Tag Archives: plant

BMW

When the world comes collectively

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Munich/Leipzig. When the group at BMW Group Plant Leipzig choose up their instruments on a Monday morning, the entire world comes collectively: about 70 nationalities collaborate right here. The group come not simply from Germany but in addition from locations like Syria, Poland, Spain, Egypt and Eritrea. “We all work together really well, it’s enriching and founded on acceptance and mutual respect,” defined Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel. Cultural variety is the order of the day, not simply right here however throughout the BMW Group – and has been for a really very long time.

As the group expands, Plant Leipzig is getting much more vibrant and various. Cultural variety is essential to creating the BMW Group electrical, digital and round, and specialists from all fields and throughout the globe are wanted to make sure safe provides of labour and assist align the BMW Group as carefully as doable with the needs and wishes of its stakeholders in a worldwide world that’s all the time on the transfer.

Plant Leipzig exemplifies the BMW Group’s elementary perception that cultural variety is welcome, important to its success and enhances the corporate’s attractiveness as an employer. It additionally units the BMW Group aside, with some 150,000 staff worldwide from greater than 110 totally different international locations all doing their half for our shared success.

BMW Group to take energetic half in German Diversity Day

On World Day for Cultural Diversity on 21 May and German Diversity Day – established by the Diversity Charter and happening on 28 May – the BMW Group will probably be seizing the chance to do extra to advertise and strengthen cultural variety inside its personal ranks by means of quite a few in-house actions.

But these are simply two of assorted marketing campaign days every year on which the BMW Group devotes its consideration to variety, equal alternatives and inclusion.

Plant Leipzig: the cultural combine is a problem – however a chance as nicely

When Abdelrahman Salem adopted his German girlfriend – now his spouse – from Egypt to Germany, he arrived right here talking hardly a phrase of the language. At the age of 30, the pilot discovered himself having to determine a brand new skilled focus. An alternative arose on the BMW Group: he handed his entrance examination, realized German with the assistance of the corporate and was in a position to begin coaching as a manufacturing mechanic. Today he’s a specialist in battery module manufacturing, and in April of this 12 months he was awarded German citizenship. “In terms of integration, both personally and professionally, language was key,” stated Salem trying again. He can be eager to share his optimistic experiences with others: whereas present process coaching himself, he already began supporting different colleagues coming in from different international locations by exhibiting them the ropes and translating technical documentation for them.

Abdelrahman Salem is a part of a multicultural group at Plant Leipzig, the place the share of staff from different international locations has grown considerably over the past ten years. In 2017 they got here from 44 totally different nations, rising to over 70 by 2023.

For somebody like Salem to progress as he has, energetic integration is essential. “The mix of cultures is a new challenge because not all our new colleagues speak the same language as we do. That’s why we offer German courses and intercultural training to help people get along with each other, so we can all grow together,” stated Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel.

Practising a ‘welcome culture’ 

At BMW Group crops in Germany, integration is actively promoted. Departments present the fundamentals of their specialist information in several languages in addition to pictograms, and to assist staff enhance their language expertise, the BMW Group covers the price of the private contribution they should pay for language programs by the Office for Migration and Refugees. As a part of its ‘welcome culture’ the BMW Group additionally works laborious to point out newcomers the ropes of their new jobs. And the trouble is paying off: workers turnover is low and new colleagues are sending a optimistic message to the surface world. An necessary function in all of this falls to managers: as function fashions, they’ll affect the environment within the group – which can be the explanation managers in manufacturing endure intercultural coaching, for instance.

No place for discrimination 

At the BMW Group, variety is about extra than simply cultures: it additionally covers intercourse, age and expertise, bodily and psychological talents, and sexual orientation and gender id. With ample understanding and acceptance of others and a way for similarities and variations, collectively these dimensions of variety grow to be a energy. To keep away from prejudice and discrimination, all staff endure necessary coaching on equal remedy and the way respectful collaboration can succeed. The course is at the moment being rolled out worldwide.

Young expertise growth: Wanted! International views

So that younger skills acquire early expertise of intercultural collaboration, the BMW Group encourages worldwide secondments. Trainees and trainee apprentices, for instance, can spend time overseas by way of the worldwide MOVE programme and work elsewhere within the manufacturing community, for instance within the UK, the US, South Africa, China or Mexico. The worldwide alternate scheme for graduates is the worldwide AcceleratiON programme. Both of those initiatives intention to assist younger folks broaden their horizons, join and expertise totally different views.   

