Volkswagen de México opens world’s 1st fully electric paintshop at Puebla plant Volkswagen de México has launched the first fully electric paint shop in the automotive industry, eliminating natural gas use and improving sustainability. The Puebla plant’s advanced automation, AI-driven quality control, and renewable energy integration is a step toward carbon-neutral vehicle production. AMS
HORSE powertrain continues to expand supply in range extender market HORSE will supply Brazilian EV start-up manufacturer Lecar with its HR10 range extender engine, to be fitted to the Lecar 459 hybrid. Nick Holt
BYD – Aiming for the top In this new monthly column, Ian Henry of AutoAnalysis looks at a major automotive development and places this within its broader context, asking what this means for the industry. To kick this series off, Ian looks at BYD (Build Your Dreams), the Chinese company which – if it succeeds – will be a major player in Europe within the next few years; it is already the largest EV manufacturer in the world Ian Henry
Stellantis’ Factory Booster Day 2023 fosters OEM/supplier collaboration to solve automotive production challenges The eighth instalment of Factory Booster Day produced ninety-nine solutions demonstrated by sixty-four partners to tackle thirty-five Stellantis plant challenges setting an example to other OEMs Ilkhan Ozsevim
Equipmake’s zero emission drivetrain technology pushes to reshape urban and commercial mobility at Busworld 2023 The company’s proprietary zero emission drivetrain technology is seeking to expand electrification in deemphasised areas of automotive and mobility Ilkhan Ozsevim
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance embarks on a new era of collaboration for enhanced agility with strong regionalisation focus The alliance shifts to regional focus for enhanced agility challenging assumptions about global autmomotive markets Ilkhan Ozsevim
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance rebalances partnership Revised partnership will see high-value-creation operational projects in Latin America, India and Europe including further platform sharing AMS
Gigafactories give N. America, Europe more skin in EV game but minerals supply a worry Forecasts for sustained growth in annual global EV sales suggest a minerals supply crunch in the latter half of this decade. Peter Murphy
How Ford will track production planning and suppliers like Uber rides Ford is deploying digital twins and data analytics to bring real-time visibility to production planning and supply chains, according to Balakrishnan Adhi, who leads MP&L plant operations across Asia, Africa and South America. Peter Murphy
Watch: How EV powertrains will reshape automotive production In this livestream, learn how lithium-ion batteries, cells and components are transforming manufacturing, supply chains and energy requirements with Lars Carlstrom from Italvolt and Statevolt, and AMS battery experts Daniel Harrison. AMS
Watch: Connected factories, predictable futures This AMS livestream explores how Ford, Fraunhofer IPA and other OEMs are advancing smart factories to optimise assembly lines, improve quality and reduce errors, leveraging connected data for digital twins and AI-driven manufacturing planning. AMS
Global powertrain and battery production forecast: ever-evolving complexity With diverging regulations, infrastructure, market trends and manufacturing bases, the path to EV and battery production will vary across regions, adding more variation for OEMs and suppliers. Ultima Media analyst Daniel Harrison shares the latest data on powertrain and battery forecasts AMS
Global outlook: the disruptive forces shaping automotive manufacturing Vehicle manufacturers are facing ongoing disruption in the supply chain, but at the same time must manage a paradigm shift in manufacturing and business models. AFS’s Joe McCabe shares the latest vehicle production forecasts AMS
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. Illya Verpraet Daniel Harrison
Electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle plant database Track factory locations for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles by manufacturer, model and location, in a comprehensive listing of the changing geography of electric vehicle manufacturing. Automotive from Ultima Media
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 10 – The Rise of AI & Analytics in Logistics In this episode of the Livestream Hour, we discuss the technology and processes that are accelerating more connected, data-driven supply chains, and the greater role they will play in the post-coronavirus automotive industry. With special guests from Volkswagen, research institute Fraunhofer ISST and tech startup SYNAOS. Christopher Ludwig
Watch: How Ford digitalised and insourced global supply chain processes | Your Questions Answered Part II with Amlan Bose Ford is transforming its supply chain and logistics processes in a number of key regions, including creating an in-house 4PL and rolling out a dynamic transport management system. Following discussion on our popular Livestream Hour edition focused on digitalisation in supply chain and logistics, Ford’s Amlan Bose rejoins Christopher Ludwig to address audience questions on topics including challenges to rollout, whether the system and insourcing will spread to other regions, and how digital control towers are helping Ford in the Covid-19 crisis. Christopher Ludwig
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 8 – Driving innovation in production and logistics Join this special digital transformation livestream session on how IT and technology solutions are supporting supply chain during the crisis, including a major digitalisation project for Ford’s logistics and supply chain management across key regions. Hosted by Christopher Ludwig. Christopher Ludwig
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 2 – Restarting Automotive Production in the New Normal This Livestream Hour features intelligence and updates on important automotive value chain developments, Covid-19-related topics and best practice featuring special guests and experts, as well as behind-the-headlines INSIGHT from our editors and analysts. In Episode 2, supply chain expert Ralf Bechmann discusses how OEMs and tier suppliers together with Christopher Ludwig and AMS editor Nick Holt. Christopher Ludwig Nick Holt
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 1 – US coronavirus crisis in focus Part of a new weekly series, this episode features global updates and automotive supply chain insight on the coronavirus crisis in the US. Featuring an in-depth Q&A with Kristin Dziczek, vice-president of the renowned Center for Automotive Research (CAR) covering US federal stimulus, supply chain disruption and manufacturing process changes aimed at containing the spread of the virus and protecting workers. Christopher Ludwig
Watch: Your Questions Answered | The Coronavirus Series: Automotive Supply Chain March Update Following our first Livestream Coronavirus Automotive Supply Chain Update, our panellists reconvene to discuss audience questions that were not answered during the broadcast. Watch this exclusive video recording of the discussion covering the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on global vehicle demand, economic and environmental policy, logistics and manufacturing operations. Christopher Ludwig Daniel Harrison
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 spply 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. Christopher Ludwig
Nafta aftermath A new trade deal era will reconfigure Mexico’s automotive industry relations with the US, Nick Gibbs reports Nick Gibbs
A slow return to growth Vehicle-makers in South America are seeing signs of recovery, boosted by growing exports, reports Nick Gibbs Nick Gibbs
