OEMs – Page 4948 – I wish I had more to offer

Statement: Weld

October 16, 2018 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 18,055 vehicles in the U.S. to perform a weld inspection, and repair as needed. Responding to a small number of complaints, FCA US launched an investigation that discovered certain vehicles built between early May and late August of this year… Continue reading Statement: Weld

Munich II public prosecutor concludes regulatory offences proceedings by issuing administrative order imposing a fine (Bußgeldbescheid) / AUDI AG accepts the fine and, by doing so, admits its responsibility

The Munich II public prosecutor today issued an administrative order against AUDI AG in its capacity as affected party (Betroffene) pursuant to sections 30 para. 1, 130 para. 1 of the German Act on Regulatory Offences (Ordnungswidrigkeitengesetz – OWiG) in the context of deviations from regulatory requirements in certain V6 and V8 diesel aggregates and… Continue reading Munich II public prosecutor concludes regulatory offences proceedings by issuing administrative order imposing a fine (Bußgeldbescheid) / AUDI AG accepts the fine and, by doing so, admits its responsibility

Munich II public prosecutor concludes regulatory offences proceedings against AUDI AG by issuing administrative order imposing a fine (Bußgeldbescheid) / AUDI AG accepts the fine and, by doing so, admits its responsibility

The Munich II public prosecutor today issued an administrative order against AUDI AG in its capacity as affected party (Betroffene) pursuant to sections 30 para. 1, 130 para. 1 of the German Act on Regulatory Offences (Ordnungswidrigkeitengesetz – OWiG) in the context of deviations from regulatory requirements in certain V6 and V8 diesel aggregates and… Continue reading Munich II public prosecutor concludes regulatory offences proceedings against AUDI AG by issuing administrative order imposing a fine (Bußgeldbescheid) / AUDI AG accepts the fine and, by doing so, admits its responsibility

Mazda announces new European R&D Vice President

Hajime Seikaku is the new Vice President of Mazda’s European Research & Development Centre effective 1 October 2018. The 53 year old comes to the Oberursel, Germany facility from Mazda’s Vehicle Development Division in Japan. Prior to that, he served in various vehicle and parts development capacities for both Mazda and Ford in Europe and… Continue reading Mazda announces new European R&D Vice President

SOUND OF JAGUAR I-PACE PROTECTS ROAD USERS

With no engine sound, the electric Jaguar I-PACE required a new way to warn blind, visually impaired and other vulnerable road users it is approaching at low speed. Jaguar has designed a unique Audible Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) for its first EV that meets and exceeds all forthcoming global legislation. Go to Source

Elena Ford Named Chief Customer Experience Officer; Savona Tapped to Head North America Manufacturing

Elena Ford is named Chief Customer Experience Officer and will be responsible for creating a world-class customer experience spanning across the entire ownership cycle John Savona is elected a company officer and appointed head of North American manufacturing operations Dearborn, Mich., Oct. 15, 2018 – Ford Motor Company today announced that Elena Ford has been… Continue reading Elena Ford Named Chief Customer Experience Officer; Savona Tapped to Head North America Manufacturing

Audi optimizes quality inspections in the press shop with artificial intelligence

As one of the first automobile manufacturers worldwide, Audi plans to apply machine learning (ML) in series production. The software Audi has developed recognizes and marks the finest cracks in sheet metal parts – automatically, reliably and in a matter of seconds. With this project, Audi is promoting artificial intelligence at the company and revolutionizing… Continue reading Audi optimizes quality inspections in the press shop with artificial intelligence

Maximum light for maximum safety: Volkswagen relies on ultra-modern LED headlights

New, interactive LED headlights make driving safer and more comfortable in the dark months of the year Volkswagen now offers powerful LED headlight systems in almost all segments Wet conditions, fog, deer crossing – drivers face particular challenges in autumn and winter. The latest lighting systems which almost perfectly illuminate the road are proving helpful.… Continue reading Maximum light for maximum safety: Volkswagen relies on ultra-modern LED headlights

Conflicted German Automakers Struggle With EV Transition

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Published on October 13th, 2018 |

by Guest Contributor

Conflicted German Automakers Struggle With EV Transition

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October 13th, 2018 by Guest Contributor

Originally published on EVANNEX.
By Charles Morris

It’s no secret that legacy automakers are making the transition to electric vehicles only reluctantly, in response to regulatory pressure from governments and to competitive pressure from Tesla. Contrary to what many seem to believe, Big Auto’s reluctance to embrace EVs is not merely the usual corporate fear of the future, nor is it the result of any oil industry-fueled conspiracy (as far as we know). It’s a simple matter of money — there are good reasons to believe that electrification will take a major bite out of industry profits, as BMW and Daimler execs recently acknowledged.