BMW

Production milestone in Shenyang: BBA reaches 6 million automobiles

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Shenyang. The BMW i5 that not too long ago rolled off the manufacturing line at Plant Dadong in China was a milestone: the totally electrical mannequin in Frozen Pure Grey was the 6 millionth automotive to be made by the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) three way partnership. It took simply 15 months to supply the final million automobiles, with the five-million mark handed solely in February of final 12 months. The new milestone is proof of the sheer dynamism and competitiveness of the plant community in Shenyang, the place manufacturing volumes stay excessive even because the BBA crops put together for the Neue Klasse.

“The 6 millionth car is a symbol of the outstanding achievements here in Shenyang,” stated Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG accountable for Production. “Just like in all our other plants around the world, the focus here is on competitiveness and innovativeness.”

Artificial intelligence helps high quality assurance

The landmark automobile underwent all the standard rigorous high quality checks that happen in Plant Shenyang, together with Automatic Surface Inspection within the paint store. Here, every automotive is photographed 100,000 instances and synthetic intelligence is used to establish impurities, fibres, scratches or different minor defects within the paintwork – reliably and exact to the millimetre. Any irregularities are marked on the floor by laser and remedied.

Preparations for the Neue Klasse forge forward

Meanwhile Shenyang can also be making ready to launch manufacturing of the Neue Klasse. The BMW Group is presently erecting 5 high-voltage battery meeting services on three continents around the globe, one in every of them in Shenyang the place, after an funding of 10 billion RMB, sixth-generation high-voltage batteries will likely be produced. The constructing for the brand new facility was accomplished final November, and the set up of plant and gear has been underway since March of this 12 months. The first pre-series batteries are anticipated to roll off the manufacturing line on the finish of this 12 months. At the identical time, complete checks and localisation certifications are beginning on the native R&D centre.

The Neue Klasse is due for launch worldwide in 2025, with China making its first Neue Klasse fashions from 2026. All three BBA crops – Dadong, Tiexi and Lydia – can already make totally electrical automobiles.

Car review

Mini Cooper SE evaluate

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The Mini Cooper, then, comes as a Cooper C or -S (constructed at Mini Plant Oxford, and powered by combustion engines) or as a Cooper E or SE (inbuilt China, at BMW Group’s three way partnership Spotlight manufacturing facility, with the assistance of Great Wall Motors). UK first drives within the former ought to come quickly – however for the latter, Mini laid on a pan-European press launch occasion in Barcelona final week, with right-hand drive UK examples arriving in summer season 2024.

This time, there are two electrical Minis, then – and, critically, each supply larger drive batteries and extra electrical vary than the famously nippy-but-short-legged outgoing Mini Electric. The Cooper E will get a brand new nickel-manganese-cobalt drive battery with 36.6kWh of usable capability, up from 28.9- within the outgoing automobile – and a WLTP Combined electrical vary of 190 miles (up from 140-) – with costs ranging from slightly below £30,000. That’s Mini delivering a 36 per cent enhance on usable vary, and preserving peak energy the identical because the outdated automobile, for broadly the identical worth for cash. Not unhealthy.

But if you would like extra of any of the above, the brand new Cooper SE now goes that little bit additional. Here, usable battery capability climbs to 49.2kWh; electrical motor energy to 215bhp; WLTP Combined vary to 249 miles; and the departure-point value to £34,500. There had been solely Cooper SEs to check in Barcelona, in order that’s the mannequin we’ll deal with right here – however Mini expects most Cooper electrical consumers to plump for the SE in any case.

And design-wise? Well, Mini has handled the design of its three-door, heartland-territory ‘icon’ mannequin moderately rigorously because it first appeared in 2001 – however this fourth-generation automobile is a bolder transfer. In pursuit of a cleaner- and extra upmarket look, it has taken away a lot of the outdated automobile’s brightwork, and some of its trademark design particulars.

