All Closures and consolidation articles
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ArticleThe changing shape of Europe’s automotive production operations
European vehicle manufacturing is having to adapt to weakening EV demand and increasing competition.
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NewsReshaping the future: Developments in automotive production engineering
A picture of the fast-paced world of automotive production engineering as it navigates the transition to electric vehicles and digitalisation
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NewsTata Steel to close two blast furnaces in Port Talbot causing major setback to regional automotive production
The closures are to have a significant impact on the automotive production environment and supply chains across the region. Is the transition to green steel upsetting traditional ecosystems?
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NewsGM pauses production of trucks due to parts shortage
The production pauses come at an already challenging time for GM due to recent union negotiations.
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NewsHonda announces next steps in US EV production
The Marysville Auto Plant will be Honda’s first auto plant in the US to transition to making EVs
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ArticleEurope’s carmakers dim lights, turn back to coal, oil, on approach to bleak winter
Automakers crimp energy use and reluctantly turn to coal and oil but options may be more limited for component and material suppliers upstream.
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ArticleFactories in China’s Sichuan province forced to close for six days amid power shortage
Plants in China’s Sichuan province, including those run by Toyota and Foxconn, have been told to suspend operations amid electricity shortages
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NewsUK car production hits record low in October while EV and commercial sales accelerate
New car production in the UK fell by 41.4% last month to its lowest October level in 65 years amid ongoing semiconductor chip shortages and plant closures, according to the latest report from the trade industry body.
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ArticleBritish car manufacturing recovery hampered by ‘pingdemic’ and chip shortages
UK vehicle production and exports are rising from pandemic lows, but the sector facing serious challenges in supply chain bottlenecks and labour shortages because of the need to self-isolate.
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ArticleDriving home the reality of global market changes: Honda Swindon factory closes
Honda has closed its Swindon, UK plant, as it ends European production. The carmaker is focusing electric vehicle investment and scale in Asia, and is a sign of how electrification could reshape manufacturing footprints.
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ArticleHow the European automotive industry aims to build back semiconductor and chip supply
OEMs, suppliers and EU officials are considering how best to develop Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing to mitigate current and future shortages, but the broad gaps at many levels – including for older, larger chips – mean there will be no magic bullet
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ArticleCarmakers pledge to switch to all-electric vehicles
The wave of electrification is slowly turning into a tsunami, in Europe at least. Illya Verpraet takes a look at some of the big manufacturing plans in 2021
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ArticleCarmakers forced to extend shutdowns because of microchip shortage
Ford and GM have been forced to extend assembly plant closures because of a shortage in the supply of semiconductors, a problem that continues to disrupt vehicle production globally.
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NewsFord Europe invests $1 billion in Cologne for EV production
After JLR, Ford has also announced that all its vehicles for sale in Europe will be pure-electric by 2030. It is investing $1 billion in its Cologne (Köln) plant to make that a reality. This move will be supported by the sharing of the VW Group’s MEB electric vehicle platform.
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ArticleFord cuts its losses in Brazil with closure of all production in 2021
Ford will shut all three of its production facilities in Brazil this year and import vehicles from other markets in South America, including neighbouring Argentina and Uruguay, to meet demand in the country.
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ArticleRenault assembly network future under review as management announce cost-saving programme
Renault has launched a business transformation plan which includes a 18% cut in production capacity
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ArticleWatch: Livestream Hour Episode 6 – Aftermarket and Service Parts: Keeping the wheels moving
In this episode of the Livestream Hour, we discuss the pandemic’s potential impact on aftersales supply and the aftermarket, including the long-term effects on supply chains and what this means for managing inventory. With special guests from Toyota North America, LKQ Europe and CLEPA. Hosted by editor-in-chief Christopher Ludwig.
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ArticleCoronavirus pandemic could force consolidation amongst automotive suppliers
The Covid-19 pandemic will exact a heavy toll on automotive manufacturers and suppliers, who will face mounting financial losses and growing debt. Some may not survive, at least in their current form or without further government bailouts. Such financial fallout, and the need for companies to reduce costs and consolidate investments, could prompt more consolidation at all levels of the automotive industry in the coming years.
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ArticleDziczek: After the pandemic, restoring component supply and customer demand will form the next hurdles
In the second of Ultima Media’s new Livestream webinars, editor-in-chief Christopher Ludwig was joined by Kristin Dziczek, vice-president of the US Center for Automotive Research (CAR), to talk about a range of issues facing the global automotive manufacturing and supply chain, and what it means for the US market…
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ArticleCoronavirus live blog: OEMs set resumption timelines and health protection regimes
As OEMs manage temporary plant shutdowns across their manufacturing networks, follow our updates on the latest idling and resumption of production … UPDATE 20 May JLR Assembly workers give their reaction as Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant reopens under new social distancing measuresFollowing a two-month shutdown prompted by the ...