Powertrain
FCA starts building BEV production line
Italy - The highly automated line will be used to make the Fiat 500 BEV
BMW Dingolfing
BMW makes batteries and electric motors at its Dingolfing plant, as well as the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Series models. The company’s electrified vehicle sales increased by 40% during 2018 when compared to 2017.
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
Powering up
Key to the performance of an electric vehicle (EV) is its battery technology. Mike Farish looks at some of the latest developments to improve energy storage
Combined forces
For powertrain component specialists such as BorgWarner, a shift to electrification is bringing challenges and opportunities. Gareth Price reports
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
Ford’s new electric offering
Ford has recently announced it will bring 16 electrified vehicles to market in Europe over the next few years. Michael Nash provides a rundown of the first batch to be introduced
Powertrain suppliers get electric
The vehicle electrification craze is showing no signs of slowdown. OEMs are unveiling more and more emobility models at glitzy events, and governments all over the world are establishing laws that will eventually push the internal combustion engine to the margins.
E for Electrified – AMS Podcast Episode 02
We focus on emobility for this episode as Gareth Price sheds light on Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory. The unconventional facility in Dresden repurposed to assemble the eGolf is also a showcase for VW’s e-mobility philosophy.
Mercedes starts building battery plant
Germany - Mercedes-Benz has started the construction of its battery production facility in the Brühl sub-plant at Untertürkheim, Germany. This is part of the €1bn (US$1.13bn) investment that the OEM has set aside for its global battery production network, which currently comprises of nine battery factories at seven locations on ...
New piston developments
MAHLE says it is developing a new generation of piston coatings that are intended to guide and reduce the heat entering the pistons. The company claims this initially reduces the demand for piston cooling, and the increased exhaust gas temperature allows a higher quantity of energy to be extracted by ...
PSA's Poissy plant to add model
France - Groupe PSA has revealed that it will start making the new Opel/Vauxhall B-SUV at its Poissy plant, which is located about an hour north west of the French capital Paris. As a result, the facility will become the first to assemble a vehicle based on the company’s common ...
Shift of power
Emobility may be flourishing but the internal combustion engine still has a long way to run. Gareth Price speaks to leading powertrain component suppliers endeavouring to make a smooth transition
Eaton and Cummins venture forth
To face an ever-widening array challenges, automotive manufacturing has seen numerous instances of partnerships, alliances, mergers and acquisitions entered into as a means to stay healthy
PSA juggles engines and motors
Engine manufacturing facilities around the world are changing. Pressure from governments and changes to legislation are pushing carmakers to develop new internal combustion engines (ICEs), the production of which often requires new assembly lines and equipment.
Groupe PSA opens powertrain plant
India - Groupe PSA has recently inaugurated a new plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Costing around US$85m, it is being used to house the production of powertrain components for both the global and domestic automotive market.
Testing times
With the automotive industry in Europe implementing WLTP, new controls that replace NEDC rules on vehicle emission limits, AMS spoke to powertrain component specialist Cosworth to assess the likely impact of the incoming regime
IIoT comes to paintshops
New software from Dürr can help paintshops utilise the latest Industrial Internet of Things technology to collect, evaluate and visualise robot and process data
A positive response
Daimler is embarking on a major corporate restructuring in the hope of improving its ability to face upcoming challenges in the automotive sector
