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ToyotaUk

Toyota Charges Up Investment and Jobs in U.S. Manufacturing

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$1.4 billion funding in Indiana plant brings manufacturing of an all-new BEV

Toyota provides as much as 340 new, sustainable U.S. jobs

PRINCETON, Ind. (April 25, 2024) – Toyota will put together for meeting of an all-new, three row battery electrical SUV within the U.S. as a part of a brand new $1.4 billion funding in its Princeton facility, affirming Toyota’s dedication to reinvesting earnings in its U.S. operations and bringing complete funding in Toyota Indiana to $8 billion. This additionally brings the addition of as much as 340 new, high-quality jobs with long-term stability.

This funding is not going to solely present plant infrastructure to construct the all-new BEV, it’s going to add a brand new battery pack meeting line utilizing lithium-ion batteries provided by Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, a $13.9 billion facility slated to start manufacturing in 2025.

“Our team members are the heart of Toyota,” mentioned Tim Hollander, president of Toyota Indiana. “We take great pride in producing quality products while providing long-term, stable employment no matter the changes in our industry. Our team is committed to delivering this new product with the same quality and performance that Toyota customers expect.”

Toyota’s Indiana facility is residence to greater than 7,500 crew members who assemble the Toyota Sienna, Highlander, Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX.

“I feel fortunate for the years I’ve been with Toyota and am proud of the products we assemble,” mentioned Michael Baehl, a 26-year Toyota Indiana crew member. “The company’s commitment to long-term job stability and high-quality work provides me with peace of mind. Additionally, the opportunities to enhance my skills and progress in my career have allowed me to achieve goals I never imagined.”

Since 2021, Toyota has introduced new investments totaling $18.6 billion into its U.S. manufacturing operations to assist electrification efforts. Increasing BEV manufacturing within the U.S. advances Toyota’s portfolio method to electrification.

“Indiana and Toyota share a nearly 30-year partnership that has cultivated job stability and economic opportunity in Princeton and the surrounding southwest Indiana region for decades,” mentioned Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “Toyota’s investment in the state began with an $800 million commitment and has grown to over $8 billion. Today’s incredible announcement shows yet again just how important our state’s business friendly environment, focus on long-term success and access to a skilled workforce is to companies seeking to expand and be profitable far into the future. Indiana proudly looks forward to continuing to being at the center of the future of mobility.”

This announcement comes on the heels of a $1.3 billion funding in Toyota Kentucky for the manufacturing of a separate all-new, three row battery electrical SUV.

About Toyota 
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been part of the cultural cloth in North America for greater than 65 years, and is dedicated to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility by our Toyota and Lexus manufacturers, plus our greater than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota instantly employs greater than 63,000 individuals in North America who’ve contributed to the design, engineering, and meeting of almost 47 million automobiles and vehicles at our 13 manufacturing crops. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will start to fabricate automotive batteries for electrified autos. With extra electrified autos on the highway than every other automaker, Toyota at the moment gives 27 electrified choices.

For extra details about Toyota, go to www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

VauxhallUk

Stellantis UK Manufacturing Lead and Luton Plant Director, Mark Noble, retires after 36 years’ service

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  • Mark Noble, Stellantis UK Manufacturing Lead and Luton Plant Director, will retire after 36 years’ service
  • Mark oversaw the electrification of Stellantis crops at each Ellesmere Port and Luton
  • Fernando Andreu will assume the function of Luton Plant Director from 1st June 2024

Stellantis has introduced the appointment of Fernando Andreu as Luton Plant Director, following the retirement of Mark Noble after 36 years of service.

Mark has labored on assignments in 5 nations and in virtually each Plant Department since becoming a member of the Vauxhall plant in Luton on 1st May 1988 as a Production Foreman. After having held numerous administration positions at Luton, he took on a lot of roles inside General Motors manufacturing, together with FAW-GM Manufacturing Director in Shanghai, China. He later served as Director of Manufacturing on the Gliwice Plant in Poland from 2013. 

In 2018, Mark grew to become Plant Director of Ellesmere Port, earlier than returning to Luton to take up the identical function in 2022, and was accountable for the electrification of each crops. Production of electrical automobiles (EVs) at Ellesmere Port, the UK’s first EV-only quantity manufacturing plant, started final 12 months, and EV manufacturing will start at Luton from Spring 2025.

