Da Shit on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Aim Higher: GM Daewoo reportedly suing TagAZ over fears they are planning to copy the Lacetti

In what looks like a serious-but-probably-the-norm case of industrial espionage, General Motors' South Korean Daewoo division is reportedly alleging that the Russian automaker TagAZ has tried to copy its Lacetti sedan. Backing up those allegations are the arrests of two TagAZ engineers - former Daewoo employees who are said to have taken computer files from one company to the other. A third former Daewoo employee, an executive, left notes proclaiming his innocence and then committed suicide.
The two engineers reportedly copied at least 6,000 documents outlining designs and key technologies used in the Lacetti. That information, according to Daewoo, was used by TagAZ in the creation of a car it launched this past summer in Russia. South Korean prosecutors are still investigating the case, after which Daewoo will decide if it wants to pursue the matter for criminal damages. TagAZ hasn't said anything in response to the allegations. If nothing else, this could be good practice for GM - it will now know what to do if it happens at Opel...
[Source: Drive.com.au]

Suzuki recalling 184k GM-built models for fire risk

Suzuki is recalling 184,244 total units of the 2004-2008 Forenza (pictured above) and 2005-2008 Reno manufactured under contract by Daewoo, now General Motors Korea, between September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008, for a risk of fire. The exact split in terms of number of each model isn't available yet.
In the vehicles, the heat generated in the headlight switch or daytime running light module could cause the parts to melt and cause a fire. If this sounds somewhat familiar, it's the same reason that 218,000 units of the 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo are being recalled. According to General Motors spokesperson Alan Adler: "It's the same issue."
Adler explained that as the contracted manufacturer, GM is responsible for finding a remedy to this problem and providing it to Suzuki. It's a similar situation as Toyota recalling the Matrix and giving the automaker the repair parts to fix the Pontiac Vibe, which shares the platform.

Grown-up Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is your inner five-year-old's street-legal dream

For many, the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe provided our first taste of the open road at a young age. It's been around for 30 years, with the Hudson, Ohio manufacturer even going so far as to declare it America's best-selling car. John Bitmead of Oxfordshire, England evidently wanted to relive his childhood a bit, so he created this excellent life-size, street-legal interpretation of the Cozy Coupe. Starting with what appears to be an early Daewoo Matiz minicar, this adult-friendly Cozy Coupe took 1,000 hours to build, but it's ready for the road with lights, airbags and a top speed of 70 miles per hour. The design stays as true to the Cozy Coupe as possible, including visual links like the red bodywork, yellow roof, lack of windows and even the basic wheel and hub cap design. Bitmead hopes he can raise money for children's charities by driving it from city to city in England, and if nothing else, he's sure to generate a lot of smiles. Scroll down to watch the BBC video report. News Source: Geekologie, BBCnews via YouTubeTip: Thanks to all for the tips Toys/Games Daewoo Videos