All OEMs articles – Page 21
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In-depth analysis: strong logistics and supply base central to Ford’s new Mexico plant
Ford is the latest carmaker to plan a new assembly plant in Mexico with the announcement that it will invest $1.6 billion in a factory in San Luis Potosi to produce compact cars from 2018.The plant is aimed at making the assembly of smaller cars more profitable for the company, ...
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Automotive alarm over prospects for UK steel mills
Tata Steel’s decision to exit the UK – raising the spectre of the country’s steel producing plants shutting down – has set off a number of alarms in the UK automotive sector.Vauxhall, whose parent General Motors has a policy of sourcing products locally where possible and which has increased purchases ...
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Tesla’s Model 3 puts customers and the supply chain to the test
The Tesla Model 3 is finally on order, almost two years after the vehicle was first announced. The mass-market, lower-priced electric car has seen unprecedented demand, reaching 276,000 pre-orders in the first 72 hours.Customers had to put down a $1,000 (refundable) deposit for the new Model 3. Given that 276,000 ...
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UK commercial vehicle exports up a third
British-built commercial vehicle (CV) exports were up by more than a third in 2015, with around nine in ten destined for EU countries, figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows.Of the 94,479 CVs manufactured in Britain in 2015, 47,052 were exported, a rise of 34.7% compared ...
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Indonesia needs reform to compete with Thailand
Indonesia must overhaul a number of regulations including its sales tax regime to stimulate domestic vehicle manufacturing and allow it to challenge Thailand as the preferred choice for OEMs operating in the ASEAN region, the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo), has warned.Yohannes Nangoi, new head of Gaikindo, said the ...
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BAIC sends trial consignment via port of Lázaro Cárdenas
Chinese carmaker BAIC has made use of the Mexican port of Lázaro Cárdenas for the first time to import its D20 model cars into the country. A modest 163 units were dispatched from Beijing to dealers in Mexico city via the port in a successful trial last month.The operation took ...
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All change for Aussie rules
After manufacturing comes to a close next year, will the finished vehicle logistics industry in Oz come good – or cark it?The end of car assembly in Australia is imminent and with it, comes a change to the face of the industry. This year, Ford is set to shut its ...
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Unpacking conventional wisdom
Whether one-way or returnable, owned by OEMs and tier suppliers or rented from specialist providers, current packaging models are being re-evaluated in the search for efficiency and cost-savings. Within the North American manufacturing operations of global automotive supplier Magna International, a fascinating pilot project is underway. After a year-long study ...
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Mercedes-Benz pushes ahead in Brazil despite downturn
Mercedes-Benz has started production at a new 600m reais ($165m) plant at Iracemápolis in Brazil, about 170km north west of the capital São Paulo. The plant, which was officially opened last week, is making the C-Class Saloon and, from this summer, the GLA compact SUV.The new plant follows the carmaker's ...
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Nobuaki Fujii takes up new role at Toyota Europe
As part of a number of executive appointments at its European headquarters taking place in April, Toyota Motor Europe has announced that Nobuaki Fujii has been appointed vice-president of strategic production planning and production control and logistics. He replaces Eiji Takeichi, who was appointed president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland ...
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Volkswagen India boosts output at Pune plant to meet rising demand
[Updated April 1st] Rising demand from export markets and anticipated domestic appetite for the forthcoming Ameo model are behind Volkswagen India’s plans to add a third shift to its plant in Chakan, near Pune (pictured). The move will produce 800 new jobs there.“In 2016, we are expecting growth in our ...
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Grupo Antolin goes underground for OEMs in Kansas City
Spanish tier one parts supplier Grupo Antolin has leased over 3,000 sq.m of underground storage in Kansas City to improve the inbound supply of parts in the region to customers including Ford and GM.The company supplies headliners for Ford’s F-150 model and Transit vans, made at the Claycomo plant in ...
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Ford part 4: The future of service
From engaging customers through FordPass to predicting their maintenance needs via Service Excellence 2.0, Ford is evolving its approach to the aftermarket
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Ford part 3: Supply chain upgrades
Ford is rolling out advanced global inventory and demand management tools in pursuit of greater efficiency in logistics and service
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Ford part 2: Global strategies
Ford intends to support dealers through its Professional Service Network, a proliferation of Quick Lane stores and extended parts retention.
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Ford part 1: Always looking ahead
In the first of a four-part feature, Christopher Ludwig talks to Ford Customer Service Division president Frederiek Toney (pictured) about changing times for logistics and providing global customer service
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FCA: Making hay while the sun shines
After six years basking in the glow of rising US sales, and now enjoying low fuel prices, Fiat Chrysler needs to improve productivity today before things change again, says Marc Brazeau, head of outbound and Mexico logistics in North AmericaA team on a long winning streak can build momentum that ...
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Binding ambition at Toyota Manufacturing UK
TMUK is developing its logistics efficiency even more closely in line with the Toyota Production System and proving it can manage complex supply chain changes, writes Ian HenryThe UK is an important manufacturing hub for Toyota within its European operations, and a prime example of how carmakers have tightly integrated ...
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TVR chooses South Wales for production facility
Following the news that Aston Martin has chosen South Wales to build its crossover DBX, British sports car maker, TVR, has said it will also build a production facility in the region, located in the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone. The project represents an investment of £30m over the next five ...
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BMW tests autonomous vehicles in factories to move parts
BMW Group is testing a number of autonomous vehicles on its factory floors as part of an automation drive that is expected to help cut costs by 5% per vehicle annually.The project began this month at BMW’s logistics centre in Wackersdorf, Germany, where the suitcase-sized trolleys are being used to ...