Powertrain
Valmet Automotive opens battery plant in Finland as it expands EV production capabilities
As demand for EVs increases globally, hiking up production of battery packs is increasingly essential to OEMs. Carmakers are now seeking ways of building the packs and modules on the same site in order to simplify their supply chains.
Porsche building first plant for carbon-neutral fuel in Chile
The Haru Oni project is a collaborative effort by multiple enterprises in an effort to reach carbon neutrality. It utilises wind energy in order to generate nearly carbon-neutral fuel using low-cost green wind power.
VW Components opens new lab for EV battery cell research in Salzgitter
As global demand for electric vehicles ramps up, OEMs are increasingly looking to develop their own battery chip-making capacity. Through partnerships and in-house development, carmakers are also seeking to be less reliant on complex supply chains and produce essential equipment closer to their customers.
Italvolt signs land purchase to build southern Europe’s largest gigafactory as EV battery cell plant race heats up
The Italian startup takes over the site of a former Olivette factory in the Piedmont region, where it plans to build a battery factory to help meet rising demand and production for electric vehicles.
Whitepaper: The electric vehicle pivot - Why smart manufacturing, not scale, may be the key to success
What impact is electrification having on established operating models and how vehicles are made?
Toyota to produce hydrogen fuel cell modules for trucks in Kentucky from 2023
Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky will become a production centre for the company’s dual fuel cell development, serving commercial vehicles.
In a state of flux: EV motor development
Electric motor development is key to improving the performance of EVs. AMS spoke to Paul Price, chief technology officer at electric motor developer IRP about optimising design for manufacture and developing better driving performance
Electrifying Europe: new EU ‘Fit for 55’ legislation effectively bans petrol and diesel engines by 2035
The EU’s latest salvo against the automotive industry to mitigate against climate change will eliminate ICEs and transform automotive manufacturing
Nissan and Envision AESC to build new EV battery plant in Japan - reports
Nissan Motor will reportedly build a lithium-ion battery plant in Japan to support EV production as part of a joint investment project with battery manufacturer Envision AESC.
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.
VW and Ford invest in flexible production for an uncertain future
The speed of change in the technology of cars and rapid electrification requires new manufacturing equipment and is making expensive old machines redundant, but exactly where the industry is going next is hard to predict. More flexible manufacturing is the answer.
Watch: Automotive suppliers charging ahead – Electrifying Production Series (Pt.1)
In the first part of our Electrifying Production Livestream series, AMS explores how vehicle electrification is changing major tier-1 suppliers’ manufacturing engineering and design, plant equipment and manufacturing strategies. Featuring experts from automotive suppliers and production specialists including Gestamp and ZF, Henkel and ABB.
Ford Dagenham to continue supplying engines for Transit vans made in Turkey
Ford has decided to keep its last European diesel engine plant in Dagenham, UK, open to supply the Turkish Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli that builds the Transit and Transit Custom.
All systems go at Schaeffler
E-mobility is increasingly changing Schaeffler from a component manufacturer to a full-system supplier. Matthias Zink, CEO of the company’s Automotive Technologies division, talks to Ralf Bretting and Pascal Nagel about how the supplier is preparing for the powertrain mix of the future and why the discussion about electrification could do with more honesty
VW to have 240 GWh of battery plants in Europe by 2030
Volkswagen Group plans to significantly increase battery cell production capacity and reshape the EV battery supply chain in Europe, with plans to have six ‘gigafactories’ by the end of the decade – including an expansion of its partnership with Sweden’s Northvolt.
Powertrain to the people
As the automotive industry rapidly electrifies, powertrain suppliers have to adapt, but Illya Verpraet finds out that ZF is on board with the transition, enjoying more freedom in both engineering and manufacturing
AI and automation in automotive production need people and quality data to succeed
Experts from BMW, Ford, Symbio Robotics and Cosmo Tech discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in automotive production need fast ramp-up times and adoption by employees to succeed. High-quality data and use of simulation are also key.
Christian Friedl takes over as director of Seat Martorell
Christian Friedl is moving from Porsche to become director of Seat’s Martorell plant in Spain, starting from January 1. He replaces Rainer Fessel, who is moving to take over the management of the VW factory in Wolfsburg.
Sustainability at the core of leadership at Scania and ArcelorMittal
At last week’s inaugural AMS livestream, Scania’s Mathias Wijkström was joined by ArcelorMittal’s Hugo Da Gama Campos to discuss making automotive production greener and how it is vital to put sustainability at the heart of the production system.
Scania to build battery plant and research centre in Sweden
Scania is building a lithium battery assembly facility at its plant in Södertälje, Sweden to support production of a range of electric trucks and buses. The cells will be supplied by Northvolt in Sweden but battery module assembly onsite will overcome the dangers and cost associated with the inbound delivery of finished modules