Fernando Andreu joined Opel in 1996 as a Junior Engineer on the Zaragoza plant. He subsequently took on positions of rising duty at Zaragoza, earlier than attaining his first worldwide project as Quality Director at Eisenach in Germany. He served as Plant Director in Eisenach from 2018 to 2021, overseeing the launch of the Vauxhall Grandland. Since 2021, he has served as Stellantis Vice-President for VEH Industrial Strategy in MFG Corporate and can assume the function of Plant Director at Luton on 1st June 2024.

Maria Grazia Davino, Group Managing Director, Stellantis UK, stated: “Mark has been instrumental in so many important moments for this company, and we are very grateful to him for his role in the electrification of both Ellesmere Port and Luton. After 36 years of exemplary service, we wish Mark all the very best with his well-earned retirement! I am delighted to announce the appointment of Fernando, whose track record of successes will ensure that the Luton plant makes a smooth transition as it begins electric vehicle production.”

Mark Noble stated: “I’ve had a fantastic 36 years working across almost every level of vehicle manufacturing, and am pleased to be leaving the newly-electrified Luton plant in Fernando’s capable hands. I am proud of the work I’ve been able to do here, and to have had a front-row seat to watch the company progress to a new stage of vehicle production.”

Fernando Andreu stated: “I am looking forward to assuming this new role and overseeing the very first fully-electric vehicle rolling off the line at Luton next year. The team has been working hard to ensure that Luton is continually innovating and evolving, and I am excited to get started and deliver strong results for the business.”

  

For extra data, please contact:

Jeremy Townsend 
+44 (0)7827 896480
jeremy.townsend@stellantis.com

BMW

BMW Group makes additional funding in Plant Landshut: German element manufacturing facility continues its transformation to electrical mobility.

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Landshut. BMW Group Plant Landshut is constant to ramp up manufacturing capability – by increasing the manufacturing amenities for the central housing of the extremely built-in electrical drive unit to be fitted in Neue Klasse fashions. The BMW Group is investing an extra €200 million to this finish, bringing the entire channelled into the German manufacturing facility website since 2020 to round €1 billion.

Of this, some €500 million has been used for the plant’s growth to cowl electrical mobility. Annual manufacturing capability for fifth-generation and sixth-generation aluminium housings will increase by round 30 %. The new mannequin era will due to this fact profit from the know-how of the corporate’s largest element manufacturing website.

“We are continuously expanding our site’s expertise in both the production of our cutting-edge components and the development of new technologies,” says Thomas Thym, Head of BMW Group Plant Landshut. “This skill set provides us with the flexibility we are going to need in the future.” Manufacturing the central housing for the sixth-generation drive expertise within the Neue Klasse represents an extra step within the plant’s transformation to electrical mobility.

A model new manufacturing corridor is at present being constructed that will likely be unfold over three ranges. In future, manufacturing will happen right here on two manufacturing traces overlaying an space of 12,000 sq. metres utilizing the pioneering injector casting course of. Injector casting ensures that components are solid with optimum mechanical properties. It has the extra impact of shortening the cycle time and, consequently, lowering power consumption significantly whereas additionally slicing carbon emissions as a result of decrease casting temperature. This methodology ends in decreased consumption of sources too because it requires much less return materials.

In January of this yr, the BMW Group bought a plot of land immediately adjoining to Plant Landshut that’s about 30,000 sq. metres in dimension and has been earmarked for additional growth of manufacturing sooner or later. This strategic acquisition is a key aspect within the plant’s skill to reply to future demand. A last determination on how precisely the brand new land is for use will likely be made at a later date. 

3D printing expertise for large-scale manufacturing of complicated sand cores
Besides the foremost growth of manufacturing area within the gentle metallic foundry, the plant can also be investing in a state-of-the-art expertise for manufacturing its sand cores. These sand cores are deployed in six totally different cylinder head variants for manufacturing of BMW engines worldwide. The plant makes as much as 4,500 models on 17 printers every day in a large-scale 3D printing course of. The sand cores are moulded by printing them layer by layer on a print head system utilizing emission-free and environment-friendly inorganic binders.

Ongoing coaching programme types spine for transformation
A broad-based coaching initiative is being put in place to accompany the positioning’s gradual transformation. In order to satisfy future technological wants, the plant is focusing totally on abilities within the areas of robotics, high quality and course of administration, electrical and digital evaluation, upkeep and logistics.

