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    FISITA World Mobility Conference 2025: Key themes and concerns for the automotive industry
    One thing is abundantly clear after the FISITA World Mobility Conference (WMC) last week. Megatrends impact everything. No longer can chassis development, braking, safety validation and so forth stand alone without impact from the broader drive towards electrification, the AI revolution or SDVs, to name a few.  The event’s sessions gave the impression that electrification is already baked into the industry, particularly in Europe where the debate on (regulation-pushed) direction is ...
    Insights
    Beyond horsepower: Compute becomes the new competitive edge for OEMs
    Automotive compute power is becoming a defining metric of vehicle capability — not just for autonomy, but across cockpit systems, connectivity and life-cycle software deployment. As vehicles transition toward centralized electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures and software-defined platforms, silicon performance is now a core determinant of what a vehicle can do — and how long it will remain competitive in the field. Two metrics have emerged as industry standards for measuring this compu...
    Insights
    Beep launches first fully autonomous public transport system in Jacksonville, Florida
    Beep commenced operations for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) autonomous vehicle service, NAVI, in Jacksonville, Florida. NAVI is recognized as the first fully autonomous public transportation system in the US. Beep, under a five-year operations and maintenance contract, will manage this service as part of the JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program. Additionally, Beep has secured $52.7 million in a funding round co-led by Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital. In the ...
    News
    Volteras secures $11.1 million Series A funding led by Union Square Ventures
    Volteras, a data streaming platform for the energy ecosystem, announced the closure of its $11.1 million Series A funding round, led by Union Square Ventures. Other participants included fleet card providers Wex and Edenred, alongside existing investors Exor Ventures and Long Journey Ventures. With Wex and Edenred servicing a combined 24 million vehicles, their investment indicates a commitment to transitioning to electric vehicles. Key figures from Wex and Edenred emphasized the potential of Vo...
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    UK government mulls raising luxury-car tax threshold for EVs to boost demand
    The UK government is considering raising the luxury-car tax threshold for electric vehicles to drive their demand, Autocar reported May 22. With effect from April 1, all new vehicles including EVs priced above £40,000 attract the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) in the UK. This adds an extra £425 in vehicle excise duty (VED) annually from the second to the sixth year after purchase. Combined with the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year, cars over £40,000 inc...
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    Ford to cut 350 connected-vehicle software jobs in US and Canada
    Ford Motor Co. is reducing its connected-vehicle software workforce by about 350 positions in the US and Canada to better align employee skills with company goals. This amounts to approximately 5% of its connected-vehicle software team. The affected employees, notified starting Tuesday, are involved in projects related to Ford and Lincoln Digital Experiences and the latest infotainment software in Ford vehicles. Ford aims to enhance brand loyalty and generate subscription revenue through in-vehi...
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    Ford halts project to develop next-generation EV architecture – report
    Ford Motor has terminated the development of its next-generation electrical architecture, known internally as FNV4, which was aimed at enhancing vehicle software functions to compete with electric vehicle companies such as Tesla, according to Reuters. The project, which began with substantial investment to streamline software functions, was discontinued due to escalating costs and delays. Despite this, Ford will integrate the lessons learned into its current software system, with a continued foc...
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    Ford Kuga recall affects thousands due to battery defect
    Thousands of Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid car owners have been affected by an urgent recall due to a battery defect that poses a risk of short-circuiting, potentially leading to loss of power or fire while the car is on the road. Ford issued the recall in early March, instructing owners not to charge the battery and advising them of the risk. Despite the severity of the issue, the manufacturer has not provided a timeline for repairs, leaving owners, estimated at about 26,000 across Europe, seeking u...
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    Ford recalls over 240,000 SUVs due to seatbelt issue
    Ford has initiated a recall of 240,510 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator sport utility vehicles from model year 2020–2021 due to a seatbelt issue. The recall affects 216,563 units of the Ford Explorer and 23,947 units of the Lincoln Aviator. According to a report filed by Ford with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles may have an improperly secured seatbelt buckle anchor bolt at one or more seating positions. In addition, such vehicles may a...
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    NHTSA investigates Ford's BlueCruise after fatal crashes
    The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into 129,222 vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Co., according to a report published by Reuters on Jan. 20. This inquiry is a response to incidents reported related to Ford's hands-free driving technology, known as BlueCruise. The agency's decision to launch this probe was influenced by two fatal collisions involving the Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with the BlueCruise system, as anno...
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    Sunderland’s SAMS project selects Oxa as new autonomy provider
    According to a press release on Jan. 15, the Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) project has named Oxa as the autonomy provider for its innovative autonomous transport initiative scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. The project is set to demonstrate the efficacy of autonomous passenger shuttles in enhancing connectivity to key city areas while also minimizing environmental impacts, marking a significant step in Sunderland's trajectory toward becoming a smart city. Councilor Michae...
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    Ford commences production of new electric drive units at its UK plant
    Ford Motor has commenced the production of its new electric drive units (EDUs) at its Halewood plant in the UK, the company announced Dec. 3. These EDUs are critical to the automaker’s electrification strategy and are slated to power the electric versions of the Ford Transit Custom and the Ford Puma. The local production of EDUs follows a £380 million investment, which includes £30.9 million of governmental support via the Automotive Transformation Fund, the company said, adding that the ...
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    Oxa launches autonomous Ford E-Transit vans in UK and US
    According to a press release on Oct. 29, Oxa has revealed that its autonomous Ford E-Transit van and minibus, powered by the autonomous vehicle technology company’s Oxa Driver software, have begun operating on UK and US roads. Aiming to offer a new, cost-effective, platform for goods delivery and passenger services globally, Oxa said that the launch marks a key step in the commercialization of self-driving technology.  Oxa’s Ford E-Transits represent the first mass production vehi...
