Auto Industry articles from June 2000

Auto Industry archives from June 2000

Cosworth expands manufacturing plant.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... UK Work starts later this year on extensions to the machining and assembly facilities of Cosworth Technology Ltd in Wellingborough. The move will more than double the floor area from 4,500 [m.sup.2] to 10,000 [m.sup.2] and have a profound...

Nedcar could build Smarts.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... Germany DaimlerChrysler has confirmed that it is considering assembling the new generation of four-seater Smart cars at the Nedcar plant in the Netherlands. "We are looking into the possibility of assembly at the plant but it all depends...

Clepa predicts mega-suppliers.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... Europe The European Association of Automotive Suppliers (Clepa) has published a report which says that the number of tier one automotive manufacturers could shrink from 2000 to just 150 by the year 2010. "We predict that within the tier...

Western European car sales rise again in May.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... Europe Western Europe's new passenger car registrations for the month of May 2000 were up 10.4 per cent to 1,420,127 vehicles compared with 1,286,180 for the same period last year. The figures represent a cumulative growth of 2.7 per cent...

Government grant set up to help build natural gas refuelling stations.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... UK The Government-funded Energy Saving Trust is allocating more money to its Powershift scheme aimed at encouraging greater use of alternative vehicle fuels, namely natural gas (NG), liquefied petroleum gas, electricity and fuel cells. ...

Meritor plans to save $21m by cutting costs.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... US Meritor Automotive has announced a restructuring programme which aims to save the company $21 million (14 million [pounds sterling]) in annual operating costs. The programme targets cost reductions and improving of operational...

Torotrak posts planned losses.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... UK Torotrak has announced pre-tax losses of 8.49 million [pounds sterling] for the financial year up to March 31, 2000. The company is presently working on the development of an infinitely variable transmission system which it believes...

Car production in China to rise by 12 per cent this year.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... China Car production in China is expected to grow by 12 per cent this year according to the The China Commercial Information Centre, with total vehicle sales topping 1.8 million. The organisation also expects 10.7 per cent growth in local...

news: news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... United States Tier ones joint Covisint Three major tier one suppliers have signed up the Covisint internet-based trade exchange being developed by General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Renault (Autoindustry, 26 May). Delphi, the...

Volvo buys Mitsubishi diesels.
June 23, 2000... Sweden Future Volvo light-middleweight trucks in the 7.5tonne gvw category are to be powered by diesel engines sourced from its Japanese partner Mitsubishi. DaimlerChrysler has made it clear that its control of Mitsubishi, agreed earlier...

Iveco meets EEV limits.
June 23, 2000... Italy The Fiat group's Iveco truck subsidiary is claiming a certification first under the terms of EU Directive 1999/96/EC, covering permitted heavy vehicle emission limits through to the year 2008 which was finally ratified in February. ...

components: news in brief.
June 23, 2000... United States Bing-Lear expands Lear Corporation and Bing Group are to expand Bing-Lear Manufacturing Group (formerly Detroit Automotive Interiors) to include the exterior mirror business formerly owned by Lear. Financial terms of...

Ford US plans switch to all-aluminium engines.
June 23, 2000... US Ford Motor Company is planning to convert most of its North American-built engines for cars and light-duty trucks to all-aluminium units over the next few years. The move is part of the company's drive to take ten per cent off the...

Volvo picks Cummins in Australia.
June 23, 2000... Sweden Volvo's policy on heavy-duty engine sourcing has become the focus of intense truck industry interest once again, triggered by Volvo's FH heavy truck range being offered in Australia for the first time with a proprietary engine. ...

Iveco establishes diesel engine jv with Ashok Leyland.
June 23, 2000... India A new diesel engine manufacturing company is being formed by Fiat's Iveco truck-making subsidiary and the Indian vehicle maker Ashok Leyland. They will hold 51 per cent and 49 per cent respectively in the joint-venture, which is...

