Factories

Bosch Opens €30m CVT Push-Belt Plant in Vietnam

The new Dong Nai facility is Bosch’s first hi-tech CVT push-belt plant in Southeast Asia and will supply Asian automotive markets as demand for fuel-efficient transmissions grows.

UAW President urges Bochum workers to reconsider rejected Opel deal

Bob King calls for a new vote after Bochum’s workforce rejected a restructuring agreement that would keep the plant open until 2016 but cut jobs and freeze wages.

Chrysler suspends nine Trenton plant workers after TV exposé shows drinking and drug use

Nine Chrysler workers at the Trenton Engine Plant were suspended without pay after being filmed drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana during lunch breaks, prompting an internal investigation.

Toyota ends Australian car production after 54 years

The final Camry rolled off the Altona line in October 2017, closing a chapter on local manufacturing and marking the loss of thousands of jobs as Toyota shifts to a sales and engineering focus.

Musk Eyes Two or Three More Tesla Gigafactories for US Expansion

Elon Musk has revealed plans for two or three additional Tesla Gigafactories in America, with site announcements possible within the year as the company accelerates its domestic growth strategy.

Daimler breaks ground on major German battery plant

Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler has begun construction of a large lithium-ion battery factory in Kamenz, Germany, aiming to boost EV production from late 2018.

Jaguar Land Rover hit by £3 million engine theft at Solihull

Criminals stole two truckloads of engines worth around £3 million from Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant during a rapid and highly organised raid in early 2017.

Romanian JWRC Champion Channels Ken Block in Gymkhana-Style Ford Video

Ford’s Craiova plant marked its 40th anniversary and Romania’s National Day with a Gymkhana-inspired stunt video starring rally driver Simone Tempestini.

Entry-Level Alfa Romeo Stelvio Spotted During Italian TV Broadcast

A glimpse of the standard Alfa Romeo Stelvio, not the high-performance Quadrifoglio, appeared on Italian television during a visit by Italy’s Prime Minister to the Cassino plant.

Toyota marks four million UK-built cars with Auris Hybrid

Toyota's Burnaston plant produced its four millionth UK-built vehicle, an Auris Hybrid Excel, as the company highlights its British manufacturing milestone.

BMW freezes South African expansion after strike disruption

Labour unrest at the Rosslyn plant has cost BMW both a planned capacity increase and the chance to produce a new model in South Africa.

Romania in Talks With Global Carmakers for Third Vehicle Plant

Romania’s government is negotiating with two major automakers, one European and one non-European, over plans for a new car manufacturing facility in the country.

GM to invest $290 million in Corvette's Kentucky plant

General Motors will spend $290 million on upgrades at its Bowling Green Assembly, expanding on previous investments to modernise the home of the Chevrolet Corvette.

Volvo Begins Production of V90 Estate in Torslanda

The first customer Volvo V90 estate has rolled off the Torslanda line, marking another step in the brand’s product overhaul and Swedish plant expansion.

BMW begins construction of $1bn Mexican plant for 3 Series

BMW has started building a new factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, investing $1 billion to produce up to 150,000 3 Series saloons per year from 2019.

Jaguar Land Rover opens first wholly-owned plant outside UK in Brazil

Jaguar Land Rover has opened a new factory in Itatiaia, Brazil, to build the Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport for the local market amid challenging economic conditions.

GM to Add 1,000 Jobs in Ontario as Self-Driving R&D Expands

General Motors will hire 1,000 engineers and invest $10 million in cold-weather testing, strengthening its Canadian operations with a focus on autonomous and connected vehicle technologies.

Volkswagen plans its own battery plant for electric future

Volkswagen is preparing to build a dedicated battery factory, aiming to bring cell production in-house as it accelerates its electric vehicle strategy.

Nissan Rejects UAW Bid for State Department Mediation in Mississippi Union Dispute

Nissan has refused a US State Department offer to mediate its long-running dispute with the UAW over unionisation efforts at the Canton, Mississippi plant, citing existing labour law processes.

Nissan to Build Chrysler’s Next Subcompact in Japan

Chrysler’s new global small car will be built by Nissan at the Oppama plant for North America and Europe, replacing earlier plans with Chery.

Toyota to Restart Most Japan Production Lines After Earthquakes

Toyota will resume vehicle production at most of its Japanese plants from 25 April, following earthquake-related supply disruptions that halted output for nearly a week.

Ford signals further investment in Russia despite sharp market decline

With Russian car sales down nearly 17 percent in early 2016, Ford's local joint venture is considering new investment and targeting exports to offset domestic weakness.

Honda confirms $52m investment for Indiana CR-V production

Honda will spend $52 million to prepare its Greensburg, Indiana, plant for CR-V SUV production by early 2017, with a focus on facility upgrades and workforce training.

Toyota to Start RAV4 Production in Russia from August

Toyota will begin building the RAV4 SUV at its St Petersburg plant this August, following a major investment to double capacity and expand local manufacturing.