Ford News
Lightweighting the EV is a challenge to celebrate
There is a new impetus to save weight as vehicles become powered by electric powertrains. Reducing the weight of a vehicle by optimising the mix of materials and the application in design is now a key focus
Watch: Vehicle light-weighting rises to the top of the agenda for designers and engineers
This livestream investigates how designers and engineers at Ford, Gestamp and key suppliers are using innovative materials and creating light-weight architectures, including for models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Maverick compact truck.
Optimising the process: AI in robotic assembly cells
The Ford Transmission Plant in Livonia, Michigan, has been the location for a major innovation in automotive assembly operations, utilising AI to support the use of a robot in a particular automated assembly role. Mike Farish reports
EV battery supply chains on the move
As electric vehicles become serious business for OEMs, they are reassessing their battery supply and manufacturing bases, putting their eggs in multiple baskets and taking more control of the process.
Electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle plant database
Track factory locations for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles by manufacturer, model and location.
Lithium-ion battery gigafactory database
Track electric vehicle lithium battery gigafactories by manufacturer, location, manufacturer, current and planned gigawatt (GWh) capacity.
OEM and lithium-ion battery cell supplier database
Keep up with changing supplier relationships between electric vehicle manufacturers and battery cell suppliers in this database.
Ford and SKI form JV to localise battery supply in US
Ford has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with lithium-ion battery maker SK Innovation (SKI) for a joint venture to manufacture battery cells and finished packs in the US.
Electrification and digitalisation go hand in hand at Ford and VW
As the automotive industry electrifies, manufacturing is changing dramatically and OEMs are using big data to keep pace with that change. Increasingly moving into the world of tech, old quality control processes may no longer suffice since a lot of EV components cannot be reworked like traditional equivalents. Manufacturing has to be ultra-precise like never before.
VW and Ford invest in flexible production for an uncertain future
The speed of change in the technology of cars and rapid electrification requires new manufacturing equipment and is making expensive old machines redundant, but exactly where the industry is going next is hard to predict. More flexible manufacturing is the answer.
Watch: Electrifying Production – How to build an electric future (Pt.2)
In the second part of our Electrifying Production Livestream series, AMS explores how OEMs are ramping up EV production through modular strategies, data analytics and advanced joining and metrology tools. Featuring Volkswagen Group, Ford, Renishaw and Atlas Copco.
Ford creates a new global battery centre of excellence
Ford Ion Park is located in southeast Michigan and employs a cross-functional team to develop high-volume battery cell delivery, better range and lower costs
Ford to build all-electric LCV at Craiova
Following a $300m investment the new all-electric model is planned to launch in 2024 with Craiova following the Ford Cologne Electrified Vehicle Centre in Germany and Ford Otosan’s Kocaeli plant in Turkey to build all-electric vehicles
Ford Dagenham to continue supplying engines for Transit vans made in Turkey
Ford has decided to keep its last European diesel engine plant in Dagenham, UK, open to supply the Turkish Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli that builds the Transit and Transit Custom.
VW to have 240 GWh of battery plants in Europe by 2030
Volkswagen Group plans to significantly increase battery cell production capacity and reshape the EV battery supply chain in Europe, with plans to have six ‘gigafactories’ by the end of the decade – including an expansion of its partnership with Sweden’s Northvolt.
AMS E-mobility 2021 – Electric vehicle production powers up
Our latest AMS digital edition is out with a special focus on the acceleration towards an all-electric future for automotive industry. The issue offers in-depth insight into leading carmaker’s and tier supplier EV strategies, looking at drivetrains, battery assembly and specialist materials, with interviews featuring Schaeffler, Atlas Copco, Outokumpu and more.
Carmakers pledge to switch to all-electric vehicles
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 Europe invests $1 billion in Cologne for EV production
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 cuts its losses in Brazil with closure of all production in 2021
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.
AI and automation in automotive production need people and quality data to succeed
Experts from BMW, Ford, Symbio Robotics and Cosmo Tech discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in automotive production need fast ramp-up times and adoption by employees to succeed. High-quality data and use of simulation are also key.
