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Category Archives: economy
Mercedes-Benz Offers Medical Component Production
“With our highly competent team and years of experience in 3D printing technology, we are ready to make our contribution to the production of medical devices,” says Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. Continue reading
Ventec Life Systems and GM to Mass Produce Ventilators
Under Trump Administration do-nothing policies that refused until this morning to invoke the Defense Production Act (while criticizing GM? Insiders say that GM was waiting for Government Agency approvals). There are now clearly global back-orders of critical care ventilators capable of supporting patients fighting COVID-19. Nonetheless, companies are adding thousands of units of new capacity with a significantly expanded supply chain capable of supporting high volume production. GM is contributing its resources at cost. Continue reading
FCA Expands Coronavirus Relief – 1 Million Meals for Kids
FCA said publicly yesterday its plants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as headquarters operations and construction projects, are to remain closed only until 14 April, dependent upon the various states’ stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to return to production. (FCA to Restart of North American Operations?) The UAW is apparently not pleased with the decision that threatens the health and safety of its members. (UAW Balks at Reopening Workplaces) Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, labor issues, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, COVID-19 Pandemic, fca, Kenneth Zino, Mike Manley
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Bosch Develops Quicker Test for COVID-19
The newly developed test, which apparently has not been certified yet by a major health or regulatory organization, will be available in Germany starting in April, with other markets in Europe and elsewhere to follow at an unknown time in the future. Continue reading
LMC Automotive Now Projects Double the Decline of the Great Recession in Light Vehicle Sales During 2020
LMC currently is forecasting 2020 global Light Vehicle sales to fall below 77 million units, a decline of nearly 14 million units or -15% from the 2019 level. For comparison, global Light Vehicle sales fell 6 million units from 2007-2009 to 64 million units, a two-year decline of 8.7%, or 4.5% CAGR. Continue reading
FCA to Restart of North American Operations?
Note the irony of an Italian owned company where COVID-19 is raging unabated, assuming a business as usual approach to the global pandemic where the untied sates is now leading in the rate of diagnosis of the virus. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, labor issues, manufacturing, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, COVID-19, fca, Kenneth Zino, uaw
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Ford to Restart Production at North American Plants?
Since Michigan is currently running out of hospital beds and testing remains limited to non-existent, this is a high risk strategy that could increase the spread of the sickness and the death tally of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, manufacturing, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, COVID-19, Kenneth Zino, Kumar Galhotra
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Mazda Stops Asian, Japanese and Mexican Production
Mazda intends to transfer part of the production originally scheduled for this period to the second quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2021 or later as it monitors how the situation develops. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, manufacturing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Hiroshima Plant, Hofu Plant, Kenneth Zino
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Aston Martin Stops All Manufacturing Operations in UK
The period of manufacturing suspension is initially planned to Monday 20 April 2020, however, Aston will continue to review the situation and will look to resume operations when it is reasonable to do so. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, manufacturing
Tagged aston martin, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Kenneth Zino
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Ford to Delay N.A. Plants Resuming Production
“In light of various governments’ orders to stay and work from home, Ford is not planning to restart our plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico on Monday, March 30 as originally hoped.” Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, manufacturing, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, COVID-19, Kenneth Zino, Kumar Galhotra, plant closings
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Ford Motor to Help 3M and GE Healthcare Expand Respirator and Ventilator Production
Ford employees are helping 3M to increase the manufacturing capacity of 3M’s powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) designs, as well as developing a new design using parts from both companies to meet the surge demand for first responders and health care workers. This new respirator could be produced in a Ford facility by UAW workers. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, manufacturing
Tagged 3M, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, GE Healthcare, Kenneth Zino, N95 respirators
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Ford Stops Production in India, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam
Ford is changing its original IMG production schedule and will temporarily suspend production market-by-market. Continue reading
Cooper Tire Stops Manufacturing in the Americas
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced it will shut down its tire manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico to protect the health and safety of employees and respond to market demand that has been declining by the coronavirus pandemic as the U.S. heads into a recession. Continue reading
Ford Britain Shuts Dagenham and Bridgend Engine Plants
This means production at Dagenham Engine Plant in east London will temporarily cease from Monday, March 23. Bridgend Engine Plant in South Wales will temporarily cease production from the end of the day on Wednesday, March 25. Continue reading

2020 NAIAS Canceled. TCF Center to be Field Hospital. Michigan’s COVID Crisis had Little Federal Help
“With the more than 100 convention centers and facilities around the country being considered to potentially serve as hospitals, it became clear to us that TCF Center would be an inevitable option to serve as a care facility to satisfy our community’s urgent health needs,” said NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts. Continue reading →