Category Archives: manufacturing

FCA Restarts Production at Sevel Italy?

In the coming days, training on safety standards will be made available via e-learning, standard internal communications channels and by sector managers with the support of specialized medical personnel. Continue reading

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GM Canada Plans to Make Face Masks in Oshawa

“We plan to manufacture approximately one million masks per month at cost for the Canadian government with an estimate of 50 employees supporting two shifts of production. The project still requires completion of additional work with our governments and our Unifor partners and we will provide updates as we get ready to begin production,” GM Canada said in a statement. Continue reading

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March Global Light Vehicle Sales Plunge. Prelude to Rest of the 2020 Year or the Trend for Years After?

Almost all major vehicles markets suffered steep year-over-year declines in March. The beginning of a downward spiral of unknown duration, according to consultancy LMC with 2020 dropping to 71 million units compared to, gulp, 90 million in 2019 Continue reading

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2020 Commercial Vehicle Production Forecast down -22%

Global commercial vehicle production (GVW 4-8) volumes in 2020 compared to 2019 are forecast to be down -22% or more than 650,000 units to 2.6 million units because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the most recent analysis from IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO). Continue reading

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GM Expands Medical Projects, Hospital Charitable Deliveries

These projects are led by employee volunteers looking to apply their automotive-production skills – from 3D printing to sewing upholstery – to help those fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, these projects were grassroots efforts, with employees delivering handmade samples to hospitals for feedback and tweaking prototypes based on feedback, which fed into the final designs. Continue reading

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First GM-Ventec Critical Care Ventilators Delivered

The shipments, of course, are putting important tools in the hands of front-line medical professionals treating patients seriously ill with COVID-19 as the US desperately tries to catch up with the plague and the deaths made worse by denials among top political leaders. Continue reading

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Groupe Renault Reveals A New Strategy for China

Renault will continue to provide aftersales service for its 300,000 customers through Renault dealers, and also through Alliance synergies. Further development for Renault brand passenger cars will be detailed later within a new mid-term-plan from Renault. Continue reading

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Porsche “Gives” Employees A Voluntary Bonus

Porsche* is combining an optional bonus to its employees with an appeal for donations to support the “Porsche aid” program. The bonus of  €9,000 Euro will be paid out to the Porsche workforce for the 2019 financial year; €700 will … Continue reading

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Airbag Shrapnel at Nissan Prompts Recall of 216,678

The rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. The so-called PSDI-5D inflator – no surprise here – was made by now bankrupt Takata at Monclova, Mexico. How long Nissan new about the deadly defect is unknown. In the required NHTSA filing, it said the Chronology will be supplied later. Continue reading

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Corona Crisis – March UK New Car Registrations Fall -44.4% 

The performance represented a steeper fall than during the 2009 financial crisis and the worst March since the late nineties when the market changed to the bi-annual plate change system. With lock-downs taking place in many European countries earlier than the UK, even more dramatic falls have been reported elsewhere, with Italy down -85%, France -72% and Spain down -69% in March. Continue reading

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UAW Pressure: Ford Further Postpones NA Production Restart

In a duh statement Ford said: “Ford and autoworkers’ unions – especially the UAW – are working closely on initiatives to keep the workforce safe, including upgrading social distancing guidelines, requiring the workers to self-certify daily that they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms – and more.” Continue reading

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GM First-Quarter U.S. Sales Drop -7% to 618,335

President Trump admitted yesterday that the US is looking at a painful two weeks of deaths from the COVID-19 virus. Public health experts have been less optimistic. The GM announcement comes as all of the Detroit Three have postponed resumption of vehicle production due in part to the UAW demanding safe work spaces. Unbelievable that there are still states without shelter-in-place orders. Continue reading

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Italian Metalworkers Strike to Halt Non-Essential Production

It is  AutoInformed’s view a clear demonstration of strong support for union appeals both in Lombardy and at the national level, demanding the closing of all non-essential production activities. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Offers Medical Component Production

“With our highly competent team and years of experience in 3D printing technology, we are ready to make our contribution to the production of medical devices,” says Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. Continue reading

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Ventec Life Systems and GM to Mass Produce Ventilators

Under Trump Administration do-nothing policies that refused until this morning to invoke the Defense Production Act (while criticizing GM? Insiders say that GM was waiting for Government Agency approvals). There are now clearly global back-orders of critical care ventilators capable of supporting patients fighting COVID-19. Nonetheless, companies are adding thousands of units of new capacity with a significantly expanded supply chain capable of supporting high volume production. GM is contributing its resources at cost. Continue reading

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