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    Ford unveils BlueCruise 1.4 for enhanced hands-free driving
    As reported in a press release on Sept. 26, Sammy Omari, executive director of Advanced Driver Assist Systems Technologies (ADAS) at Ford Motor Co., announced the introduction of BlueCruise 1.4, the latest iteration of Ford's hands-free highway driving software. The latest version aims to provide a more natural driving experience and allows for extended periods in hands-free mode under a variety of conditions, such as tight curves, narrow lanes and adverse weather, by improving vehicle speed ...
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    Ford introduces karaoke feature in vehicles through Stingray App collaboration
    Ford is launching a new in-vehicle karaoke experience for its customers, beginning with owners of the F-150 Lightning and then the Mustang Mach-E, the automaker said in a press release on Sept. 17. This feature, made possible through a collaboration with the Stingray Karaoke App, will also be introduced to Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience vehicles. Ford's initiative aims to enhance joy and entertainment inside vehicles, allowing owners, friends and family to engage in karaoke sessions both wh...
    News
    With a focus on profitability, Ford tweaks new model pipeline, sourcing strategy
    Ford Motor Co. announced Aug. 21 that the company is tweaking its new model pipeline and its battery sourcing strategy with a focus to bring down costs and improve the profitability of its electric vehicle business. These changes in Ford’s EV gameplan come at a time when global EV sales have slowed because of high acquisition costs and range anxiety among potential buyers, owing to the lack of adequate EV charging infrastructure. The slowdown in demand for battery-electric vehicle...
    Briefing
    Ford recalls 37,371 vehicles in US to fix faulty windshield wiper motors
    Ford is recalling a total of 37,371 vehicles in the US to fix an issue with the windshield wiper motor, according to a report dated Aug. 19, 2024. The recall impacts the model year 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and Bronco Sport, and the model year 2023–24 Ford Maverick. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the front windshield wiper motor might become inoperative in these vehicles, causing the wipers to fail and potentially reducing visibility, which increases...
    News
    Ford recalls 85,000 Explorer Police Interceptors over fire risk
    Ford is recalling nearly 85,000 Explorer sport utility vehicles (SUVs) equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility (PIU) package due to the risk of premature engine failure that could potentially lead to fires. This recall covers vehicles from the 2020 to 2022 model years equipped with 3.3-liter hybrid or gasoline engines. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in affected vehicles, the engine failure may cause significant amounts of engine oil or fuel vapor...
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    Ford's BlueCruise gains approval in 15 European countries
    According to a press release on July 30, Ford's BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology has been approved for use in 15 European countries by the European Commission, expanding its global reach to a total of 17 countries, including the US and Canada. This technology enables Ford customers to drive hands-free across more than 82,744 miles of designated highways, referred to as Blue Zones, across Europe. The feature is now accessible in several European countries including Austria, Belgiu...
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    Ford plans to assemble F-Series Super Duty pickups at its Ontario plant in Canada
    In an attempt to expand production of one of its most popular and profitable vehicles, Ford Motor Co. plans to assemble F-Series Super Duty pickups at its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, starting in 2026, the carmaker announced July 18. The move to add production of up to 100,000 units of its best-selling Super Duty to Oakville expands Super Duty production across three plants in North America, including the Kentucky Truck Plant and Ohio Assembly Plant, which are operating at fu...
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    Ford Pro rolls out complimentary EV chargers to business customers in California, US
    Ford Pro, Ford Motor Co.’s commercial division, has introduced the Ford Pro Smart Charging Bundle in California, US, which is one of the country's largest commercial fleet markets for the carmaker, the company announced July 17. With its smart charging bundle, Ford aims to improve operations and reduce upfront and ongoing EV charging costs for its fleet customers based in California. According to the carmaker, the bundle offers a complimentary Ford Pro Level 2 48-amp charger or a Level 2 80...
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    Ford unveils all-electric Capri electric sport coupe
    Ford announced the launch of the new all-electric Ford Capri, marking the return of a beloved classic sports coupe with a modern twist. The vehicle, celebrated for being a fan favorite across Europe, underwent a transformation to cater to the electric vehicle generation, maintaining its iconic design while integrating modern EV capabilities. The reveal took place in London at the Wapping Power Station, with football legend Eric Cantona, dubbed "King Eric," leading the introduction of the revampe...
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    Ford Pro, city of Dallas sign 10-year agreement to grow, manage EV charging infrastructure
    Ford Motor Co.’s commercial division, Ford Pro, and the city of Dallas have signed a 10-year agreement to grow and manage electric vehicle charging infrastructure for the city’s fleet operations, the carmaker announced May 21. The partnership with Ford on EV charging infrastructure will help the city of Dallas, which is the fourth-largest metro area in the US, move toward its climate goals and improve air quality by electrifying the city’s vehicle fleet by 2040. As part of the agreem...
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    NHTSA probes Ford's BlueCruise after fatalities in US
    The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an official investigation into Ford's BlueCruise advanced driver-assistance software after it was linked to fatalities while in use, The Verge reported April 29. The investigation includes two incidents from 2024 that the National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating, one in San Antonio and another in Philadelphia. The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation noted that the Ford vehicles involved in the fat...
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    Ford plans to expand India tech hub for EV software capabilities
    Ford Business Solutions India, a subsidiary of Ford, is set to add 3,000 more employees to its current workforce of 12,000 in Chennai. Ford has already invested $250 million in the Chennai hub and is likely to make further investments. The automaker is working on developing additional EV software capabilities at its Chennai technology hub, indicative of the software development potential it sees in India to cater to its global EV business program. Ford Business Solutions India is a strategic ...
