Opel’s parent plant relies on young workers In assembly at the Opel plant in Rüsselsheim, Stellantis is banking on fresh ideas and innovations from young, up‑and‑coming employees. A visit that reveals the fate of German plants as if under a magnifying glass. Timo Gilgen
“Awareness of the production location has grown stronger” Women at the head of a plant are still a rarity. But that is not what the conversation with Maike Seeber is about. Her task is to assert the role of Opel’s main plant in Rüsselsheim within Stellantis’ gigantic production network. Timo Gilgen
How GlobalFoundries is rethinking design for manufacturing GlobalFoundries is integrating design for manufacturing right from the concept phase of new technologies. This is giving rise in Dresden to a data-driven, hybrid DfM approach that shortens time-to-market, secures automotive robustness and makes first-silicon success more likely. Timo Gilgen
The E-Cayenne is conceived from the line backwards In the Cayenne Electric, architecture, battery and body structure merge. Porsche has developed the SUV from a manufacturing perspective. This has consequences for the underbody, material mix and the production system. Timo Gilgen
VW board member Vollmer also takes over VWN, Seat, Cupra and Skoda In mid-January, the VW Group announced the consolidation of production responsibility for the Brand Group Core. Strategic decisions are moving to the brand group level, while operational responsibility is divided into five regions. Timo Gilgen
ACC halts gigafactory plans in Germany and Italy The battery joint venture ACC, supported by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, is putting the planned cell factories in Kaiserslautern and Termoli on hold. Timo Gilgen
Why Bratislava has become Volkswagen’s most versatile plant As the electric Cayenne joins the line in 2026, Bratislava highlights how Volkswagen balances complexity, volume and flexibility at a single site. Timo Gilgen
Batteries for the E-Cayenne are being produced in Slovakia A battery module production facility is being established in Horná Streda, which is more reminiscent of cleanroom logic than traditional assembly. A high degree of automation, real-time data, and an analysis centre are intended to ensure the series ramp-up of the Cayenne Electric. Timo Gilgen
BMW starts pre-series production of the new i3 at the Munich plant With the first pre-series vehicles of the new i3, the final phase before the series launch of the Neue Klasse begins at BMW's Munich headquarters in the second half of 2026. Timo Gilgen
How Porsche builds the body of the new electric Cayenne The electric Porsche Cayenne is being produced at the Volkswagen plant in Bratislava. The body construction is highly automated, the material mix is complex, and the platform is newly conceived. A tour through a production in its ramp-up phase. Timo Gilgen
How Mercedes-Benz is revamping its assembly concept More than 40 new models by 2027 increase complexity in assembly. Mercedes-Benz relies less on maximum robotics and more on data, digital twins, and AI-supported quality assurance in the ongoing process. Timo Gilgen
How Opel is recalibrating automation in assembly The automation of vehicle assembly is continues to be a challenge. Opel shares its approach across two plants, demonstrating why partial automation, modules, and AI are currently more realistic than full robotics. Timo Gilgen
Volkswagen consolidates production, development and procurement across brands From January 2026, Volkswagen will jointly manage central functions of the volume brands. A new brand group board is set to accelerate decisions, reduce costs by €1 billion by 2030, and reorganise the industrial base of the Brand Group Core. Timo Gilgen
Dürr implements highly automated paint shop for Ceer Dürr is constructing a modular and largely automated paint shop for the Saudi Arabian electric car manufacturer Ceer. The project combines flexible production concepts with energy-efficient technologies and digital control systems. Timo Gilgen
How far can vehicle assembly automation really go? The automation of vehicle assembly is gaining importance. Flexible lines, AI-supported processes and smart tooling help OEMs to manage variant diversity, cost pressure and skills shortages. An overview. Timo Gilgen
Why smart sequencing is becoming a backbone of modern vehicle assembly Rising product variety is forcing automakers to rethink sequencing strategies to stabilise assembly, protect workers and scale production efficiently. Timo Gilgen
Nissan retools Sunderland for next-generation Leaf Nissan has launched production of the third-generation Leaf at its Sunderland plant. New EV platforms, reconfigured factory processes and the EV36Zero framework are shaping how the site scales electric vehicle manufacturing and industrial flexibility. Timo Gilgen
Hyundai prepares humanoid robots for vehicle production The Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy humanoid robots from Boston Dynamics in automotive manufacturing from 2028. The strategy combines scalable robot production, AI partnerships and service-based business models for industrial use. Timo Gilgen
Volkswagen's new production leadership: From Palmela to Martorell Volkswagen is entirely restructuring the responsibilities of the production board member role after Markus Haupt's move to Seat CEO created a vacancy, electing not to appoint a new member. Timo Gilgen
