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An interview with Robert R. Vallance, automotive technology company Visteon's Senior Vice President, is presented. He presents his thoughts about topics including Visteon's cockpit domain controller SmartCore for autonomous cars, integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart personal assistants in automobiles, and the company's growth in China.

The article offers world news brief related to automobile industry. For the first time domestic brands, including the new top-seller, surpassed sales of foreign brands in China. Ford gave journalists and dealers a look at a new Ranger pickup truck and planned to officially show it at the Bangkok International Motor Show on March 23, 2006 in Thailand. Visteon has started production of climate control modules in Gebze, Turkey for installation on Accents at Hyundai's car assembly plant.

The article focuses on the statement issued by John F. Kill, president of North American Customer Group at Visteon Corp., that the company cannot compete with iPods, but they are going to provide the interfacing capability so that a person with an iPod can use it anywhere he wants. He says that people in China are buying a universal serial bus (USB) memory device and carry their music around on a memory stick. He states that the USB port into a vehicle's electrical and audio system may provide a cost-effective means of modern entertainment.

Presents updates on activity of U.S. manufacturers at the China Industrial Zone in Changzhou, China as of March 2006. Increase in the capacity of Flextronics; Establishment of cryogenic engineering systems by Chart Industries; Formation of a joint venture with an automotive lighting systems company by Visteon.

Presents a profile of president and chief executive officer of Visteon Heinz Pfannschmidt. Professional profile of Pfannschmidt; Confidence of Pfannschmidt in increase Visteon's non-Ford market share; Views of Pfannschmidt on the European team of the company; Reference of products offered by the company to BMW; Discussion of relationship of Visteon with its suppliers; Views of Pfannschmidt on investment in China; Opinion of Pfannschmidt on Indian car market.

The article reports on Visteon Corp. transferring its electronics business in China and expanding their role in Korea. It says that Visteon announced an agreement to consolidate its interiors business with Chinese join venture Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd. and that it is attempting to acquire its remaining 30 percent stake in its Korean climate control business. It adds that Visteon has 5% of its business done in Asia with its north American market share decreasing annually.

The article reports that Van Buren Township-based Visteon Corp. halted production at a climate control products plant in Beijing from August 4-7, 2008 and shuttered its Yanfeng Visteon Beijing facility for the 2008 Olympics. Visteon spokes man Jim Fisher said the company is following the production schedules of its customers and was not asked to close by the Chinese government. Troy-based Delphi Corp. said the company's plants in Beijing have not been by the Olympics.

The article reports that Visteon Corp. has added three manufacturing ventures in China, including its first lighting operation. The lighting venture, Visteon TYC Auto Lamps Co., is owned jointly by Visteon and Taiwan's TYC Brother Industrial Co. It will be in the east China city of Changzhou, with plans to expand quickly to the northeast China city of Changchun. The second venture is the acquisition of audio equipment manufacturer Jiangsu Toppower Technology Co. Ltd. in eastern China. Also investing are Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and Yanfeng Visteon Electronics Co.