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    Ford to recall over 42,000 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs over fire risks
    Ford is recalling an additional 42,652 model year (MY) 2022 and 2023 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs owing to a fire risk, a Consumer Reports article dated April 10 read. The cause is a faulty fuel injector that could cause a fire. The recall includes vehicles with the 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine. Ford previously recalled over half a million vehicles for the same issue in 2022, but found that the problem affected more vehicles than previously thought. The recall is owing to a cracked fue...
    News
    Ford eyes Indian market with plans for localized EV production
    Kay Hart, president, International Markets Group of Ford Motor Co. visited India to assess the company's next step after the government announced its new electric vehicle policy. Sources suggest that Hart discussed the company's plans regarding the Maraimalai Nagar factory on the outskirts of Chennai, India, which the company had previously put off selling. Ford is reportedly evaluating re-entering the Indian market and exploring the possibility of localizing EV platforms in India t...
    News
    Ford, Lincoln vehicles now offer immersive meetings via Webex Suite
    Cisco's Webex has introduced immersive meeting and audio calling in the Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience, transforming vehicles into true alternative workspaces. Webex's AI background noise removal and seamless connectivity through the native infotainment experience enable customers to work from anywhere without needing a tablet, smartphone or laptop. Drivers can join audio-only Webex meetings and calls effortlessly from the in-vehicle touchscreen, and when parked, can join meetings and vi...
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    Ford invests over USD182 million at Halewood factory to support EV transition in Europe
    Ford Motor Company plans to invest a total of GBP150 million (over USD182 million) at its Halewood plant in the UK to support its electrification strategy in Europe, the carmaker said on 1 December 2022. The fresh investment entails a further GBP125 million in its Halewood facility, on Merseyside increasing capacity by 70%, and another GBP24 million on supporting E:PRiME product development center, the company said. According to the company, the new commitment takes the total investment in en...
    News
    Ford to offer BlueCruise hands-free driving in Mustang Mach-E
    Ford unveiled BlueCruise, a hands-free highway driving system that is SAE Level 2 driver-assist technology, similar with Tesla Autopilot.  Via over-the-air software updates, BlueCruise will be offered later this year on the 2021 F-150 and the 2021 Mustang Mach-E models equipped with the available Ford Co-Pilot360™ Active 2.0 Prep Package. Beyond the 2021 F-150 and the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, additional Ford vehicles will also receive BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, while cu...
    News
    EU approves acquisition of Getrag Ford Transmissions by Ford
    The European Commission has approved, under the European Union Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Getrag Ford Transmissions (GFT) of Germany by Ford, according to a press release on The Commission's website on 4 January 2021. GFT manufactures and sells manual transmissions primarily for Ford-branded light vehicles. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. Significance: Founded in 2001, Getrag Ford manufactures classical manual transmissions, hybrid tr...
    News
    Chassis sector wrap-up 2018
    2018 has been a busy year for the global chassis components sector as a major shift toward weight savings and electronification of braking, steering, and suspension systems emerged. The word active was abundantly used across the chassis components sector as the industry came to understand the benefits of having such a system. With a focus on adaptive and dynamic features to increase customer comfort and convenience, apart from vehicle handling, IHS Markit expects the next few years to be impe...
    Insights
    Transmission Gear Ratio Spread
    Emission and fuel efficiency norms of today are demanding cleaner and more efficient vehicles. OEMs and suppliers have responded to this by introducing down-sizing with use of a turbocharger for both diesel and gasoline engines. Powertrain design is incomplete without considering transmission design to match with the engine for optimum fuel savings and performance. Manufacturers have been developing new transmissions to incorporate the change in input power and deliver increased torque distribut...
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    Artificial Intelligence in Automotive Sector
    Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been available since the 1980s when expert systems became available. However, the required computing power at affordable prices only became available after 2010 for embedded systems. AI systems use algorithms and data to represent intellectual functions of the human mind. With the advancements in the system, for instance virtual digital assistants and advanced call centers, A1 is rapidly making its place in every sector. As semi-autonomous and fully au...
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    Hybrid Transmission Developments
    With the introduction of tighter legislative scrutiny on emission norms across various regions around the world, OEMs and suppliers are continuously developing solutions across the entire driveline. Advancement in hybrid transmissions is one such technological development domain where conventional internal combustion propulsion systems and electric systems are combined to meet fuel efficiency and emission targets, modulated with respect to the type of hybrid vehicle application. Categorization o...
    Insights
    Electric park brake market trends
    Traditionally, the task to hold the vehicle stationary on inclines or flat roads was accomplished by manual parking brakes (hand brakes). The manual parking brake comprises a hand lever that pulls a cable to actuate the parking brake. In some cases the hand lever can be substituted by a pedal which actuates the cable. Pedal parking brake is found mostly in North American vehicles with automatic transmissions. However, with consumers looking for more electronic and comfort features in the vehicle...
    Insights
    China braking market trends
    The Chinese brake market is becoming increasingly sophisticated, adding several brake types such as Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) and electronic parking brake (EPB) that were previously not present or held a niche segment in the market. In 2015, Germany-based Continental reported in its Q2 earnings call, that content per vehicle in China is increasing much faster than Europe and the United States, as the Chinese want more modern products. IHS expects market value of global automotive braking mark...
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    JLR, Ford, BMW in talks for battery plant in UK—report
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is holding talks with its erstwhile parent Ford and rival German carmaker BMW for setting up a joint battery manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom for electric vehicles (EV), Automotive News reported on Monday (25 July) citing The Sunday Times. Executives of these three automakers are reported to have met and held initial discussions on investing in the battery plant, which will have capacity to power several hundred thousand vehicles.   Significance: An in-hous...
    News
    Ford India exits EV consortium – report
    Ford India has reportedly opted out of an electric vehicle (EV) consortium aimed at developing a domestic supplier base for hybrid and electric vehicles. A Mint business daily report quoted people with knowledge of the matter that the move comes after a directive from global headquarters. "The direction that has come from headquarters suggests that the programme is financially unviable and Ford India should rather focus on strengthening its financial and sales performances," the r...
