Category Archives: manufacturing

Volt Production Halted. Workers Laid Off for Five Weeks

The announcement of the setback to employees came Thursday after GM released February sales results that showed 1,023 Volts were sold in the U.S. GM has sold 1,626 Volts so far this year. Earlier in the day, a Chevrolet sales executive claimed that Volt sales would pick up now that it is approved for California HOV lanes and tax credits as a plug-in hybrid. Continue reading

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Nissan Recalls Juke, Infiniti QX, M Models for Gasoline Leaks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing just posted inexplicably lists the recall under “diesel storage tank assembly.” Like diesels the Nissan models involved use a high pressure, direct injection fuel system. Unlike diesels, gasoline is the fuel used in the advanced technology engines. Continue reading

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Honda Sets January North America, U.S. Production Records

Honda Motor Company said today that it produced almost 317,000 vehicles in January 2012, with North America and the U.S. posting all-time monthly records of 150,000 and 108,000 respectively. However, production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year decrease … Continue reading

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Autoliv Side Curtain Airbag Recall Grows – Now Includes Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Honda and Acura Vehicles

What was an old munitions plant in Utah now owned by global auto supplier AutoLiv is sending shock waves into auto plants around the world because the side curtain airbag inflators it made are defective. The charge that releases the compressed gas that inflates the airbag may not explode during an accident, thereby rendering the airbag ineffective. Factories in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan and China are affected by the growing recall. Continue reading

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Honda Safety Recall Grows to Civic and Acura MDX vehicles

While this recall appears relatively minor, another Honda airbag recall at the end of last year was not. That was when Honda once again expanded a recall covering the driver’s side airbag installed on its most popular cars, crossovers and minivans built in 2001 and 2002. The ongoing global safety defect has now resulted in recalls in North America, Japan, Australia and other regions. Millions of defective Honda and Acura vehicles are now affected this manufacturing flaw. Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s quality meltdown. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 24 public statements about various safety defects and recalls in the U.S. The question remains will NHTSA fine Honda, absent the high profile, highly critical Congressional hearings that Toyota and NHTSA endured, or the egregious behavior of BMW that NHTSA called out last week? Continue reading

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Dover Chemical to Pay $1.4 Million for Making Oil Additives

Dover Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for the unauthorized manufacture of chlorinated paraffin chemicals at facilities in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Ind. The settlement resolves violations of pre-manufacture notice obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for Dover Chemical’s production of various chlorinated paraffins used in oil additives and coolants, in widespread use in the automobiles, automaking and other industries. Continue reading

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Toyota Mississippi Begins Second Shift for Corolla

Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Mississippi today added today a second shift for production of the Corolla, currently the title holder as the world’s best-selling car in history. Continue reading

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Autoliv Airbag Inflator Causes Honda and Toyota Recalls

The problem first showed up in China at a Takata plant when the explosive propellant that inflates the airbag failed an incoming batch test. Due to the international nature of the supply chain, the safety defect also affected plants in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Continue reading

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BMW Conducts Second Smallest Recall in NHTSA History

In third place with a Bronze medal resides Toyota, the reason for the renewed emphasis on following recall regulations to the letter, after Toyota was fined in 2010 millions of dollars for covering up safety effects. Continue reading

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Nissan to Build $2 Billion Plant In Aguascalientes Mexico

The announcement comes as the United Auto Workers union is developing plans to once again try to organize transplants in the United States, where Nissan has two other plants. The UAW has been unsuccessful in previous organizing attempts, and its lack of international alliances with other unions is a decided disadvantage.The lack of exports from UAW organized Detroit Three plants is preventing the creation of middle class jobs in the U.S. – now clearly the issue in the upcoming presidential election. Continue reading

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Chrysler Opens Manufacturing Academy in Warren, Michigan

WCM is the creation of Chrysler owner Fiat, which began developing, implementing and refining manufacturing operations in 2005 with the purpose of reducing waste, increasing productivity and “restoring dignity” to the employees. Continue reading

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BMW to Spend $900 Million on South Carolina Plant for New X4

Since 1994, the plant has undergone four major expansions and produced 6 different BMW models and their variants (318i, Z3, Z4, X5, X6, X3). Employment has grown from 500 in 1994 to more than 7,000 today. Continue reading

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Nissan and Daimler to Build Engines in Tennessee

For years Mercedes-Benz sold gas guzzlers in the U.S., paying millions in fines – passed on to customers – for its flouting of CAFE regulations. Much higher fines under the latest CAFE standards and growing pro-environmental standards globally makes this a risky strategy going forward. Continue reading

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Ford Shows Fiesta Derived EcoSport at New Delhi Auto Expo

India is projected to become the world’s third largest light vehicle market by the end of the decade behind China and the U.S. Ford lags badly behind competitors in Asia, and is playing catch-up while losing money. Continue reading

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New 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Revealed after Press Leaks

Press leaks about the new Mercedes-Benz SL have apparently prompted an extensive official release of the all-aluminum sports car ahead of its official introduction at the North American International Auto Show next month. Continue reading

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