Category Archives: manufacturing

GM’s CAMI Assembly Hastens BrightDrop EV600 Production

Today, General Motors announced the accelerated timeline for plant conversion and production of the BrightDrop* electric EV600 light commercial vehicle at CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, ON. Working with suppliers in the United States, BrightDrop as announced will start initial production of EV600s later this year. Now, during April 2022, Chevrolet Equinox production will end at CAMI and the BrightDrop equipment will be moved to Ingersoll, reducing the time required for plant changeover. GM says it expects to handle what is currently high demand for Equinox with other plants as CAMI retools for BrightDrop production. Continue reading

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Porsche Customcells JV adds Cellforce on Manufacturing Lithium Ion Batteries as the P3 Group Leaves

However, use on a race track does not necessarily require the battery to function in sub-zero temperatures nor remain stable for years over many charging cycles – goals which have yet to be achieved with this new cell technology. Continue reading

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Ford Bronco Production Underway at Michigan Assembly Plant

If you want to ride the beast, just bring money, not bitcoins: MSRP for the base two-door Bronco is $29,995, including $1,495 destination and delivery. In 1965, the Michigan Truck Plant — now the Michigan Assembly Plant — began production of an off-road SUV: the original Ford Bronco. Bronco continued through five generations and ended production on June 12, 1996. In that 31-year span, Ford produced more than 1.1 million Broncos. Continue reading

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Former Chrysler Windsor Minivan Plant to Close for All of June

“The semiconductor shortage impacting the automotive industry has left companies and countries scrambling for solutions,” said Carla Bailo, President & CEO at the Center for Automotive Research, aka CAR. Continue reading

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GM to Up Deliveries by Dropping Stop-Start on Pickups, SUVs

The bad news is GM’s gas mileage increasing stop-start system is being dropped on some models of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV SUVs. Stop-start will also be dropped for the moment on certain light-duty Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The semiconductor or microchip shortage is expected to last through 2021, and possibly until sometime in 2022. Continue reading

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Manufacturing – Not Online Shopping – Leads E-Commerce

Any way you look at it, this is another strong argument for the Biden Administration infrastructure initiative that is opposed by the insurrection party that once upon a time was considered friendly to business. Want to make America great again? Well, invest in people, education and infrastructure. Continue reading

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BMW Group – Hydrogen is Key Technology for Future

“Our solution to the challenges of environmental policy is technological innovation. Technology is where the key to the future lies – and it’s our constructive response for climate protection,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Leipzig aims not only to be carbon-neutral but also to operate carbon-free production. “Our vision is to fully de-carbonize production by replacing fossil fuels with future fuels in the shape of green hydrogen,” he added. Continue reading

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FY2021 Toyota Sales, Production Drop Less than 10%

Toyota’s global sales and production have both been up year-on-year since September 2020, enabling Toyota to limit the year-on-year decline in sales and production to less than -10% in FY2021 ending 31 March 2021. Additionally, Toyota has maintained domestic production at the 3-million-unit level. Continue reading

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Volkswagen de México Exporting Taos SUVs to US

Since its foundation, Volkswagen de Mexico has produced more than 13 million of vehicles. Currently, the Puebla Plant produces the Jetta, Tiguan LWB and Taos models; the Silao Plant produces the engines EA888 and EA211, which are integrated in the production of vehicles for the Volkswagen Brand and Audi, in North America. Continue reading

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GM and LG Energy to Build Second Battery Cell Plant in US

Ultium Cells will build the new plant on land leased from GM. The new battery cell plant will create 1,300 new jobs. Construction on the approximately 2.8 million-square-foot facility will begin immediately, and the plant is scheduled to open in late 2023. Once operational, the facility will supply battery cells to GM’s Spring Hill assembly plant. The latest move clearly positions Korean company LG as the key partner in GM’s push for leadership in the growing Electric Vehicle market. Continue reading

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Billion Dollar Oops – Ford F-150s, Edges Without Electronics

The global semiconductor supply collapse has its teeth into Ford Motor, which is now building F-150 trucks and Edge SUVs in North America without some parts. These include electronic modules that contain scarce semiconductors. Ford will build and hold them … Continue reading

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New St. Clair Magna Plant to Supply GMC’s Hummer EV

The battery enclosure contributes to structural and safety aspects of a vehicle’s frame and protects high-voltage batteries from damage and water. Continue reading

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Ford Europe is Planning on Shifting Passenger Cars to All EVs by 2030, Commercial Vehicles Will Eventually Follow

The news comes after Ford reporting, in the fourth quarter of 2020, finally, a return to profit in Europe and announced it was investing at least $22 billion globally in electrification through 2025, nearly twice the company’s previous EV investment plans. Continue reading

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Ford – EVs Present Environmental, Human Rights Issues

Ford said this is another step Towards its desire to responsibly source all raw materials used within vehicles globally. Continue reading

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BMW Largest US Automotive Exporter for 7th Consecutive Year

Spartanburg experienced a production interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a five-week non-production period, associates returned for one shift on May 4. With new health guidelines and procedures in place, production slowly ramped up as the supply chain stabilized and customers returned in the summer. During the last six months of the year, Plant Spartanburg produced nearly 218,000 BMWs, a record for any six-month period in the factory’s history.  The plant produced 361,365 vehicles for the entire year 2020. Continue reading

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