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    Tesla CEO Musk unveils revised master plan
    Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed his revised master plan, "Masterplan, Part Deux", on Wednesday (20 July). The revised plan, which comes 10 years after Musk wrote his first master plan, continues to focus on goals of accelerating the advent of sustainable energy.  In his latest master plan, Musk has focused on four key areas. First, Tesla aims to integrate energy generation and storage; this addresses the thinking behind merging Tesla Motors and SolarCity, a supplier of solar power s...
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    US government expands EV charging loan guarantees
      The White House announced yesterday (21 July) measures to expand deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The central components are the unlocking of an existing USD4.5 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and efficiency projects to now include hardware and software for EV chargers, and "inviting applications to support the commercial-scale deployment of innovative electric vehicle charging facilities". Other moves announced include launching the FAST ...
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    CEO unveils revised master plan for Tesla
    Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed yesterday (20 July) his revised master plan, "Masterplan, Part Deux", for the US-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, almost exactly 10 years after the 6 August 2006 release of the first master plan. Ten years ago, Musk wrote that his plan had four basic objectives: create a low-volume car, which would necessarily be expensive; use that money to develop a medium-volume car at a lower price; use that money to create an affordable, high-volume car; and p...
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    Ford Fusion Energi plug-in sales in US up 69% y/y in H1 2016—report
    Ford has reported strong growth in sales of its Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid electric sedan this year. According to Insideevs, the automaker delivered 7,235 units of the Fusion Energi in the first six months of this year, up 69% year-over-year (y/y). The model is also the third most popular plug-in model this year behind the Tesla Model S and the Chevrolet Volt. Significance: Sales of plug-in electric vehicles, including pure electric, is witnessing strong growth in the United States this year....
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    Toyota resumes production at Turkish plant after failed coup attempt
    Toyota has resumed production operations at its Turkish plant in Sakarya following a day's suspension. According to a report by Nikkei, the Japanese automaker made an announcement to this effect on Saturday afternoon after suspending a day shift to analyse the impact of the attempted coup by a military faction. After it became clear that the coup attempt was foiled, Toyota confirmed the safety of its Japanese employees and their families while also stating that it had not received any report of ...
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    Ford and others invest USD6.6 million in 3D map company Civil Maps – reports
    Ford, Motus Ventures, Wicklow Capital, StartX Stanford, and AME Cloud Ventures have invested a combined USD6.6 million in a company called Civil Maps, which develops three-dimensional maps for autonomous cars. The company's web site says that it "provides self-learning cognitive perception systems that replicate human context to enable machines to perceive, orient and respond to the physical world. By combining localization technology and artificial intelligence, we are creating a new generation...
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    Indian government plans to notify EV charging infrastructure standard this year—report
      The Indian government plans to notify charging infrastructure standard for electric vehicle (EVs) by 30 September 2016, reporta Autocar Professional magazine. The report quoted Pravin Agrawal, director, Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) in India, as saying that the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is currently developing a standard for EV charging infrastructure in India. According to the report, DHI has set up 25 charging stations in Bangalore under a pilot project and p...
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    GM Holden plans to close Cruze production in Australia in October – report
    GM Holden plans to end production of Cruze small car at its Elizabeth plant in Australia, reports GoAuto.com. However, the company will continue producing Commodore large car until late 2017. The end of Cruze production will reduce daily production capacity at the Elizabeth plant from 240 to 165 cars. It will also make 320 positions redundant at the plant.   Significance: In 2013, GM announced its decision to wind up manufacturing operations in Australia by late 2017. Prior to GM, Ford ...
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    Denso to invest more than USD37 million to expand automation at US facility
    Denso plans to invest more than USD37 million in machinery and equipment to expand automation at its Denso Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. (DMMI) manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan (United States), the company announced in a press release on 13 July. The investment will support localisation of component manufacturing for several customers. The investment is likely to create 125 jobs. Additionally, the company has received a USD687,500 performance grant from the Michigan Economic Devel...
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    OEMs, industry bodies in India form consortium to promote EV industry – report
    OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford India, Mahindra Reva and Tata Motors, along with industry bodies including Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), have formed a consortium, code-named xEV One, to develop supplier base for critical hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) components, reports Autocar Professional. The move is part of the central government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric ...
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    Brose reports 17% y/y growth in 2015 sales to USD6.7 billion
    The Brose Group reported 17% year-over-year (y/y) increase in sales to EUR6.1 billion (USD6.7 billion, 31 December 2015) in the financial year ended 31 December 2015, the Germany-based supplier said in a press release on 12 July. The company attributed strong growth in sales to favourable currency translations. The company reported higher sales across all key markets compared with the previous financial year. Brose reported the highest sales growth in North America (27% y/y), followed by As...
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    OEMs, industry bodies in India form consortium to promote EV industry—report
      OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford India, Mahindra Reva and Tata Motors, along with industry bodies including Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), have formed a consortium, code-named xEV One, to develop supplier base for critical hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) components, reports Autocar Professional. The move is part of the central government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &...
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    Mazda to end development and production of pickup trucks, enters agreement with Isuzu
    Mazda and Isuzu have entered into a "basic agreement" to collaborate on pickup trucks. Mazda issued a short statement saying it will end development and manufacturing of pickup trucks and will procure vehicles from Isuzu. "Isuzu will produce next-generation pickup trucks for Mazda, based on Isuzu's pickup truck model," according to the statement. Models produced under the new deal will be sold globally, except North America. The automakers did not reveal further details of the expected date of s...
