manufacturing
Chrysler Cutting Options for 2014 Model year
There will be fewer boxes to check for Chrysler vehicles starting with the 2014 model year.
Porsche Cayenne Production Resumes
Production of the Porsche Cayenne has resumed at a slow pace after being stopped because of floods in the Czech Republic.
Aston Martin Investindustrial Tie-Up Confirmed
Aston Martin confirmed that its partnership with Italian investment fund Investindustrial is complete.
VW Passat Sales Fall Short, 500 Layoffs Result
Production is outpacing demand at Volkswagen’s first U.S. manufacturing plant since 1988, prompting the brand to cut 500 contract jobs.
Chrysler CEO Talks Trucks, Engines and Europe
Chrysler made a series of big announcements today at its Mack I Engine Plant in Detroit.
Honda Begins Production of New HondaJet Aircraft
VTEC must have really kicked in because Honda is taking to the skies. The Japanese automaker known for its cars, motorcycles and power equipment just began commercial production of aircraft.
Jeep Mulls Moving Manufacturing to China
Jeep is considering shipping its manufacturing to China in a cost-saving measure on the heels of weak European demand.
Lexus Contemplates Increasing North American Production
Lexus already builds the RX crossover in Canada, but with the rising yen Toyota USA president Jim Lentz is making it clear that more models are headed for U.S. assembly.
Toyota Investing Over $100 Million in The Only Lexus Factory Outside of Japan
The Lexus Factory in Cambridge, Canada is getting a big boost. The Japanese automaker is investing over $100 Million and hiring about 400 employees at the plant that makes the RX crossover.
Automakers Drastically Cutting the Number of Vehicle Options
In fact, according to some, offering fewer options can also prove ultimately beneficial to consumers, who end up liking features they might not have previously considered.
GM, Peugeot-Citroen in Talks for Possible Alliance
The venture will also give Peugeot improved access to overseas markets such as China and South America; it could possibly even witness a return of the brand to the US for the first time since 1992.
Nissan Builds New $2.0 Billion Manufacturing Complex in Mexico
Of the major Japanese Automakers, Nissan Motors has been one of the least affected by natural disasters and the strengthening yen, effectively minimizing exposure to regional risks by erecting facilities overseas. Nissan has announced plans to build another manufacturing complex in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to expand North American production. An investment worth $2.0 billion USD, the…
Manufacturers New Motto: Fewer Platforms, More Models, More Volume
Yet as we move forward and automakers seek to maintain economies of scale, the number of vehicle architectures is expected to shrink still further, even as many brands aim to proliferate their model offerings as well as adding localized production.
Audi North American Plant Coming In The Future, No Date Set
Cutting costs these days seems to be all about building factories in the country meant to buy your products. Audi is following that mantra by announcing designs to build a plant in North America. Doing so would help the brand avoid the pitfalls of the European economy and make the actual act of bringing vehicles…
Ohio and Missouri Governors Visit NAIAS to Talk Investment With Manufacturers
Ohio Governor John Kasich and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon made a visit to Detroit this week during the North American International Auto Show in an effort to bring U.S. automotive manufacturing to their respective states. John Kasich said, “Contrary to popular opinion, the auto industry is getting stronger.” Ohio currently possesses the second-largest automotive industry…
GM Moves Forward With Opel Restructuring
During a recent statement, Girsky said that “in order to fully leverage [Opel’s] potential we will continue to work on optimizing the cost structure, improve margins and make use of economies of scale within the group.”
Jeep Wrangler Production To Stay In Toledo, Ohio
Despite concerns within Jeep, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed yesterday that the Wrangler will continue to be manufactured in Toledo, Ohio exclusively. The question about moving production comes for a couple of reasons. First, because of remarks made in September by Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley that Chrysler was exploring production of Jeep vehicles in…
Audi A8 Production Boosted Over 50 Percent in Response to Growing Demand
Nevertheless, despite bucking the current economic trends, there are some industry analysts who feel that this apparent growth from the big three German luxury car makers probably won’t sustain itself over the longer term.
Honda and Toyota: Getting Back on Track
Even though rivals, including Detroit’s big three, have gained ground this year as a result of problems facing the Japanese duo, most seem to view Honda and Toyota’s improving fortunes quite favorably.
Ford Increases Plant Capacity In India
Ford will invest over $1 billion in new factories located in northwest India, to better capture its growing market. The plants will build around 250,000 cars aimed at two sectors Ford lags in sales, the Asian and African markets—including India itself, where car sales grew 29% in the last year, with 2.5 million cars. Ford only…
Large Scale Solar Panels Make Toyota’s UK Factory A Pioneer
It is believed that once operational the solar panel array will save up to 2000 metric tonnes of Co2 emissions and 4,600,000 kilowatts of energy on a yearly basis, while at the same time generating enough to cover the production of 7,000 cars per annum.
Jaguar Land Rover To Build Engine Plant In India
Both facilities have been conceived so that Jaguar Land Rover can replace, as quickly as possible the four-cylinder gasoline and turbo diesel engines it currently sources from Ford Motor Company, which have proven to be relatively expensive.
BMW To Invest $1.4 Billion In Chinese Operations
BMW will expand its Chinese joint venture with local automaker Brilliance, in an effort to build 300,000 cars per year in China. BMW’s joint venture near Beijing currently builds the 3-Series and 5-Series, and will add the X1 crossover in 2012. Plans call for new factories dedicated to vehicle assembly, stamping and a paint shop….
Detroit Automakers Close in On Pre-Recession Employment Numbers
GM plans to ramp up Volt production in the next few years, from the current 10,000 cars per annum to 25,000 – CEO Dan Akerson says he’d ultimately like to see more than 100,000 Volts roll off the assembly line, though recognizes that any increases also hinge on battery production.
