Published 3/14/2018 12:30 AM: 56CET STUTTGART (GERMANY), 14 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) – The Mercedes-Benz Cars automobile group will invest 100 million euros in Bangkok, together with its local partner TAAP, for the production of electric vehicle batteries, the German company said in a statement. This investment will go towards the expansion of the existing car… Continue reading Mercedes-Benz will invest 100 million in Thailand for the production of batteries for vehicles
Tag: Manufacturing
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E-mobility 12.03.2018 The New E-xpert Thomas Ulbrich talks about working with the G4 series and the role of the Zwickau plant. mehr
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Company 12.03.2018 up! Celebrates Milestone The 750,000th up! rolled off the production line in Bratislava. mehr
Volkswagen Slovakia first started production of the city car back in 2011, which has also been available with an electric motor1 since 2013. And now, as of just a few weeks ago, the GTI2 has become the newest member of the up! family. This milestone vehicle is a red GTI. Boasting a cool 85 KW… Continue reading Company 12.03.2018 up! Celebrates Milestone The 750,000th up! rolled off the production line in Bratislava. mehr
Arbe Robotics raises $9M to build high-resolution radars for autonomous cars
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Production record for Automobili Lamborghini: 10,000 Huracán produced in four years
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Electric car startup spun out of Faraday Future ‘EVelozcity’ claims to have raised $1 billion
We first revealed the existence of Evelozcity, an electric vehicle startup founded by former Faraday Future (FF) executives, a few months ago and it might already be a $1 billion company. The startup now claims to have raised ~$1 billion to bring its electric vehicles to market. Home Solar Power As we previously reported, Stefan Krause, former… Continue reading Electric car startup spun out of Faraday Future ‘EVelozcity’ claims to have raised $1 billion
Volkswagen Passat Production Idled At Chattanooga As Sales Drop In The U.S.
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Volkswagen Passat Production Idled At Chattanooga As Sales Drop In The U.S.
13 Mar 2018, 13:27 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry
Related to the Euro-spec Passat in name but nothing else, the mid-size sedan that Volkswagen sells in the United States has lost its shine. It’s an old car through and through, and not even the V6-powered GT can cut it against the newer competition.
13 photosVolkswagen’s three-box model also finds itself between a rock and a hard place, as demand for sedans keeps slowing down in favor of crossovers and sport utility vehicles. To this effect, the Chattanooga plant where the Passat is made will idle for two weeks this spring, with the automaker re-tooling for increased Atlas production.
Plant spokesman Keith King had a chat with the Times Free Press, claiming that “it’s not a secret the market is shifting from sedans and passenger cars to family-friendly SUVs.” The two weeks of idling “allows us to correct course a little bit,” which is a tongue-in-cheek remark considering what Volkswagen has been up to.
The numbers don’t lie. From a high point of 6,997 examples sold in the United States in February 2014, the Passat dropped to 4,380 units in February 2016, then stumbled to 3,036 cars in the second month of 2017. For reference, the Toyota Camry moved 30,865 copies in February 2018. How can you compete with that?
Despite the downfall of the Passat, overall sales of the automaker in the United States are up 5.7 percent compared to the first two months of 2017. SUVs are to thank for this substantial upswing. The compact-sized Tiguan crossover is the sweetheart of the German brand in this part of the world, with utility vehicles accounting for 54 precent of all Volkswagen of America sales in February 2018.
According to Volkswagen of America, the non-production periods for Chattanooga are planned for March 26th to 29th and April 2nd to 5th. And despite ongoing media rumors of layoffs, spokesperson King assured that no one is being sent off. At the present moment, 3,450 people are employed at the Tennessee-based plant.
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