All South America articles – Page 2
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ArticleLightweighting with laser-welded blanks
The latest generation of steels brings new opportunities for OEMs Laser-welded blanks (LWB) give automotive engineers the chance to design lightweight parts that ensure the right steel is in the right place for safety and performance. Combining LWBs with new hot-stamping grades, such as Usibor 2000 and Ductibor ...
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VW pours €22.8bn into production network
Germany – The OEM said the funds will be used to implement its Transform 2025+ strategy, focusing on “the further development of modular production, the continuation of the model offensive and further orientation towards e-mobility”. The investment, equivalent to $27 billion, will be spread over five years to 2022. “The ...
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VW invests €560m at Pacheco for new SUV
Argentina – The OEM said the plant would undergo “modernisation measures” costing the equivalent of $660m to optimise the production process, enhancing quality and sustainability while enabling it to make the new SUV by 2020. The introduction of the model, based on Volkswagen’s Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform, will create ...
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Engle to lead new GM region
US – The company announced that it will combine its International and South America regions after the retirement of Stefan Jacoby, executive vice-president and president of GM International, at the end of this year. Barry Engle, currently in charge of South America, will assume the leadership of both regions ...
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JLR appoints Marchand to Americas role
US – As vice-president Government and Industry Relations, Chris Marchand will direct the company’s interactions with governments and industry associations across North, Central and South America. He will take up the role on November 7. Marchand will report to Joe Eberhardt, president and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, and ...
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Autonomy drive
Suzuki has stayed independent of big joint ventures despite becoming increasingly dependent on markets outside Japan In an industry where mergers and collaborations between major players are increasingly common, Suzuki remains something of an outlier. It has largely eschewed wide-ranging, large-scale alliances with other vehicle companies, especially since its joint ...
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Managing complexity
AMS spoke to Leah Bruce, Ford’s manufacturing business manager, diesel specialist, to find out more about the OEM’s plans for diesel engine production Where does diesel fit into Ford’s powertrain strategy? Leah Bruce: From a production point of view, diesel is still very much part of Ford’s plans. We ...
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Zero Downtime
GM has ambitious plans to implement a zero down time approach using cloud based computing to connect all of its production robots worldwide Robots are now not just commonplace items of equipment on automotive factory floors they are absolutely vital to the implementation of automated manufacturing strategies that successfully combine ...
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Joining forces
Complex parts, precision fits, no margin for error; it’s no wonder automation is such a vital ingredient of successful powertrain assembly lines Modern lines are faster, safer and more reliable than ever before, thanks in large part to automation. While intensive, dedicated lines designed for high-volume throughput were the preserve ...
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Joining forces
Complex parts, precision fits, no margin for error; it’s no wonder automation is such a vital ingredient of successful powertrain assembly lines Modern lines are faster, safer and more reliable than ever before, thanks in large part to automation. While intensive, dedicated lines designed for high-volume throughput were the preserve ...
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Gestamp opens seventh plant in Brazil
Brazil – The Spanish company has invested €24.9m to set up a new hot stamping plant in Betim (Minas Gerais, Brazil), that will serve Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA), supplying parts for the Fiat Palio and Siena models. The new plant, which will also be equipped with laser cutting and assembly ...
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Around the block
The mix of in-house and external sourcing that OEMs regularly deploy in vehicle engine production make its supply chain quite distinct from that of all other components along the assembly line Engines, whether diesel or petrol, have a supply chain that is quite distinct from that which provides components to ...
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An order for progress
After the dips in demand of recent years, car makers in Brazil and Argentina anticipate an upturn in market fortunes and a boost in vehicle production Embattled vehicle makers operating in Brazil are predicting a return to growth in 2017 after the market sunk last year to nearly half its ...
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An order for progress
After the dips in demand of recent years, car makers in Brazil and Argentina anticipate an upturn in market fortunes and a boost in vehicle production Embattled vehicle makers operating in Brazil are predicting a return to growth in 2017 after the market sunk last year to nearly half its ...
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Crisis or crossroads?
Volkswagen has embarked on its rebranded strategy of Transform 2025+ but how has the group changed and what are its plans for manufacturing operations? Volkswagen produces around 1 in 4 of all cars and vans made in Europe. It is the leading developed world brand in China, and despite the ...
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Injecting a dash of insulation
Automotive interiors specialist International Automotive Components (IAC) has further expanded its operations in Europe IAC's newest production facility, at Prestice in the Czech Republic, will initially be producing the company’s injection moulded inner dash, acoustical insulation product for two major vehicle OEM customers – including trunk trim and dash insulation ...
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Switching to SUVs
FCA has announced big investments in the US and Canada in recent years but its Mexican factories have also received steady funding. At Toluca, this may result in a new focus on SUVs on the CUSW architecture Announced investments for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ US and Canadian plants between June 2009 ...
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Finding affordability
Ford has caused controversy at home by announcing a $1.6 billion vehicle factory in Mexico, but this is not its only investment in the country; it is also building a transmissions plant and expanding an engine facility Ford is moving more vehicle production to Mexico and – alongside most other ...
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Mazda: Growing in Guanajuato
AMS gives an update on the OEM's recently opened plant at Salamanca, Mexico – its first in North America In January 2014, Mazda joined the flood of vehicle-makers arriving in Mexico by opening a new plant in Salamanca, Guanajuato – its first independent production site in North America. The ...
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Coming soon: A new Ford
There will be a new Ford soon – a new company that is, not just a new model. At least, that is the ambitious plan outlined to Ford's investors in September. This new company will not only allocate capital more efficiently, deliver improved margins and strengthen its core business as ...
