Category Archives: manufacturing

Spring Hill Gets More GM Capital

Spring Hill – the site of one of GM’s greatest corporate screw ups when it didn’t support the “Modern Operating Agreement” with the UAW and abandoning millions of happy Saturn customers who shunned Japanese small cars – is the latest example of how highly automated manufacturing is no longer creating jobs for people. Continue reading

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Beijing – Jeep Renegade Trailhawk and Limited Debut

The Jeep Renegade joins an imported lineup in China that includes the Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Plants in Michigan, Ohio Get Upgrades

The announcement comes after Ford is embroiled in the Presidential campaign for exporting U.S. jobs with Donald trump threatening to put a 37.5% tax on auto imports – specifically singling out Ford Motor. Continue reading

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Toyota Expands Karawang Engine in North Jakarta, Indonesia

The plant will produce 1.3 and 1.5 liter NR engines, some of which will be for export. Continue reading

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Mazda Begins Production of CX-9 in Hiroshima

This three-row seat CX-9 is long overdue for a major overhaul in an ultra-competitive field, but Mazda’s fragile financial position (net income -25% in Q1 of Japanese FY 2016) saw it mildly freshening the Ford Edge-based platform since its 2007 introduction. That’s a long time in car life years. Such vehicles turn into, well, dogs. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa Starts GLS Production

During 2015, Mercedes-Benz renewed almost its entire range of SUVs. The new models are successful – sales of the GLC, the updated GLE and the new addition to the SUV portfolio, the GLE Coupé, are at record levels. Continue reading

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Toyota Production Down in Japan Due to Aichi Steel Explosion

An explosion that occurred last month at an Aichi Steel Corporation manufacturing facility has resulted in Toyota Motor Corporation stopping all production on its vehicle assembly lines within Japan from 8 February through 13. Vehicle production on lines outside Japan … Continue reading

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December New Vehicle Sales Projected at 1.7m, SAAR 18m

If accurate, December will end the biggest year of U.S. new-car sales ever seen, with total light vehicle sales of ~17.5 million, up 6.1% compared to 2014 totals. The previous high was 17.35 million units in 2000. Continue reading

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Subaru Tribeca Replacement to be Built in Indiana

Beginning in 2018 the unnamed larger vehicle with third-row seating will likely be branded like all other SUVs with a name synonymous with outdoor adventure. Continue reading

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Bolt EV Engineering, Manufacturing Outsourced to LG in Korea

In the latest setback for U.S. workers, GM said today that LG Electronics has invested more than $250 million in an engineering and manufacturing facility in Incheon, Korea, to support the component development and manufacturing for major Bolt EV components and subsystems. Continue reading

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Ford Doubles Down on Micromill Aluminum with Alcoa

General Motors has decided to short cycle its recently revised Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks in response to Ford’s success with alternate materials and pending fuel economy regulations. Continue reading

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Mazda and Sollers to Build Engine Plant at Vladivostok JV

Mazda Motor Corporation and OJSC Sollers today announced that they have agreed with the Government of the Russian Federation to begin assessing the establishment of an engine production plant at their joint venture Mazda Sollers Manufacturing Russia. Continue reading

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China is Responsible for US Manufacturing Job Loss

This manufacturing job loss can be traced to growing trade deficits throughout the decade, and the collapse of manufacturing output following the Great Recession—not rapid gains in productivity brought on by technological advancements—according to Manufacturing Job Loss, a new issue brief from EPI.
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AM General Starts Mercedes-Benz R-Class Contract Assembly

During 2015, almost the entire MB SUV portfolio will be renewed: the M-Class and the GL-Class will receive a facelift – in line with the new Mercedes-Benz nomenclature. The previous model designations will then be replaced by GLE-Class and GLS-Class, respectively. Mercedes-Benz expects additional sales momentum in 2015 from this product renewal. Continue reading

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Jaguar Land Rover in Talks for Slovak Republic Plant

Union officials in the UK immediately called for a guarantee of jobs with wages that are more than twice the £7 average Slovakia rate. Slovakia has plants from German Volkswagen, South Korean Kia and France’s PSA Peugeot Citroën. Continue reading

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