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    Hankook unveils new all-season truck tires for European market
    Hankook Tire has launched new all-season truck tires, SmartFlex AH35 and SmartFlex DH35, for the European market, said a company press release yesterday (11 July). The new tires have expanded the company’s SmartFlex, TBR lineup of hybrid segment tire for multi purposes. While SmartFlex AH35 is now available, SmartFlex DH35 will be available soon. Significance: The new SmartFlex AH35 is designed for steer axle, while DH35 is designed for drive axle. Additionally, the AH35 is fit for all pos...
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    South Korean government launches investigation into Ford Explorer SUV over exhaust fume leak
    The South Korean government has launched an investigation into Ford's Explorer sport utility vehicle (SUV) over an exhaust fume leak, according to a report by the Maeil Business Newspaper. Owners have filed complaints about the issue since 2011, said the Transport Ministry. The complainants claimed that there is a smell inside the vehicle and the passengers suffered from headaches and car sickness. The Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute will study exhaust fume levels under regular...
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    Light vehicle production grows 4.1% in Mexico in June, exports also up marginally
    Mexico's light vehicle output grew 4.1% y/y in June to 319,122 units, from 306,694 units in June 2015, thanks to strong domestic demand. This was better than the decline of 3.1% y/y witnessed in May, although year-to-date (YTD) production is still down 3.1% y/y at 1.67 million units. The recovery in June was led by Nissan, which posted a 6.2% y/y surge in output to 78,125 units. GM (60,239 units) and FCA (46,372 units) also posted gains, albeit smaller, at 1.3% and 5.2%, respectively. These gain...
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    China's Changan considering manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, India
    Chinese automaker Changan is considering the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to set up a manufacturing plant, according to a report by the Hindu Business Line that cited an unnamed senior government official. The report added that the automaker has been in talks with various industry promotion agencies such as State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu for allocation of land and the Guidance Bureau, which handles investment facilitation. Significance: Changan is one of the biggest stat...
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    Damping control technologies development
    Demand for improved comfort and handling is growing across a broad range of vehicle segments, from compact cars to luxury sedans, resulting in increased usage of advanced electronic controls with the objective to control ride quality and offer greater comfort to cabin occupants. Fully active shock absorbers, meaning shock absorbers featuring some form of valve actuation and electronic control system, have historically remained a niche in the market (about 0.11% in 2015 according to IHS) owing to...
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    US’ NHTSA probes Ford Explorer for exhaust leak
    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States has begun an investigation into model year (MY) 2011-2015 Ford Explorer SUVs that are reportedly leaking carbon monoxide (CO), The Detroit News reported yesterday. The safety regulator says it has received 154 complaints of occupants smelling exhaust odors inside the vehicle. The complainants claimed that exhaust gas can be smelled when the SUV is at full throttle, such as while climbing a hill, or when the air-condi...
    News
    Ford using deep learning for Lane detection
    Researchers at Ford Research and Innovation Centre in Palo Alto, California, United States, have developed a new sub-centimeter accurate approach to estimate a moving vehicle’s position within a lane in real time, according to NVIDIA. In order to achieve this, the researchers at the US automaker  trained a deep neutral network named DeepLanes that process input images from two laterally-mounted down facing camera, each recording at an average 100 frames per second. The team used NVIDI...
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    Interview: Judith Richardson, Vice-president Purchasing, Nissan Europe
    Nissan Europe has enjoyed considerable success over recent years. Most recently, demand for the Qashqai crossover has prompted the OEM to spend GBP22 million to expand production across both assembly lines at the Sunderland, UK plant. This will see the SUV manufactured alongside the new Infiniti Q30 hatchback, launched into production in 2015 after a total GBP250 million investment. Looking forward, GBP100 million is supporting development and preparations for production of the second-generation...
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    Interview: Amit Jain, Visteon India country lead
    Can you talk about Visteon’s focus areas today? We want to be known as the cockpit electronics user-experience company – delivering a rich, connected cockpit experience. We focus on six product lines: Instrument clusters, head-up displays (HUD), information displays, infotainment, telematics and audio. Today, automakers are still offering these separately; eventually we intend to integrate the functions of these products on a single integrated device, thus offering seamless integrati...
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    Investments (Issue 5, 2016)
    Company Region Area of operation Investment Comment Benteler China Component manufacturing - Austrian automotive component supplier Benteler Automotive on 10 June opened a new production base in Shenyang in China’s north eastern Liaoning Province. The plant is the company’s 10th prod...
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    Ford recalls 900 Ford Focus Electric over transmission differential issue
    Ford has announced that it is issuing three recalls, one considered a safety recall and two considered safety compliance recalls. The safety recall impacts certain 2015-16 Ford Focus electric vehicles (EVs). In a statement, Ford says the new assembly will be equipped with a friction-reducing coating on both the pinion shaft and pinion gear bores. In certain vehicles it is possible the differential pinion shaft could wear out, which could result in a shaft fracture that would cause the vehicle to...
    News
    Ford issues one safety, two compliance recalls in North America
    Ford has announced that it is issuing three recalls, one considered a safety recall and two considered safety compliance recalls. The safety recall impacts certain 2015-16 Ford Focus electric vehicles (EVs). In a statement, Ford says the new assembly will be equipped with a friction-reducing coating on both the pinion shaft and pinion gear bores. In certain vehicles it is possible the differential pinion shaft could wear out, which could result in a shaft fracture that would cause the vehicle to...
    News
    Ricardo-led ADEPT project on course to meet ultra-low emission requirements
    The partners of advanced diesel-electric powertrain (ADEPT) consortium have announced that the project is on course to meet the air quality and ultra-low emission requirements expected of next-generation vehicles, according to a press release by Ricardo on 29 June. According to the press release, the final results of the project will be revealed at the LCV2016 event in September in the United Kingdom. The Ricardo-led project includes the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC), Control...
