Latest News & Features – Page 99
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ArticleHonda’s Malaysian milestones
Malaysia – Boon Siew Honda, a manufacturer and distributor of the Japanese OEM’s motorcycles, has celebrated 60 years of Honda’s motorcycle business in Malaysia, and 5m units production in Penang.Sales of Honda motorcycles through the Malaysian company began in 1957, followed by the start of local production in 1969, through ...
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ArticleSeeing things clearly
AMS reports on the most recent developments in the use of machine vision technology for quality control applications in automotive manufacturingIn response to rapid and sustained improvements in machine vision technologies, a growing number of automotive manufacturing OEMs and suppliers are now deploying such systems in a wider range of ...
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ArticleCounting on the data
The implementation of digital tools is transforming the quality control processes in manufacturing operationsPhysical jigs are now being rendered as digital models and Audi says it is well on the way to representing a concept that resides in the digital, ‘virtual’ world. The company is now exploiting the concept of ...
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ArticleHigh fibre content
Composites reinforced with glass fibres have been used in the mass-production of hang- and bolt-on parts for decades – AMS looks at some recent innovationsMounting pressure on OEMs to reduce the weight of their vehicles means that material and tier suppliers making body panels, interior parts, under-the-bonnet parts, suspension assemblies ...
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ArticleEmergency response
While most blue-light conversions are farmed out to contractors, a dedicated area at Vauxhall Luton transforms vehicles from the production line in readiness for the frontlineConverting vans or cars for specific applications is potentially a very profitable niche business for those involved. Generally speaking, vehicle manufacturers find that carrying out ...
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ArticleCommercial vitality
European LCV production is a dynamic mix of rising volumes, electrification and new alliancesIn general, Europe’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market is supplied by native manufacturers, with only two non-European brands, Nissan and Hyundai, having a production footprint of their own on the continent (Toyota sources the ProAce van from ...
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Article
Commercial vitality
European LCV production is a dynamic mix of rising volumes, electrification and new alliancesIn general, Europe’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market is supplied by native manufacturers, with only two non-European brands, Nissan and Hyundai, having a production footprint of their own on the continent (Toyota sources the ProAce van from ...
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ArticleQ&A: Adil Shirinov, Ford Sollers
As CEO of Ford’s Russian joint venture with local manufacturing specialist Sollers, Adil Shirinov tells AMS how Ford Sollers survived the crisis and how he plans to get the brand into the top five again by focusing on vans and SUVs Adil Shirinov, CEO of Ford SollersFord sales have more ...
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ArticleRussian resolution
Russia’s automotive industry is cautiously expressing confidence again after the car market there emerges from a three-year slumpSales have increased in Russia every month for the last eight as the country adapts to its new economic normal of low oil prices and continued European economic sanctions; the two biggest causes ...
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ArticleNot too posh to push
Porsche has been expanding its production and achieving record results – with some assistance from Volkswagen Group facilitiesBoth an iconic name in the automotive industry and a core part of the Volkswagen Group, Porsche has been facilitating its rising production in recent years by relying heavily on Group resources while ...
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ArticleRenault & Brilliance plan LCVs for China
Carlos Ghosn, Groupe Renault Chairman CEOFrance/China – Groupe Renault and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited have agreed a deal forming a new joint venture in light commercial vehicles tailored to the Chinese market. The JV will manufacture LCVs under the Jinbei, Renault and Huasong brands with the aim to ...
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ArticleAston production returns to Newport
UK – The OEM is to build a special run of 25 DB4 GT Continuation cars at the site where the original DB4 GTs were made almost 60 years ago. Aston Martin described the move as “another landmark” in its ‘Second Century Plan’.“For more than half a century, Newport Pagnell ...
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ArticleSpain’s rising star
Renault’s Valladolid plant is piloting some of the latest digital manufacturing technologiesThe Spanish plant has become a star in Renault’s production network for making one of the brand’s most successful new-segment launches: the Captur small SUV. Since start of production in 2013, the car has passed the ‘1m built’ milestone ...
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ArticleSkoda starts building new paintshop
Czech Republic – The facility at Mladá Boleslav is being developed at a cost of €214.5m ($253.8m) and will have capacity for 600 vehicle bodies per day, bringing the onsite total to 2,700 units including the existing paintshop. Operations are due to begin by mid-2019.In its announcement, Skoda said the ...
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ArticleAudi to build electric SUVs at Ingolstadt
Germany – The model allocation was announced by CEO Rupert Stadler alongside confirmation of job security for all Audi AG employees until 2025. In total, the ‘Audi. Future’ agreement will see the OEM produce 20 electrified models by 2025, including more than ten pure electric vehicles (EVs).“Building up manufacturing capacity ...
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ArticleGovernment doles out £120m for EV batteries
UK – The money from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), equivalent to $160.9m, marks the next phase of a £246m investment in battery technology through the Faraday Battery Challenge, which is intended to develop suitable batteries for the next generation of electric vehicles. Business and energy secretary Greg Clark ...
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ArticleVW and JAC explore new JV
China – Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (VW AG), VW Group China and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. (JAC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate potential joint venture models, focusing on multif-functional vehicles (MFVs). The new cooperation follows an agreement in June to establish a JV to make battery-electric cars.Jochem Heizmann, board ...
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ArticleToyota announces executive changes
Tetsuo Ogawa - ToyotaJapan – The moves are part of a revision of the company’s organisational structure which will be implemented next year in a bid to strengthen cooperation between different business divisions and to boost innovation. Appointments at Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and the Toyota Research Institute ...
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ArticleBMW divests stake in carbon-fibre supplier
Germany – SGL Carbon SE will acquire the OEM’s 49% share in SGL ACF, comprising SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (Germany) and SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (US), according to an agreement signed in late November. BMW said the company would remain a key supplier, with procurement for the i3 and i8 ...
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Article3D measurement and imaging
The new QuantumM measurement arm is certified to ISO 10360 -12:2016 and tests to the International Electrical Commission (IEC 60068-2) standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief, says Faro. The system includes the FAROBluTM laser line probe HD, that it’s claimed enables five times faster scanning than the previous ...