Category Archives: manufacturing

Sundiro Honda Builds More than 7 Million Motorcycles in China, Leading Country. Export Business Thriving, Including to Japan

Posted on 10 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Sundiro provides one model for the next wave of Chinese exports by using an established brand name to provide assurance to customers that highly complex motorcycles and ultimately automobiles can be bought with confidence even though they are made in China. Sundiro Honda now exports hundreds of thousands of motorcycles to more than 45 countries, and is one of the largest operations of Honda’s thriving motorcycle business. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obama Administration Submits Controversial FTAs to Congress. Largest Loss of Jobs since NAFTA Coming?

Posted on 4 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The AFL-CIO said the “The Korea agreement is the largest offshoring deal of its kind since NAFTA. If enacted, it likely will displace 159,000 U.S. jobs, mostly in manufacturing. And its glaring loopholes would allow unscrupulous businesses to import illegally labeled goods from China and possibly even from sweatshops in North Korea—potentially without any tariffs at all.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, labor issues, manufacturing, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UAW has Deal at Ford Pending Local Approvals. 5750 Jobs Added or Retained During Contract. Shared Prosperity Claimed

Posted on 4 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The tentative agreement is based of Ford’s promise to add another 5,750 new jobs and invest what’s said to be $16 billion to produce new models and upgraded vehicles and components by 2015, of which, $6.3 billion will be invested directly into retooling and upgrading plants. As is the current management practice in the ailing U.S. economy, the jobs claim includes so called retained jobs, as well as some new ones. All of this is contingent upon contract approval by local union members. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2012 Focus Uses First Castor Oil Foam in Dashboard

Posted on 30 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The new Ford Focus just going on sale in North America uses castor oil derived foam in the interior. Castor oil is derived from a flowering spurge plant, which grows throughout tropical regions. The plant’s oil presents what could be a sustainable interior foam that does not compete with food sources, according to Ford. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, environment, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Four-Cylinder Engines Now Made at Toyota Alabama Plant

Posted on 29 September 2011 by Ken Zino

Total annual engine capacity of four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines is now more than 500,000. TMMAL is the only Toyota plant in the world making four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Labor Demand Down Again, Continuing Unemployment Trend

Posted on 28 September 2011 by Ken Zino

nline advertised vacancies were down 43,500 in September to 3,947,100, according a Conference Board study released today. The September drop follows a decline of 164,000 in August and a decrease of 217,000 in July. The Supply/Demand ratio stands at 3.50, meaning there were 3.5 unemployed for every online advertised vacancy in August, the latest monthly data available for unemployment. Nationally, there are 10 million more people officially unemployed (9.98 million) than advertised vacancies under the “no jobs” Obama Administration. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Porsche Paint Shop for New 911s at Zuffenhausen

Posted on 23 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The opening of the new paint shop this week in Zuffenhausen coincides with the start of production of the new Porsche 911, arguably the most famous sports car in the world since its 1964 début. The revised 911 bodies are painted inside and out in a dust free environment at the enclosed plant, which is located in a densely populated urban area of Stuttgart. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM UAW Contract Offers Profit Sharing, Some New Jobs

Posted on 20 September 2011 by Ken Zino

A new four-year labor contract that will be voted on by GM’s UAW workers this week and next includes modest increases in wages for new hires over four years – but not veterans – and the protection or creation of more than 6,000 plant jobs in the U.S. at GM and its component suppliers. Long time employees will be compensated going forward largely with profit-sharing based on GM’s results in North America. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GM Board Meets in China. New Investment Coming Tomorrow?

Posted on 19 September 2011 by Ken Zino

At about the same time the UAW reveals details of its new contract with GM tomorrow U.S. media, General Motors Vice Chairman Steve Girsky will be holding a conference call for media from Shanghai.

The latest communication from GM will likely detail plans for further job creation via new investment in China, GM’s and the world’s largest automarket. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, news analysis, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UAW Reaches Agreement with GM. Members Vote This Week

Posted on 19 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The real contract to watch is the now expired and unresolved one at Ford Motor where the UAW can strike, since Ford did not except bailout funds and hence the requisite no strike provision for a bailout, although Ford did accept billions in other taxpayer subsidies and handouts during the beginning years of the Obama Administration. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Johnson Controls to Build $100 Million Battery Plant in China

Posted on 15 September 2011 by Ken Zino

Johnson said it plans to produce an annual capacity of 2.4 million batteries by 2015 for local and global automakers. The U.S. based company, which fired about half of its U.S. automotive plant workers during the Great Recession to cut costs, said it is considering several potential locations for the new plant and expects to make a final decision in the coming months. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Production Now at 100% in North America and Japan

Posted on 14 September 2011 by Ken Zino

Toyota’s North American production has now returned to 100%. The resumption of all car and truck manufacturing – months ahead of initial projections – is welcome news at Japan’s largest automaker, whose U.S. sales through August have declined 16% year-over-year, relegating it to fourth place, while the market grew 10.5%. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to Expand UK Manufacturing Plant

Posted on 12 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The expansion of the BMW owned company follows from what Rolls-Royce characterizes as significant growth in worldwide sales during the last 18 months, including record sales of 2,711 models in 2010, and a greater demand from customers for customized Rolls-Royce Ghost and Phantom models. Total investment in the project will be about £10 million, which will be completed in late 2012. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Recalls 310,000 Pilot SUVs for Defective Seat Belts

Posted on 9 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The latest quality gaff from the Japanese maker once known for its quality follows Honda recalls announced over the Labor Day weekend for fires on more than a million vehicles globally. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 22 public statements about various safety defects and recalls in the U.S. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Milestones: 20 Years of FAW-Volkswagen in China

Posted on 26 August 2011 by Ken Zino

FAW-Volkswagen is currently the second largest of China’s largest automobile manufacturers, behind GM and its Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and FAW partners. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment