CLOSE Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights will welcome an unusual visitor in August. A 70-pound, dog-like robot, nicknamed Fluffy, will spend two days at the plant in Macomb County. The yellow, battery-powered robot will be there to conduct a laser scan on a portion of the plant floor. Scans are done to prepare for retooling,… Continue reading Ford sending robotic ‘Fluffy’ to Van Dyke Transmission Plant
Category: US Motoring Press
Meet Fluffy: Ford trains robotic dog to map its plants
CLOSE Ford is tapping four-legged robots at its Van Dyke Transmission Plant to laser scan the plant. The Detroit News Ford Motor Co. digital engineer Paula Wiebelhaus takes Fluffy outside for walks in the yard. Her cats hide from him. He has his own spot in a corner of the bedroom where after a run, he… Continue reading Meet Fluffy: Ford trains robotic dog to map its plants
Report: Ford gets 1-year extension on billions in loans
CLOSE Ford has secured some additional breathing room as it tries to navigate the ongoing global financial crisis. The Dearborn automaker has gotten commitments from enough banks for a one-year extension on the bulk of revolving loans totaling about $5.35 billion, according to Reuters, which said JP Morgan was leading the effort. The news service, citing… Continue reading Report: Ford gets 1-year extension on billions in loans
Fiat Chrysler workers in Toledo: We’re the victims in corruption scandal
CLOSE A group of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles workers is suing FCA and the UAW for racketeering and conspiracy, claiming they are the real-life victims of the ongoing corruption scandal. The 27 Toledo-based autoworkers listed as plaintiffs said the UAW buried their concerns about pay and employment status because union officials were getting the kinds of swanky perks — travel, fancy… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler workers in Toledo: We’re the victims in corruption scandal
Former Fiat Chrysler sales chief says stimulus cash saving auto industry
Stimulus spending by governments around the world is keeping the outlook for the auto industry strong in the coming months amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Reid Bigland, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ former head of U.S. sales. “Normally when you get an 80-year high in unemployment — 14.7% — you’re going to get devastation across the board,” Bigland said Tuesday during… Continue reading Former Fiat Chrysler sales chief says stimulus cash saving auto industry
Ford’s top lawyer leaving automaker to take job at Coca-Cola
CLOSE Bradley Gayton, general counsel at Ford Motor Co. is leaving to take a job at Coca-Cola. (Photo: Eric W. Perry) A 39-year Ford veteran will take over as the top lawyer for the automaker as it loses Bradley Gayton to the Coca-Cola Co. John Mellen, associate general counsel at Ford, is to become general… Continue reading Ford’s top lawyer leaving automaker to take job at Coca-Cola
GM’s Barra expects virus to ebb, economic recovery by early 2021
Tom Krisher, Associated Press Published 9:33 p.m. ET July 19, 2020 Detroit — The auto business used to be pretty simple. Crank out vehicles that people want to buy and collect profits. It’s gotten a whole lot more complicated since Mary Barra took over as CEO of General Motors in 2014. She has cut costs… Continue reading GM’s Barra expects virus to ebb, economic recovery by early 2021
Ford general counsel Bradley Gayton leaves for Coca-Cola
Ford Motor Co. on Monday named John Mellen, longtime manager of the Dearborn automaker’s global litigation practice, its general counsel as Bradley Gayton leaves for the Coca-Cola Co. Mellen, Ford’s associate general counsel and 39-year veteran of the Blue Oval, has provided counsel in areas including safety and environmental regulatory compliance, labor and employment, occupational… Continue reading Ford general counsel Bradley Gayton leaves for Coca-Cola
Self-driving startup Aurora expands public road testing to Texas
Ed Ludlow, Bloomberg Published 2:53 p.m. ET July 20, 2020 Even as some robo-taxi developers are tapping the brakes, self-driving startup Aurora Innovation Inc. is expanding its testing operations to Texas, adding a third state to its existing public-road proving grounds in California and Pennsylvania. Aurora, founded by Chris Urmson, a former head of Google’s… Continue reading Self-driving startup Aurora expands public road testing to Texas
Ford executives, dealers report big early demand for 2021 Bronco
Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last SlideNext Slide Dearborn — Ford Motor Co. was confident the 2021 Bronco would be a hit. But within just a few days of the debut of the all-new off-road SUV, which is mounting a comeback 24 years after Ford discontinued it, Ford executives and franchise dealers say demand has been… Continue reading Ford executives, dealers report big early demand for 2021 Bronco