Factory Closures and Consolidation

The latest in automotive factory closures, consolidation and footprint reduction.

Factory Closures and Consolidation

GM Fort Wayne plant

GM pauses production of trucks due to parts shortage

2023-08-29T12:16:00+01:00By Megan Kelly

The production pauses come at an already challenging time for GM due to recent union negotiations. 

Honda logo

Honda announces next steps in US EV production

2023-03-17T14:33:00+00:00By Rebecca Morley

The Marysville Auto Plant will be Honda’s first auto plant in the US to transition to making EVs

VW Zwickau - ID3 begins production in November 2019

Europe’s carmakers dim lights, turn back to coal, oil, on approach to bleak winter

2022-09-21T15:38:00+01:00By Peter Murphy

Automakers crimp energy use and reluctantly turn to coal and oil but options may be more limited for component and material suppliers upstream.

Toyota_Chengdu_factory

Factories in China’s Sichuan province forced to close for six days amid power shortage

2022-08-18T10:06:00+01:00By Hazel Southwell

Plants in China’s Sichuan province, including those run by Toyota and Foxconn, have been told to suspend operations amid electricity shortages

Honda plant Swindon

UK car production hits record low in October while EV and commercial sales accelerate

2021-11-26T15:28:00+00:00By Jason Dunn

New car production in the UK fell by 41.4% last month to its lowest October level in 65 years amid ongoing semiconductor chip shortages and plant closures, according to the latest report from the trade industry body.

Jaguar Land Rover Manufacturing

British car manufacturing recovery hampered by ‘pingdemic’ and chip shortages

2021-08-03T12:54:00+01:00By Jason Dunn

UK vehicle production and exports are rising from pandemic lows, but the sector facing serious challenges in supply chain bottlenecks and labour shortages because of the need to self-isolate.

Honda Swindon closes

Driving home the reality of global market changes: Honda Swindon factory closes

2021-08-03T09:17:00+01:00By Jason Dunn

Honda has closed its Swindon, UK plant, as it ends European production. The carmaker is focusing electric vehicle investment and scale in Asia, and is a sign of how electrification could reshape manufacturing footprints.

Toyota rescue

How the European automotive industry aims to build back semiconductor and chip supply

2021-05-04T10:25:00+01:00By Namrita Chow

OEMs, suppliers and EU officials are considering how best to develop Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing to mitigate current and future shortages, but the broad gaps at many levels – including for older, larger chips – mean there will be no magic bullet

VW ID3 Platform

Carmakers pledge to switch to all-electric vehicles

2021-03-15T19:57:00+00:00By Illya Verpraet

The wave of electrification is slowly turning into a tsunami, in Europe at least. Illya Verpraet takes a look at some of the big manufacturing plans in 2021

Ford Focus Saarlouis

Carmakers forced to extend shutdowns because of microchip shortage

2021-03-09T10:51:00+00:00By Marcus Williams

Ford and GM have been forced to extend assembly plant closures because of a shortage in the supply of semiconductors, a problem that continues to disrupt vehicle production globally.

2019_FORD_KUGA_SIDE_CHARGING-2

Ford Europe invests $1 billion in Cologne for EV production

2021-02-23T10:23:00+00:00By Illya Verpraet

After JLR, Ford has also announced that all its vehicles for sale in Europe will be pure-electric by 2030. It is investing $1 billion in its Cologne (Köln) plant to make that a reality. This move will be supported by the sharing of the VW Group’s MEB electric vehicle platform.

Ford Ka+ Camaçari

Ford cuts its losses in Brazil with closure of all production in 2021

2021-01-13T12:10:00+00:00By Marcus Williams

Ford will shut all three of its production facilities in Brazil this year and import vehicles from other markets in South America, including neighbouring Argentina and Uruguay, to meet demand in the country.

Renault Press Conference Mat 2020 Senard and Delbos

Renault assembly network future under review as management announce cost-saving programme

2020-05-29T14:59:00+01:00By Gareth Price

Renault has launched a business transformation plan which includes a 18% cut in production capacity 

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Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 6 – Aftermarket and Service Parts: Keeping the wheels moving

2020-05-20T21:26:00+01:00By Christopher Ludwig

In this episode of the Livestream Hour, we discuss the pandemic’s potential impact on aftersales supply and the aftermarket, including the long-term effects on supply chains and what this means for managing inventory. With special guests from Toyota North America, LKQ Europe and CLEPA. Hosted by editor-in-chief Christopher Ludwig. 

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Coronavirus pandemic could force consolidation amongst automotive suppliers

2020-05-04T17:00:00+01:00By Daniel Harrison

The Covid-19 pandemic will exact a heavy toll on automotive manufacturers and suppliers, who will face mounting financial losses and growing debt. Some may not survive, at least in their current form or without further government bailouts. Such financial fallout, and the need for companies to reduce costs and consolidate investments, could prompt more consolidation at all levels of the automotive industry in the coming years.

Livestream Hour - India after event

Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 3 – India Automotive Supply Chain in Focus

2020-04-22T19:00:00+01:00By Christopher Ludwig

The Livestream Hour features intelligence and updates on important automotive value chain developments, Covid-19-related topics and best practice featuring special guests and experts, as well as behind-the-headlines INSIGHT from our editors and analysts at Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, Automotive Logistics and Car Design News. In Episode 3, we explore the global export, supply chain and logistics challenges and opportunities in India together with ACMA, Sona Group Meritor, JK Fenner and other major suppliers.

RAM_SterlingHeights

Dziczek: After the pandemic, restoring component supply and customer demand will form the next hurdles

2020-04-15T10:58:00+01:00By Marcus Williams

In the second of Ultima Media’s new Livestream webinars, editor-in-chief Christopher Ludwig was joined by Kristin Dziczek, vice-president of the US Center for Automotive Research (CAR), to talk about a range of issues facing the global automotive manufacturing and supply chain, and what it means for the US market… 

Audi Ingolstadt resumes

Coronavirus live blog: OEMs set resumption timelines and health protection regimes

2020-03-17T15:19:00+00:00By Gareth Price

As OEMs manage temporary plant shutdowns across their manufacturing networks, follow our updates on the latest idling and resumption of production …

Lamborghini front on

Italy’s OEMs and suppliers stay resolute through national coronavirus measures

2020-03-11T09:59:00+00:00By Marcus Williams

FCA, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo Brembo and Pirelli – the famous names of the Italian automotive industry are battling on through the Covid-19 crisis

Renault Wuhan

​Europe presents a brave face over production halts in China and Italy

2020-03-05T10:21:00+00:00By Marcus Williams

While Europe-based vehicle makers appear resilient in the face of assembly line disruption caused by the coronavirus shutdowns, a number of factors coming into play that could see production affected over the coming weeks

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