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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 ...
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    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...
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    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...
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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...
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    EDITORIAL – European countries start building in frameworks for autonomous vehicles
    The United Kingdom is to undertake a consultation programme that is intended to pave the way for the use of autonomous vehicles on the country's roads. The Department for Transport (DfT), under the proposed measures, rules will be changed so that vehicles using this technology can be insured. Furthermore, the DfT will also make changes to the Highway Code and other regulations so that such vehicles will be able to change lanes and park safely. The statement also added that the government will la...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to test connected and self-driving technologies
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced plans to create a fleet of more than 100 research vehicles over the next four years to develop and test a wide range of connected and automated driving technologies, the company said in a press release today (13 July). The automaker will test first set of research vehicles on 41 miles of public roads around Coventry and Solihull later this year.  In February this year, JLR disclosed plans to use the motorways and urban roads around its base in Coventry ...
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    IAC's new Czech plant commences production of lightweight acoustical solutions
    International Automotive Components (IAC)’s new production facility in Prestice, Czech Republic, has started production of lightweight injection moulded inner dash insulation, the automotive interiors supplier announced in a press release yesterday (12 July). The plant will supply to two European OEM customers, whose names were not disclosed. The plant is expected to reach full capacity in 2018. The new plant, IAC’s second in Prestice, is located approximately two kilometers from the com...
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    BorgWarner supplies on-demand transfer case for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles
    BorgWarner is supplying its pre-emptive on-demand transfer case for multiple Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) models, the supplier said in a press release yesterday (7 July). The product will initially be available for the new Jaguar XF. BorgWarner will also provide the all-wheel drive (AWD) technology for the Jaguar XE and F-PACE crossover. The company manufactures AWD transfer case for Jaguar XF at its newly built facility in Oroszlány, Hungary. JLR is the first European automaker to feature BorgWarne...
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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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    ZF CEO expects pricing pressure on imported components from weak pound
    The CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen, Stefan Sommer, has said that the company's components that are imported into the United Kingdom are likely to face pricing pressure from the depreciation of the UK pound following the Brexit vote. When discussing the impact on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which receives its transmissions from the German component supplier, the senior executive told Reuters, "The things we supply them [JLR] have become significantly more expensive for them to buy. This means that if the...
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    Webasto supplies soft top for Range Rover Evoque Convertible
    Webasto is supplying soft top for Land Rover’s Range Rover Evoque Convertible, the company said in a press release. The UK-based automaker is the first to offer convertible feature in a compact SUV, creating a new segment. The ebony black colour soft top, measuring 3.44 square metres in size and 68 kilograms in weight, is handled by four compact electric motors which manage its opening and closing quietly. According to the Germany-based roof system supplier, it takes only 18 seconds to op...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) issues recall in South Korea
    South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) has ordered Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to recall 4,980 vehicles in the country, according to a report by the Yonhap News Agency. The automaker will recall 2,783 Land Rover Discovery Sports diesel vehicles produced between 3 September 2014 and 5 March 2016 over an issue with their licence plate lamp. A potential crack could cause the lamp to separate from the car. Separately, JLR will recall 928 Land Rover Discovery 4 diesel vehicl...
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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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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) not planning to ease off Slovakia plant plans
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said that the short-term impact of the UK's decision to vote to leave the European Union (EU) will not have any impact on its new plant investment in Nitra (Slovakia). The automaker's Group Strategy director Adrian Hallmark was quoted by Reuters at an event saying, "The short-term issue that Brexit presents doesn't change our overall strategy." He added, "Our commitment is to our existing operations in the UK, future operations in Europe of which we have already annou...
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    SMMT pledges to try and maintain market stability following UK vote to leave EU
    The 2016 International Automotive Summit, held in London, UK, was originally intended as a forum for senior industry executives and commentators to discuss sustainability across the automotive landscape; a major new sustainability report was released at the event. But inevitably sustainability took a back seat to ongoing events, as organizers, speakers and attendees focused on the recent referendum result and the wider impact on the national automotive industry if the country ultimately leaves t...
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    OEMs react to UK vote to leave EU
    On the morning (24 June) after the United Kingdom electorate voted to leave the European Union, OEMs have reacted to the decision. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said that it will remain committed to all its manufacturing sites and investment decisions. A spokeswoman for the company was quoted by Reuters as saying, "Europe is a key strategic market for our business... we remain absolutely committed to our customers in the EU." BMW Group has also said that it will be business as usual for its UK...
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    Jaguar Land Rover recalls 11,282 vehicles in China over defective crankshaft sensors
    The Chinese government's quality watchdog, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ), has said that a total of 11,282 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles will be recalled over a potential defect in the crankshaft sensors. The recall includes 6,067 units of the imported Discovery 4 sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured between 3 April 2012 and 30 October 2012; 5,214 units of the imported Range Rover manufactured between 2 April 2012 and 3...
    News
    Jaguar seen testing new diesel hybrid
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is believed to be testing a new diesel-electric hybrid prototype, reports Autocar. Photographs have shown a disguised vehicle based on Jaguar's F-Pace being towed on a trailer. The magazine suggests that it has a longer body and wheelbase. When the registration for this vehicle is checked on the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website, it is shown as having a 2.0-litre engine with a fuel type of "electric diesel". Significance: There is a great...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) looking at EV battery production
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is said to be looking at the possibility of electric vehicle (EV) battery production. Sources at the company have told the Sunday Times that it is weighing up whether to spend several hundred million pounds (GBP1:USD1.44) on an in-house manufacturing facility. The report suggests that it could be built alongside a new EV facility and that it would have substantial capacity. However, investment has yet to be signed off and there has been no decision as to whether this will...
