Category Archives: manufacturing

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

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Ford EVs and Quality Damage First Half Net Income and EPS

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) posted disastrous financial results this week caused by its struggling electric vehicle business and the ongoing costs of large recalls on vehicles of its past. Ford posted Q2 2024 quarter revenue of $47.8 billion, net income of $1.8 billion and adjusted EBIT of $2.8 billion (see the accompanying results chart for Q2 and combined Q1 and Q2 numbers). Leaving aside the Ford spin on the financial results for the moment, the Dearborn based automaker is haunted by its past as well as current management practices sharing a precarious future with other once formidable global legacy automakers. Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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First Gen Four BMW 1 Series Made in Leipzig

The first of the fourth-generation BMW 1 Series came off the production line at BMW Group Plant Leipzig today. BMW said  it was a 120 model in Alpine White for a customer in Germany.* The new BMW 1 Series is due for market launch in October 2024. When first introduced in 2007, the 1-series was a successful bet that a small hatchback doesn’t need to equate to cheap. Continue reading

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EVs, PHEVs Worse Than Gas Vehicles On Power 2024 IQS

“Proponents of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) often state these vehicles should be less problematic and require fewer repairs than gas-powered vehicles since they have fewer parts and systems. However, newly incorporated repair data shows BEVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories. “Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle to the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners,” Hanley said. Continue reading

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May 2024 Global Light Vehicle Sales Rate Up Slightly

“Key markets, China and the US, benefited from improved selling rates versus the previous month. In Europe, there was little change for the West of the region in its month-over-month (MoM) selling rate evolution. While Eastern Europe made progress, with the latter once again supported by recovery in Russia. In Japan, the selling rate declined notably as supply issues persist,” the GlobalData light-vehicles sales forecast team said. Continue reading

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