Steelmakers reveal look of lightweight future cars.
June 23, 2000... UK Steel manufacturers believe that family cars of the future will have more curves and fewer body panels. This is one of the results of a design project being carried out by ULSAB-AVC, the consortium of international steel manufacturers...

Hyundai unveils next generation Elantra.
June 23, 2000... Korea The new Hyundai Elantra family saloon made its world debut at the Turin Motor Show this week. Replacing the current model at the beginning of next year, the new Elantra has been completely redesigned and offers a five-door variant...

Saturn plans US minivan launch.
June 23, 2000... US Saturn is designing a minvan for possible introduction in North America in about four years time. This is an ambitious plan, since the market for Saturn vehicles is down this year and the company is also expected to bring out its first...

Previa gets first rejig since 1990.
June 23, 2000... Japan Toyota has announced the pan-European launch of the new generation Previa. The best-selling MPV has not had a major restyling or re-engineering since it was launched in 1990. The biggest change for the vehicle is the fact that,...

design: news in brief.
June 23, 2000... United Kingdom Rover adds 75 estate Rover has announced plans to add an estate model to its 75 range, with production due to start in 2001. It will be offered in similar applications to the 75 saloon, with four engines. 1.8 litre,...

manufacturing: news in brief.
June 23, 2000... United Kingdom GSI launches laser cutting head GSI Lumonics has introduced a robotic laser cutting head aimed at increasing quality, production throughout and durability. The cutting head features an auto-focus robotic end-effector...

Rolling launches could save DC $3bn a year.
June 23, 2000... US DaimlerChrysler has announced a flexible manufacturing programme that could save $3 billion (2 billion [pounds sterling]) for North American product launches up to year 2004. The savings will be achieved through the 'rolling launch'...

GM moves Malibu line to Lansing.
June 23, 2000... US General Motors has started pilot production of its midsize Chevrolet Malibu cars at one of the two old assembly plants in Lansing, Michigan. This is also the plant where GM builds its popular Pontiac Grand Am and Oldsmobile Alero...

GM ups magnesium use.
June 23, 2000... US General Motors is increasing its use of magnesium instrument panel (IP) support beams because of benefits they can bring in weight reduction. Magnesium beams can help reduce assembly costs associated conventional fabricated steel...

Stahl sold to Budd Company.
June 23, 2000... US Budd Company has acquired Stahl Speciality Company, one of the largest privately-owned foundries in the country. Sale price was not disclosed. Stahl becomes part of Budd's foundry operations headed by Waupaca Foundry Inc. Stahl...

Web R&D market starts.
June 23, 2000... US Manufacturers Ford, Toyota and Porsche have lined up alongside components suppliers Bosch, Delphi and Denso to list their R&D assets on an internet technology exchange. yet2.com claims to be the first global cross-industry technology...

Ford goes to Oxford University for spray-formed tooling.
June 23, 2000... UK Ford Motor Company and Oxford University have announced the start of a 1.5 million [pounds sterling] research programme to develop spray-formed tooling further. The new rapid-tooling processwas first developed by the University of...

r&d: news in brief.
June 23, 2000... Germany Lear launches two trim plastics Interiors and seating specialist Lear Corporation has launched two new polymer materials for use in interior trim applications such as door panels, pillars and boot lid trim. The two polymers,...

Sertec backs plasma cutting.
June 23, 2000... Sertec's purchase of a controlling interest in Contour Cutting Technologies should boost the UK use of plasma cutting. John Mortimer looks at the advantages of the process. Plasma cutting looks set to gain a new lease of life following...

Cosworth ramps up manufacturing side.
June 23, 2000... Plans to more than double its manufacturing and assembly facilities in Wellingborough demonstrate Cosworth Technology's intention to take its business into new areas. Cosworth Technology (CT) is unique in the UK through its ability to...

Car makers find one size no longer fits all.
June 23, 2000... Faced with increasing buyer demand for customised vehicles, manufacturers are integrating suppliers into the product development process. New Product development in the automotive industry is undergoing a radical change. Simply...

materials: news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... United States Plastic cargo box for Silverado The latest Chevrolet Silverado pick-up has broken new ground by having its entire cargo box made out of Bayer's Baydur 425 polyurethane system. Using HD-SRIM technology (high-density...

