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Category Archives: manufacturing
Porsche Opens Zuffenhausen Factory for All-Electric Taycan
German automakers whose entire reputations – especially in expensive segments – are built on technology and they are struggling to catch up with Toyota on hybrids and have few EV entries thus far. Add in the emerging threats of Apple and Google in the auto business and the Dieselgate fiasco and there’s a case to be made that the Germans are playing defense. Continue reading
California, Automakers Defying Trump Agree on Emissions
On April 13, 2018, however, the Trump Administration took the first step toward dismantling the national program when it issued a revised final determination that alleged the federal greenhouse gas standards for model year 2022-2025 vehicles were no longer appropriate.kxhw@aol.com Continue reading
Magna, BAIC Group and Zhenjiang Government form EV JV
This joint venture, to be controlled by an affiliate of the BAIC Group, represents Magna’s first investment in a complete vehicle manufacturing facility outside Europe. It will combine Magna’s unique complete vehicle engineering and manufacturing expertise and BAIC’s local manufacturing, marketing and distribution footprint to support electric mobility in China. The facility has the capacity of up to 180,000 vehicles per year. Continue reading
BMW X5 and X3 Hybrids to Start Production in Spartanburg
During 2015 – 2018, Spartanburg produced the X5 xDrive40e, the first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW brand. All totaled, the plant’s battery assembly team assembled more than 45,000 batteries during this four-year period. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, manufacturing, new vehicle
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, BMW X3, Ken Zino, X4, X5, X6, X7
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KARPUT! Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, Sportwagen Die in 2019
Over the past several years, demand has shifted from wagons to SUVs. Through the first half of 2019, SUVs account for 47% of the industry sales, and more than 50% of Volkswagen sales. Thanks to sales of the Atlas and Tiguan, Volkswagen has had the highest year-over-year percentage growth among mainstream automotive brands in the first six months of 2019. Continue reading
Connected Car Shakeout – Bosch Sells Packaging Business
This is the latest development in the restructuring of traditional automotive suppliers to concentrate on connected and autonomous vehicles. Bosch announced a year ago that it was looking for a buyer for its packaging technology business. The company is giving increasing attention to mobility and connectivity over the internet of things. It is focusing its existing resources on areas of future importance, such as shaping the transformation process and preparing for further digitization. Continue reading
Toyota Shifts Plans at Its Mazda JV Plant in Alabama to SUVS
Japanese Goliath Toyota – the new plant will be Toyota’s 11th manufacturing facility in the U.S. – and tiny Mazda, which no longer builds here after the messy Ford Motor divorce, claimed this is of mutual benefit by using the resources of both companies and complementing each other’s products and technologies toward the goal of making more appealing cars. Continue reading
GM Invests $150M in Flint to Increase Pickup Production
This news follows GM’s announcement last month to expand light-duty, full-size pickup production capacity in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in response to strong customer demand. (This news follows GM’s announcement last month to expand light-duty, full-size pickup production capacity in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in response to strong customer demand. (GM to Invest $1.2 Billion in Fort Wayne Pickup Plant) Continue reading
Ford Europe Starts Bridgend Engine Plant Closing Process
There is by Ford management choice significant underutilization of the plant, caused by the impending end of engine production for Jaguar Land Rover, the cessation of the previous generation Ford GTDi 1.5-liter engine, and reduced global demand for the new generation Ford GTDi and Pfi 1.5-liter engine. At expected volumes, the plant also faces a cost disadvantage compared with other Ford facilities building the same engine. Continue reading
BMW Group Opens Plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Well starting four days from now prices will likely include a 5% tariff decreed by President Trump that increases by 5% each month until it stops – so far – at 25%. Every BMW Group vehicle today already contains at least one part from one of our 220 Mexican suppliers. Continue reading
Posted in economy, manufacturing, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, bmw group, Ken Zino, mexico, nafta, Trump tariffs and taxes
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GM to Invest $24m Expanding Full-Size Truck Production
Combined sales of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab pickups, which launched in the second half of 2018, were up a claimed 20% in Q1 of 2019 versus a year ago. However, total sales of Silverado and Sierra were off 15%. Continue reading
Bad BMW Recalls on X, Battery Hybrid and Electrical Models
BMW of North America is recalling 2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, affecting the deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag. The German maker is also recalling 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. Continue reading
Milestones: 10 years of the Porsche Panamera Sedan
No modest hype from what used to be a race car purveyor. IT was positioned as “Like no other car in the luxury car class, this model combines the performance one would expect from a sports car with the luxury and versatility of a touring saloon.” (Milestones – 500,000 Porsche Cayenne Made in Leipzig) Continue reading
New 2020 Jeep Gladiator Begins Shipping to U.S. Dealers
Revealed in November 2018, the Gladiator Sport starts at $33,545 and ranges to $43,545 for the Rubicon and that’s before all the Mopar goodies available are added on. Continue reading
General Motors Offers UAW $7 Billion in U.S. Investments, an $8000 “Signing Bonus” or is that Bribe?
In its latest statement – with perhaps a hint of desperation – GM said today that “We presented a strong offer that improves wages, benefits and grows U.S. jobs in substantive ways, and it is disappointing that the UAW leadership has chosen to strike at midnight tonight Continue reading →