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    Kiessling Transit orders 32 Lightning Hybrids ERS units for buses
    Kiessling Transit, a US-based transportation company, has ordered 32 hydraulic hybrid buses equipped with Lighting Hybrids’ Energy Recovery System (ERS). According to a company press release, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will pay for 80% of the cost of the Lightning Hybrids’ systems to be installed on Kiessling Transit’s Ford E-450 passenger buses. Lightning Hybrids’ proprietary fleet data analytics software, which tracks and evaluates vehicle and system performance, has been te...
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    USABC, US DOE offer USD7 million to 24M Technologies to develop, manufacture lithium-ion batteries
    The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has awarded a USD7 million contract to 24M Technologies, a spin-off of A123, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to use its cell design and manufacturing process to deliver low-cost lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and demonstrate their potential for mass production. According to USABC press release, the 36-month contract award is 50% funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE). "The 24M Technologies contract award is part of USABC's broad battery...
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    Magneti Marelli adds LED automotive lighting production at Juarez plant in Mexico
    Magneti Marelli is adding production of automotive lighting, specifically LED lighting modules, at its facility in Juarez, Mexico, according to a company press release. The auto components supplier's facility began producing automotive headlights in 1997, the company said, and currently builds head lamps, tail-lamps, rear appliqués, and various electric modules. The facility has a "strategic position" to serve carmakers in the North American Free Trade Agreement region, including BMW, Daimler, ...
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    Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang to share 10-speed automatic transmission
    Rivals Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang are to receive a new co-developed 10-speed automatic transmission. The transmission will go into the 2017 model-year Camaro ZL1, which is the first of 10 General Motors (GM) products scheduled to use the unit, while some versions of the Mustang are slotted to receive the 10-speed transmission in the 2018 model year, according to an Automotive News report. Last month Ford announced the 10-speed transmission will be used in the F-150 pick-up, while GM s...
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    New vehicle sales in Thailand up 16% y/y in May; production and exports also grow
    New vehicle sales in Thailand grew 16% year on year (y/y) during May to 66,035 units, according to data released by the Thai Automotive Institute (TAI). Vehicle production during the month rose 24.7% y/y to 168,394 units, while exports of completely built-up (CBU) units went up 11.9% y/y to 99,547 units. For the year to date (YTD), total domestic sales are down 2% y/y at 302,581 units, although production remains in the positive territory with growth of 3.8% y/y to 813,505 units. Meanwhile, CBU ...
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    Spanish passenger car production gains by 7.5% y/y during May
    Passenger car production in Spain has continued to grow during May, according to the latest data published by ANFAC. Output of such vehicles has grown by 7.5% year on year (y/y) to 218,419 units, further contributing to its year to date (YTD) which is now up by 10.4% y/y to 1,065,781 units. The number of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) built has also surged, growing by 134.1% y/y to 5,018 units, which has resulted in production of 17,579 units during the YTD, an increase of 76% y/y. However, the n...
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    Renault, Ford, GM increase Brazilian production for export
    Renault, Ford, and General Motors (GM) plan to hire temporary workers to boost Brazilian production for export markets, according to media reports. Renault is reported to have recruited 550 workers for production at its factory in São Jose dos Pinhais, Parana state. The plant will fill export orders for the Sandero, Duster Oroch, and Logan from Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Ford is reported to have recalled 180 workers to its plant in Camacari, Bahia, to build the Ka, Ka+, and EcoSport m...
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    Fiat Chrysler Automotive, General Motors, Toyota agreements to allow resumption of vehicle production in Venezuela
    Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) has reached an agreement with the government to resume production at its plants in Venezuela, and General Motors (GM) and Toyota are near to announcing similar deals, according to a Bloomberg report. Under the deals, the Venezuelan government will allow the automakers to sell their plants' production in US dollars, similar to an agreement Ford reached in 2015, states the report, citing "people with knowledge of the talks". Under Ford's plan, Venezuelans pay the aut...
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    Several automakers may resume vehicle production in Venezuela – report
    Fiat Chrysler, General Motors and Toyota reportedly near an agreement to resume production at their respective plants in Venezuela, according to a Bloomberg report. The report says that the Venezuelan government will allow them to sell plant output in dollars, similar to an agreement Ford reached in 2015; the report cites “people with knowledge of the talks.” Under Ford’s plan, Venezuelans pay Ford dealers up front in a dual currency plan: dollars for production materials and bolivares to ...
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    Recent developments emphasize the importance of OTA in today’s software laden vehicles
    Automotive OTA updates continue to press forward and are being implemented over a wider variety of automobiles.The industry continues to be propelled by suppliers like Red Bend (now owned by Harman) and players such as Movimento and Arynga (acquired by Intel/Wind River). Some OEMs too are developing their own OTA platforms, with some major automakers deciding to take on the lion’s share of OTA development internally within in-house R&D centers. While IVI updates, OTA map updates, TCU up...
    Insights
    The most important innovative future automotive UX is AI
    When the term Artificial Intelligence (or “AI”) is used in an automotive context, most people will envision a robot car that can drive itself. And this is a very direct application for AI in automotive. However, if done correctly, it will be largely a backend or “behind-the-scenes” type of intelligence that observes, trains, and predicts things without the user really being involved – hence the autonomous function. However, AI’s most tangible purpose will be in how it interacts wi...
    Insights
    Verizon acquires Telogis to boost connected vehicle business
    Verizon Communications Inc. has announced that it is acquiring Telogis, a California-based company that develops cloud-based solutions for mobile workforces, and specifically telematics, compliance and navigation software used by Ford, Volvo, GM and other car companies, as well as Apple and AT&T. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2016. Significance: With companies like...
