’s not politically shaped, your above comment is really just appeasing your left wing “mates”.
As for US bashing. I really don’t bash the US. I bash a few of those fools. It’s a pity you support goats like Pch101, DenvrMike, etc.
I don’t have to agree with yours or their politics paradigms. I don’t have to agree with a nations tariffs etc.
But when disinformation is constantly being submitted, why can’t I correct them?
I mean these guys do their best to bash the EU, don’t they?
Or are they just displaying their fear regarding having an open market?
As tresmonos so aptly put it…
F*ck, you’re dumb
Don’t overstate his intelligence like that.
The Dimwit.duo from the U.S. has nothing to contribute as always
Bogans should be seen and not heard.
I think we should just let China have ’em
We know you do not know what you are talking about, unless you get fed some generally inaccurate information.
Nepal, Bhutan,definitely do not, but if you want to sell your cars outside your country you have to conform to Global standards. Big exception is the US, which joins China and India in being an outcast
I know many who will argue with me until they are blue in the face but I don’t see VW World Domination happening – seriously.
It is about time they got some better CUVs though.
Try going outside the U.S. and observing, get a shock. By the way they are not “Bugs” with 53 painted on
“Crossblue” concept, at least it’s a name you can pronounce.
John
Is there a regulation somewhere that says what the score must be to be offered for sale as new in USofAmerica?
Starring roles for JLR vehicles in the next Bond film is not a good sign for the direction of the series. What made Casino Royale so earth-shattering was its return to a more human scale conflict, largely devoid of mind-numbing chases and absurd gadgets. Bond faced a sociopath of mortal proportions, and the struggle was all the more compelling for it. They’re squandering the reboot with over the top car chases.
I’ll take the contrary position and say what makes James Bond James Bond is the over-the-top car chases, watches that turn into hamsters and megalomaniacal foes. Giving a nod to the Bourne series (which was a deconstruction of Bond) helped Casino Royale, it’s true, but Quantum of Solace overdid the Bourne angle and suffered for it.
But what can I say; my father grew up in the Roger Moore era, so that’s what most of my exposure to Bond has been. And, despite all attempts to the contrary, that’s the Bond I ended up liking.
Bond has to be a little ridiculous and over the top. You still need the basic element of “Men want to be him and women want to be with him.”
But your last line applies to most of the B&B.
Derek, most people here don’t have a subscription to Automotive News, so linking to it is a bit of a waste of time. Especially so, because they just seem to copy Reuters articles anyway.
I see Mad Max Mosley has shamed India into national crash test standards, and enriched himself all at one go by providing consulting services. His oufit pretends to be UN certified. Amazing how making a small investment in crash testing a few Indian vehicles by that corrupt ADAC group in Germany, could vault Whip and Nazi dress-up man Mosley into a supposed position of grace.
Better than having NO Crash standards. For a country that wants to be taken seriously as an “Automotive Powerhouse”, like its populous neighbour, it has many many shortcomings
What’s ridiculous is that when a Chinese manufacturer in the early 2000’s builds a car based on old Japanese designs and it fails miserably in a crash test, all of a sudden every Chinese car to ever exist must be a death trap despite newer Chinese cars posting either acceptable or occasionally excellent crash test results (the Qoros 3 has one of the best Euro NCAP crash tests of any car ever). But somehow when Nissan decides to go and build-in 2015-a complete deathtrap nobody ever extrapolates this out to all Nissans, despite actual crash test statistics showing that a lot of Nissan models oddly have some of the highest real world fatality rates (look at IIHS reports if you don’t believe me).
I’d feel far safer in most Geelys or a Qoros than this pile of crap.