Anna Sponsel, Head of Human Resources at BMW Group Plant Landshut, says: “I am convinced that targeted training modules are exactly what we need to address the changing skill requirements in our industry and counter the shortage of specialist workers.” One such module is a twelve-month electrics and electronics retraining course to qualify as an industrial electrician, which the corporate is providing to each inner workers and exterior candidates who take up a place with the BMW Group. Since final yr, Plant Landshut has additionally been setting new requirements with its personal high quality administration twin examine programme. 17 college students per yr can start their twin programme of research at Plant Landshut after which full them over the course of nationwide and worldwide assignments.

Last yr, Plant Landshut recruited greater than 250 new workers and at present has a workforce of round 3,700 folks. During 2024, the area’s largest employer is once more set to tackle tons of of latest folks, focusing primarily on momentary workers who’re already working on the website.

Production volumes final yr 
As nicely as manufacturing elements for the corporate’s all-electric fashions, Plant Landshut additionally stands out with its extremely versatile manufacturing system. The website in Lower Bavaria continues to fabricate propeller shafts, crankcases, cylinder heads and engines on a demand-driven foundation for the environment friendly ICE fashions within the product portfolio. 

In 2023, BMW Group Plant Landshut produced a complete of round 3.6 million solid elements, 430,000 plastic elements for automobile exteriors, over 300,000 CFRP components, 286,000 cockpits, 1.4 million propeller shafts and 20,000 particular engines. Cockpits for the BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series, BMW 7 Series and BMW iX and instrument panels in base, synthetic leather-based, leather-based, microfibre and cloth trim are made in Landshut, along with structural elements, roofs and bonnets comprised of CFRP, glove compartments, bumpers, spoilers and trim parts.

As nicely as Plant Landshut, the BMW Group’s in-house element manufacturing community additionally consists of the amenities in Dingolfing, Wackersdorf, Munich, Leipzig, Berlin and Shenyang (China). Together these provide elements to the corporate’s Digital, Powertrain, Driving, Exterior & Interior and High-voltage battery & Charging expertise clusters. Purchasing, Development and Production work intently with each other to make sure the switch of expertise inside the firm with regards to product, growth and manufacturing improvements.

BMW

BMW Group is electrifying Plant Araquari

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São Paulo/Munich. The BMW Group is strengthening its involvement in Brazil by electrifying the Araquari plant. Following a historic gross sales document for electrified automobiles in Brazil final 12 months, the BMW Group is saying native manufacturing of the BMW X5, the very first premium plug-in hybrid mannequin inbuilt South America. The technologically superior and highly effective car is produced on the BMW Group plant in Araquari along with the BMW X1, BMW X3 and BMW X4 in addition to the BMW 3 Series for the native market.

“At the BMW Group, production follows market demand. Last year, BMW Group Brazil achieved a record of 25% share of electrified vehicles within the sales mix. In addition, the BMW X5 was the third-best model of the entire BMW line-up in Brazil. It is a logical conclusion for us to announce the production of the BMW X5 plug-in hybrid in Brazil now,” says Michael Nikolaides, Head of Production Network and Logistics at BMW Group. “We are committed to technology openness. In this context, PHEVs are and will remain an important part of our offering. Now, for the first time, we are bringing this technology to a South American production facility. The BMW Group plant in Araquari has a flexible production line. I am proud to say that Plant Araquari will be the only one to produce ICE, PHEV, and Flex-fuel models in the whole BMW Group production network. Depending on market demand, we can get ready to produce hybrid or electric models in a short period of time. In the next step, we will build PHEV and ICE vehicles on one line.”

Since 2014, the BMW Group has been manufacturing for the native market in Araquari, Brazil, within the state of Santa Catarina. The Araquari plant has its personal Body Shop, Paint Shop, Assembly, Quality and Logistic processes. Along with a BMW Group Engineering Office, which is a part of the plant’s amenities. In December 2023, the BMW Group introduced a ten% improve in manufacturing on the Araquari plant from 2024 to achieve an annual manufacturing of 11,000 items. In addition, the workforce is being constantly elevated and skilled to supply electrified automobiles.

Volkswagen

Green gentle for collection manufacturing: new Golf begins rolling off meeting line at Wolfsburg plant at present

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Series manufacturing of the brand new Golf has began on the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg: the primary automotive from the technically and visually revamped eighth mannequin era to roll off the meeting line in Hall 12 at present was a Golf Style in anemone blue metallic – nearly precisely 50 years because the very first collection Golf was in-built Wolfsburg.