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    Ford unveils details of two new mobility projects to ease parking
    Ford has unveiled details of two new mobility projects aimed at finding parking in a crowded city. The two projects are being worked upon by Ford Asia Pacific in collaboration with mobile app valet service Cheyaoshi and smart parking developer Ding Ding. At Ford’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai’s Lujiazui financial district, four out of 10 employees said in an internal survey that they spend an extra 10 to 20 minutes every day finding parking near the office. In the project with C...
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    Karma Automotive adds to Detroit-based executive team
    Karma Automotive announced on 21 June that it has appointed Dennis Dougherty, to the new position of president and COO. Additionally, the company announced the appointments of Kip Ewing, Eric Keipper, Scott Sabin and Bruce Smith recently, noting that it is expanding its engineering and programme management team in the US state of Michigan, while expanding supply chain resources at is California headquarters. In a statement, Darren Post, vp of engineering, said, “We have a very aggressive ...
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    General Motors (GM) revises South African production plans – report
    General Motors (GM) is revising production output levels for its South African manufacturing base, according to a Bloomberg report. The report quotes an email from a GM spokesperson as saying, "Due to the deterioration in the economic environment and the anticipated resultant decline in vehicle sales, we have revised our production schedule. We are currently considering all alternatives, including voluntary separations, to minimize the impact of these changed circumstances on our business and on...
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    Recalls increase in China as AQSIQ strengthens vigilance; Honda to recall 1 million vehicles, VW 150,000 units
    Chinese government body the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has steadily been strengthening the level it scrutinises the vehicle market in China. The body, which is the official regulatory body for all products, from food to fertilisers, has in recent years been significantly increasing its vigilance over the car market in China. In the first quarter of 2014, the AQSIQ issued recall notices on a total of 134,000 vehicles in China. In the first qua...
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    Continental supplies turbocharger with innovative RAAX turbine technology for Audi A3
    Continental is supplying turbocharger featuring RAAX™ turbine technology for Audi A3’s new 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine (TFSI EA888, generation 3B), the Germany-based supplier said in a press release yesterday (20 June). Currently, Continental’s plant in Trutnov, Czech Republic, is manufacturing the new turbocharger. The site also manufactures turbochargers for Ford’s 1.0L EcoBoost engines. To boost manufacturing capacity, the company is establishing new plants in China and North Am...
    News
    Recalls increase in China as AQSIQ strengthens vigilance
    Chinese government body the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has steadily been strengthening the level it scrutinises the vehicle market in China. The body, which is the official regulatory body for all products, from food to fertilisers, has in recent years been significantly increasing its vigilance over the car market in China. In the first quarter of 2014, the AQSIQ issued recall notices on a total of 134,000 vehicles in China. In the first qua...
    News
    Mexican supplier Tremec plans USD54 million investment in US state of Michigan – report
    Tremec Corp, a supplier of transmissions, plans to invest USD54 million into its first US manufacturing site, reports the Detroit News. The investment is expected to bring about 133 jobs to the area, with the report citing sources at the Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC). Tremec is reported to be planning to lease and equip a new building in Wixom, Michigan. MEDC awarded the company a USD731,500 MEDC programme performance-based grant to support the project; the city of Wixom is also offe...
    News
    Toyota unveils new extended-range Prius PHV in Japan, voted most valuable global car brand in survey
    Toyota showcased a new Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) in Japan yesterday (15 June), reports Nikkei. The new variant offers an extended all-electric driving range of more than 60 km, up from the existing model's 26.4 km, and can achieve 135 km/h in electric mode. The Japanese-market specification includes an optional rooftop solar panel for charging and is also compatible with a system that can charge 80% of the battery in about 20 minutes. Toyota hopes to begin sales of the new Prius during late...
    News
    Bose and Harman continue to dominate the branded audio market
    Listening to music is the classic and most popular type of in-car entertainment for drivers and passengers alike. Premium audio helps enrich the experience with better sound quality, advanced sound control technologies, amplifiers, and more. Branded audio is still reserved primarily for luxury and high-end vehicles. In the luxury vehicle segment, branded audio is one of the key features for OEMs to differentiate their brands from their competitors. It also has one of the highest margins when it...
    Insights
    Comstar Automotive plans to set up new plant in Mexico; invests in new plant in China – report
    India-based Comstar Automotive Technologies has announced several new growth initiatives including setting up new plants in China and Mexico and development of the world’s lightest starter motor, reports Autocar Professional. According to the report, the company has invested in a new manufacturing plant in China that is scheduled to commence commercial production at the end of this year. The company plans to set up a new plant in Mexico as well in 2017 to support its customers in Latin America...
    News
    Venezuelan vehicle production drops 75% y/y in May
    Venezuelan vehicle production declined 75.5% year on year (y/y) in May and 86.4% y/y in the first five months of the year, according to figures from the Automobile Industry Chamber of Venezuela (Camara Automotriz de Venezuela: Cavenez). Over the first five months of 2016, only 1,227 vehicles were produced in Venezuela, which were produced by Ford (1,160 units), Iveco (22 units), and Mack (45 units). May's production reached only 331 units, compared with 1,351 units in May 2015. Four automakers h...
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    Ford Sollers halts production at Russian plant due to component supply issues
    Ford's joint venture (JV) with Russian assembler Sollers has curtailed production at its plant at Vsevolozhsk, in the Leningrad region between 9 and 17 June as a result of issues with component supplies. The plan is for the plant to return to a normal production schedule on 17 June, before another planned week long interruption to adjust inventory for current demand patterns. The plant will also engage in its usual planned summer break from mid-July. Employees will be paid two-thirds of their sa...
