Porsche, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Karlsruhe, Mitsui High-tec.

Hybrid racer: After Audi, Porsche unveils its hybrid LMP1, which is set to compete in the World Endurance Championship this season. The 919 Hybrid features three different aerodynamic packages to accommodate for different track conditions at high speeds powered by more than 900 hp.
motorsport.com, planetlemans.com, worldcarfans.com

Regional research confederacy I: Baden-Wuerttemberg bundles its electric transport initiatives as KIT, Stuttgart and Ulm Universities as well as those in Aalen and Esslingen create a laboratory network. The aim is to use synergies and connect existing infrastructure within the XiL-BW-e. Even testbeds at separate locations shall be linked to enable interactive and dynamic collaboration.
kit.edu (in German)

Regional research confederacy II: The “Profilregion Mobilitätssysteme Karlsruhe” (profile region mobility systems Karlsruhe) joins four Fraunhofer institutes (ICT, IOSB, ISI, IWM) and the new drive system project group with KIT, Hochschule Karlsruhe and FZI in an effort to find the transport of the future. 7 projects will run over two years and include electric and hybrid drive train research.
isi.fraunhofer.de (in German)

Japanese motors made in Canada: EV component specialist Mitsui High-tec opens its first production facility on North American soil. Located in Ontario, the plant is to go into operation by 2017 and will deliver components for hybrid and electric drivetrains used by Honda, Toyota, GM, and Ford.
ontario.ca, autotrader.ca