Lear's A2 seats use aluminium to cut weight by half.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... Germany Lear is supplying rear seats for the 1.2 litre Audi A2 that are half the weight of normal seats. The main weight reduction was achieved by using an aluminium variant for the basic frame rather than steal. In conjunction with Audi,...

Toyota Deeside expands for Yaris.
June 23, 2000... The new casting facility and the increasing popularity of the Toyota Yaris family car is expected to triple output at Toyota's engine plant in Deeside. The strength of sterling, however, may mean sourcing for components outside the UK. ...

Pushing design down the tiers.
June 23, 2000... David Geran, business development director for Siemens Automotive, Powertrain -- Air Fuel Module division talks innovation with Michael Nutley Car manufacturers are going through an identity crisis. That's the view of David Geran,...

People.(Brief Article)
June 23, 2000... Autoindustry's regular roundup of people on the move Maurice Rourke has been recruited by UK logistics company AutoLogic's to be head of e-commerce strategy and business development. He joins the company from the position of vice...

Honda follows Euro supplier trend.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... UK Honda is the latest manufacturer to try to cut costs by shedding UK components suppliers. Following losses of [yen] 14.5billion (89.5million [pounds sterling]) in the twelve months to March this year, Honda says the biggest hindrance...

Ford financial man to stem Mazda currency difficulties.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Japan Mazda Motor has appointed a new financial officer. Following the resignation of former Ford Motor Company executive Gary Hexter, another Ford manager, Robert Shanks, has been drafted in. Shanks will take up the new role towards the end...

business: news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Czech Republic Mitsubishi to build Czech plant Czechinvest, the Czech government's investment promotion agency, announced in early June that Mitsubishi Electric had decided to build a $32million (22million [pounds sterling])...

Pilkington and Visteon plan world dominance.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... UK Pilkington is planning to link up with Visteon Corporation, to make it by far the biggest automotive glass manufacturer in the world. It has been agreed that Pilkington would assume the majority ownership and management of Visteon's...

NHK Spring brings Lear to Japan.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Japan NHK Spring Company of Yokohama, Japan and Lear Corporation of Michigan have set up a joint venture to develop seat systems for Japan and other Asian markets. The joint venture begins operations next September and will be located in...

Scania grants chassis division commercial freedom.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Sweden Swedish truck and bus maker Scania is giving one of its key components plants a higher level of commercial independence. In a move that parallels that of numerous other vehicle builders across the world in the last five years, the...

Scania commits to V8.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Sweden Scania has given the green light to continued development of its flagship V8 diesel engine. During the protracted campaign by Volvo to gain control of its Swedish truck and bus rival, the possibility of component rationalisation...

Cummins drops Euro NG plans.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Europe Cummins will withdraw its natural gas (NG) engines from the European market from October 2001, when Euro 3 emissions legislation comes into force for all new trucks and buses over 3.5tonnes gvw. Cummins currently offers 6.0litre,...

components: news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... United States IMPCO secures Daewoo deal IMPCO Technologies has signed a long-term supply agreement with Daewoo HEavy Industries, IMPCO's Industrial Engines System (IES) division will supply Daewoo with GM-based industrial 3.0litre and...

Peugeot 607 range to feature particulate filter.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... France Peugeot has launched the first vehicle to be fitted with its newly developed particulate filter for direct injection diesel engines. Coinciding with the launch of the new 607 model, Peugeot claims that the filter eliminates carbon...

Johnson Controls and Becker Group to share door panel site.
June 9, 2000... US Johnson Controls has opened a new facility to make vehicle door interior panels in Warren, Michigan. Built at a cost of US$35million (23.3million million) the 24,620[m.sup.2] facility is located in the grounds of the former Detroit...