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    JLR looking at EV battery production
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is said to be looking at the possibility of electric vehicle (EV) battery production. Sources at the company have told the Sunday Times that it is weighing up whether to spend several hundred million pounds (GBP1:USD1.44) on an in-house manufacturing facility. The report suggests that it could be built alongside a new EV facility and that it would have substantial capacity. However, investment has yet to be signed off and there has been no decision as to whether this will...
    News
    IAC opens first South American plant in Brazil; to supply cockpits to Jaguar Land Rover
    International Automotive Components (IAC) opened its first South American plant in Itatiaia, Brazil, yesterday (15 June). According to the company’s press release, the new facility assembles and supplies highly crafted cockpits to Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) new car assembly factory in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The new plant assembles cockpit components provided by five of the company’s facilities in the United Kingdom. The completed cockpits are delivered to the nearby JLR facility to support ...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) opens first Brazilian manufacturing plant
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has opened its first manufacturing plant in Brazil located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, according to a company statement. The Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport will be the first models built at the plant. JLR invested BRL750 million (USD215 million) in setting up the facility and an education business partnership centre. The plant will supply the Brazilian market and has the "most advanced emissions conformity and certification facility in South America", accordin...
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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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    Mercedes-Benz readying GLE replacement on new platform
    Mercedes-Benz is testing prototypes of the next generation of its full-size GLE premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) which will be built on the brand new platform architecture for its largest SUVs, which will be known as the MHA platform according to an Autocar report. According to the report the prototype is being referred to by the codename W167, in line with Mercedes' traditional internal model designation naming convention. The disguised prototype hints at radically different stylin...
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    SK Telecom to launch ‘T map for car’ for car connected services
    SK Telecom has unveiled ‘T map for Car’, a connected car service based on its mobile navigation application (app) ‘T map’ at the 2016 Busan International Motor Show, the company said in a press release last week. The company will start offering T map for Car to KIA K5 (globally sold as Optima) under the name ‘T map for Kia’ from July 2016 and to Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) F-Pace under the name of ‘T map for JLR’ from September this year. Acco...
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    Automakers prepare contingency plans for steel supply as buyer sought for Tata Steel UK business
    Automakers with production bases in the United Kingdom are taking steps to secure alternative supplies as Tata Steel continues to seek a buyer for its UK manufacturing sites, reports Reuters. A spokesperson for General Motors (GM), which produces Vauxhall and Opel vehicles at Luton and Ellesmere Port and is said to source around 60% of its requirements from the country, told the news service, "If Tata fails, our purchasing teams are already working to find alternative sources in Europe." Honda, ...
    News
    Further Takata airbag recalls announced—reports
    Seven manufacturers have added another 4.4 million vehicles to the Takata airbag recall, according to various media reports, citing documents from US regulators National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). BMW, Daimler, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen all added vehicles to the recall this week. Volkswagen added about 217,000 units Audi A4 and Audi A6 cars to the vehicles it announced a day earlier. Jaguar-Land Rover added certain 2007 to 2011 model year...
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    48V technology is finally starting to emerge in 2016 - IHS study
    It took a bit longer than initially proclaimed for 48V to be finally implemented in a vehicle, but it is here now. Especially, the German automakers have high hopes for the success of the 48V electric architecture not only in mild hybrids but also in non-hybrid applications such as electric turbo chargers for example. A recent study from IHS suggests that the implementation of 48V will take place simultaneously in both areas. Combining both mild hybrid and non-hybrid applications is expected to ...
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    Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Chrysler announce recalls in China
    The Chinese government's quality watchdog, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ), has said that a total of 19,933 units of Ford, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chrysler vehicles will be recalled in the country. Ford will recall 6,215 units of imported Explorer sport utility vehicles (SUVs) manufactured between 17 January and 31 May 2014. Connecting arms of the rear suspension in affected vehicles may crack and cause steering control failure. JLR will ...
    News
    EDITORIAL – OEMs fuel demand for aluminium as carmakers chase emissions targets
    Magna will establish a new aluminium casting facility in Telford, United Kingdom, to supply aluminium castings to Jaguar Land Rover. The new facility will spread over a 225,000-square feet area and employ around 295 people at full capacity. The construction of the facility is expected to begin in autumn of 2016 and production will start in 2018, according to the company.  Aluminium use in light vehicles is expected to increase over the next decade as reducing the weight of bulky pick-up...
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    Autonomous driving car startup nuTonomy raises USD16 million in funding
    Autonomous driving car startup nuTonomy raised USD16 million in Series A funding, led by Highland Capital Partners, reports the Wall Street Journal. The company, spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013, specialises in developing software for self-driving cars. The funding included significant contribution from nuTonomy’s prior investors Fontinalis Partners and Signal Ventures. Fontinalis Partners is the venture capital firm founded by Bill Ford Jr, executive chairman ...
