Automotive Companies That Are Now More Than A Hundred Years Old

In the automotive world, there are old, established brands and there are ones that are relatively new and trying to break in the scene. This industry is home to some of the oldest companies in the world; a few having been around for more than a hundred years now.

Below are some of the car companies that already passed the hundred year mark and are still manufacturing many of the most sought-after models today:

Opel. Opel is a German automotive brand that was established in 1863. The company’s first products were sewing machines then bicycles. In 1899, they started producing automobiles. In 1902, they debuted their first vehicle at the Hamburg Motor Show.

Fiat. This company was founded by a board of directors in 1899 in Italy and produced their first automobile in the same year. Fiat stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino or Italian Automobiles Factory, Turin. The company recently underwent a rebranding having acquired Chrysler. They are now known formally as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Peugeot. This family-owned French brand was established in 1810. However, it would take eight decades before the Peugeots will start building cars. Their first was the type 3 of 1891. In 1897, Peugeot assigned a different division and plant where the focus was on building automobiles.

Renault. Another French automotive company, the Renault brothers built and drove their first car in 1898. The Renaults were very young when they built their first automobile. They were also the first ones to use racing as a way to promote their cars, little one-seaters called voiturettes.

Info source: www.ts-export.com

2015’s Best-Selling Luxury Cars

BMW. Mercedes-Benz. Audi. Lexus. Porsche. These are just some of the most popular brands of luxury cars in the world. Year in and year out, various automotive high-end brands introduce new models in the market with the goal of achieving domination in the world of luxury cars.

But which brands and models reigned supreme in last year’s contest for best-selling luxury vehicles? Here’s a look at the top 3:

1. Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The world’s best-selling luxury vehicle last year was the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. According to the company, 364, 668 cars were sold in 2015. This vehicle was launched at the 2014 Detroit auto show and it is the current fifth-generation model.

2. Audi A3. This premium compact car has become the German automaker’s best-seller worldwide and the second best-selling luxury vehicle in the world. In 2015, Audi A3 sales grew by 19.5 per cent over 2014, as over 353,000 units were sold worldwide.

3. BMW 3 Series. This model was able to sell 304, 316 units globally. This model started as a two-door compact car in 1975. However, with the recent creation of the standalone 4 Series, the sixth-generation BMW 3 Series now only comes as a four-door vehicle. This change though did not stop the compact luxury sedan from remaining BMW’s best-selling model in the world.

Info source: www.altayermotors.com

Weird Military Vehicles During World War II

During the Second World War, there are strange military vehicles used by different countries. Here are some of them:

Rhino – This was an armoured car designed in Australia. Because of enemy action along with design problems, the project did not go beyond a prototype stage. It was completed by a welded turret with 30 mm all-around protection that is similar with the Crusader tank.

Fox – This was a wheeled armoured fighting vehicle manufactured by Canada. It was built by General Motors. The turret was traversed manually. Also, it was equipped with 0.303 and 050 in machine guns.

Humberette – This was also known as Ironside. It was a British armoured car based on the Humber Super Snipe chassis. Over 3600 units were actually manufactured from 1940-1943. It has a No. 19 radio set.

Otter Light Reconnaissance Car – This was a light armoured car based on the Chevrolet C15 Canadian Military Patter truck chassis. It has a Bren light machine gun and a hull-mounted Boys anti-tank rifle.

Bobik – This was a 4x4 light armoured car, nicknamed but its crews. The BA-64 was used by the Soviet Army for reconnaissance and liaison tasks from 1942 to the early 1960s.

S1 Scout Car – This was produced in Australia for the US Army. It was based on a Ford F15 4x2 chassis. The armament has one .50 inch machine gun. On its skate rails, it has two .30 inch machine guns.

39M Csaba – This was produced for the Royal Hungarian Army. It has a 20 mm cannon. On a centrally mounted turret, it has an 8 mm machine gun with 9 mm armoured plating. Apart from that, it also has a detachable 8 mm light machine gun. Also, it has 2 driving position (in front and at the rear).