German automakers remain conflicted about how to transition factory production lines from gas-powered cars to EVs (Image: Werner Budding)

Now Volkswagen has warned that its stated plan to offer an electrified version of each of its models will cost more than it estimated. VW previously predicted that the coming shift to battery power would cost some €20 billion ($23 billion). CEO Herbert Diess, in an interview published in VW’s internal newsletter, indicated that this figure was too low, but didn’t offer a new estimate. “The burden for our company, such as the cost of bringing to market electric cars, will be higher than expected,” Diess says. “This is particularly so since some of our competitors have been making more progress.” (Hmm, who would that be?)

A recent article in the Financial Times discussed the challenges legacy carmakers are facing. Whereas industry disruptor Tesla started from a blank slate to design its vehicles and has “bet the company” on EVs, incumbent OEMs can’t go down that road — the risks are too high. Analysts have warned that a substantial number of Germany’s 800,000 auto industry jobs could disappear along with the internal combustion engine.

FT points out that VW, BMW, and Daimler have each earmarked billions of euros for electric technology, but are taking different approaches — some automakers hope to build EVs using the same architecture as legacy vehicles, whereas others intend to introduce new platforms. The choice of strategy “will re-sort the carmakers in profitability,” says Christian Senger, head of the VW’s e-mobility line. “Those who [take] the hardest road will be more successful than the others.”

Germany protects its car industry as EU goes for just 15% cut in CO2 car emissions by 2025 (Source:Transport & Environment / Image: Plugin Cars)

Volkswagen is leveraging its scale advantage — earlier this year, it awarded €20 billion worth of contracts for battery supplies as part of a plan to introduce 50 pure EVs by 2025. This represents an about-face from VW’s previous strategy — the e-Golf and e-Up, introduced in 2013, were basically existing models stuffed with batteries.

“To make it a fully fledged electric car, you need to start with a battery pack between the wheels and then you build up the car,” Herbert Diess, CEO of the VW Group, told the FT. “Then you have an effective battery system, the range, and you get a lot of freedom for the design of the car, to make more interior space with the same footprint.” (His words echo what Tesla designer Von Holzhausen said back in 2011.)

The first VW model designed this way, the ID Neo, is to come out late next year, the first of several models belonging to the ID electric sub-brand. Although recent reports suggest the program could be delayed.

VW’s ID concept car appears to be another unconventional design approach typically relegated to Big Auto’s electric car efforts (Image: Charged)

BMW seems to be taking the opposite tack, touting the advantages of “flexible architecture” that can accommodate fossil, hybrid or electric powertrains. BMW plans to offer all of its models with a choice of powertrain starting in 2021. “We can’t afford having two factories standing still,” says CEO Harald Krueger. “With a flexible approach, you can always manage the capacity of your plants. But if you have a specific EV architecture, what do you with the old one? What do you do with the people?”

Daimler is combining both approaches, designing purpose-built architecture for its EQ sub-brand while also setting up its production plants to accommodate all types of powertrains, including fuel cells. “We have hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars and maybe robo-taxis tomorrow,” says Daimler Production Chief Markus Schaefer. “It’s hard to predict volumes for the best way in an uncertain world, so this is the most efficient approach to supply the market.”

Some analysts think the flexible approach is too complex in both design and production. “I don’t see how they can consolidate traditional platforms, from small hatchbacks to large SUVs, and at the same time try to include EVs in the equation,” says Pelham Smithers Analyst Julie Boote. “That’s incredibly complicated.”

In another revealing move, Audi decided no e-tron inventory for its US dealerships would be made available (Source: Charged / Image: Automobile Propre)

Others see merit in the flexible approach, pointing out that it’s hard to predict how quickly the shift to electric cars will take place. “Most carmakers proceeding with EVs are following an ‘If you build it, they will come’ approach,” says Bernstein Analyst Max Warburton. “If you have a dedicated EV platform and the demand doesn’t come, you’ve lost a lot of money.”

Sources: Financial Times, Bloomberg

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McLaren Speedtail: 986bhp ‘hyper-GT’ set for October 26 reveal

McLaren has confirmed the reveal date for its new Speedtail supercar. The car will make its debut at 1pm on October 26. The new ‘Hyper-GT’ model, was known under the codename BP23 until the Speedtail moniker was announced and will boast the highest top speed of any car the firm has ever produced, exceeding the… Continue reading McLaren Speedtail: 986bhp ‘hyper-GT’ set for October 26 reveal