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    Automakers urge governments to make conditions favourable for autonomous vehicle testing
    Volvo Cars has announced that it is to begin an autonomous driving test programme next year which it has described as the "most ambitious" currently underway. The programme, called 'Drive Me London', will begin in early 2017 with "semi-autonomous driving cars" and will expand 100 cars by 2018. Thiswill make it "the largest and most extensive AD (Autonomous Driving) testing programme on Britain's streets", according to Volvo. Thatcham Research will also provide technical data analysis and any pro...
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    Magna to open new aluminium casting facility in UK
    Magna will establish a new aluminum casting facility in Telford, United Kingdom, to supply aluminium castings to Jaguar Land Rover, according to a company press release on 25 May. The new facility will spread across 225,000 square feet area and employ around 295 people at full capacity. The construction of the facility is expected to begin in autumn of 2016 and production will start in 2018, according to the company. “We are excited to work closely with Jaguar Land Rover in the development...
    News
    Toyota will recall nearly 1.6 million more vehicles over Takata airbag inflators – reports
    Toyota Motor Corp announced on 23 May that it will expand the number of vehicles it is recalling to address potentially defective Takata airbag inflators by nearly 1.6 million units. The company is recalling the vehicles to address the potential for front driver-side airbags to rupture and injure drivers. Reuters says that the faulty airbags have been lined to more than 100 injuries and 13 deaths (though none of the deaths to date were in Toyota products). With the additional 1.6 million, Toyota...
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    Tata Motors, Iran Khodro (IKCO) in talks to jointly assemble cars in Iran – report
    Iran Khodro Industrial Group (IKCO) and India's Tata Motors are reportedly negotiating a joint venture (JV) agreement to assemble the latter's cars in Tehran. According to a report by Accord Fintech, Tata Motors plans to assemble gasoline versions of its models, including the Tiago, Bolt and Zest at IKCO's manufacturing facility using local components like tires and batteries. The automaker is expecting to initially assemble nearly 100,000 cars annually, which will be gradually ramped up. The as...
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    PSA and Kia forecast higher output at Slovakian facilities for 2016
    Groupe PSA and Kia are both forecasting higher outputs for their plants in Slovakia this year as a result of the current robust demand pattern in the European market, which both plants serve. According to a Reuters report, Kia is expecting to build more than the recorded 338,000 units that it managed in 2015, largely thanks to the popularity of the new Sportage that is made at the facility. Commenting during a press conference at the plant, Kia Slovakia's president Eek-Hee Lee said, "We expect a...
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    AT&T working with 19 automakers on developing 4G LTE wireless connectivity in cars – report
    US-based telecoms company AT&T has announced it is working with 19 automakers on developing provision of 4G LTE wireless connectivity in cars, including connected-car data services, and is developing connected-car-focused advertising. In a company statement, AT&T said that customers who already subscribed to its unlimited data services for phones or tablets will be able to add connectivity in their car for USD40 per month for unlimited data or USD10 per month for up to 1 gigabyte of data...
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    Corporate Talks
    Faraday Future breaks ground at Nevada plant Faraday Future held a ground-breaking ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada, celebrating the beginning of construction on its new USD1 billion production plant, which Faraday has promised will employ 4,500 people. The event was attended by Faraday executives and representatives of the governments of the US state of Nevada, as well as the city of North Las Vegas, where the plant is located. While Faraday has not shown a prototype vehicle or announced specific...
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    Novelis supplies aluminium for 2016 Cadillac CT6 body
    Novelis is supplying aluminium for the 2016 Cadillac CT6 body, helping General Motors (GM) reduce overall weight of the car, according to a company press release on 10 May. Novelis said the CT6 comprises the most advanced mixed use automotive body structure in the industry, including all-aluminum exterior body panels and rear-drive architecture. “The new mixed material vehicle construction featured in the Cadillac CT6 represents  a first of its kind for General Motors (GM) in North Americ...
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    Beijing: Valeo showcases connected car technologies at 2016 Beijing Motor Show
    French automotive supplier Valeo demonstrated connected car technologies at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show. The company displayed its second-generation InBlue® vehicle entry/ start system which allows drivers to use their smartphones or connected watch to lock, unlock, and start their car, control applications, and remotely access certain vehicle data. The system uses Bluetooth® technology to lock, unlock and start the vehicle, synchronize vehicle data and control automatic parking via the...
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    New 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport features bigger display screen, new Bluetooth-enabled tag tracking app
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) revealed updated 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport for the UK market last week (27 April). According to a statement, changes include the integration of the Tile Bluetooth tracking device as part of Land Rover InControl applications. The application uses Tile's tags attached to important items that can be used to track their location. Using the infotainment central touchscreen, customers are alerted if specified items are not inside the vehicle as well as getting onscree...
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    Beijing: Jaguar’s all-new XFL saloon features advanced infotainment, safety features
    Jaguar showcased all-new XFL saloon at the Beijing Motor Show 2016. The automaker has developed the long wheelbase version of XL sedan exclusively for the Chinese market. The spacious saloon, which offers 157mm more legroom and 116mm more kneeroom, features rear seat entertainment system, Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices and a range of connected services. The car is equipped with Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Tuch Pro infotainment system that features tablet-style 10.2-inch intuitive ...