“The Golf has been at the heart of the Volkswagen brand for half a century, offering affordable mobility for all at the highest technical level. The Golf has constantly adapted to customer needs, thus becoming a global bestseller – made in Wolfsburg. This is precisely what we are building on with the new evolutionary stage – with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this,” Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, mentioned.

Over the final 5 a long time, Volkswagen’s foremost plant in Wolfsburg has in a way change into the “soul” of worldwide Golf manufacturing: over half of the greater than 37 million fashions of this king of the compact class offered thus far – a mean of 400,000 models per 12 months – have been constructed on the foremost plant. This contains the “classic” Golf, now in its eighth era, with varied derivatives such because the Golf Variant and Golf Sportsvan, and a broad vary of fashions and powertrains.

The new mannequin is well acknowledged by its modified entrance finish. Visually defining options embody the newly-designed LED headlights. The top-of-the-range IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights incorporate a brand new high-performance foremost beam with a really excessive vary. For the primary time in a European Volkswagen, the Volkswagen brand within the radiator grille can be illuminated. The IQ.LIGHT – 3D LED tail gentle clusters have additionally obtained a brand new design – in each the Golf and the Golf Variant.

The inside encompasses a new era of infotainment system with even quicker processors, a free-standing touchscreen (diagonal: 32.2 cm/12.9 inches) and an intuitive menu construction. The contact sliders for temperature and quantity management are actually illuminated. The newest digital devices are additionally all the time on board as normal. Also new is the multifunction steering wheel with easy-to-use buttons and the IDA voice assistant with built-in ChatGPT perform that may not solely be used to manage capabilities such because the air con system, phone or navigation system, but additionally to entry on-line info on virtually any matter – from flight particulars to basic information questions.

In phrases of the powertrain vary, along with the confirmed, environment friendly TSI, TDI and eTSI delicate hybrid drives, the Golf replace additionally provides two new plug-in hybrids with an electrical vary of nicely over 100 km and a mixed vary of some 1,000 km, in addition to a DC quick-charging perform.

The Volkswagen Group’s largest automotive manufacturing plant had one more reason to have a good time this week, too. Just just a few days earlier than the brand new Golf went into manufacturing, the manufacturing facility celebrated the 48 millionth automobile to go away the meeting line; no different automotive plant worldwide has constructed wherever close to as many autos because the manufacturing facility in Wolfsburg. It goes with out saying that the anniversary mannequin was a Golf. The mannequin in urano gray is already on its option to a buyer within the United Kingdom. “48 million is an impressive figure that would never have been possible without a motivated and skilled workforce,” Jürgen Mahnkopf, Deputy Chair of the General and Group Works Councils, mentioned. “Our employees have put their heart and soul into every single vehicle that has been built here over the last 50 years.”

With a manufacturing quantity of some 20 million autos, the Golf is the most-built mannequin on the plant. Second place goes to the Beetle, with nearly 12 million models produced in Wolfsburg between 1945 and 1975. The Tiguan now occupies third place, with just below 3.5 million fashions rolling off the meeting strains since begin of manufacturing in 2007. It has overtaken the Polo, the place manufacturing of greater than three million models on the web site on the Mittelland Canal started in 1975. “The connection between the Golf and the Wolfsburg plant is quite unique: Wolfsburg is the Golf – and the Golf is Wolfsburg,” Plant Manager Rainer Fessel mentioned. “As a team we have meticulously planned the start of production over the past weeks and months. Now we are delighted we will soon be seeing the new Golf on the roads.”

VolvoCars

Volvo Cars makes use of biogas to realize its first climate-neutral plant in China

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Our Taizhou manufacturing plant has switched to biogas, making it our first plant in China to obtain climate-neutral standing. The plant’s swap from pure fuel will end in a discount of greater than 7,000 tonnes of 2 per yr.


Despite being a small share of our whole Scope 1-3 emissions of million tonnes, securing climate-neutral vitality for our Taizhou plant is an necessary step in direction of our aim of having local weather–impartial manufacturing operations by 2025 and lowering emissions throughout our international operations. This ambition is additionally a part of our broader purpose to succeed in web zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2040.


Just like all our manufacturing crops worldwide, the Taizhou plant already used climate-neutral electrical energy, and this newest transfer makes positive that it additionally has climate-neutral heating. It’s our second automotive plant globally to turn into local weather–impartial after our Torslanda facility in Gothenburg, Sweden.