Trivia Info Resource: www.nimr.ae

Why People Opt For Used Bobcats And Skid Steers From Japan

When it comes to high quality heavy equipment and machinery, Japan is always the lead maker. Most people prefer Japan-made equipment because they are very durable, long-lasting and made from high quality materials. However, they are also very expensive because they passed the high standards. For this reason, many people especially business owners just opt for used Bobcats and skid steers from Japan.

With the same quality and functionality but with a more affordable price, they get to take advantage of the Japan-made equipment and machinery. They can cut equipment expenses yet still be able to take advantage of the premium quality of these products. Additionally, when they do not really need to use some of these equipment, they can have them leased out to earn extra income for other important company expenses.

When buying earth-moving equipment from Japan, you need a reliable export company to help you ship the equipment to your country. It is very important that choose an expert shipping firm that knows all the needed permits and requirements for exporting heavy equipment and machinery. Do not just trust any exporting company to avoid any unwanted shipping delays. Make sure to get the services of the experts only.

Trivia Info Resource: www.ts-export.com

Some Random Facts About Right And Left Hand Traffic

In most countries today, drivers drive on the left side of the road; in others, on the right side. The UK and other countries in Europe still follow left-hand traffic mainly due to ancient custom. There are also many countries that used to follow left-hand traffic but have converted to right-hand traffic, with Samoa the latest country that followed suit.

Facts About Driving On The Left And Right Side Of The Road

Below are some facts worth knowing about driving on the left and right of the road:

• All early automobiles in the USA, which were driven on the right-hand side of the road, were right-hand-drives. They followed the practice established by horse-drawn buggies. In the early 1900s, they changed to left-hand-drive since it was decided that it was more practical to have the driver seated near the centreline of the road to judge the space available when passing oncoming cars. This was also done to enable front-seat passengers to get out of the car easily onto the pavement instead of into the middle of the street.

• Today, the driver always sits on the side of the car that is nearest to the centre line. However, there are a few exceptions to this, especially with certain kinds of specialised service vehicles. For instance, street-sweeping vehicles usually have the reverse driving position to place the driver next to the gutter. Italian-built trolley buses were right-hand-drive for numerous years so that drivers can observe the passenger doors better.

• Left-hand drive cars usually have headlights that are aimed slightly to the right when not on full beam, and vice-versa with cars that are driven on the left. In Europe, it is common for travellers from England to affix deflectors to their headlights to prevent them from dazzling oncoming drivers when they are driving on the “wrong” side of the road.

Info source: www.ts-export.com

World's-First Technology From Infiniti

Did you know that Infiniti is a premium automotive brand from Japan? The brand’s story begins with the formation of the so called horizon task force. Their mission was to create a performance luxury brand that can compete with the big vehicle brands in the market. Thus the new name Infiniti came about.

Proving its leadership in intelligent engineering, here are among the technologies that first appeared on Infiniti’s collection.

Laser-based digital rangefinder – This detects vehicles ahead and helps maintain your selected following distance. Infiniti was among the first to use this technology.

Around View Monitor - parking your vehicle is made much easier with a virtual 360˚ parking environment visibility. This was first equipped on Infiniti EX Model Year 2008.

Lane departure warning (LDW) - if you drift out of your lane, this intelligent active technology will warn you. Infiniti models were among the first to be equipped with this.

Lane departure prevention (LDP) – this is the technology that watches for drift between lanes and helps you ease your car back into the lane of travel.

Blind Spot Intervention™ System - this is another first innovation from Infiniti. The system helps you detect and avoid vehicles in the blind spot area.

Backup Collision Intervention – get on your way safely when backing up. This is another world's-first technology from Infiniti.

Trivia Info Resource: www.infiniti-alghassan.com

The Blind Spot Warning System In Nissan Vehicles

Blind spot in vehicles refers to the areas that driver cannot directly see or observed while he or she is driving or in control of the vehicle. These spots exist in cars, trucks, aircraft, motorboats and sailboats. Areas towards the rear or side as well as those too low to see behind or in front are called blind spots.
 
George Platzer however presented a paper in a 1995 revealing that proper adjustment of side view mirrors eliminates blind spots on the sides. Side swipes or other accidents arising from changing lanes are reduced if these mirrors are used effectively.

To alleviate vehicle blind spots, there are technical solutions developed and incorporated by car manufacturing companies.  With the system detecting and warning drivers of the presence of other vehicles in the blind spot area, drivers are can travel safely.