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    EDITORIAL – Automakers urge Governments to make conditions favourable for autonomous vehicle testing
    Volvo Cars has announced that it is to begin an autonomous driving test programme next year which it has described as the "most ambitious" currently underway. The programme, called 'Drive Me London', will begin in early 2017 with "semi-autonomous driving cars" and will expand 100 cars by 2018. Thiswill make it "the largest and most extensive AD (Autonomous Driving) testing programme on Britain's streets", according to Volvo. Thatcham Research will also provide technical data analysis and any pro...
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    OEMs and suppliers comment on UK’s EU membership referendum
    The European Union referendum campaign officially started on April 15. This will lead up to a ballot on June 23 which will indicate whether UK residents are in favour of staying in or leaving the EU block of countries. Those eligible to vote include UK residents (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), and Commonwealth citizens residing in the UK and in Gibraltar. The UK has been a key player in Europe since becoming part of the European Common Market in 1975. Since the EU is widely ...
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    Jaguar Land Rover to intigrate Tile tracking app in vehicles
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will integrate an advanced tracking app in its all models featuring its InControl App™ in-car infotainment system, the automaker said in a press release on Tuesday (26 April). The company has partnered with a lost-item locater startup Tile for the same. Tile tracking app uses Tile tags and Bluetooth® trackers that can be attached to important belongings such as purse and handbag to track their whereabouts using smartphone technology. The app allows users to set...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) gains approval from city council for Whitley plans, Jaguar estates could remain on agenda
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has gained approval from Coventry City Council (United Kingdom) for its plans to expand its Whitley site, reports the Coventry Telegraph. The newspaper said that the city's planning committee has given permission to the elements of the expansion within a 60-acre area south of the existing site within its boundary. It will now go in front of the Warwick District Council planning office which will need to decide to approve the parts of the project inside its jurisdiction. S...
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    European automakers voice support for autonomous vehicle legislative framework
    A number of European automakers have voiced their support for a legislative framework to support the use of autonomous vehicles on the regions roads coinciding with an event in Amsterdam (Netherlands) involving European Union (EU) transport ministers in favour of the technology. In a statement published by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), its director of Research and Technology, Wolfgang Epple said, "To successfully deliver these technologies industry needs a common approach between carmakers, mobile te...
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    Australian safety regulator orders unrelated recalls from four automakers
    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ordered unrelated recalls of several models from four brands: Mazda, Hyundai, Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover. Affected models include Mazda's CX-3, CX-9, and Mazda2, sold in the country between 22 February 2013 and 15 December 2015, over issues affecting suspension. Mazda reports that the lower nut and bolt that secures the front suspension strut to the steering knuckle may not have been tightened properly, which may cause the nut to lo...
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    Autins Group to set up R&D facility in MIRA Technology Park in UK
    Autins Group will set up a research and development (R&D) facility in HORIBA MIRA Technology Park in the United Kingdom, according to a press release. The company has taken a lease on a 3,000-square feet area at MIRA to set up an R&D facility. The company expects the R&D centre to become operational in 2016, with accreditation to UKAS standards expected by the second quarter of 2017. This will allow the facility to offer materials testing commercially to companies from a range of ind...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) launches mobility solutions start-up
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that it has established a new start-up business to tackle mobility in cities. According to a statement, the new company is called InMotion and builds applications and on-demand services "to overcome modern travel and transport challenges." It added that in May, the company will begin real-world testing of a number of different services such as car sharing and car ownership solutions, across North America, Europe and Asia which will be rolled out in the comin...
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    Jaguar, BMW, Subaru to recall vehicles in China
    Jaguar is to recall a total of 36,415 cars in China. The recall will involve Jaguar XJ and XF models produced between 29 March 2012 and 6 October 2015, according to a statement by Chinese regulator the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The recall is due to "the producer spray-painted lids of the idle gears of the engines, and this may lead to fractures of screw bolts and separation of idle gears and engines", the AQSIQ statement said, reports Xinhu...
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    Editorial – Toyota Boshoku latest to establish R&D base in Silicon Valley
    Toyota Boshoku has announced plans to set up a new office in Silicon Valley, California (United States) next month. The new site, Toyota Boshoku America Silicon Valley Office, will serve as research and development (R&D) base of Toyota Boshoku America Inc. (TBA). “The world's leading technologies converge at Silicon Valley, and amid this environment where companies, start-ups and universities are advancing development on a wide array of technologies, we intend to grasp the latest trends an...
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    Constellium opens technology centre at Brunel University London
    Constellium has opened a technology centre for the development and prototyping of aluminium alloys and automotive structural components at Brunel University London, United Kingdom, says a company press release. The new centre, named Constellium University Technology Center (UTC), features industrial size aluminium casting and extrusion equipment. The Constellium UTC will provide rapid prototyping capability later that will help reduce development times by at least 50% for advanced aluminium allo...
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    Sapa opens automotive-focused R&D lab in Detroit, US
    Sapa has opened an automotive-focused research and development (R&D) lab – Sapa Technology Americas (STA) – in the Detroit suburb of Troy, Michigan (United States), according to a company press release yesterday (5 April). The Oslo (Norway)-based supplier invested more than USD3 million in the new site that currently employs five engineers, with plans to increase the headcount by the end of 2016. According to the company, STA is the first-of-its-kind facility in North America dedicated t...
