Europe News
New recycle system at Bentley puts waste water to work
A paintshop water treatment innovation is helping Bentley achieve sustainability targets and reduce consumption
Production records set at Skoda’s domestic plants
As it marks the 125th anniversary of the company, Skoda is chalking up record-breaking output
The wider scope of Skoda
With new products and an expanding production network, Skoda is managing to achieve greater influence and standing despite the challenges of a changing market
The Morgan Plus Six: a century in the making
Behind Morgan’s unashamedly traditional exterior there’s a company that’s also keen to embrace modern production methods and processes
Electric vehicles could transform role of tier 1 suppliers in manufacturing
As OEMs look to reduce production costs and manage more complexity, automotive suppliers will face challenges. But with more EV models in the pipeline, many have the opportunity to grab a larger piece of the pie both for manufacturing and the total value chain
Ford invests in battery production at Valencia
Ford will invest €42m in its Valencia manufacturing plant to support the its electrification strategy with a state-of-the-art battery assembly facility, in addition to producing the new hybrid models
OEMs keen to explore renewable power sources
Vehicle manufacturers are keen to explore energy supplies from renewable sources as they look to reduce and offset emissions from their large-scale production operations
Explaining EU vehicle emissions targets: can OEMs avoid heavy fines?
The new average fleet targets that came into force in Europe on January 1st 2020 are having big impacts on vehicle development and manufacturing, pushing OEMs to produce and sell more hybrids and EVs. But the rules are complex and varied by brands, volume and sales. Here we provide a summary of the key rules and terminology.
Tearing profits apart: how tier 1 automotive suppliers can mitigate shrinking margins
The latest report by Automotive from Ultima Media examines the profits and outlook for the top 20 automotive parts suppliers and explores the strategies and solutions they should consider to avoid significant disruption in the 2020s
The other side of Brexit
After three years of confusion and turmoil, the UK seems on the brink of leaving European Union. So OEMs with operations based there have decisions to make, as Ian Henry reports
Tier Supplier Profit Analysis: Mitigating Margin Compression and Manufacturing Costs
Automotive tier 1 suppliers are facing unprecedented industry transformation in electrification along with economic uncertainty. Download this report on the top 20 global suppliers for a deep analysis of their historic margins, as well as solutions for how suppliers could cope with growing pressures and changes in manufacturing across the supply base
Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark
CEO Adrian Hallmark has led Bentley since February 2018 when he returned to the company he originally left back in 2005 as sales and marketing director. He remained in the VW Group before leaving for a seven-year stretch at Jaguar Land Rover. He retook the reigns in a dark time, presiding over the company’s first loss in seven years, but as he tells AMS, he is making changes at the plant to make it more cost effective and planning for an electric future.
History in the making
ABB is celebrating its sophisticated paint robot 50 years on from developing its first hydraulic prototype in Norway
Exoskeleton trials underway at Audi
Audi has begun testing the ergonomic benefits of exoskeleton systems for workers at its Ingolstadt plant
Yanfeng Automotive Interiors – Kragujevac, Serbia
Another major tier supplier has added its name to the list automotive players attracted to Serbia
Magna adds to its automotive lighting business
The acquisition of Wipac Czech will add significant technical competencies to Magna’s global automotive business
Dual brand adapters
From finances to unions and electrifying its model range, domestic and global challenges abound for Hyundai-Kia
Challenging relationships
As the trend of electrification gains pace, and demand in the global new car market dwindles, suppliers are looking at ways to best serve their OEM customers
At the centre of change for Volkswagen Group
Martin Hofmann, chief information office of the Volkswagen Group (pictured, right), explains how the carmaker is transforming its IT system backbone and legacy infrastructure across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain and engineering – and how Volkswagen is now able to attract top software talent.
Building Volkswagen’s Industrial Cloud
Volkswagen Group’s landmark project with Amazon Web Services will help to connect all its global factories, and eventually the supply chain as well. At the core of the project is a drive to establish a standard software stack that will transform the way production IT is developed and implemented across Volkswagen locations.
