Category Archives: manufacturing

Stellantis Startup Awards Honor Technology, Innovations

Since the creation of Stellantis in January 2021, the Company has engaged with hundreds of startups and signed more than 40 contracts. Stellantis’ top executives, including Chief Technology Officer Ned Curic, presented each of the finalists with a customized non-fungible token (NFT) trophy. Created by the Stellantis Design Studio, the NFT is an artistic interpretation of intertwined hands expressing the concept that in turbulent times, ideas prevail. Continue reading

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Vehicle Quality Flaws at 36-Year Record High

Initial vehicle quality drastically declined setting a record, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)*. The disruptions caused by the pandemic: supply chain issues, record-high vehicle prices and personnel dislocations, contributed to quality woes. Compared with … Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz and Unions Agree on EV Production Plans

This means that the Works Council and the powerful IG Metall union, which represents the industrial sector in Europe’s largest economy, supports how the factories are being allocated. The production portfolio already includes six all-electric Mercedes-EQ models. These are being bult at six locations on three continents. Continue reading

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Toyota to Build Suzuki SUV in India for Both Brands

The powertrains offered in India, will be equipped with a mild hybrid developed by Suzuki and a full hybrid developed by Toyota. “By bringing together strengths of both Toyota and Suzuki through the collaboration, the two companies will be able to provide a wide variety of vehicle electrification technologies to customers and contribute to the acceleration of electrification and the realization of a carbon-neutral society in India,” the companies said in a joint release. Continue reading

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Stellantis to be 2nd Largest Shareholder in Vulcan Energy

The equity investment will go towards Vulcan’s planned production expansion drilling in its producing Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field (URVBF). Vulcan is already producing geothermal energy from its URVBF and plans to produce lithium hydroxide with zero fossil fuels and net zero carbon footprint as part of the Zero Carbon Lithium Project. Continue reading

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Ford Europe Says Valencia Will Make Next Gen EVs

In the problematic world of labor relations, Ford is also moving ahead on the $2 billion conversion of its Cologne, Germany, operations to begin producing electric passenger vehicles starting in 2023. Continue reading

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Stellantis, Toyota Expand with New Large Commercial Van

Stellantis and TME’s collaboration started in 2012 with the Toyota’s mid-size LCV produced at Stellantis’ Hordain plant in France, followed in 2019 by a compact-size LCV segment, produced at Stellantis’ plant in Vigo, Spain. The large-size LCV announcement allows Toyota to complete a full LCV line-up in Europe. It also – as many such emerging agreements do – offsets the ruinous development and production costs of the ongoing electrification of offerings demanded by governments and customers. Continue reading

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BREXIT Curse – UK Car Production Falls -11.3% in April

UK car production fell -11.3% in April year-on-year with 60,554 units rolling off factory lines, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The ongoing global shortage of semi-conductors, the impact of … Continue reading

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Semiconductor Crisis – Toyota Again Suspending Production

“We at Toyota would like to again apologize for the repeated adjustments to our production plans due to the parts shortage resulting from the spread of COVID-19, and for causing considerable inconvenience to our customers, suppliers, and other parties concerned,” Toyota said. Continue reading

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Stellantis and Samsung SDI JV to Build EV Batteries in Kokomo

The joint venture company will invest more than $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) and create 1400 new jobs in Kokomo and the surrounding areas. The investment could gradually increase up to $3.1 billion (€2.9 billion). The new facility will supply battery modules for a range of vehicles produced at Stellantis’ North American assembly plants. Continue reading

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Hyundai Motor Group to Build EV and Battery Plant in Georgia

The new plant represents an investment of ~$5.54 billion. Commercial production to begin during the first half of  2025 with annual capacity of 300,000 units. With the additional EV and battery production capabilities, the Group aims to become one of the top three EV providers in the US by 2026. Continue reading

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Ford India Shelves EV Manufacturing Export Plans

In an official response as Ford’s Annual Meeting was underway in the US, Ford India’s spokesperson confirmed and said, “After careful review, we have decided to no longer pursue EV manufacturing for exports from any Indian plant.” At the Annual Meeting Bill Ford and Jim Farley fielded tough questions about its EV strategy, splitting the company into two arms and ongoing supply chain and perennial guilty problems. Ford shares are down ~40% this year. (AutoInformed: Ford Motor Blues – Q1 Loss of $3.1 Billion; Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming) Continue reading

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GM CAMI – Becoming Canada’s First Full-Scale EV Plant

By September, the GM team will have prepped the building and installed the new BrightDrop production equipment. CAMI expects to begin returning employees in October for training on the new line. The first BrightDrop Zevo 600 is planned to roll off the line at CAMI in before the end of the year. Continue reading

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Milestones – Production Begins for Ford F-150 Lightning EV

Ford Motor, whose existence was tenuous during the Great Recession, is now the top automaker in America in terms of 2021 production, sales of US-made vehicles and employment of hourly autoworkers. The F-150 Lightning is the only full-size electric pickup available now with a starting price less than $40,000. Ford F-Series has been America’s best-selling truck for 45 years running and is second only to the iPhone in revenue among all American consumer products, according to a 2020 study. Continue reading

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Chinese Commerce – Dongfeng Honda Begins Sale of NS1 EV

The all-new e:NS1 and e:NP1 are the first of the so-called “e:N Series” models developed as the first Honda-brand EV models in China. The newly created e:N architecture consists of an electric motor that delivers instantaneous output and a claimed subtle control in various driving situations. A large-capacity battery enables a range of 510 km (CLTC base in China). It also allows dedicated body frames. Continue reading

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