AD #1560 – Apple Poaching EV Workers, New Autonomous Vehicle, Infiniti Shows QX30 Concept
February 19th, 2015 at 12:05pm
Runtime: 9:24
- Apple Poaching People for Its EV
- Peugeot Updates B-Segment 208
- Rinspeed Introduces Its Budii
- How to Overcome Cyber Security Issues
- Infiniti’s QX30 Concept
- You Said It!
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On today’s show… how the auto industry can fight back against hackers, Rinspeed shows its vision for an autonomous car, and Infiniti reveals a new crossover. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for February 19th, 2015.
APPLE POACHING PEOPLE FOR ITS EV
In Silicon Valley people will walk across the street this afternoon to take a new job. But if one company starts hiring too many people from another company that’s called poaching and it’s not legal. Apple has been hiring people away from car companies to develop an electric car and now comes word that lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems is suing Apple for poaching five of its employees. A123 also says they violated non-disclosure agreements. Apple reportedly has 200 people on this project and wants to grow that to 1,000. So don’t be surprised if we hear about more of these lawsuits.
TO B OR NOT TO B
In Europe 2 out of every 3 cars is a compact hatchback. And the B-segment is where the action is. That’s why Peugeot just redesigned its 208 even though it’s only been on the market for three years. It’s the best-selling car Peugeot has and the new design features sharper lines and what Peugeot calls 3D LED headlamps. It comes with a choice of different diesel and gasoline engines. The most efficient, a 1.6 liter diesel paired to a 5-speed manual is rated at only 3 liters per 100 kilometers. That’s 78 miles per gallon, but remember, the European test cycle overstates what you’ll achieve in the real world. It’s also rated at only 79 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The 208 also features the latest in connectivity and safety systems, such as forward collision warning with full stop, or what Peugeot calls Active City Brake.
WHAT’S UP, BUDII?
The BMW i3 is already filled with state of the art technology but specialty automaker Rinspeed just took the EV to a whole new level. It built a concept based on the i3 called the Budii, which showcases Rinspeed’s vision of an autonomous vehicle. One of its coolest features is its steering wheel which can move from left to right to be used by either front seat passenger. And when in autonomous mode the wheel folds behind the center console. Another wild feature is what the company calls “TrackView.” It’s a laser scanner mounted on the roof that can extend up to 70 centimeters or a little over 2 feet. The scanner maps the terrain and automatically adjusts the height and suspension accordingly. It’s also equipped with other cool gadgets you’d expect, like touchscreens, wireless phone charging and an electric door opener. The Budii will be on display at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.
Still to come… how the auto industry could collaborate to protect itself from hackers, Infiniti unveils its latest luxury crossover, and then we get to You Said It!
IT’S BETTER TO SHARE
Cyber security is a growing issue in the automotive industry. How can automakers and suppliers keep track of the latest efforts of cyber thieves and cyber terrorists? One solution that was discussed at the Autoline Supplier Symposium is what’s called an ISAC or information sharing and analysis center. The idea was suggested by Dr. Andrew Brown, the chief technologist at Delphi. It’s a way for groups to share information on potential issues or threats or incidents that have already occurred. By sharing info automakers and suppliers can more quickly identify issues or threats, know when they’re occurring and prevent or inhibit them from ever happening. You can watch that discussion on our website, and we’ve got the link in the show notes.
INFINITI’S QX30 CONCEPT
A few weeks ago we showed you this teaser image from Infiniti of a new compact crossover, called the QX30 Concept. Based on the picture we thought it might have bolder styling like other concepts the brand has shown recently and now that we’ve got a more complete look at the vehicle, it certainly does. Two long deep-cutting lines that run down the side of the QX30 create Infiniti’s signature “dual wave” effect and the glass on the rear liftgate almost seems to shove the rear pillar back into the passenger cabin. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see the front end, but the QX30 Concept will make its debut in less than 2-weeks at the Geneva motor show.
Coming up next, it’s time for your comments, questions, corrections and criticisms. Back in a jiffy.
Randy Richardson has been living under a rock for that past 6 years. “Isn’t RAM still part of DODGE? If so, why are they trying to brand their trucks as RAM rather than DODGE?” Randy, you’re going to make the people at Ram pull their hair out. They have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to create the Ram brand because, no, it’s no longer part of Dodge.
