Double-digit growth in demand for British-built cars last month helped deliver the biggest February for UK car production in 17 years, said the SMMT. UK production lines turned out one car every 16 seconds in the month, with total output of 153,041 up 8.0%, as exports grew 13.4% to 118,898 units. The performance helped to drive overall year-to-date production past 300,000 for the first time … [Read more...]
PSA & Opel Vauxhall becoming powerful players, say analysts
Following the announcement that PSA will take over GM's Opel/Vauxhall operations in Europe, IHS Markit explores the potential impact on PSA's powertrain strategy in this special feature. Implications: Although plans for diesel are likely to be reasonably simple, PSA could go in several directions on gasoline, electrification and transmissions. Outlook: Although there … [Read more...]
Newslines 18 March
The first UK production of a class leading, state of the art, automotive hybrid transmission for prestige and high-performance vehicles will begin early in 2020. The initial £28M engineering program, part funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), has been running for nine months and is already entering the hardware test stage and hofer powertrain UK Ltd is leading a consortium, which … [Read more...]
Massive Toyota boost for Britain
Toyota will invest £240 Million in its Derby car assembly plant for future model lines. It also has it main engine plant on Deeside and has said it is critical that tariff-free access exists after the UK leaves the EU. It intends to increase UK components sourcing to cut costs and also increase the “home” content for post-Brexit requirements. Toyota build engines and Auris and Avensis … [Read more...]
Ford developing 3D components on huge scale
Ford is exploring how large one-piece car parts could be printed for prototyping and future production vehicles, as the first automaker to pilot the Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer. Capable of printing car parts of practically any shape or length, the Stratasys Infinite Build system could be a breakthrough for vehicle manufacturing, providing a more efficient and affordable way to produce … [Read more...]
Tradelines 15 March
SEAT will launch the Fleet Excellence programme, an initiative to deliver an even higher level of service for fleet customers via its dealer network. Dealerships that are eligible for the Fleet Excellence programme will be funded with an additional £12,000 per year to support with the costs associated with fleet management, administration and systems support. A new generation of racking for … [Read more...]
Record applications for Honda apprenticeships
Honda Manufacturing gears up to extend its apprenticeship programme for 2017 after receiving a record number of applications. Off the back of the success of becoming Honda's global production hub for the new Civic, the Swindon-based factory is midway through recruiting September's intake of new apprentices. This year, Honda received the highest volume of apprenticeship applications since the … [Read more...]
Sum of parts adds up to boost Britain
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders will bring the UK automotive industry together at a special event in Birmingham this summer as part of efforts to boost supply chain reshoring and make British cars more British. UK vehicle manufacturing output has continued to grow over recent years, driven by record export demand, which has led to further growth and opportunities for supply … [Read more...]
Government must look at all aspects of connected vehicles
The Government must broaden its work on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles across all sectors and not focus so heavily on road vehicles, say a House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. Early benefits are likely to come in sectors such as marine and agriculture therefore the Government must not allow media attention around driverless cars to cause it to lose sight of the many potential … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 March
Work will begin today on improving traffic flow through M4 J28 at Tredegar Park. It will take about 16-months to complete the £13.7 M work to relieve the bottleneck and includes building a new direct link for eastbound traffic heading to the Southern Distributor Road, with construction work restricted during peak times. Asda is cutting the price of fuel by 2p a litre today and other … [Read more...]