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Category Archives: manufacturing
BMW and California Robotics Firm Testing Humanoid Robot
This is all part of the so-called BMW iFACTORY, a program to develop production methods of the of the future. During the trial run, the BMW Group said it gained valuable knowledge of what requirements must be met in order to be able to integrate so-called multi-purpose robots in an existing production system. This includes how humanoid robots communicate with the system under real conditions. After the first use in automobile production, the experts at the BMW Group and Figure are collaborating to prepare Figure for future applications in production and continuing to develop the robots, based on the findings. Continue reading
Posted in concept, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, Brett Adcock, California robotics company Figure, Ken Zino, Milan Nedeljković, X @KenAutoinformed
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Tesla Recalls More 1.8M EVs with Chinese Hood Latches
Tesla is recalling more than 1.8 million 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The Magna Chinese-made hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood after the hood has been opened, according to documents made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, NHTSA 24V-554, NHTSA 24V554, Tesla Model 3 Model S Model X and Y recalls, Tesla Recalls, Tesla SB-24-00-012, X @KenAutoinformed
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Magna Results Reflect Turmoil in OE EV Programs
AutoInformed notes that Magna’s challenge as a global diversified supplier to automakers going forward is adopting to and making money from the delay, elimination or reduced volumes in larger automaker EV programs while retaining or increasing sales from the now extended life of vehicles with internal combustion engines and their potential freshening and updates with increased content that this likely entails. Continue reading
Bosch Buys HVAC businesses from Johnson Controls, Hitachi
The businesses Bosch wants to buy had sales revenue totaling ~€4 billion in 2023, employing ~12,000 people worldwide. The transaction includes 16 manufacturing sites and 12 engineering locations in more than 30 countries. The product portfolio covers vast HVAC products for residential and light commercial buildings. This includes brands such as York and Coleman in the U.S. and Hitachi in Asia, for which Bosch will be granted a long-term license. Continue reading
Posted in electronics, energy, engineering, environment, global warming, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Christian Fischer, George Oliver, Johnson Controls International, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning, Jun Abe, Ken Zino, Stefan Hartung, York Coleman Hitachi brands
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BMW Has Yet Another Airbag Shrapnel Recall
“The inflator for the driver air bag may not have been produced according to specifications by the supplier. In extremely rare cases, the air bag inflator could rupture, which could result in injury or death to vehicle occupants,” BMW claimed in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading
Global Light Vehicle June Sales Rate at 89 Million Best in 2024
“Sales accelerated in China last month with the price war continuing, while in the US sales staggered as a result of a cyberattack affecting dealerships. Europe saw a rise in selling rates, thanks to improvements in both East and West Europe. Meanwhile, Japan recorded lagging sales in the face of supply issues and a subdued macroeconomic climate,” said the GlobalData Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading
EPA Grant to Holcim U.S. for Clean Cement
In the U.S., Holcim is the largest cement manufacturer and a top five producer of aggregates and ready-mix concrete, with approximately 7000 employees. Holcim’s so-called Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Accelerator Project will increase the transparency of data on environmental emissions associated with the production of construction materials; generate robust EPDs with a diversity of manufacturers from across the U.S.; and drive market demand for lower carbon construction materials. These projects represent the three construction materials in Holcim’s portfolio: cement, asphalt, and ultra-high-performance concrete. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden Administration, Clean Cement, ENERGY STAR Industrial program, epa, Federal Buy Clean Initiative, high-quality environmental product declarations EPDs, Holcim U.S., Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Janet McCabe, Ken Zino, Meg McCollister
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FCA US Recalls 332,000 Vehicles for Bad Airbags
In the required filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FCA said “A disrupted connector on the buckle switch hall effect may affect the conduction on the connectors of the seat wiring and buckle which may cause the front seat air bag to not perform as expected during a crash.” The part in question was made by ZF Group in Italy as Molex part number 98817-1025. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged Alfa Romeo recalls, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Crysle FCA US recalls, FCA US recall 82B, Fiat recalls, jeep recalls, Ken Zino, Molex part number 98817-1025, NHTSA recall 24V-510 or 24V510
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Global Automakers in the US Out-Build Detroit 3 During 2023
The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) and Autos Drive America in their 2024 Economic Impact Report say that during 2023, for the first time, international automakers in the United States out-produced the Detroit 3 automakers. Last year, Autos Drive America’s members produced 4.9 million light vehicles in the U.S. compared to 4.6 million produced by the Detroit 3. In total, last year 8.7 million new vehicles were sold in 9401 international nameplate dealership franchises, accounting for 57% of all new vehicle sales in 2023. Continue reading
Tilt! Stellantis Now Favoring Hybrids in Europe
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) said today that is changing its self-described multi-energy approach to respond to the sharp rise in sales of hybrid vehicles in Europe, including models equipped with its new “advanced hybrid eDCT technology.”* The company will offer 30 … Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, hybrid vehicles, Ken Zino, Stellantis Dare Forward 2030, Stellantis eDCT technology
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Biden Administration – $1.6B in Semiconductor Manufacturing
The US Department of Commerce today published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to open a competition for new research and development (R&D) activities that it said will establish and accelerate domestic capacity for semiconductor advanced packaging. The CHIPS for America program predicts that up to $1.6 billion in funding will go to five R&D areas. These were first outlined in the vision for the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). Through potential cooperative agreements, CHIPS for America would make several awards of ~$150 million federal funding per award in each research area. Continue reading
Posted in economy, electronics, manufacturing, milestones, news, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged advanced node chips, Arati Prabhakar, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, CHIPS for America, Ken Zino, National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program, US Department of Commerce, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
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GM Recalls 2024 Colorado and Canyon Models for Fuel Leaks
General Motors is recalling ~9000 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles for fuel tank leaks. The lock ring that secures the fuel pump to the fuel tank assembly may not have been fully locked during assembly by the supplier Plastic Omnium. This can cause a leak during a crash, possibly leading to a fire, according to GM recall filings released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Continue reading
Ford Mustang, F-Super Duty Recalls for Steering and Brakes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today made public more safety defect recalls on 2022-2023 Ford Mustangs, some 2024 Mustangs as well as 2025 F-Super Duty F-650 and F-750 pickup trucks. The safety defects come from a variety of causes including, improper heat treating, power steering control module (PSCM) software and body control module (BCM) software. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Recall 24S42, Ford Recall 24S43, Ford Recall 24S44, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA 24V493, NHTSA 24V494, NHTSA 24V496
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More Takata Flack – Ford Issues Do-Not-Drive Advisory
Ford Motor today issued a “do-not-drive advisory for owners of vehicles who have not yet had their vehicles repaired under three past Takata airbag safety recalls. These previously announced recalls are Ford recalls 15S21, 17S42, and 19S01. The first issued in 2015, involve several vehicle lines equipped with Takata non-desiccated airbag inflators. This do-not-drive advisory is the second Takata related do-not-drive recall advisory issued by Ford and it is intended to encourage owners to complete the recall repairs immediately. Continue reading →