“We’re acting fast when viable climate-neutral energy alternatives become available,” says Javier Varela, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO at Volvo Cars. “The switch to biogas at our Taizhou plant demonstrates how each of our manufacturing locations across the globe is developing its own climate-neutral energy mix, based on what’s available in the region.”


Our Taizhou plant’s vitality provide includes of electrical energy and heating. It produces round 40 per cent of its electrical energy want from on-site photo voltaic panels – a share that’s set to broaden within the coming years. The remaining 60 per cent, which comes from the grid, can be climate-neutral electrical energy from solar. Its heating want is, with this newest swap, met by utilizing climate-neutral biogas. 


Volvo Cars recently expanded our sustainability strategy with new bold objectives for the approaching years. Our new purpose to succeed in zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2040 builds on our previous ambition of being local weather impartial by 2040. It clarifies that our first priority is to cut back actual emissions earlier than turning to carbon removals to mitigate any unavoidable emissions. We are additionally encouraging our suppliers to do the identical.


Since the discharge of our firm’s first sustainability technique in 2019, we now have made good progress in direction of our local weather motion targets. On high of lowering CO2 emissions from our whole operations by utilizing 74 per cent local weather–impartial vitality, we’re additionally progressing properly in direction of our 2 goals.  

Volvo Cars in 2023
For the total yr 2023, Volvo Car Group recorded a record-breaking core working revenue of SEK 25.6 billion. Revenue in 2023 amounted to an all-time excessive of SEK 399.3 billion, whereas international gross sales reached a file 708,716 automobiles.

About Volvo Car Group
Volvo Cars was based in 1927. Today, it is without doubt one of the most well-known and revered automotive manufacturers on this planet with gross sales to clients in additional than 100 international locations. Volvo Cars is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm change, the place it’s traded underneath the ticker “VOLCAR B”.

“For life. To give people the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way.” This goal is mirrored in Volvo Cars’ ambition to turn into a completely electrical automotive maker by 2030 and in its dedication to an ongoing discount of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral firm by 2040.

As of December 2023, Volvo Cars employed roughly 43,400 full-time workers. Volvo Cars’ head workplace, product growth, advertising and marketing and administration capabilities are primarily positioned in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ manufacturing crops are positioned in Gothenburg, Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou (China). The firm additionally has R&D and design centres in Gothenburg and Shanghai (China).

News

Reports: Nissan Leaf manufacturing to finish in Sunderland this week

Nissan is ending manufacturing of the present Leaf at its Sunderland plant this week, based on reports, because it gears as much as construct three new electrical vehicles on the manufacturing unit.

The Leaf’s substitute is an electric crossover, anticipated to be revealed later this yr forward of a 2026 manufacturing begin date. The different two vehicles would be the electrical replacements for the Nissan Qashqai and Nissan Juke.

Nissan started manufacturing of the primary Leaf at Sunderland in 2013, three years after it was launched. The present, second-generation Leaf arrived in 2017.

A Nissan spokesperson stated: “The present era of Nissan Leaf, the world’s first mass-market 100% electrical automobile, is approaching the top of its life cycle in Europe.

“Depending in the marketplace’s stock, European prospects will have the ability to place their orders till automobile shares run out.

“Nissan has already announced a new line-up of 100% electric vehicles for the European market to be produced in Sunderland plant as part of our commitment to sustainability and electrification.”

Leaf manufacturing for different markets is anticipated to proceed on the agency’s US and Japanese vegetation. European inventory, constructed at Sunderland, will doubtless be bought till the top of the yr, reviews recommend.

When the third-generation Leaf (rendered by Autocar above) arrives in 2026, Nissan predicts it should construct round 100,000 models a yr at its Sunderland plant. This ambition will likely be supported by on-site battery associate Envision AESC, which is primed to open its new battery manufacturing unit later this yr with a capability of 11GWh and will finally ramp as much as 30GWh.

BMW

Four drive ideas – one promise: Sportiness in collection.

Dingolfing. BMW Group Plant Dingolfing has right now celebrated the official begin of manufacturing for the brand new BMW 5 Series Touring. The newcomer is the primary premium automobile in its section to characteristic not only a petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid drive but additionally a totally electrical one. That makes the BMW i5 Touring the fourth all-electric mannequin to enter collection manufacturing at Plant Dingolfing in not even three years.

