Ford to Delay N.A. Plants Resuming Production

Posted on 24 March 2020 by Ken Zino

In a statement just issued Ford Motor says, “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.
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Ford Motor to Help 3M and GE Healthcare Expand Respirator and Ventilator Production

Posted on 24 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Ford COVID-19 Medical Equipment Production

The arsenal of Democracy re-enlists…

3M and GE Healthcare are working with Ford Motor to expand production of respirators for healthcare workers, and ventilators for coronavirus patients. (see GM to Provide Logistical Support for Ventilator Production) Ford, in cooperation with the UAW, will assemble more than 100,000 plastic face shields per week at an idled Ford manufacturing site to help medical professionals, factory workers and store clerks. Ford also will also use its in-house 3D printing capacity to produce components for use in personal protective equipment.
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Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500-3500 Hoods Fly Open

Posted on 24 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Boycott of GM products in Canada

A simple heat treating mistake.

General Motors is recalling 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly by Motor City Stamping in Chesterfield MI. This can cause them to fracture allowing the hood to fly open. GM says it is not aware of any field claims alleging that a striker wire fractured. Continue reading →

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Toyota and Hino to Develop Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Truck

Posted on 23 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Toyota Hino Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Truck

A hydrogen society is closer each year.

Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors, Ltd. have agreed to jointly develop a heavy-duty 25-ton fuel cell truck, and to proceed with initiatives toward its practical use through verification tests. Cruising range will be set at approximately 600 km.

Toyota and Hino are “determined to take proactive action toward resolving global environmental issues as one of the most important corporate tasks.” The two companies have declared large-scale goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050 and are developing electric vehicle technologies for widespread use in society.  Continue reading →

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Ford Stops Production in India, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam

Posted on 23 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on COVID-19

Ford exports to growth markets from its manufacturing plant in Chennai.

Ford Motor Company is suspending vehicle and engine production at its International Markets Group (IMG) manufacturing sites in response to the growing impact of the coronavirus. It did not say if workers will be paid in these low-wage areas.

The IMG production suspensions began Saturday, March 21, and will continue for several weeks depending on the pandemic situation, national restrictions, supplier constraints and dealer stock requirements.
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Cooper Tire Stops Manufacturing in the Americas

Posted on 22 March 2020 by AutoCrat

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE:CTB) announced on Friday 21 March that 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.

The process of phasing down production at the plants will begin today and proceed on a rolling schedule over the coming week, with facilities expected to be closed for two to three weeks. Cooper will continue to closely monitor the situation and adjust timelines as necessary.
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GM to Provide Logistical Support for Ventilator Production

Posted on 21 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Ventec Life Systems VOCSN Machine

Americans versus American’ts.

GM and Ventec Life Systems, in cooperation with StopTheSpread.org*, are collaborating to help Ventec increase production of its respiratory care products to help against the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Ventec will use GM’s logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more of its critically important ventilators.

“With GM’s help, Ventec will increase ventilator production,” says Chris Kiple, Ventec Life Systems CEO.  “By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives.” Continue reading →

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First Look – 2021 Elantra and Elantra Hybrid

Posted on 21 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Hyundai 2021 Elantra

Click to Enlarge.

Hyundai officially launched its all-new 2021 Elantra and Elantra Hybrid at The Lot Studios in West Hollywood last week just before the mandated California shelter in place lock-down in an event  broadcast around the world. About half the Elantras sold in the U.S. are built in a COVID-19 hot spot – South Korea.

The 2021 Elantra has hybrid electric vehicle technology, and segment-first wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Production of the 2021 Elantra starts in the fall in Ulsan, Korea as the Avante, and at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and sales begin in the fourth quarter.
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VW Touts Vehicles by Your Zodiac Sign?

Posted on 20 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInfomred.com on VW Zodiac Marketing Campaign

We’ve seen worse marketing…

A car is not just a means of transportation, observes Volkswagen, it also offers clues to your personality, lifestyle and character traits. “To explore these cosmic connections from a different angle,” VW has a guide that purports to pair the attributes associated with your zodiac sign to current and classic Volkswagen models. The whimsical marketing campaign follows:  Continue reading →

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Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Delayed to October 2020

Posted on 20 March 2020 by Ken Zino

AutoInformed.com on Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’EsteBMW says that “in light of current events and growing measures to contain the coronavirus, not to mention our duty of care towards our guests and staff, it is with a heavy heart that the Organization Team of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has decided not to proceed with this year’s edition on the planned dates of 22 through 24 May). Instead, we plan to hold the Concorso from October 16th to 18th, 2020.”
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Ford Britain Shuts Dagenham and Bridgend Engine Plants

Posted on 20 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Ford and COVID-19

 Dagenham – 40 million engines made.

Ford Motor says that because of the “dramatic impact this ongoing crisis is having on the European market and the supplier industry, we have decided to bring forward part of the summer shutdown period for our UK operations to the Easter period. 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 →

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Ford Motor Company Stops South American Production

Posted on 20 March 2020 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company will stop production at its manufacturing sites in Brazil – Camaçari (BA), Taubaté (SP) and Troller’s plant in Horizonte (Ceará) – and at the Pacheco plant in Argentina, in response to the growing impact of the coronavirus in South America.

Effective from 23 March in Brazil and 25 March in Argentina, this action “adjusts the production volumes to the lower consumer demand due to this unprecedented situation.” (Ford Motor Maxes Out Lines of Credit) Continue reading →

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Porsche Shows 3D-Printing for Racing Seats

Posted on 19 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Porsche 3D-Printed Body Form Bucket Seat Concept

The modular structure with individual layers – bucket seat, base substrate, 3D-printed comfort layer, perforated cover. Click to Enlarge.

Porsche is showing  advanced alternative to conventional bucket seat upholstery with a concept dubbed “3D-printed body form full-bucket seat.” The central section of the seat and backrest cushions is partly produced by a 3D-printer.

Customers will be able to choose between three firmness levels (hard, medium, soft) for the comfort layer in the future. With this new technology, personalized sports seat follows the principles of driver-specific seat fitting customary in professional motor sports.  Continue reading →

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First Look – Freshened Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Posted on 19 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Another giant step on the road to automated vehicles.

With its Geneva Motor Show debut canceled, Mercedes-Benz has released images of its new E-class due to start sales this summer. The long-wheelbase version of the Sedan (China), as well as the Coupé and Cabriolet, will follow soon thereafter. With more than 14 million Saloon and Estate (station wagon) models delivered since 1946, the E-Class is the best-selling model series in the history of Mercedes-Benz.

The tenth generation of the E-Class debuted in 2016 with what were then impressive innovations in the driving assistance systems. It carried on the sales tradition: to date, more than 1.2 million customers around the world have bought a current-generation E-Class Saloon or E-Class Estate. One out of every two E-Class Saloons sold worldwide in 2019 was delivered as a long-wheelbase version in China.
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Ford Motor Maxes Out Lines of Credit

Posted on 19 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Rouge Ford Model A Assembly 1930s

Ford has seen Depressions before…

Ford Motor Company today notified lenders that it will borrow the total unused amounts against two lines of credit: $13.4 billion under its corporate credit facility and $2 billion under its supplemental credit facility. The cash from these borrowings will be used to offset the temporary working capital impacts of the coronavirus-related production shut downs and to preserve Ford’s financial flexibility.
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