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    General Motors (GM), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) recall vehicles in North America
    General Motors (GM) and Jaguar Land Rover North America (JLR) have issued recalls for certain vehicles in North America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). GM is recalling 3,137 Malibu vehicles over airbag issue. The recall affects vehicles manufactured between 16 February 2016 and 5 March 2016. In the affected vehicles, the two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact airbags might fracture, which could let the side airbag to move out of positio...
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    Steel Strips Wheels to supply steel wheels to PSA Peugeot Citroën
    India-based wheels manufacturer, Steel Strips Wheels (SSWL), has secured a five-year export order to supply steel wheels to PSA Peugeot Citroën, the company said in a Bombay Stock Exchange filing on 28 March. The wheels will be supplied for the automaker's upcoming plant at Kenitra, Morocco and its existing plants in Poissy, France and Vigo, Spain. The order also includes two carry forward mini spare wheels for new locations. Significance: The supplier said that the total project volume wou...
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    IHS Automotive Analysis - Automatic Emergency Braking Announcement - March 17 2016
    On March 17, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed it reached an agreement with 20 automakers to offer automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems as standard equipment in vehicles by September 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA. The automaker...
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    Volvo debuts XC90 Excellence at 2016 New York Auto Show
    Volvo debut a four-seat luxury variant of its XC90 sport utility vehicle (SUV), dubbed the XC90 Excellence, at the 2016 New York Auto Show, states a press release. "The Volvo XC90 Excellence is a fantastic expanded version of Volvo's idea of luxury. It brings together fantastic materials, uncompromising safety and performance into an amazing package. This car exposes Volvo to a new type of buyer." said Lex Kerssemakers, president and CEO of Volvo Car USA. The variant is powered by ...
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    UK government earmarks vehicle technology research funding
    The UK government has decided on the vehicle technology research projects that will be allocated part of a fund of GBP38.2 million (USD55.1 million). According to a statement, the funding combines GBP30 million (USD44.5 million) from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) with GBP8.2 million (USD11.9 million) of additional funding from Innovate UK. Transport Minister Andrew Jones said, "Our GBP38 million investment will help Britain become a world leader in this exciting and valuable techno...
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    Daimler may opt to build new plant in Poland instead of Russia – report
    Daimler is looking at switching plans to build a passenger car plant in Russia to a facility that it would establish in Poland instead, according to a report in the local Polish media and German specialist publication Automobil Produktion. The company is reported to be considering a location in southwest Poland, which Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was reported to be looking at before opting to establish a facility in Slovakia. Significance: Mercedes-Benz is the only one of the Big Three German OEM...
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    20 automakers commit to make automatic emergency braking standard in US by 2022
    The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing almost the entire US automotive market to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA’s 2022 reporting year, which begins September 1, 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA, Ford, General Motors,...
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    New Jaguar XJ likely to feature new-generation V6 hybrid drivetrain—report
    Jaguar Land Rover is likely to equip the new XJ with a new-generation V6 hybrid drivetrain, according to Autocar. The new XJ is likely to arrive in showrooms in spring 2019, while a concept version could be seen in 2018.  Significance: According to inside sources, the debate on how to replace Jaguar XJ was wide-ranging. Some in the company thought the XJ could be remade as a kind of super-SUV while others proposed an end for the XJ. Sales of current XJ have risen steadily to 20,000 units p...
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    Honda extends engine supply deal with UK low volume sports car manufacturer
    Honda has extended an exclusive engine supply deal to UK-based low volume sports car manufacturer Ariel Motor Company. According to a statement, the announcement has come as Ariel has installed its 1,500th Honda engine into its vehicles since 2003. Significance: Ariel has produced dramatic and lightweight sports cars that are very much open to the elements since 2000. Its core Atom model originally used MG Rover's K Series 1.8-litre four-cylinder, but then moved on to Honda's 2.0-litre four...
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    Tesla Model S to form basis of new Electric GT World Series
    Tesla's Model S is going to form the base vehicle in the inaugural running of the Electric GT World Series which is due to begin in 2017, reports Autocar. Using the P85+ variant, 20 drivers in 10 teams will race in seven rounds that will take place in the Americas, Asia and Europe. It is said that the racing variants of this vehicle will gain uprated suspension, brakes and cooling, as well as benefit from some weight reduction. The new championship is supported by the Royal Spanish Motorspor...
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    Jaguar land Rover (JLR), Coventry City Council submit joint plans for technology park
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Coventry City Council (United Kingdom) have submitted joint planning permission for a new technology park, reports the Coventry Telegraph. According to the newspaper, the project is known as Whitley South, and JLR will occupy a large proportion of the site near Coventry Airport. After the demolition of existing structures, new office buildings will be constructed, as well as research and development (R&D) facilities and light industrial premises. The rest of the s...
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    Dana reports Q4 loss as sales are impacted by currency
    Dana reports net sales of USD1.35 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with USD1.58 billion the fourth quarter of 2014, with a loss for the quarter of USD82 million, compared with profit of USD109 million the same period of 2014. However, the company also notes adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of USD652 million and a profit margin of 10.8%. Adjusting for non-recurring items, including USD138 million in charges for divestiture of Venezuel...