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    Daimler has unveiled further elements of future powertrain strategy
    Mercedes-Benz will launch a pre-production prototype of its new full range electric vehicle (EV) at this October's Paris Motor Show according to Daimler's board member for research and development (R&D) Thomas Weber. He was speaking at an event for journalists at the company's base in Stuttgart, with Reuters reporting his comments. Commenting on the progress that Daimler is making on its new full-range EV Weber said, "The structure is ready, the teams are working and the initial results from...
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    Ford releases SmartDeviceLink developer program
    Ford has released a new developer program supporting its SmartDeviceLink agnostic app interface, AppLink, part of the Sync 3 system, designed to make it easier for app developers to create in-car smartphone apps, operable through voice command or touchscreen. SmartDeviceLink is an agnostic app interface software that Ford intends to be usable by any automaker. Developers looking for information to build smartphone apps compatible with vehicles from any automaker adopting this open-source connect...
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    Continental, Hyundai Mobis and others join Automotive Grade Linux platform for connected car
    Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative open source project developing a Linux-based platform for connected car, has expanded its membership, according to a press release on Tuesday (7 June) by The Linux Foundation. The new members who have joined the AGL platform include Continental, Hyundai Mobis, Toshiba, brightbox, ForgeRock and Ubiquitous.   “Our goal is to bring companies from diverse backgrounds and regions together to build an open platform that will drive rapid in...
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    NHTSA promises flexibility in self-driving vehicle rules due in July
    The director of US regulatory agency the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mark Rosekind, has said that the initial rules on self-driving vehicles that the agency plans to release in July will be flexible and involve several approaches to oversight. The regulator said traditional regulations that remain static for many years "will not work for this area. We will have something different in July." He also suggested that autonomous vehicles would not have to be perf...
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    Ficosa begins hiring for new US plant
    Spanish component supplier Ficosa has begun hiring for its new plant in Tennessee (United States), reports Automotive News. The new 270,000-square foot plant will build rear-view systems for Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Volkswagen, according to a company statement. Annual output is planned at 4.5 million units per year. The plant, which is in the city of Cookeville, replaces a facility in Crossville, Tennessee; construction of the factory is complete, with productio...
    News
    May Mexican production and exports slip as sales rise 19.2% y/y
    Mexico's output slipped 3.1% y/y in May to 279,508 units, down from 288,382 units in May 2015, as FCA, Ford, GM, Mazda, Nissan, and Volkswagen all reported lower production, although GM and Nissan each declined by less than 1%. Through May 2016, production slipped 4.6% to 1,354,848 units. Nissan, which easily remains Mexico's most significant contributor, posted output up 3.5% y/y in the YTD to 352,317 units, while second-placed GM's production slipped 7% to 263,096 units. Ford's output declined...
    News
    Continental Structural Plastic (CSP) seeks global partner, Hanwha shows interest – report
    Auto supplier and composites specialist Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) is seeking an investor to support its future growth and expansion, reports Automotive News. Reports indicate that South Korea’s Hanwha Group is considering bidding for a 100% stake in CSP. CSP did not disclose the percentage of stake it intends to sell; however, media reports indicated Hanwha is interested in buying all of CSP. Other potential investors willing to buy CSP include Germany’s BASF and Japan’s Mi...
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    Ford, FCA cutting summer shutdowns for trucks, Ford idling Michigan Assembly for 5 weeks – report
    Ford will slow production of small cars and speed production of full-size trucks and SUVs, according to a Reuters report. Additionally, FCA confirmed to IHS that five of its US and Mexico plants will see no traditional two-week summer shutdown, and two of its US/Mexico assembly plants will see only one week of summer shutdown. Citing a Ford spokesperson, Reuters reports that the Michigan Assembly Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, will be idled for an additional five weeks over 2016, al...
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    Ford considers Lincoln production in China – report
    The Changan Ford Automobile joint-venture (JV) is planning to add Lincoln brand models to its line-up of vehicles produced in China, according to Chinese media reports. Ford has so far continued to issue statements that do not confirm whether it has plans to produce Lincoln products in China. IHS Automotive contacted the automaker on Tuesday (7 June) and was issued this statement: “Lincoln is selling imported vehicles in China, and currently has no announcement to make regarding localised prod...
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    CHAdeMO gears up for 200-miles plus fast charging
    Japan-based CHAdeMo announced plans to release an amendment to the current protocol that will enable charging with up to 150kW (350A), the association announced at its annual general meeting in Tokyo last week. This move is expected to support fast charging of both current electric vehicles (EVs) and upcoming EVs promising driving range of more than 200 miles (321.9 kms).  “We see a movement towards mass market EVs with higher capacity batteries and we, as the Association of fast cha...
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    Faurecia to supply complete seat systems for the Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks
    Faurecia inaugurated a new plant in Simpsonville, Kentucky, United States on 3 June 2016. The plant builds complete seat systems for the Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks, which are all-new for 2017 model year and arrive for sale later in 2016. The new plant will eventually employ about 500 people. The Super Duty truck is built at Ford’s Louisville, Kentucky, plant, near the Faurecia Simpsonville plant. Faurecia will also supply seats for the Chassis Cab medium-duty F-650 and 750 trucks b...
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    Faraday Future seeks permission to test autonomous driving car in Michigan
    Electric car startup Faraday Future has applied for three manufacturer license plates to test its autonomous driving technology on public roads in Michigan, United States, reports the Detroit News. Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) told the newspaper that the California-based startup contacted him in January this year about how to apply for plates to test autonomous driving vehicles. The MDOT revelation confirms that Faraday Future is working on autonomo...
    News
    Faraday Future seeks permission to test driverless car in Michigan
    Electric car startup Faraday Future has applied for three manufacturer license plates to test its autonomous driving technology on public roads in Michigan, United States, reports The Detroit News. Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) told the newspaper that the California-based startup contacted him in January this year about how to apply for plates to test autonomous driving vehicles. The MDOT revelation confirms that Faraday Future is working on aut...
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