Category Archives: manufacturing

CODA Recalls 2012 EVs for Defective Airbags

Posted on 27 August 2012 by Ken Zino

CODA Automotive is recalling 78 of its 2012 model year EVs because a manufacturing error incorrectly installed the side curtain airbags. Because of the defect, the airbag may not deploy properly in its four-door sedan, which only recently went on sale. In a statement the small, privately-held California company said it knows of no injuries. Continue reading →

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Milestones – 40 Years of Toyota Auto Body – Thanks to a so-called “Chicken Tax”

Posted on 22 August 2012 by Ken Zino

In one of the ironies of history, Ford Motor, one of the then dominant Detroit Three companies that lobbied the Johnson Administration for protection against imported light trucks, now uses the same tax dodge by performing minor work on its Turkish-built Transit Connect van outside the incoming port of Baltimore to lower its tax rate to 2.5%. Continue reading →

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Jaguar Land Rover Begins 24 Hour Shifts at Halewood

Posted on 14 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Jaguar Land Rover at its Halewood plant is now running around the clock production, the first time the factory has run flat out in its 50-year history. The new night shift, which began at 21.30 last evening required the hiring of 1,000 production workers. Continue reading →

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JMC and Ford to Buy Taiyuan Changan Heavy Truck in China

Posted on 8 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is reentering the heavy truck market through its partner Jiangling Motors Corporation in China. JMC will buy Taiyuan Changan Heavy Truck Company, its first entry into the heavy truck business. JMC currently builds Ford Transits under license from Ford, and Ford owns 30% of the light commercial vehicle maker. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 2013 Escapes for Fires; Honda Recalls CRVs

Posted on 19 July 2012 by Ken Zino

This is the second recall on the new Escape, an earlier one was conducted to repair carpeting that interfered with accelerator and brake pedal movement, and it raises concerns about Ford’s ability to launch new models without quality concerns. Honda recalled more vehicles in 2011 than any other automaker operating in the U.S. Continue reading →

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Honda Indiana Plant to Increase Capacity and Add Civic Hybrid

Posted on 18 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Honda announced at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit that it is investing $40 million to increase annual capacity by 50,000 units to 250,000 vehicles at its Indiana plant. The strong Japanese Yen continues to be a good development for autoworkers as all Japanese firms are shifting production out of Japan. Continue reading →

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Ford India Expands Chennai Engine Plant

Posted on 17 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford India today announced it has completed the expansion of its Chennai engine plant, increasing annual engine production capacity 36% to 340,000. The additional capacity of 80,000 diesel engines helps meet increasing demand for diesel powertrains in India as well as export markets. The expansion, which Ford hopes will be ongoing, led to the hiring of 200 employees. Continue reading →

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BP to Pay $13 Million More in fines for Refinery Worker Deaths

Posted on 13 July 2012 by Ken Zino

BP Products North America will pay $13,027,000 in penalties and fix workplace violations that led to the deaths of 15 workers at its Texas City refinery in 2005. In September 2005, OSHA cited BP for a then-record $21 million – before the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf – because of the explosion at Texas City. Under the agreement, BP has fixed or will fix all existing violations by the end of 2012. Continue reading →

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Ford Europe Sales Plummet in June

Posted on 13 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Europe sales in June dropped 16.1% to 100,400 units, with a declining market share of 7%, as the Eurozone crisis continues unabated. In a statement, Ford said that it would not match “heavy competitive discounting” by its already loss making European operations. Continue reading →

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PSA Peugeot Citroën to Reorganize, Close Aulnay Plant

Posted on 13 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Philippe Varin, Chairman of the PSA Peugeot Citroën Managing Board has told the works council that the loss-making French automaker will close the Citroën C3Aulnay plant in 2014, and trim production at Rennes, which makes the Peugeot 508 and Citroën C5 and C6. More than 4,400 jobs are affected. Work in other plants could absorb 1,500 of the displaced workers in the local Paris area. The company will also pursue voluntary separations of its corporate workforce. Continue reading →

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More Jobs to Asia as Private Equity Owned Stant Buys Pyongsan

Posted on 12 July 2012 by Ken Zino

H.I.G. Capital, a private equity firm that owns Stant Corporation, says Stant has acquired a majority interest in Pyongsan-FT. The new manufacturing company will be renamed Stant Korea Corporation. The JV will produce fuel filler tubes in South Korea for the Korean and Asian markets. Continue reading →

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Milestones – 40 Million Ford Engines Produced at Dagenham

Posted on 11 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Production at Dagenham for Ford vehicles accounts for about 70% of Dagenham’s output, with the balance of more than 270,000 engines for Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Volvo. Ford is in the process of phasing out its successful 12-year joint venture with Peugeot since PSA is now the process of establishing a global alliance with General Motors. All of these companies are hemorrhaging billions of dollars – or euros in Europe as the Eurozone crisis deepens. The British pound is helping Ford somewhat, but losses are projected to quadruple in Europe for the balance of 2012. Ford Europe lost $149 million in Q1, a -$449 million swing compared to 2011. Continue reading →

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Ford of Europe Names Gunnar Herrmann V.P. of Quality

Posted on 3 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford of Europe has named Gunnar Herrmann, vice president of quality. Herrmann, 52, will be responsible for all aspects of quality at Ford of Europe, effective 1 September. Herrmann, a no nonsense, but affable engineer, also joins Ford of Europe’s management board and Ford of Germany’s supervisory board. Continue reading →

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Porsche Leipzig plant builds 500,000th Vehicle

Posted on 29 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Earlier this year, Porsche marked the tenth anniversary of what was at the time a controversial expansion into the truck market. However, after the Porsche factory opened in Leipzig during 2002 to build the Cayenne SUV it proved to be a successful investment that has since grown to produce another controversial – but just as profitable vehicle – the Panamera sedan. Continue reading →

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Ford’s Original Model T Piquette Plant now Open to Public

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Ken Zino

The Ford Piquette Avenue plant and the office where Henry Ford created his historic Model T car is now welcoming visitors. The century-old building has been restored by a group of preservationists and Ford history enthusiasts who have worked for a decade to renovate it. The first 12,000 Model T cars were built at Piquette, starting in September 1908. Continue reading →

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