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    GKN develops new electric torque vectoring technology
    GKN has developed a new electric torque vectoring system called “eTwinster” for hybrid cars. According to a company press release yesterday (18 February), the company is demonstrating the new torque vectoring technology along with a range of new hybrid electric technologies at its Wintertest proving ground in Arjeplog, Sweden. The torque vectoring technology is being showcased in a premium SUV prototype equipped with a 60kW, 240Nm electric motor driving an electric axle with a transmission r...
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    Novelis develops aluminium alloy with recycled content in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover
    Novelis, in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover, has developed the RC5754 alloy, which is a new automotive product designed to contain up to 75% recycled content, said a company press release. "Novelis' new RC5754 alloy not only meets the high recycled content threshold required by Jaguar Land Rover's REALCAR project, but also it delivers the strength, durability and formability specified by world-leading Jaguar Land Rover engineers," said Pierre Labat, vice-president, Automotive, Novelis Europe....
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    Leading automakers support GSMA’s interoperable embedded SIM specification
    Leading automakers, including General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault Nissan, Scania and Volvo Cars, are supporting the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification to help accelerate the growth of the connected car market. The interoperable specification will enable automakers to remotely provision connectivity over the air to vehicles with an operator of their choice. It will help to deliver a range of in-vehicle services such as infotainment, real-time navigation, insurance and breakdown services, as w...
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    AppCarousel partners with Mobica for connected car services
    AppCarousel, a provider of app platforms for connected devices, has joined hands with Mobica, a provider of software engineering, testing and development services. Both parties seek to leverage each other’s expertise to offer end-to-end app and software solutions, including connected car, connected fleet, Internet of Things (IoT), and smart devices, to companies that require custom app creation, distribution and monetization solutions for their developers, partners and customers. AppCarou...
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    Materials and design play the strongest role in lightweighting vehicles
    Cutting weight, reducing emissions, increasing vehicle safety, adding driving convenience features and improving the environmental footprint of the industry as a whole have been some of the most significant drivers of change in the automotive sector in recent years. The industry has been faced with the challenge of doing all this and more, often with mutually contradictory outcomes; adding airbags or specifying larger wheels for example adds weight which needs to be countered by reducing weight ...
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    ZF TRW wins contract to supply EPB system in India
    ZF TRW, through its joint venture partner Brakes India Limited, has won a contract to supply Electric Park Brake (EPB) system in India, the company announced in a press release on 2 February. The company said the product is launching with a major global vehicle manufacturer and that production will start in 2017. Commenting on the development, Badri Vijayaraghavan, executive director, business development, Brakes India, said, “This launch marks yet another milestone in our commitment to enhanc...
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    UK government to invest GBP20 mil. in autonomous driving projects
    The UK government has announced that it will contribute GBP20 million (USD28.6 million) to projects that support the development of autonomous driving technology. According to a statement released by the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation, the funding will be split across eight initiatives, and is part of a wider GBP100-million Intelligent Mobility Fund.   Significance: Autonomous driving technology is one of the hottest topics in the automotive sector at present. Although...
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    Land Rover to end Defender production on Friday
    Land Rover is set to end production of the Defender at its Solihull plant on Friday (29 January), reports Press Association Regional Newswire. A spokesperson for the automaker told the news service that the company will hold a small event at the site for workers. Significance: Having been in production in some form since 1948, the Defender will finally come to an end after many efforts to keep it in line with emissions and safety regulations. This will now increase the need for a replacement...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) overtakes Nissan as UK's biggest passenger car producer
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has overtaken Nissan to become the biggest passenger car manufacturer in the United Kingdom during 2015, according to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). JLR's output rose by 9.0% y/y to 489,923 units, while Nissan's output slid by 4.7% y/y to 476,589 units. Other automakers whose production has risen in 2015 have included Mini (+12.4% y/y, 201,207 units), Toyota (+10.4% y/y to 119,414 units) and Opel/Vauxhall (+9.5% y/y, 85,241 units)...
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    JLR chooses Access’ browser solution for next-generation InControl Touch Pro
    Tokyo-based Access Co. Ltd., a provider of advanced software technologies to the automotive, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital TV markets, has announced that its NetFront Browser NX Automotive Profile software solution has been chosen by Jaguar Land Rover for its next-generation connected infotainment system InControl Touch Pro. Built on the WebKit browser engine and supporting global media and automotive standards, the HTML5 browser features high stability on embedded platforms and h...
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    US regulator, 18 automakers agree to principles regarding safety reporting, information sharing
    The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) division announced on 15 January an agreement between the regulatory agency and 18 automakers to increase sharing of data in an effort to find and fix product defects more rapidly, as well as to protect vehicle owners from cyber-security risks. The Proactive Safety Principles 2016 available at www.transportation.gov, the DOT website, contain four key principles that the organis...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) showcases Jaguar F-Pace with connected car technology
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has showcased a Jaguar F-Pace crossover featuring connected car technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (United States). According to Autocar the vehicle features extra infotainment hardware supplied by Intel and a bespoke graphical interface specially developed for the event. The car connects to an Intel gateway inside an owner's house, which allows it to communicate with other connected devices. Functionality includes the ability to match the temp...
