Category Archives: manufacturing

Stellantis, TotalEnergies, Mercedes-Benz Open Battery Factory

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz, celebrated today the inauguration of  the Automotive Cells Company’s (ACC) battery factory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, France, the first of three planned in Europe. Continue reading

Posted in electronics, global warming, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota, Honda, GM Lead in Supplier Relations

“The industry continues to face unprecedented challenges in the shift to EVs that unless effectively addressed will only get worse,” said David Andrea, Principal in Plante Moran’s Strategy and Automotive & Mobility Consulting Practice, which conducts the annual Study. “During Covid, a ‘war room’ approach was adopted to quickly resolve critical issues. That approach is what auto manufacturers need to maintain during the transition to EV technologies. The industry needs that level of collaboration, even without the pressure of a crisis.” Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota to Buy Solar Power from Former Coal Mine

“It is important that renewable power is more available to large-scale US energy buyers and converting brownfields like this offers a path forward for former energy communities to take advantage of the infrastructure they already have with transmission lines while providing clean energy to the grid,” said David Absher, senior manager of environmental sustainability at Toyota Motor North America. Continue reading

Posted in environment, global warming, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stellantis Buys Share of Symbio for Fuel Cell Technology

“Acquiring an equal stake in Symbio will bolster our leadership position in hydrogen-powered vehicles by supporting our fuel cell van production in France, and it also serves as a perfect complement to our growing battery electric vehicle portfolio,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nel Announces Automated Hydrogen Fuel Factory in Michigan

“The short distance to General Motors, headquartered in Detroit, has played a decisive role in the choice of state. The two companies collaborate to develop further and improve Nel’s PEM electrolyzer technology,” said Nel’s CEO, Håkon Volldal. “The choice of Michigan is based on an overall assessment of what the state can offer in terms of financial incentives, access to a highly skilled workforce, and cooperation with universities, research institutions, and strategic partners. I will also highlight the personal engagement from Governor Whitmer and her competent and service-minded team,” Volldal said. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PACCAR, Toyota to Sell Fuel Cell Trucks in 2024

The expanded agreement supports ongoing development and sale of zero-emission versions of the Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 models with  Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrain kit. Initial North American customer deliveries are planned for 2024. Continue reading

Posted in economy, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, manufacturing, public health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA – Wheels Falling Off 2023 Ford Bronco, Ranger Trucks

In the required federal filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford said the lug nut tightening machine was out of service and that a manual – translation human – backup was in place. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, labor issues, manufacturing, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EV Battery Gold Rush – Stellantis and Alliance Nickel

NiWest is an advanced nickel-cobalt development project in Western Australia that hopes to produce ~90,000 tpa (tons per annum) of battery grade nickel and cobalt sulphate for the electric vehicle market. To date, more than AU$30 million has been invested into drilling, metallurgical test work and development studies. Stellantis today also agreed agreed to purchase €9.2 million (AU$15 million) in new equity in Alliance Nickel, giving it an 11.5% shareholding on completion and rights to nominate one director to the Alliance board. Money from the equity purchase will be applied to the completion of the NiWest Project Definitive Feasibility Study and engineering design works, expected in the last quarter of 2023. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai Motor Group, SK On Approve US Battery Cell JV

In November 2022, the Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK On to secure EV battery supply for North America. The total investment amount for the joint venture is expected to be  ~$5 billion, with the Group and SK On each holding a 50% stake. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM, Samsung SDI Announce New US Battery Cell Plant

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Samsung SDI announced today they plan to invest more than $3 billion to build a new battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States. The plant will have more than 30 GWh of capacity and will bring GM’s total U.S. battery cell capacity to about 160 GWh when it is at full production in ~2026. The companies plan to jointly operate the facility, and it is projected to have production lines to build nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March Global Light Vehicles Sales Up 12%

The month-on-month (MoM) improvement in the SAAR is largely attributed to the rebounding of the China market as customers took advantage of expiring tax incentives before April, in LMC’s view. Relatedly, both the North American market and the Western Europe markets saw YoY improvements when compared against a very weak 2022. Eastern Europe showed the first positive YoY growth in March since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, LMC noted. Continue reading

Posted in economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Oakville Assembly in Canada to Convert to EVs

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today it is investing C$1.8 billion in its Oakville Assembly Complex to make it  into a high-volume hub of electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada. The property, to be renamed Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, will begin to retool and modernize during Q2of 2024 to prepare for production of next-generation EVs. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Ventures is Investing in EnergyX for EV Batteries

EnergyX’s direct lithium extraction technology, so-called DLE, can make lithium metal directly from brine and possibly in anode-ready form for EV batteries. GM said this enables a “more cost-effective and sustainable lithium recovery to unlock a vast lithium supply chain in North America that may otherwise be unviable.” Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford – Most Hourly Workers, US-Assembled Vehicles, Exports

“Ford has bet on American workers, including the UAW, more than any other automaker. This commitment combined with great product and innovation, has earned us the loyalty of customers and returned Ford to America’s best-selling brand so far this year. We could make different decisions, as many others have done to reduce costs, but Ford is different. We will find ways to be lean and competitive while investing in our home market,” claimed Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. This is, of course,  a UAW contract negotiation year starting this summer with many recent Ford jobs going to Southern states hostile to unions. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

EPA Proposes to Reduce Toxic Chemical Plant Air Pollution

EPA’s proposal would modernize several regulations that apply to chemical plants, including plants that make synthetic organic chemicals, and regulations that apply to plants that make polymers such as neoprene. The proposed updates would reduce 6053 tons of air toxics emissions each year, which are known or suspected to cause cancer and other serious health effects. Those reductions include a 58 ton per year reduction in ethylene oxide (EtO) and a reduction of 14 tons per year in chloroprene. Continue reading

Posted in environment, manufacturing, people, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment