Factory expansion – Page 13
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Grupo Antolin opens a new factory in China
China – The new plant, part of a joint venture with Dongfeng Visteon, will manufacture headliners and door panels for Renault, PSA, Nissan, Infiniti and Honda. The JV has invested more than €11m in the project that will expand employment to around 125 people by the end of the year.Currently ...
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ArticleCould Brexit mean business as usual?
As the UK's competing EU referendum campaigns gather speed, it is fascinating to ponder the impact a vote to leave would have on the automotive industry. About a year ago, I would have said that the so-called 'Brexit' would be unremittingly bad news for the UK's automotive manufacturing sector. Now, ...
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EU referendum
As the UK‘s EU referendum campaigns gather speed, I am frequently asked for my views on the impact of a vote to leave on the industry. A year or so ago, I would have said that leaving the EU would be unremittingly bad news for the UK auto industry. Now, ...
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ArticleNexteer announces European expansion
Poland – The motion control specialist will spend over $16m on building a third plant and on opening a technical centre in Tychy later this year. The company will add 100 engineers to its workforce and has already started the recruitment process.The new factory will boost Nexteer’s capacity to produce ...
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Interior angles
Despite much merger, acquisition and joint ventures, the automotive interiors market remains fragmented Seats and dashboards/cockpits are the two largest segments of the interiors market, both in terms of component size and value. Historically these components have been supplied by a mixture of in-house and independent suppliers, while in recent ...
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ArticleInteriors: An inside look
Despite many mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, the automotive interiors market remains fragmented Seats and dashboards/cockpits are the two largest segments of the interiors market, both in terms of component size and value. Historically, these components have been supplied by a mixture of in-house and independent suppliers, while in recent ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz opens Iracemápolis plant
Brazil – Established at a cost of €600m ($683.2m), the new factory has a launch capacity of 20,000 units per year. The first car to roll off the line, 19 months after construction work began, was a C-Class saloon; from summer 2016, the plant will also make the GLA compact ...
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ArticleThyssenKrupp’s new Eastern European plant
Hungary – Starting this spring, the €100m ($110m) factory will be constructed in Jászfényszaru, with a production launch planned for 2018. It will make electronic power-assisted steering systems and cylinder-head covers with integrated camshafts.Karsten Kroos, CEO of ThyssenKrupp’s Components Technology division, said the investment “follows our strategy towards standardisation and ...
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ArticleGM Europe – better days ahead?
After enduring some difficult years, the vehicle-maker looks forward to stability and profitability in EuropeGM’s European operations have been loss-making for some time, but the signs are that it could be nearing its immediate target of breaking even, and possibly head into profit this year. The carmaker’s European operations remained ...
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ArticlePremium but not perfect
As McLaren and Aston Martin both build up their production, AMS takes a magnifying glass inside their spotless factories at Woking and Gaydon respectively to see the latest in high-end carmaking in BritainMcLaren Automotive and Aston Martin are both gearing up to double their production as the two luxury companies ...
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ArticleJLR and Hyundai-Kia ride out European instability
The EU may be facing political and economic uncertainty as it wrestles with the current immigration crisis and stock market turmoil, as well as economic doubts in China threatening the stability of a key export market for Europe. However, for some vehicle manufacturers, 2015 saw new production records – and ...
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ArticleInvesting in North Africa
Will this region be the next big growth area for automotive production, or will political unrest get in the way?When Renault-Nissan announced its new factory in Morocco and production of the Dacia Dokker and Lodgy began in earnest, there were suggestions that this would herald the emergence of a full-scale ...
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Article
JLR confirms new factory at Nitra
Slovakia – The OEM announced that it will become the first British carmaker to open a manufacturing facility in the country, after reaching an agreement with the Slovakian government. A letter of intent had been signed in August for the development of the production facility at Nitra, western Slovakia.The £1 ...
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ArticleChina steamrolls on
Demand for cars is growing despite the economic slowdown – and domestic OEM are getting competitiveOvercapacity problem worsensPremium makers struggleHeavy-truck makers sufferOpportunities open up for EVsMotorcycle-makers challenged by IndiaDemand for cars in China is still growing despite a wider economic slowdown in the country, but the near-term prospects of global ...
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ArticleChinese dragon rolls on
Demand for cars is growing despite the economic slowdown – and domestic OEM are getting competitiveOvercapacity problem worsensPremium makers struggleHeavy-truck makers sufferOpportunities open up for EVsMotorcycle-makers challenged by IndiaDemand for cars in China is still growing despite a wider economic slowdown in the country, but the near-term prospects of global ...
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ArticleVW's platforms to perform?
The OEM has introduced four vehicle platforms to maximise global production efficiency, but not without difficulty. AMS looks at the steps taken so far, the benefits still to come, and asks if the strategy will workIn February 2012, Volkswagen announced the latest incarnation of its platform strategy, encompassing four modular ...
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ArticleNorth America's rise before a fall?
Global vehicle-makers are investing in their manufacturing operations across the US and Mexico; AMS reviews the latest developments – and how they position the automotive industry for the next downturnGM splashes the cashFord shuffles production line-upFCA holds back on expansionToyota prepares for mega-platformNissan expands in the US and MexicoHonda boosts ...
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ArticleInterview: Keishi Egawa, Mazda
The OEM’s president and CEO in Mexico explains what its first North American factory means to MazdaKeishi Egawa, president and CEO, MMVOAMS: To what extent has the new Salamanca factory been inspired by Mazda’s plants in Japan, and is the level of production technology just as high?Keishi Egawa (KE): The ...
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ArticleA magnet for manufacturing
Low-cost labour and free-trade deals are attracting investment in Mexico by global OEMs and suppliersVehicle production is booming in Mexico. In 2014, a record 3.22m vehicles were made there, an increase of nearly 10% on 2013. Much of the rising production was in response to strong demand from the US ...
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ArticleNissan's A-team in Mexico
As the Japanese OEM adds new facilities for Infiniti and Mercedes production at its complex in the north-central state of Aguascalientes, AMS examines the reasons behind the long-standing success of this operationNissan is close to hitting capacity in Mexico again thanks to the continuing success of its Aguascalientes manufacturing complex ...