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    AppCarousel partners with GENIVI for infotainment solutions
    AppCarousel, a provider of app platforms for connected cars and fleets, has joined the GENIVI® Alliance, a non-profit automotive alliance promoting the adoption of open source In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) software. According to a company press release, AppCarousel joins the league of 18 other tier one vendors in the GENIVI Alliance.  The company showcased its connected car technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016, being held in Las Vegas, Nevada (United States) from 6-...
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    Panasonic supplies SYNC® 3 infotainment system to Lincoln MKZ Hybrid; ELS premium audio system to Acura NSX
    Panasonic is showcasing advanced automotive solutions including SYNC® 3 communications and entertainment system, premium audio sound system and vehicle-centric marketing and content delivery platform at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), being held in Las Vegas, Nevada (United States), according to company press releases. The Japanese supplier will debut its SYNC® 3 communications and entertainment system on the new 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid model. The SYNC 3 infotainment system offers im...
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    Indian auto components export to Europe declines 12% y/y in Q1 FY 2015/16 – report
    Indian auto components export to Europe registered a decline of 12% year-on-year (y/y) to USD915 million in the first quarter of FY 2015/16 ended 30 June 2015, reports Business Standard. Exports to Europe, however, grew 23% in the first quarter ended 30 June 2014. "Export earning is a reflection of poor performance in Europe, which has caused a marginal impact on the overall number. I will not call this a trend. We are bullish on exports," said Vinnie Mehta, director general of the Automotiv...
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    EDITORIAL – SupplierBusiness’ most read articles in 2015
    January – Geely plans to open UK manufacturing facility The growth of the United Kingdom’s vehicle manufacturing pace continued early in 2015 with reports of a major investment by the Chinese OEM. Geely further confirmed in March that it will build a brand new factory on the outskirts of Coventry for its London Taxi Company, which manufactures the iconic London 'black cabs'. The company said it would invest GBP250 million in the new factory, with the capacity to assemble up to 36,000 veh...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on track for start of Brazilian production
    The first pre-production Range Rover Evoque was produced at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)'s Itatiaia plant in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 23 December, according to media reports. Regular production and plant initiation are scheduled for March 2016, with the timing unchanged despite the departure of the Brazilian CEO of JLR. According to the reports, Terry Hill has left JLR and will be replaced in February 2016 by Frank Wittermann, who currently serves as interim sales director for JLR in C...
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    EDITORIAL – Samsung Electronics becomes the latest consumer electronics firm to launch a new car electronics business division
    Last week, South Korea's Samsung Electronics announced plans to set up a new automotive electronics business division in a bid to diversify its business portfolio. The new division will focus on developing key components for infotainment and autonomous driving technology. In a report published by the Korea Times on 18 November, a Samsung Electronics official was quoted as saying, "Samsung Electronics is quick to respond to new and emerging market trends for corporate sustainability. The company'...
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    Land Rover launches InControl Apps platform in India
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has launched its new smartphone integration platform - InControl Apps - for its Land Rover range in India. The platform has been jointly developed by JLR and Bosch for both Android and iOS. According to the company's official statement, the new InControl Apps platform has been designed to transfer the smartphone's interface to the in-car touchscreen infotainment system. The India-customized platform will allow access to popular apps in India like NDTV, Hungama, Ma...
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    Novelis to supply high-strength aluminium for Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup of trucks
    Novelis will supply high-strength, military-grade aluminium for Ford’s upcoming F-series Super Duty line-up of trucks, according to a press release. The truck also features Novelis’s high-strength aluminium alloys in the body and bed which has contributed in reduction of overall weight of the vehicle by up to 350 pounds. Novelis will manufacture aluminium sheet for F-Series Super Duty trucks at its plant in Oswego, New York (United States). The company is in the process of expanding its capa...
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    Jaguar Land Rover to enter FIA Formula E Championship with own team
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) confirmed today in a press release its participation in Formula E Championship. The company will enter the third season of Formula E as a manufacturer with its own team. Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director for Jaguar Land Rover, said, "I am proud to announce Jaguar's return to racing with an entry into the innovative FIA Formula E championship. Electric vehicles will absolutely play a role in Jaguar Land Rover's future product portfolio and Formula E will...
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    Jaguar Land Rover may enter Formula E to advance electric powertrain technology—report
    On Tuesday (15 December), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is expected to announce the launch of a team to compete in the Formula E motorsport series at a press conference, Sky News reported on 10 December. Significance: In September 2015, JLR showcased three Concept e research demonstrators—a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric vehicle which included a modular electric drive module (eDM) JLR developed in-house. Formula E will offer JLR an ideal platform to test its battery and drive...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) confirms production in Slovakia to begin in 2018
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today (11 December) confirmed plans to build a new manufacturing plant in Slovakia, as it signed an official deal with the Slovakian government, reports industry publication Automotive News Europe. JLR CEO Ralf Speth sounded positive, stating that the factory would "mark the next step in the company's strategy to become a truly global business". The new plant, to be located in Nitra, western Slovakia, will involve an investment of GBP1 billion (USD1.5 billion). Constructi...
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    Synergy of purchasing, research and development activities gives megasuppliers a huge advantage
    The last couple of years has seen the trend of tier-one suppliers making large-scale acquisitions of fellow tier-one suppliers in the automotive industry. After a relatively quiet period, these so-called ‘megasuppliers’ are now about to start taking advantage of the synergies these mergers have created. ZF TRW developed a new airbag that can help automakers improve side impact protection in vehicles. The new airbag, called centre airbag, is integrated into the inner side of the seatback and ...
