SEOUL, March 25 (Reuters) – South Korea's Kia Motors Corp is considering making face masks at its Chinese factory to help battle the spread of the coronavirus, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
The announcement follows a similar move by Fiat Chrysler , whose CEO Mike Manley said earlier this week that one of the group's plants in Asia would be converted to produce face masks for healthcare workers and would reach a target of one million masks per month in coming weeks.
Kia could make masks at its Yancheng plant after the Chinese government encouraged carmakers to do so, the spokesman said. He declined to comment on possible timing or any manufacturing target.
Kia has suspended production at its Georgia plant in the United States, its Slovakia site and operations in India due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Category: Newswire
Renault workers use 3D printers to make medical visors
PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) – Renault workers in Spain have begun using 3D printers to manufacture visors for health workers from home, the French carmaker said on Tuesday, in a scheme that could be expanded to make other medical equipment elsewhere.
The move, which echoes experiments under way at other carmakers to find ways to boost production of medical equipment up to and including ventilators, is still small-scale, while shortages in Spain and elsewhere are acute.
Employees sent home because of factory closures have made around 50 mask supports, which are then completed by inserting acetate sheets that shield the face, the company said.
An engineer at the firm said it might be even able to use 3D printers in France to make parts for ventilators, vital for treating severely ill coronavirus patients.
Automakers began to suspend production in Russia due to lack of parts
MOSCOW, March 24. / TASS/ Automakers began to suspend production at their Russian factories due to problems with the supply of parts, the companies revealed on Tuesday.
Volkswagen and PSA have already announced a downtime, while Sollers also announced the risk of suspension of production of cars at UAZ and Ford Sollers.
A significant part of the total Russian capacities for assembling foreign cars will undergo production suspension: in addition to Volkswagen and PSA, in particular, they have their own production capacities in Russia – Renault (plant in Moscow), Chinese Haval (plant in Tula), Mersedes (plant in Moscow Region), Nissan and Hyundai (plants in St. Petersburg).
Lack of foreign parts
Volkswagen closed most of the European sites last week due to coronavirus, PSA plants were closed in Europe until March 27. This was reflected in the Russian capacities of foreign automakers.
Volkswagen plants in Kaluga (production of Tiguan, Polo and Skoda Rapid) and Nizhny Novgorod (contact ass..
WABCO and ZF Announce Expected Closing of the Merger in the Second Quarter of 2020
BERN, Switzerland and FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, March 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WABCO Holdings Inc. (“WABCO”) (NYSE: WBC) (www.wabco-auto.com) and ZF Friedrichshafen AG (“ZF”) today announced that they have received all approvals from regulatory authorities required to close their previously announced merger, with the exception of the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (“SAMR”). WABCO and… Continue reading WABCO and ZF Announce Expected Closing of the Merger in the Second Quarter of 2020
GROUPE RENAULT SHUTDOWNS PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES AT ITS INDUSTRIAL SITES IN LATIN AMERICA
PRESS RELEASEGROUPE RENAULT SHUTDOWNS PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES AT ITS INDUSTRIAL SITES IN LATIN AMERICABoulogne Billancourt, March 24, 2020 – Groupe Renault announces the shutdown of production activities at industrial sites in Latin America until further notice, depending on the evolution of the health situation.In order to protect its employees in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic… Continue reading GROUPE RENAULT SHUTDOWNS PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES AT ITS INDUSTRIAL SITES IN LATIN AMERICA
Volkswagen to halt production in Russia starting March 30 due to lack of components
MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Production will be halted at Russian facilities of Volkswagen in the period between March 30 and April 10 due to the lack of components supplied from European plants, a source in the company's press service told TASS.
“Due to the lack of components supplied from European plants Volkswagen Group Rus will temporarily halt production at the car plant in Kaluga and contract assembly in Nizhny Novgorod for two weeks – from March 30 to April 10, 2020,” the company said.
“Currently we can ensure stable cars and spare parts supplies to our dealers and clients,” Volkswagen added.
Earlier reports said that the company would temporarily reduce Skoda Rapid production at the plant in Kaluga due to the lack of components.
According to the data provided by the Association of European Businesses (AEB), sales of Volkswagen in Russia decreased by 2% in 2019 to 104,400 units.
Ford Cut By Fitch as Coronavirus Batters Economy
Ford Motor Co. and its Ford Motor Credit Company was downgraded by Fitch Ratings as the coronavirus pandemic sends shock waves through supply chains, decreasing demand across the auto industry.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport details revealed in leak
It may be a while yet before Ford officially takes the wraps off its upcoming ‘baby’ Bronco, but following leaked images that apparently show what it looks like, we may now know a lot about what’s under the skin.The Bronco Sport Forum fansite has posted screengrabs of the dealer ordering system for the Escape-based SUV that will slot into the lineup below the much-anticipated Ranger pickup-derived Bronco, and it’s major specifications are on display.What is expected to be called the Bronco Sport will be offered in Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands and First Edition trim levels and be offered in 10 colors with names like Kodiak Brown and Area 51.
Nio bullish about its business performance despite coronavirus
Chinese electric car startup Nio is confident about its prospects this year despite the coronavirus outbreak, expecting its gross profit margin to become positive in the second quarter.Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Nio delivered 2,305 vehicles in January and February.In 2019, the company delivered 20,565 vehicles, up 81 percent year-on-year.
South Korea to help car industry ride out coronavirus
South Korea said on Monday it would provide logistical and financial support to help the car industry through the coronavirus crisis, warning of disruptions to supply chains from Europe and the US.The ministry gave no details on how much liquidity support the government would provide or what form it might take.Hyundai Motor closed its Montgomery, Alabama, assembly plant on Wednesday after an employee there tested positive for Covid-19.