Latest News & Features – Page 132
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ArticlePSA and Dongfeng sign electric deal
France/China – At today’s presentation of the new ‘5A+’ medium-term plan, the two companies formally agreed to design an electric version of the common modular platform (CMP) which has been in development since April 2015. The electric platform, e-CMP, will be the global basis for all-electric, B- and C-segment vehicles ...
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ArticleRings around the world
Like its premium-brand competitors, Audi is now in the process of building a global manufacturing networkThe geographic expansion of Volkswagen’s vehicle production beyond Germany, into Mexico, China, Spain, India, Brazil and South Africa, is now well-established. Meanwhile, parallel expansion at Audi is, with the exception of China, a much more ...
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ArticleSkoda Kvasiny makes 100,000th Superb
Czech Republic – The milestone, third-generation vehicle rolled off the assembly line slightly over one year after production began. Since 2001, more than 850,000 Superb models have been manufactured in total.The first generation Superb, based on a classic notchback saloon, was made from 2001 to 2008. The second generation was ...
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Toyota opens Porto Feliz engine plant
Brazil – The new factory in São Paulo State represents an investment of 18 billion yen ($170m) and is the OEM’s first engine manufacturing facility in Latin America. Built on 872,500 sq.m of land, it has a capacity of 108,000 engines per year and a workforce of 320 individuals.Porto Feliz ...
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ArticleSubaru Boxer celebrates 50 years
Japan – The brand’s signature engine debuted on the Subaru 1000 compact passenger car in 1966 and the technology has continued to be refined; with the exception of mini vehicles, every Subaru model today is fitted with a Boxer engine. Total production has now exceeded 16m units.In the horizontally opposed ...
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ArticleGKN starts production at Villagran
Mexico – Built at a cost of $17.5m, the 12,000 sq.m facility in the central state of Guanajuato will support both local and global demand for all-wheel drive vehicles. The plant is now making a new type of propshaft, the GKN VLi, which its maker claims is fast to assemble ...
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FCA announces management changes
US – Scott Garberding has been named global head of quality, in addition to taking responsibility for quality in North America. Scott Thiele is now chief purchasing officer for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Group, plus North America.Garberding was previously chief purchasing officer for the Group, with direct responsibility for Europe, ...
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ArticleNissan Sunderland makes 50,000th Leaf
UK – The milestone vehicle rolled off the production line earlier this month, three years after the OEM started making electric vehicles and batteries in Europe. Nissan claims it is the first carmaker in the continent to make 50,000 electric vehicles and their associated batteries.The Tekna-grade Leaf will be shipped ...
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ArticleNissan appoints sustainability leader
Japan – Hitoshi Kawaguchi, senior vice-president, has been named as the OEM’s first chief sustainability officer. His responsibilities will include representing Nissan on global sustainability issues and ensuring that these are integrated into its corporate strategies.Kawaguchi’s new role is in addition to his existing duties: overseeing global external and government ...
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ArticleFCA Windsor makes first new Pacifica
US – Production of the sixth-generation Chrysler vehicle began after the completion of major construction projects at the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015, plus subsequent upgrade work. Since September 2014, the number of personnel has also increased by 1,200 to 6,000 on three shifts.According to Fiat Chrysler ...
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ArticleTravel blog: From booth buzzword to business benefit
Industry 4.0 loomed large over the two major trade shows I visited recently. In the case of Hannover Messe, the show’s exhibitor board chairman, Friedhelm Loh, proclaimed that the event marked a “final breakthrough” for Industry 4.0. With hundreds of real-world examples being showcased in Hannover, Loh confidently asserted that ...
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ArticlePPG opens Oak Creek development centre
US – The $3m liquid coatings facility in Wisconsin features advanced equipment to simulate customer production lines, providing both research and training opportunities. The centre will help PPG to ensure that its products are applied correctly and consistently in industrial manufacturing environments.The facility houses curing ovens, robotic paint applicators and ...
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ArticleFCA Toledo gains Silver WCM status
US – The assembly site in Ohio is the first plant in the country to achieve the World Class Manufacturing accolade, and the third facility in North America. Toledo received Bronze in July 2012.Silver status was awarded after a two-day audit, during which Toledo earned a minimum of 60 points ...
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Mercedes-Benz to build plant in Jawor
Poland – Parent company Daimler will invest around €500m ($570.4m) in the engine factory, the second such facility for Mercedes-Benz Cars outside Germany. The OEM says that the investment is dependent on final commitments including state aid, but that the start of production is anticipated for 2019.“Capacity expansion in Eastern ...
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ArticleVW Chattanooga makes new SUV test body
US – The plant is celebrating an early production milestone after completing the first metal test body for the midsize SUV which is due to be made later this year and enter the market in 2017.The test body was used to test the calibration of bodyshop equipment and processes, then ...
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ArticleKumho opens delayed Macon plant
US – The $450m facility covers 80,000sq.m on 530,000sq.m of land in Georgia and has a launch capacity of 4m tyres per year, with the potential to increase to 10m in future. Construction began in May 2008 but was suspended during the global downturn; it resumed in 2014.Kumho says the ...
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ArticleMarchionne marches on at Ferrari
Italy – While retaining his current role as chairman, Sergio Marchionne is taking the responsibilities until now held by CEO Amedeo Felisa, who has served the company for 26 years. In his retirement, Felisa will hold a technical advisory position on the board of directors.“I have known Amedeo for more ...
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ArticleSteiner replaces Hatz at Porsche
Germany – With immediate effect, Michael Steiner succeeds Wolfgang Hatz as member of the executive board with responsibility for R&D. Hatz, who took the position in February 2011, is leaving the company at his own request.The statement from Porsche noted that Hatz went on temporary leave “as a precaution”, following ...
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ArticleNissan CIVAC celebrates 50 years
Mexico – The plant at Jiutepec in Morelos State was the company’s first outside Japan. Nissan said that, as well as launching its global strategy, CIVAC “established the beginning of a longstanding tradition in innovation, research, commitment and the highest quality standards in vehicle manufacturing”.José Muñoz, executive vice-president, Nissan Motor ...
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Hitting the gas
As OEMs step up their sustainability programmes, two leading players are arriving at key milestones. AMS reports on how biogas projects have contributed greatly to the renewable energy success of GM and BMWLast year, for the first time, the BMW Group met the majority of its electrical energy needs by ...