Powertrain
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
Out now: ATS 2019
For this, our third issue of the ATS supplement, we have spoken once again to key players in this crucial sector of the market, revealing their insight on the current state of automotive manufacturing.
Power from plastics
James Bakewell speaks to thermoset plastics specialists Pieter Vanderstraeten and Hendrik De Keyser about the increasing scope for composite powertrain components
To gauge the new age
Mike Farish visits a new facility operated by Mahle designed to help OEMs transition to the updated compulsory emissions testing regime, WLTP
BMW Dingolfing to make Mini batteries
Germany - BMW is investing an undisclosed amount in its Dingolfing plant in order to house the production of batteries for the all-electric Mini. The 'mid-double-digit-million-euro' amount will be used to construct a new assembly line and to implement 'extensive remodelling' measures.
Set the controls
Expertise in plastic component manufacturing will be in ever greater demand during the emobility age. In preparation, global supplier Novares has taken on a new form
Piecing it all together
Ian Henry identifies six themes from the moves, mergers and makeovers underway in the global automotive tier supply sector