Assembly
Valmet expands production at Uusikaupunki
Finland - A new production line is being installed to speed up production and increase flexibility
Solar flair
Sven Schulz, CEO of battery systems supplier Akasol, speaks to Gareth Price about the company’s involvement with Daimler’s next generation electrified bus
A blaze in Bavaria
The foundations have been laid at BMW’s Dingolfing plant to make more electrified models and components, but more is yet to come. Michael Nash reports
Mercedes starts GLC production at Bremen
Germany - The latest generation of the Mercedes-Benz GLC is now being made at the company’s Bremen plant
Mercedes to assemble cars in Egypt
Egypt - Mercedes-Benz Cars is looking to strengthen its position in Egypt by starting local assembly and establishing a training centre
Cutting battery production costs
Automation and economies of scale could see a reduction in battery production costs. Michael Nash takes a look
GM hedges bets on pick-ups
GM has made two recent investments in order to boost production of its best-selling pick-up trucks in the US
Aston Martin St Athan
Production has started at Aston Martin’s second UK manufacturing plant. Located in St Athan, Wales, it is the company’s sole production facility for the DBX - Aston Martin’s first SUV.
Gaining momentum
Vehicle makers and tier suppliers are embarking on huge changes to their production operations and range line-ups to supply electrified vehicles. Ian Henry looks at who’s charging ahead and who’s falling flat
Vision of the future
Skoda is set to make the leap into electro-mobility this year with the launch of the plug-in hybrid Superb and the all-electric version of the Citigo small car. Report by Nick Gibbs
GM upgrades Fort Wayne plant
General Motors is spending a significant amount to increase production of two new pick-ups
TPCA at Kolin, Czech Republic
Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile (TPCA) is a joint venture of Toyota and PSA currently assembles the platform-sharing A-segment cars - Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1. In 2019, a total of 199,000 vehicles were produced at the plant located at Kolin in central Czech Republic. Last year, it was ...
Hitting the reset button
Given the scale and scope of its current restructuring programme, a very different Ford will eventually emerge. Ian Henry looks into the changes being made
At Liberty to explore
Honda has a big presence in the North American market, a key part of its recent strategy has been to build big cars to meet consumer demand. Michael Nash visits the company’s East Liberty facility in Ohio
No room for error
Monitoring the complex geometrics of the car body exterior in early development stages can raise the quality and avoid misalignment. Nextsense’s Calipri range is helping to fill the gaps
Nafta aftermath
A new trade deal era will reconfigure Mexico’s automotive industry relations with the US, Nick Gibbs reports
US plants – stick or twist?
Several carmakers have recently outlined plans to alter their production activities in the US. Some announcements have been positive, with large investments being made to build new facilities as well as upgrade existing ones. Others have detailed plant closures.
Look to the future, it’s only just begun – AMS Podcast Episode 03
With absolutely no apologies for quoting Slade, AMS Editor Nick Holt and AMS Deputy Editor Gareth Price see this Christmas as the ideal time to look back at a selection of topics featured in AMS magazine during 2018.
FFC/FPC connectors
Two FFC/FPC connectors designed for the growing information market needs of automakers are now available from Molex. The Easy-On FFC/FPC connectors are offered in 0.5mm pitch and 1.0mm pitch forms and both feature a double-bottom contact terminal design that removes dust and contaminants from the connection, claims the company.
Ford invests in EV and AV production
US - Ford has said it will spend US$900m on its facilities in Michigan in order to ready for the production of both electric and autonomous vehicles. This is the latest in a string of investments that the OEM has recently announced it will make in US plants.
