Latest News & Features – Page 187
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ArticlePremier opens new engineering centre
UK – The £600,000 new building is part of a £3m investment by the Midlands-based company in staff, equipment and facilities over the past four years. The centre will enhance Premier’s capabilities in the production of metal components for cars, prototypes and niche vehicles.Over the past four years, Premier has ...
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Article€1.5bn to modernise Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen
Germany – Daimler’s investment to 2020 will involve an upgrade of facilities at the car plant near Stuttgart as well as the introduction of a new model. The announcement was made after Daimler reached a multi-year agreement with the Works Council on cost reductions.The main projects at the 99-year-old plant ...
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ArticleNissan’s global production up in June 2014
Japan – Output increased by 5.6% year-on-year to 441,719 units, a record for the month. Production outside Japan rose by 11.5% to 363,854 – another record. However, domestic production fell by 15.3% to 77,865 units.For the half-year, Nissan’s global production increased by 8.8% to 2,623,219 units. The record output for ...
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ArticleMazda reports production increase for June
Japan – The OEM’s domestic production for the month rose by 6.7% compared with the same period last year, while overseas output surged by 32% owing to growth in the passenger car segment. Mazda attributed the domestic increase to greater production of both passenger and commercial vehicles.In its home market, ...
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ArticleJaguar XE pushes aluminium to 75%
UK – The XJ, XK and F-Type were all developed using bonded and riveted aluminium structures, but the new model “far exceeds” any other car in its class, says the OEM. Its maker describes the XE as “a product of Jaguar’s world-leading expertise in high-volume production of aluminium vehicles”.The XE ...
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Magna to expand Trnava Interiors Plant
Slovakia – The manufacturing facility will nearly double in size to more than 15,500 sq.m, supporting its production of interior components such as door panels, instrument panels and armrests for various global vehicle-makers.Ralf Link, general manager of Magna Interiors Trnava, said the expansion was “proof that we are delivering value ...
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Warwick to host advanced propulsion centre
UK – The University has been selected as a central hub in a national structure intended to provide the UK automotive industry with the resources and facilities to develop advanced propulsion systems and supply chains. The project is one of £200m worth of commitments by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) ...
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ArticleBritish CV output down nearly a quarter in H1 2014
UK – The Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) recorded a drop of 23% in the year-to-date figure, with 37,460 commercial vehicles (CVs) produced. The decrease in June was 25.4%, after only 6,348 units were made.In June, the biggest change was in production for export, which saw a decrease of 31.8% ...
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ArticleBritish car output rises by 3.5% in H1 2014
UK – The number of units produced increased to 791,314, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Output for June was 136,419 units, an increase of 3.7% compared with the same period the year before.The SMMT said the increase in volumes last month was driven ...
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ArticleCooper Standard unveils technical centre, Shanghai
China – The automotive component supplier’s Asia-Pacific headquarters will also relocate from Kunshan to the new site, which covers a total of 762 sq.m and accommodates a workforce of 55 personnel. The centre will provide local technical support with engineering and design capabilities. “The new facility expands Cooper Standard's technical ...
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ArticleBritain’s engine production stable in H1 2014
UK – The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced that output during the first half of the year remained steady, down by just 0.9% or 1.3m units. Volumes in June decreased by 0.4% or 224,792 units.The SMMT added that exports continued to improve both for June and the ...
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ArticleBASF opens new plant in Shanghai
China –The €50m ($62m) facility is located at a chemical industry park and adjacent to another new BASF resin and electrocoat plant which will start operations in the second half of 2015. The company says the close proximity of the two facilities will enable greater synergies and operational efficiency.“Our new ...
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ArticleHurren takes CV and business programmes role, Citroen
UK – In his new position as a manager at the Coventry head office, Adam Hurren will report to Jeremy Smith, head of Commercial Vehicles and Business Sector Programmes. His appointment takes place with immediate effect.Hurren has had an 11-year career with PSA Group, and in 2011 took the role ...
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Renault and Fiat to collaborate on new LCV
France – Fiat will develop the styling of the light commercial vehicle (LCV), which will be supplied by Renault and based on one of the latter’s platforms. The model will feature “unique and distinctive elements” and be branded ‘Fiat Professional’.The vehicle will be manufactured by Renault in France from the ...
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ArticleFord makes changes at the top
US – After 32 years of service, Paul Mascarenas is retiring as chief technical officer and vice-president, Research and Advanced Engineering, effective October 1. He will be replaced as vice-president by former Lockheed Martin executive Ken Washington, who will report to Raj Nair, group vice-president, Global Product Development.In addition, Kumar ...
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ArticleGrieve to lead BMW in Britain
UK – As managing director of BMW Group UK and Ireland, Graeme Grieve will replace Tim Abbott, who has been appointed managing director for the OEM in South Africa. Grieve will take up his new position on October 1.Grieve joined BMW UK in 1990, holding several positions before his appointment ...
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ArticleHams Hall ramps up for i8 engines
UK – A new facility has been developed at BMW's plant near Birmingham for production of the three-cylinder TwinPower Turbo technology petrol engines – the first of a new generation of engines to be built there.Plant director Nick Spencer said: “Our plant is going through a huge transformation, and we ...
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ArticleGroundbreaking ceremony for Servo TechCenter
China – Schuler held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new demonstration centre in the northern port of Tianjin. The facility will feature a state-of-the-art press with TwinServo Technology (TST) and a force of 1,600 metric tons. The company is investing over €10m in the project, with construction due to be ...
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ArticleFord mourns ex-leader Nick Scheele
US – The vehicle-maker announced the death today of its former president and chief operating officer, who retired in 2005 after a career which lasted over 38 years. He led Ford from 2001.British-born Scheele joined the OEM in 1966 and served in several roles at its European operations before moving ...
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ArticleBASF inaugurates catalysts plant in Sroda Slaska
Poland – The 40,000 sq.m facility in the Special Economic Zone near Wroclaw cost €90m and will double the company’s regional manufacturing capacity. It is BASF’s largest European production plant for mobile emissions catalysts.Construction work for the new facility began in late 2012; production trials started in April this year, ...