Sam Fiorani has a correction. “In watching today’s Autoline Daily I noticed a possible error in the response to the Ford Transit Connect letter. The new model is built in Spain, but that doesn’t exempt it from the ‘chicken tax’ (which) affects any imported truck outside of NAFTA…” Sam is right, Ford still has to import the Transit Connect as a passenger vehicle, then rip out the seats and convert it into a cargo van to avoid that tax.
C-Tech thinks Honda may have some deep regrets. “Still not impressed with the Ridgeline. Given the success that GM is having with the Colorado/Canyon, is there a group at Honda collectively kicking themselves?” Boy, you’ve got to believe that. After years in the marketplace the Ridgeline is as dead as the dodo, where as GM’s small trucks seem to be an instant success.
James L. liked the Autoline After Hours with Chris Reed, the chief engineer of the Murano. “The Nissan Murano is a beautiful SUV, and good job to the creators of this great vehicle! This is the kind of creativity we need to see more of in the car industry! Sometimes it does pay to break the mold! Thanks to Nissan.” James, we’re glad you liked that show, and the Murano.
Boy, my report on how a vehicle going from 14 miles to the gallon to 18 actually save more fuel than a vehicle going from 30 to 50-MPG stirred up some angry responses. 1bentley4ever says, “The flaw I would like to address is that the SUV driver is still using more gas than the compact driver in the first place, so they will still be spending almost twice as much in gas.”
And JJLatBIM wants to know, “Do you think all buyers are stupid enough for this to mean anything, or only truck buyers are that stupid?” I think you guys missed the point of this exercise. These numbers are so counter-intuitive I just had to report on them. Go ahead, ask anybody you know: who saves more fuel, the car buyer who goes from 14-MPG to 18, or the one that goes from 30-MPG to 50? Until you do the math, everyone will pick the guy who went to 50-MPG.
Anyway, we love getting all your corrections and challenges. It keeps us on our toes.
And be sure to join us tonight for After Hours. Olive Schmidt from Volkswagen will be here to talk powertrains. If you want to learn about the future of powertrain development, tonigiht’s the night.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
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Comments (25)
February 19th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
The problem with the “poaching” concept is that most workers are now “at will” employees. Meaning the company demands the right to let them go at any time. If apple is offering more money/better opportunities, why shouldn’t the workers have the same rights to move ‘At will” the company wants for itself?
February 19th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Is it poaching if people are answering an add for employment? A123 was in bankruptcy and was purchased by a foreign company. If it was me, I’d go to Apple.
February 19th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
The concept of Intellectual Property ownership is a very slippery slope. If someone becomes an expert in batteries while at A123, how much of that knowledge becomes their personal property that can then be used on the next job?
February 19th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
I suppose the iCar, when it hits production, will be one more nail in the coffin of U.S. manufacturing. It will probably be built in China, like every other Apple product.
February 19th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
They’re not considered “employees” anymore. They are “human resources”, abstracting their physical reality as human beings with the kind of emotions or needs that their employers may have and transforming them into faceless units of labor.
You know… serfs.
February 19th, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Do you suppose soon we will add Cuba’s almost slave like work force to the mix as well? Working for the Yankee imperialist for $10 USD per day.
February 19th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
” faceless units of labor”….what a horrible truth.
February 19th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
John, what is the basis for saying “poaching” is illegal? Assuming Apple is simply going after skilled engineers and offering them better salaries and benefits, that is called free market recruiting. If A123 wanted to keep their employees, they should have been compensating their employees competitively or negotiated longer-term employment contracts.
With that said, I do find it a little ironic that Apple is caught up in this after so many years of Apple and other Silicon Valley companies secretly agreeing to not poach each other employees to suppress salaries.
February 19th, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Hey A123, Apple’s war chest is bigger than yours.
Sidebar please your honor: what if engineers are actually sending Apple their resumes? Huh? People actually want to work there?
February 19th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Oliver All Over Again
Maybe ask Oliver about direct injection engines and gunk on inlet valves over the long term?