E-commerce to fuel light truck and van brake markets.(Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems L.L.C. president predicts increase in outsourcing)
June 9, 2000... Europe Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems head Prakash Mulchandani has predicted greater outsourcing of brake system componentry by European manufacturers of light and middleweight commercial vehicles. Speaking at a company review of the...

Ford considers V6 team.(of engineering partners)
June 9, 2000... US Ford is shortly expected to begin naming its engineering partners from the machine tool industry to help it prepare for the massive tooling programme for its next generation of V6 engines. Ford wants to get the engines into production...

GM waives rules for V8 line job.(General Motors has contract with Comau)
June 9, 2000... Italy Comau has been selected by General Motors to supply systems for machining the cylinder heads of the Gen III Vortec V8 truck engines that GM intends to produce at a new plant in Mexico. The Turin-based subsidiary of Fiat joins the...

contracts: news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... United Kingdom Mayflower wins Razorback job Mayflower Vehicle Systems has own a 19million [pounds sterling] contract with Razorback Vehicles Corporation to manufacture body panels and chassis for the Razorback at its Coventry plant....

Iranian company launches SUV.(Kish Khodro introduces the Sinad sports utility vehicle)
June 9, 2000... Iran Joint venture company Kish Khodro has launched a sports utility vehicle (SUV) targeting young drivers at home and abroad. Named Sinad, it is the first offering from the joint venture company, which is based on the Gulf island of...

Jaguar adds to X400 line.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... UK Jaguar has confirmed that it is planning a number of derivatives for the new X400 model range. Besides diesel engine variants and four wheel-drive powertrains the company is also considering a number of niche models to broaden the...

Ford Australia spends 77m [pounds sterling] to restyle flagging Falcon.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Australia Ford has confirmed it will spend A$200million (77million [pounds sterling]) on a restyled AU Falcon, thus securing the model's Australian future to 2005. The updated model will satisfy buyers' concerns about the AU's...

DC resurrects the `hemi'.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... US Pilot production of DaimlerChrysler's new V8 engine production module in Saltillo, Mexico is expected to start early next year, according to DC sources in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It will be the first module set up by the automaker in...

High-Feature plans for Holden.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Australia Holden, General Motors' Australian subsidiary, will build GM's High-Feature (HF) V6 engines, rather than the PV-6s originally planned, starting in about three years time. GM officials have had a change of heart and they will now...

Volvo launches first Thai heavy truck line.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Thailand Volvo Trucks has set up an assembly operation in Thailand, backed by an investment put at $1 million (670,000 [pounds sterling]). Situated on the outskirts of Bangkok, the new facility, trading as Volvo Truck & Bus (Thailand) Co....

UPF starts Flint fabricating plant.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... US UPF Group has broken ground in Flint, Michigan for a 9,290[m.sup.2] metal fabricating plant to produce steel frames for commercial trucks built by General Motors. The trucks are being redesigned by GM and will also be built in Flint...

manufacturing: news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Mexico Budd unveils Mexican plant Budd Company has opened a new $50million (34million [pounds sterling]) stamping and assembly plant in Silao, Mexico as part of a joint venture with two Japanese partners. The joint venture, Aventec...

r&d: news in brief.(automotive research and development news)
June 9, 2000... United Kingdom Software specialists team up Avant!, which specialises in software to automate integrated circuit design, has joined forces with software development tool specialist ETAS to target the automotive embedded systems...

Mini welding cell set for August trial start.(Auto Laser Technologies to host laser welding trial of new cell manufactured by Dofasco Inc.'s Power Lasers)
June 9, 2000... UK Trials are expected to start by late August of the new laser welding tailored blanks facility at Auto Laser Technologies (ALT) in Wednesfield, in the West Midlands (Autoindustry, September 1999). The new cell will produce blanks that...