Nissan vehicles have The Blind Spot Warning System using either a rear-view camera or rear/side facing radars. When another vehicle is travelling diagonally behind you, the system recognizes it and it signals you through the indicators. The indicator may appear in either the driver’s passenger door or on the Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display and it flashes with a warning chime to alert you. While the system is designed to assist you in driving safely, you must never rely solely on the system as some object around you may not be detected.

Trivia Info Resource: nissan-alissa.com

Trucks And Their Interesting Evolution

Trucks, as we see them today, are so much different from what they looked like decades of years ago. Before they became popular as tools for transporting goods far and wide faster and safer, trucks were simply regarded as another alternative to wagons drawn by animals.

Although there were some trucks built as early as the 19th century, it was in the 1920s when trucks and truck transport became very significant. The improvement in roads and passing of laws regulating the trucking industry paved the way to a much comfortable, better-looking, and more efficient trucks.

During the war in 1940s, the great era of the automobile set in. Trucks were more useful than ever. Popular car manufacturing companies like Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet have their own truck models to boast. Volvo's first turbocharged diesel engine trucks became a standard in the 1950s.

In the 1960s, trucks were named as the king of the road. Highways, national and international ones, were developed to accommodate  faster, safer, and more efficient truck transportation. 

With the unstoppable rise in energy cost, modern innovations not only for cars but more so for trucks are being done. Modern trucks from various auto manufacturers like Hino are more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient.

Trivia Info resource: www.hino.ae

How Forklifts Operate

A forklift truck is also called a forklift, a fork truck, or a lift truck. This equipment is a powered industrial truck which is used to lift and move items over short distances. It was during the early 20^th century that the forklift was developed and after World War II, the use and development of the forklift spread throughout the world and became an indispensable piece of equipment in manufacturing and warehousing operations.

Forklift Operation

Forklift manufacturers put a nameplate that contains the information regarding the specific weight of loads which a forklift can carry. Loads must not go beyond the specifications set by the manufacturer. It is illegal to remove or tamper with the nameplate without the permission of the manufacturer.

Most forklifts have rear-wheel steering and although this increases maneuverability in tight corners, it is different from a driver’s usual experience with other wheeled vehicles. Since there is no caster action, it is therefore not necessary to apply steering force to maintain a steady rate of turn.

Instability is a critical characteristic of the forklift. Since the center of gravity changes with each movement of the load, a forklift must never traverse a turn at speed with a raised load as centrifugal and gravitational forces may come together and cause a tip-over accident.

Trivia Info Resource: www.toyotaforklift.ae

From Buick to Hummer: GM’s Brief History

Founded in September 16, 1908 by William C. Durant, General Motors Corporation has been in the car manufacturing industry for 106 years now. They first started with 25,000 units of cars and trucks. After 2 years, GM’s founder, Mr. Durant, incorporated Cadillac, Pontiac, Buick, Olds, AC spark plug, and champion ignition into the company. Such move increased the business organization’s sales by 60 per cent. The bad news, however, was that earnings straggled and as a result, Durant was ousted from the company he built as it continued to sink in debt.

By 1916, GM was incorporated. From General Motors Company, it became General Motors Corp. In the same year, Durant was able to regain control over the business enterprise but three years later, his luck ran out. He then resigned and filed personal bankruptcy.

As a way to increase earnings, GM crafted a product policy that aimed to distribute their line of products to five different groups of car buyers. Such tactic worked and by 1921, 12 per cent of the US car market belonged to the company.

The success of GM continued through the years under the management of several presidents and chief executives. They were able to buy out several companies abroad and even built partnership with Toyota.

Sad to say, in the year 2008, gas prices soared high, affecting truck sales big time. The corporation shifted from trucks to small automobiles in order to save money. The brand Hummer was put up for sale and factory shutdowns and layoffs were done.

At present, GM has already been back on its feet. Rumors have it that they have already beaten Toyota as the world’s number 1 car manufacturer. This only proves that GM is here to stay and will continue to be one of the best car makers in the world no matter what obstacle it will need to face.

Trivia Info Resource: www.greatlakesautosupply.com