Latest News & Features – Page 100
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ArticleHyundai names new leader for America
US – As president and CEO, Kyung Soo Lee will be responsible for the OEM’s sales and marketing in the country, beginning on September 18. After his temporary posting, Jerry Flannery has returned to his role as executive vice-president, chief legal and safety officer.“Mr. Lee has an in-depth understanding of ...
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ArticleAlliance 2022 plan to boost synergies
France – The strategy aims to double annual synergies to €10 billion ($12 billion) through deeper cooperation between Renault, Nissan and the newest member of the group, Mitsubishi. This target follows a 16% increase in synergies last year to €5 billion.“To achieve this target, on one side Renault, Nissan and ...
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ArticleBody conscious
The growing trend for OEMs opting for AHSS components has surpassed the expectations of steelmakersAudi’s decision to use a mass-produced carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) part in the body structure of its A8 may have secured many headlines, but the company’s extensive use of steel rather than aluminium in this model may ...
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ArticleHonda pledges electrification for Europe
Germany – The OEM promised that every new car model launched in the region will feature electrified technology, in an announcement at the Frankfurt Motor Show. At the same time, Honda unveiled its new electric vehicle (EV), the Urban EV concept, which it said will soon be in production.While the ...
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ArticleMercedes GLC F-Cell in pre-production
Germany – The OEM presented the vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show as “the next milestone on the road to emission-free driving”. The GLC F-Cell features a new fuel-cell system and a lithium battery which serves as an additional energy source for the electric motor. The car will go on ...
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ArticleVW launches electrification strategy
Germany – According to ‘Roadmap E’, the OEM will electrify its line-up by 2030, offering at least one electrified version of the 300 models across the Group worldwide. Volkswagen plans to introduce 80 models by 2025 and estimates that 25% of new Group vehicles, amounting to 3m per year, could ...
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ArticleThe upward curve of servo
The recent installation of what is claimed to be the biggest ever servopress machine anywhere in global automotive metalforming sector demonstrates the key advances made in pressing technologyServo press technology has been making increasing inroads into automotive metalforming applications for some time now. The reasons are not particular to the ...
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Article
Unlocking demand
Violent unrest and economic uncertainty continue to rack the Middle East, but automotive production is booming thanks to the liberation of demand in Iran, the biggest consumer of vehicles in the regionUp until they were lifted in early 2016, Iran suffered heavily under the yoke of nuclear-related economic sanctions imposed ...
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ArticleAutonomy drive
Suzuki has stayed independent of big joint ventures despite becoming increasingly dependent on markets outside JapanIn an industry where mergers and collaborations between major players are increasingly common, Suzuki remains something of an outlier. It has largely eschewed wide-ranging, large-scale alliances with other vehicle companies, especially since its joint venture ...
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ArticlePutting the Kia into Slovakia
With its production numbers continuing to increase, the Kia Motors Slovakia facility in Žilina is flying the flag for smaller car-producing nationsA picturesque setting is not a metric that OEMs necessarily value when selecting production sites, but it is one in which Kia Motors Slovakia (KMS) scores highly. The facility ...
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ArticleFinding a new Vantage point
In an effort to end its boom-bust cycle, Aston Martin aims to double production capacity by 2019 while cutting manufacturing costsFor a luxury maker so used to luring the rich, profits have proven elusive for Aston Martin over the course of its 104-year existence. But the first signs that its ...
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ArticleSchäfer to lead Aston in Europe
Germany – As president of the region, Ulrich Schäfer will be responsible for brand and sales activities in 19 markets and will report to Christian Marti, vice-president and chief sales officer at the Frankfurt headquarters. His predecessor, Mark Kenworthy, has become head of Global Dealer Network at Gaydon, UK.Schäfer joins ...
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ArticleVW Amarok production begins in Quito
Ecuador – Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is supplying partner Fisum with completely knocked down parts for assembly by its affiliate, local contract manufacturer Aymesa. Around 2,000 Amarok Trendline vehicles with two-wheel drive or 4Motion will be made per year, potentially rising to 10,000 depending on demand.Josef Baumert, member of the board ...
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ArticleNissan to grow new Leaf production
UK/US – Manufacture will begin at Sunderland in northern England and Smyrna, Tennessee, with these two locations joining Nissan Oppama, Japan, in the production of the new-generation vehicle by the end of 2017.“We’re proud to continue manufacturing the Nissan Leaf at three plants globally,” said Fumiaki Matsumoto, executive vice-president of ...
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ArticleJLR to electrify all models from 2020
UK – The company made the announcement at its inaugural Tech Fest focusing on the future of mobility, with CEO Ralf Speth saying it will be “embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles”. JLR’s first fully electric SUV, the I-PACE, will go on sale next year.With the I-PACE, ...
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ArticleGKN to build new factory, Tokoname City
Japan – The plant, which will replace an older facility, will be equipped with GKN’s best-practice manufacturing technology to enable it to produce next-generation all-wheel drive systems and rear-drive modules. Groundbreaking will take place this month, with completion set for halfway through 2018.“One-third of the world’s vehicles are designed and ...
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ArticleWilliams unveils lightweight EV platform
UK – The FW-EVX concept features innovations in the battery pack, cooling systems and lightweight structures which are integrated into a scalable platform, says the company. A near zero-waste process and the forming of high-strength 3D structures from 2D materials are used for parts of its construction.The near zero-waste process, ...
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ArticleColonised by China
The underdeveloped but populous countries of South-East Asia could be rich pickings for Chinese OEMs Malaysia's domestic makers Japan dominates Indonesia Philippine production boom Thailand and Vietnam open up Mixed success for motorcycles Suppliers find opportunitiesThe Chinese are now mounting their most serious attack yet on the domination of Japanese ...
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ArticleTroubled times
New global politics and difficulties at home threaten the production and export hubs of Japan and Korea Nissan reforming Mitsubishi Production is laboured in Korea Motorcycle decline slowing Suppliers finding new partnersThreats from the US to tear up free-trade agreements and impose tariffs on imported vehicles is causing fear in ...