“Our BMW 5 Series Touring is especially important for Germany and the European market, and a lot of customers have been waiting for it,” mentioned Plant Director Christoph Schröder. But on the finish of May, the wait might be over, as a result of that’s when the brand new Touring – now in its sixth technology – will attain sellers’ showrooms and the primary automobiles are handed over to clients. The new mannequin is already accessible to order now.

Since launching the primary technology in 1991, Plant Dingolfing in Lower Bavaria has been the only real producer of the BMW 5 Series Touring, with greater than 1.2 million rolling off its manufacturing strains through the years. Like its predecessor, the brand new BMW 5 Series Touring – regardless of drive – is manufactured flexibly alongside the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 4 Series and 6 Series fashions, all on a single manufacturing line. Investments within the plant for the brand new BMW 5 Series Touring quantity to approx. 80 million euros.

“For us here in Dingolfing, the BMW 5 Series is part of our DNA,” defined Plant Director Christoph Schröder, “and the launch of the new Touring represents the next step in the renewal of our successful model series.” Last yr BMW 5 Series autos accounted for a few third of output from Dingolfing. But with the Touring now accessible, numbers may rise considerably in 2024, doubtlessly nearing the 50 p.c mark.

If you might have any questions, please contact:

Julian Friedrich, BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Head of Press and Public Relations

Phone: +49 8731 76 22020, e mail: Julian.Friedrich@bmw.de

Thomas Niedermeier, BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Press and Public Relations

Phone: +49 8731 76 27666, e mail: Thomas.Niedermeier@bmwgroup.com

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com, www.bmw-werk-dingolfing.de

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupwerkdingolfing/

BMW Group Plant Dingolfing

BMW Group Plant Dingolfing is the BMW Group’s largest European manufacturing facility. Every day it produces greater than 1,500 autos, with the BMW 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series and the all-new BMW iX rolling off the manufacturing strains. In 2023 output totalled some 292,000 items.

Currently the positioning employs over 18,500 individuals and has 900 trainees studying 15 professions. That makes it not simply by far the biggest employer within the area but additionally one of many largest trade and vocational coaching bases in Germany.

As properly as producing autos, Dingolfing manufactures parts comparable to pressed components and chassis and drive programs. The element plant 02.20 is house to the BMW Group’s Centre of Excellence for e-drive manufacturing, which provides BMW Group vegetation worldwide with the electrical motors and high-voltage batteries they should produce plug-in hybrid and totally electrical fashions.

Plant Dingolfing additionally manufactures bodies-in-white for all of the Rolls-Royce fashions. Its so-called Dynamics Centre, an enormous warehouse and reloading level, is the center of central aftersales logistics on the BMW Group and delivers unique BMW components and equipment to BMW and MINI commerce organisations worldwide.

BMW i5 eDrive40 Touring:
Power consumption mixed in WLTP cycle: 19.3 – 16.5 kWh/100 km
Electric vary in WLTP cycle: 483 – 560 km

BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring:
Power consumption mixed in WLTP cycle: 20.8 – 18.3 kWh/100 km
Electric vary in WLTP cycle: 445 – 506 km

BMW

Production launch of the MINI Countryman Electric at BMW Group Plant Leipzig

Leipzig. Electrification continues at BMW Group Plant Leipzig: Four months after launching manufacturing of the combustion-engined MINI Countryman, the all-electric model is now rolling off the strains at Leipzig as nicely. After phasing out manufacturing of the BMW i3, the birthplace of electrical mobility on the BMW Group has welcomed one other absolutely electrical automobile to its vary. It now manufactures 4 fashions with three drive varieties by two manufacturers, all on a single manufacturing line: the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (together with the plug-in hybrid model), the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the MINI Countryman in each its absolutely electrical and combustion-powered variations.

The MINI Countryman Electric represents a significant step within the MINI model’s transition to full electrification by 2030 and combines an electrified go-kart really feel with zero native emissions mobility. It is available in two absolutely electrical variants: the Countryman E (150 kW, 204 hp | electrical energy consumption 17.4 – 15.7 kWh/100 km | CO2 emissions 0 g/km) and the extra highly effective all-wheel Countryman SE ALL4 (230 kW, 313 hp | electrical energy consumption 18.5 – 16.8 kWh/100 km | CO2 emissions 0 g/km).  