    Insights
    Investments (Issue 10, 2015)
    Company Region Area of operation Investment Comment Axalta Coating Systems China Coatings - Axalta Coating Systems has started construction of its Asia Pacific Technology Center (APTC) which will develop coating technologies for China and the greater Asia-Pacific region. The 15,500 squar...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to sign contract for Slovakia plant this week – report
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will sign an agreement this week to base a brand new construction facility in Slovakia, reports Reuters citing Slovakian government sources. The OEM signed a letter of intent (LoI) back in August to build its first plant in Europe outside the UK in Nitra, Slovakia. Significance: JLR is yet to confirm the final signing of the deal, or indeed what models will be built at the facility. The company has also been looking at other potential sites with established automotive...
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    Mexican light-vehicle sales grow 13% y/y in November, production up 4%, exports see another slip
    Mexico returned a tenth consecutive month of solid light-vehicle sales growth in November, rising 13% year on year (y/y). Exports fell 5.9% y/y in the month, though is up 4.3% for the year, while production gained 4% in October, but remains up 5.5% for the year. IHS Automotive perspective Significance Mexico saw an 11th consecutive month of solid light-vehicle sales growth in November, rising 13% year on year (y/y). Production grew 4% y/y to 296,338 units in the month, while exports ...
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    EDITORIAL – Seating suppliers make a number of investments
    Magna has recently opened a new automotive seat manufacturing facility in Allende, Coahuila (Mexico). The 108,000 square feet building will employ around 1,000 people once it reaches full production in 2017. Magna will invest USD8 million over the next three years in the facility that will cut and sew the soft trim material used in seats for various automakers. This year has seen Magna sell its interiors business to Grupo Antolin for USD535 million, whilst retaining its seating business. Sin...
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    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) workers look for UK reassurances on planned Tata Steel redundancies
    Worker representatives at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are seeking reassurances about its Indian parent company Tata Group's commitment to the United Kingdom, reports The Times. The Unite union has written to chairman Cyrus Mistry. The Unite chairman of JLR Bob Nason and the Unite convenor at JLR Halewood (United Kingdom) Ken Smith said, "We are of the view that you should ensure that steel automotive components used by JLR in the UK and the vehicles we make using steel here should use British-made s...
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    Holographic technology head-up display debuts on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will be incorporating the holographic head-up display (HUD) developed by researchers at the Cambridge University, reports Intelligent Mobility Insight. The technology will provide drivers with information such as the vehicle’s speed, direction of travelling, as well as turn-by-turn navigation instructions. Significance: The HUD technology developed at Cambridge University is the first to use laser holographic techniques that offer improved colour, brightness and con...
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    Steel Strips gets export order from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
    Steel Strips Wheel Limited (SSWL) has secured an export order from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to supply wheels, the company said in a press release last month. The company will supply wheels from its Chennai plant in Tamil Nadu, India, for original equipment (OE) fitment to JLR vehicles produced in the United Kingdom as well as at the upcoming facility in Slovakia. The company will start shipment from February 2016. Significance: SSWL is a major supplier and exporter of steel wheels to passeng...
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    EV start-up Faraday Future to launch production vehicle by 2020
    Start-up electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Faraday Future plans to have a production car on to the road by 2020, reports Hybrid Cars, citing an interview with Nick Sampson, the company's senior vice-president of research and development (R&D), by technology news source The Verge. "We already have a test vehicle running, testing the electrical system, the battery, powertrain. We are well through the design process for production. We are already releasing data and information to start having ...
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    Bosch to display connected car technology at 2016 CES
    Bosch will display new connected car technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada (United States), from 5-9 January 2016. According to a company press release, the technologies to be introduced include a cloud-based warning system to let drivers know if there is a car driving the wrong way, and a connectivity control unit (CCU), which connects the car with the internet. Bosch’s new cloud-based alert system takes 10 seconds to warn drivers if there is a wrong-way drive...
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    Bosch partners with Tencent to offer mySPIN in China
    Bosch seeks to aggressively market its mySPIN smartphone integration solution in China. While local automakers JAC and Changan Ford will be offering the solution in their models, Bosch has also signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese technology firm Tencent. JAC will begin offering mySPIN in its new models from 2016, while Changan Ford will follow in 2017. Tencent is planning to optimize an app for mySPIN that will make a selection of its communication services available while driving. Thes...
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    Faraday Future to bring production vehicle by 2020, says VP
    Faraday Future plans to bring production vehicles on road by 2020, reports Hybrid Cars citing an interview of Nick Sampson, company’s senior vice president of R&D, with The Verge. "We already have a test vehicle running, testing the electrical system, the battery, powertrain. We’re well through the design process for production. We’re already releasing data and information to start having parts made for real vehicles in the future,” Sampson told The Verge. The co...
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    Los Angeles Auto Show 2015: ADAS now a competitive must have
    The Los Angeles (LA) Auto Show is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in November. It has become the most significant show for automotive technology companies, particularly those engaged in connectivity, software and active safety and autonomous driving. The auto show itself also sees a focus on connected car technologies and mobile devices with apps in the car and smartphone integration often grabbing headlines. In recent years, the show has commenced with the Connect...
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