Comau shop for Ford B-car.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Italy Comau, the production arm of the Fiat Group, has won the contract to supply the bodyshop for the new Ford B-car that will replace the Fiesta. The car will be built in Germany. Comau, which embraces North American bodyshop equipment...

news news in brief.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Export growth fro carmakers Japanese manufacturers had a good April, although Nissan saw domestic sales dip by 7.4 per cent to 45,798, while Mitsubishi Motors' fell by 7.1 per cent to 36,956 units. Toyota made 397,000 cars worldwide, 5.4...

Rolls goes to Goodwood.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... UK BMW has announced plans to locate the new Rolls-Royce factory at Goodwood, Southern England. Costing between 50million [pounds sterling] and 100million [pounds sterling], the new facility is expected to open in early 2003, when BMW...

Ford confident of SE Asia market upturn.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... South East Asia Ford expects auto sales in ASEAN countries to reach 1.5million vehicles a year by 2003, up from a low of 500,000 in 1998. The company added that it was negotiating with its former distributor, Indonesian Republic Motor...

TI Group.(Correction Notice)
June 9, 2000... A number of inaccuracies appeared in the interview with TI Group chief executive Allan Welsh in Autoindustry 27 April. We were wrong when we said TI is moving into the production of plastic fuel tanks next year; in fact the company is...

Ford will reshuffle Land Rover management.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... UK Ford has announced that the management at Land Rover will be restructured when it officially acquires the brand next month. "Land Rover has not had a separate management structure under BMW or Rover so Ford Motor Company has decided to...

Dutch research claims diesel PM breakthrough.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Holland Dutch fuel technology company ChemEcol is claiming its latest diesel fuel additives significantly reduced exhaust particulates in tests carried out by Middlesex University. In a programme of over-the-road tests performed with the...

Collaborating against truck roll-over danger.(Meritor has joint venture with Wabco to develop truck roll-over prevention system for Freightliner)
June 9, 2000... US Foundation brake maker Meritor has collaborated with brake application systems producer Wabco to develop a system to combat loss of vehicle stability for DaimlerChrysler's North American heavy truck building subsidiary Freightliner. ...

Vauxhall unveils 5m [pounds sterling] test centre.(at the Millbrook Technology Park in Bedfordshire)
June 9, 2000... UK Vauxhall has opened a 5million [pounds sterling] Engineering Centre at the Millbrook Technology Park in Bedfordshire. The new centre will contribute to the engineering of future Vauxhall/IBC light commercial and recreational vehicles....

Scania proceeds with fuel cell bus.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Sweden Commercial vehicle maker Scania is developing a hybrid city bus with a fuel cell as its energy source. In what is described as a long-term development project, Scania is collaborating with the French company Air Liquide, De Nora...

Rebuilding Longbridge.
June 9, 2000... Increased productivity will be the key to Phoenix's revitalisation of Longbridge, but it can only come from a combination of reduced manning, retraining and innovation, argues John Hartley Existing suppliers to Rover will be well advised...

Tooling skills fuel Ogihara growth.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... That Ogihara Europe is thriving is in part due to the fact that its chief customer is Jaguar rather than Rover, but it still boasts pressing and tooling competencies unmatched in the UK. Renault has placed an important contract with...

DC readies plants for C-class production.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... DaimlerChrysler's aim with the new Mercedes C-class is to raise the model to the top of the mid-range segment. John Mortimer looks at the investment in new technology required to realise the company's ambition DaimlerChrysler has...

Nissan halves time to bring Almera on line.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Nissan UK's Sunderland plant was the most productive in Europe last year. Simon Pitman looks at how it added a third model to its portfolio, and halved the time it took to bring the last one on stream in the process Nissan's Sunderland...

A clear future for Pilkington.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2000... Designers make ever more complex demands on glass components. Roger Thomas tells Simon Pitman how Pilkington Automotive is reacting In the past three years, changes within the Pilkington Group have made it the world's largest automotive...

People.(automotive industry executive news)
June 9, 2000... Autoindustry's regular round-up of people on the move Bob Dover, chairman of Ford's Aston Martin Lagonda sports car subsidiary, is to be chairman and chief executive of Land Rover, where he was manufacturing director a few years ago. ...