Consistent plant upgrades and versatile manufacturing system

To allow manufacturing of as much as 350,000 items a 12 months – 100,000 greater than beforehand – Plant Leipzig has been constantly upgraded since 2018, with intensive additions and upgrades to the bodyshop, paintshop, meeting and logistics. “Our cars and components are very much in demand. In recent years the BMW Group has invested around 1.6 billion euros in the Leipzig site to produce additional vehicles and electric components, and now we’re increasing vehicle volumes too – which is great news for our plant,” stated Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director.

The important driver behind the quantity enhance is the MINI Countryman. During the course of 2024, output will rise to virtually 500 items a day – on high of the 800 or so BMW autos the plant is producing. What’s extra, due to its versatile manufacturing system, Plant Leipzig is able to reply rapidly to buyer demand, for instance by rising the share of absolutely electrical autos.

Flexible meeting constructions additionally meant the MINI Countryman Electric might be built-in seamlessly into manufacturing. The state of affairs is analogous with the completely different drive items, that are all produced on one and the identical line in mixture meeting and ready for what’s generally known as “marriage” with the physique. The e-drives, transmissions and management electronics (collectively generally known as the extremely built-in electrical drive topology, or HEAT) for the 2 all-electric fashions are linked straight within the plant. A brand new manufacturing line was required just for the management electronics.

More employees and nightshifts for elevated manufacturing quantity

Higher manufacturing quantity means safe employment and as much as 900 extra staff in car manufacturing alone. By the tip of 2024, Plant Leipzig will make use of round 7,000 BMW employees. Working hours will have to be adjusted in all applied sciences, with nightshifts in meeting beginning for the primary time in September of this 12 months and vehicles being produced around the clock in three shifts.

“Plant Leipzig first went on stream in 2005 with about 2,600 employees in production. 19 years later there are over 7,000. Over the years, the plant has grown steadily and considerably. The start of nightshifts in assembly represents another important milestone in the success story of our plant and is a clear show of confidence by our company in our site here in Leipzig,” emphasised Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler.

Made at Plant Leipzig: high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric

With the manufacturing launch of the MINI Countryman Electric, all three phases of the Gen 5 high-voltage battery manufacturing course of are actually represented at BMW Group Plant Leipzig: cell coating, module manufacturing and battery meeting. Operations in all three are at the moment ramping up, with 5 cell-coating, three module-production and two high-voltage battery-production strains now in place.

“We are in the middle of the transformation to e-mobility,” stated Markus Fallböhmer, Head of Battery Production on the BMW Group. “Starting this year, Plant Leipzig will carry out every stage of our in-house high-voltage battery production process. It’s our next great step forwards.”

Plant Leipzig’s e-component manufacturing capability has been rising since 2021. It will now manufacture not simply the high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric but in addition e-components for the BMW iX1, BMW iX2, BMW i4, BMW i5 and BMW iX made at different websites. The e-component manufacturing unit at Leipzig at the moment employs some 1,000 folks.

To allow manufacturing of high-voltage batteries, areas beforehand used for the BMW i3 and BMW i8 have been transformed and new buildings added. One of them is a brand new corridor with a footprint of about 61,000 m2. This homes two strains able to producing as much as 300,000 high-voltage batteries a 12 months. The BMW Group has invested over 900 million euros in e-component manufacturing at Plant Leipzig to this point.

Resource-saving portray processes

At launch, the absolutely electrical MINI Countryman is available in three extra physique colors: British Racing Green, Chili Red and Blazing Blue – and with MINI’s trademark distinction roof, if desired. This is painted utilizing a brand new overspray-free technique that saves sources and is at the moment being readied for collection operation. The time period “overspray” refers back to the mist of extra paint particles that kinds when our bodies are painted the traditional approach. With the brand new approach, this mist not happens. This makes it simpler to color in a number of colors because the laborious technique of masking is not required. Overspray-free portray additionally helps save CO2 emissions, as exhaust from the cabin requires much less cleaning. In addition, it requires significantly much less conditioned air, i.e. air that is dropped at the precise temperature and humidity required for portray. As a outcome, much less power is required to mood air and deal with exhaust.

The burner know-how used to dry the paint on distinction roofs was additionally transformed for the beginning of MINI Countryman manufacturing and now consists of a bivalent system. The fuel-flexible burners can run on hydrogen (H2) in addition to gasoline (methane, CH4) and even change between the 2 whereas in operation. Five such bivalent hydrogen-capable burners are used to supply the distinction roofs for the MINI Countryman.