There are not any cutsie foglamps, entrance wing badges, plastic wheelarch extensions or chunky chrome doorhandles on the brand new automobile. There’s a way more restrained entrance grille; and the wraparound clamshell bonnet – which so famously helped to outline the look of the 2001 BMW Group fashionable Mini, and thru which the headlights of subsequent generations have cheekily poked – has gone, too. The designers wished a smooth ‘pebble-like’ search for the brand new automobile, they are saying; however to those eyes, the impact is barely much less charismatic and endearing on the attention than we’ve develop into used to from Mini. Neater, maybe – however a bit bit much less distinctive and extra generic.

BMW

Construction of high-voltage battery meeting will get underway at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí

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San Luis Potosí. BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí is gearing up for manufacturing of the Neue Klasse: Construction of a neighborhood high-voltage battery meeting has now begun, together with growth tasks for the physique store, meeting and logistics areas. A complete of 800 million euros will likely be invested in increasing the Mexican manufacturing web site.

The Neue Klasse may even be produced in Mexico from 2027 onwards. The Sports Activity Vehicle mannequin will likely be launched on the new BMW Group Plant Debrecen in Hungary because the preliminary spinoff of the Neue Klasse in late 2025, whereas the Sedan will ramp up in Munich in 2026. Just one 12 months later, further manufacturing capability will likely be obtainable in Mexico – initially, for the Sports Activity Vehicle. The future high-voltage battery meeting at Plant San Luis Potosí, masking an space of greater than 80,000 sq. metres, is essential to integrating the Neue Klasse on the manufacturing web site.

“The battery assembly in San Luis Potosí will be part of our global production network. For our new sixth-generation e-drive alone, we are building five locations on three continents,” defined Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG chargeable for Production, firstly of development in Mexico. The BMW Group is dedicated to the “local for local” precept worldwide. “Locating battery factories close to vehicle manufacturing makes production more resilient.”

Close hyperlinks between battery manufacturing unit and automobile manufacturing

In line with its “local for local” precept, the BMW Group locates its high-voltage battery meeting amenities worldwide as shut as potential to its automobile crops. In addition to the placement in San Luis Potosí, meeting websites for sixth-generation high-voltage batteries are additionally being in-built Debrecen (Hungary), Shenyang (China), Woodruff, close to Spartanburg (USA) and Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria). This strategy safeguards manufacturing, even within the occasion of unexpected political and financial developments. Existing areas are additionally being strengthened, securing jobs. The quick distances concerned cut back the carbon footprint of car manufacturing.

The BMW Group will use its newly developed spherical cells for the primary time within the Neue Klasse. This leap in know-how will enhance the vitality density of cells by 20 p.c and enhance charging pace by as much as 30 p.c. Range will likely be prolonged by 30 p.c. 

Further growth of Plant San Luis Potosí

As properly as integrating battery meeting, different adjustments are being made at Plant San Luis Potosí: Just below 20,000 sq. metres will likely be added to the physique store, leading to a complete space of over 90,000 sq. metres. Assembly and logistics areas are additionally being expanded by nearly 10,000 sq. metres.

“With this further development of our site, we are also gearing up in Mexico for the launch of the next BMW model generation. As the first premium OEM producing fully-electric vehicles and high-voltage batteries in Mexico, we are at the forefront of our industry and, at the same time, continuing to reduce our environmental footprint,” mentioned Harald Gottsche, president and CEO of BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí.

Photovoltaic output to double

When it involves environment friendly vitality provides, the BMW Group makes use of site-specific options at its areas around the globe. “In Mexico, we are planning to expand the photovoltaic systems within the plant, to double the output from the solar panels,” mentioned Nicole Haft-Zboril, Head of Real Estate Management on the BMW Group. “The plan is to generate more than 20 percent of the electricity we need at the moment – directly on the factory premises.” The wastewater therapy plant has additionally been expanded, with an funding of three.3 million euros considerably rising the reuse of handled wastewater.

Extensive abilities growth programme

BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí can also be stepping up its dedication to abilities growth, aimed toward guaranteeing staff are extremely certified and ready for the challenges of the long run. Training will embrace matters equivalent to security consciousness round manufacturing of high-voltage programs and the usage of robotics in manufacturing processes.

The BMW Group plant in San Luis Potosí began manufacturing in 2019. Around 3,700 staff presently produce the BMW 3 Series Sedan in addition to the BMW 2 Series Coupé and the BMW M2 fashions for the worldwide market.

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.

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

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

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

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).