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Mercedes sues Ferrari-bound F1 engineer for stealing secrets

Mercedes is suing one of its Formula One engineers, one Benjamin Hoyle, claiming he was planning to take sensitive data to a competitor. An experienced powertrain engineer, Hoyle came to Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in 2012 with previous experience at Prodrive and Cosworth. One of four team leaders at the company, Hoyle headed up the performance application department until he notified his employers of his intention not to seek renewal of his contract that expires at the end of this year. Once they found out that Hoyle was switching to Ferrari, the higher-ups at Mercedes reassigned him to other, less sensitive duties, however Hoyle was reportedly discovered accessing race reports and other sensitive data relating to the performance of the team's engines. In response, Mercedes has filed suit against Hoyle, claiming that he "and potentially Ferrari have gained an unlawful advantage." The German automaker is seeking the return of all documents and the payment of its legal fees. It also seeks to prevent Hoyle from working for another F1 team throughout next season. Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains is the Daimler's F1 engine division. Based in Brixworth, UK, it was founded back in 1983 together with Ilmor before Mercedes bought it outright. Aside from the company's own works team, the outfit this year powered Williams, Lotus, and Force India, and previously worked with McLaren as well as Sauber. This is not the first time that a case of industrial espionage has emerged in F1. A similar controversy erupted in 2007 surrounding engineers Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan. The highly publicized incident became known as "Spygate" or "Stepneygate" and involved the illegal sharing of secrets between Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault. News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Martin Meissner/AP Government/Legal Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Ferrari Mercedes-Benz F1 industrial espionage

Mercedes-Maybach SUV concept: Vision Ultimate Luxury interior teased

Mercedes-Maybach posted a teaser video of what it calls "the ultimate in luxury" last week, saying that the featured, yet-to-be-named vehicle would be presented in the Beijing Motor Show. Now there's a teaser sketch giving us a wider look of the concept's interior, as well as a name. The concept also has a name by now: the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury. We guess that might have been coming, even if the name isn't exactly concise. But, the accompanying release also informs us that the concept is a combination of a high-end sedan and an SUV, confirming that it is indeed the high-riding vehicle that's been rumored for a while. The interior sketch also shows a very wide center console with stylized grab handles, which suit the SUV dimensions and aesthetic, without being as trucklike as the Maybach G650 Landaulet's interior. As well as the lavish two-tone color scheme and the touch of wood on the door panel, the concept interior shows a wide color instrument display ahead of the driver. The gear selectors are paddle shifters next to the chunky steering wheel rim, and the controls seem to have been grouped on the wheel's spokes, leaving just a few switches on the dashboard. Autocar reports that the concept will be followed by a 2019 production version, slated to debut at the Los Angeles show at the end of this year. It would be based on the Mercedes-Benz GLS, but with a more bespoke design inside out, as hinted by the concept. Basing it on the GLS would mean Mercedes would be manufacturing it at the Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama, making it the first Maybach built in the U.S. Related Video: Image Credit: Mercedes-Maybach Beijing Motor Show Maybach Mercedes-Benz SUV Concept Cars Luxury mercedes-maybach

Mercedes Alabama ops ordered to allow workers to discuss unionization

A decision last week by the National Labor Relations Board has bolstered the efforts of the United Auto Workers at Mercedes-Benz's Tuscaloosa, AL factory, as the union continues its attempts to represent the factory's workers. According to Reuters, the NLRB ruled that Mercedes-Benz US International, the proper name of the company behind the Tuscaloosa factory, can no longer prevent workers from discussing unionization in work areas while off the clock. While MBUSI maintains that it's not taking a side on unionization and that it wants the "the decision left to our team members," the UAW is still arguing that the US facility should take the same position on unions that the rest the world's Mercedes-Benz plants take and. Speaking to Reuters, the UAW says that stance "acknowledges the human right to form trade unions" and "respects the right of collective bargaining." According to Reuters, the Alabama factory employs 3,500 workers – 2,500 full time and 1,000 "temporary" – and is the only Daimler-owned factory on the planet not to offer employees the opportunity for representation. Presently, the Tuscaloosa facility assembles Mercedes' C-Class, GL-Class and M-Class vehicles.