Further burners within the paintshop can even regularly change to bivalent operations, with the following six hydrogen-capable burners simply put in. This makes Leipzig a pioneer within the automotive trade and takes it ever nearer to decrease CO2 emissions. “Our vision at Plant Leipzig is to decarbonise production as far as possible by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen,” stated Petra Peterhänsel, explaining the long-term focus of the power. This would require adequate inexperienced hydrogen from a grid. A regional hydrogen grid is at the moment in planning, with Plant Leipzig set to profit.

MINI Countryman E

Electricity consumption mixed: 17,4 – 15,7 kWh/100 km in keeping with WLTP
CO2 emissions mixed in keeping with WLTP: 0 g/km
CO2 Class: A
Electric vary in keeping with WLTP: 462 – 423 km

MINI Countryman SE ALL4 

Electricity consumption mixed: 18,5 – 16,8 kWh/100 km in keeping with WLTP
CO2 emissions mixed in keeping with WLTP: 0 g/km
CO2 Class: A
Electric vary in keeping with WLTP: 432 – 399 km

Featured

VinFast Moves Closer To India Debut, Begins Construction Of EV Manufacturing Plant In Tamil Nadu

This EV manufacturing plant spans 400 acres, with a projected annual capability of 1.5 lakh autos.

VinFast Plant Inauguration

  • The Vietnamese carmaker plans to speculate over Rs 4,100 crore over 5 years.

  • The VinFast EV manufacturing plant targets a manufacturing capability of 1.5 lakh items per yr.

  • The VinFast VF7, VinFast VF8, VinFast VFe34, and VinFast VF6 might be the primary few fashions to be launched in India.

  • The automaker is anticipated to make its Indian market debut in 2025.

Vietnamese carmaker VinFast has been trying to enter the Indian marketplace for a while now, and has been forward of worldwide rival Tesla in that regard. It has moved a step nearer to its purpose with the inauguration of a 400-acre manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu within the presence of Thiru M. Okay. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. VinFast additionally plans to determine a dealership community throughout the nation, however is but to verify actual timelines for this endeavor. Let’s take a better have a look at their aims and potential future merchandise.

VinFast In India

VinFast

VinFast plans to speculate roughly Rs 4,144 crore over 5 years in its EV manufacturing plant in India, which is projected to have a capability of manufacturing 1.5 lakh autos yearly. The facility will create job alternatives for 3,000 to three,500 individuals within the state.

Commenting on the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast India, stated, “VinFast’s groundbreaking ceremony for its plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, is a significant stride towards sustainable and green mobility in India. By establishing an integrated electric vehicle facility, the company’s commitment to job creation, green transportation, and strategic partnerships solidifies VinFast’s position as a major player in the electric vehicle industry. This milestone strengthens the bonds between the robust economies of Vietnam and India, and underscores VinFast’s dedication to a zero-emission transportation future, setting the stage for economic growth, innovation, and environmental sustainability in the region”.

Also Check Out: Mitsubishi Set To Make A Comeback In India, But Not In The Way You’d Think

More About Vin Fast

VinFast VF7

VinFast, a brand new participant within the automotive business, formally commenced operations in 2017 in Vietnam. Initially, the EV maker launched scooters and fashions based mostly on BMW vehicles. In 2021, VinFast expanded its choices, launching three electrical vehicles, two new electrical scooters, and an electrical bus in Vietnam.

The following yr, VinFast started increasing its world presence by establishing showrooms within the US, Europe, and Canada. VinFast at the moment sells fashions like VF8 and VF9 SUVs within the US, and in addition the VF6 and VF7 SUVs in Canada.

Also Check Out: These Are The 10 Most Affordable Cars With Cruise Control In India

Expected Models & Timeline

VinFast has proven its dedication for the Indian market with establishing its personal facility however it will likely be a while earlier than we are able to anticipate domestically constructed fashions. It will doubtless purpose to start out operations with fully-built imports ranging from 2025, after which providing CKDs (utterly knocked down items) in India by 2026, with localised fashions to be launched after. The first few fashions might be  SUVs and crossovers just like the VinFast VF7 and VinFast VF6. You can go to this hyperlink to know extra about these fashions intimately. 

What are your ideas on VinFast and its merchandise? Do you consider extra automakers ought to introduce their merchandise in India? Comment under.