February 19th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Nah, he’ll just downplay it, saying something like VW has more experience than others with GDI so while others might have some issues, our own studies have shown that our engines don’t have this problem. And his nose should get longer as he makes this statement.
February 19th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
VW has produced a lot of GDI engines over several years, so they would know the problems, but are unlikely to admit to the problems.
February 19th, 2015 at 3:15 pm
If the A123 employees are sending resumes unsolicited to Apple, then they are fair game.. period. Their adhering to A123 confidentiality agreements is another topic. This is just a nuisance lawsuit to try to scare potential employees and slow Apple from hiring more of their folks.
February 19th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
dcars:
Keep in mind that Apple, Amazon, Facebook… aren’t American companies. They are all registered in Ireland and have a complex maze of shell companies to ensure that they virtually pay almost no tax and none to the US government. What great corporate citizens they are!
February 19th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
It will be a difficult case to prove “poaching” was a deliberate act unless it is shown that a good number of new hired engr’s. worked in R&D or heavily involved with the latest concepts. Considering the number of engineers needed, those leaving A123 is a pittance. As said above, workers are just a number to large co’s, therefore any meaning of devotion flew the coup long ago.
February 19th, 2015 at 7:15 pm
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome NASCAR video, John!
Let’s go to the replay!
February 19th, 2015 at 10:57 pm
Just asking: Do you like the new 2016 Chevrolet Equinox or the new 2015 Nissan Murano the better? Personally, I like the Nurano better. I think they put more thought into it and it shows.
February 20th, 2015 at 12:01 am
What is meant by employee poaching? Is Apple doing interviews on A123 property? Are they getting engineers drunk and when they pass out drag them over to Apple? Is there a limit to the number of employees you can hire from another company?
From yesterday, in the late 80-early 90′s the Buick H-platform (LeSabre, Electra) was good, but the A, X, and J cars were less than stellar.
I have not seen any breakdowns of direct injected engines which can be blamed on the direct injection system. VW d.i. engines tend to break down or leak on their own accord, with help from the injection system.
February 20th, 2015 at 2:46 am
Correction – ….without help from the injection system.
February 20th, 2015 at 5:57 am
One problem reported with GDI engines is the potential for ‘coking’ of the intake valves resulting in mpg and drive-ability issues. This can occur when PCV gases are routed through the intake system to be burned, and since gasoline is direct injected, the cleaners (in the gasoline) don’t get to ‘wash’ the intake valves with cleaner. Another occurrence that has been reported is with increased soot exiting the tailpipe. Perhaps this might be a topic of Sean’s Autoline Garage.
February 20th, 2015 at 10:19 am
Regarding the post about Ram vehicles. Put simply it was a dumb idea to try to separate Ram from Dodge. People will always call them Dodge rams. Besides, the only place to buy a Ram vehicle is at a Dodge dealership, right!?
February 20th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Poaching employees is NOT illegal. That’s crazy. It may be that the employee in question has a non-compete which would be a different matter. However, under California law the chances of keeping an employee from going to work for another company is close to zero. These type of clauses are simply not enforceable in CA. Maybe for a CEO or CFO but certainly not for an engineer. Trying to do this is just tilting at windmills.
The fact you can’t legally keep companies from hiring your employees is evidenced by Steve Jobs needing to violate the anti-trust laws to get this to happen. If he could have done this legally just through employment contracts he wouldn’t have needed to resort to antitrust violations to get it done.
February 20th, 2015 at 11:06 am
Article about the settlement for agreeing NOT to poach employees. The lesson is clear: Poaching is fine; agreeing to poach is not fine.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/15/technology/silicon-valley-antitrust-case-settlement-poaching-engineers.html?_r=0
Management at A123 needs to realize they’re not in China anymore. The peasants have rights. LOL
February 20th, 2015 at 11:24 am
21 You not only buy a Ram at a Dodge dealership, but from what I have seen over recent years, you buy it at a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership. In some cases, it is also a Fiat dealership. Are there any single brand Chrysler dealers, like in large cities? I don’t know.
February 20th, 2015 at 11:26 am
Kit this is the same I see here in So Fl I guess so many models under one roof gives buyers a lot more choices w/o driving all over the place.