Tag: VW

Volkswagen suspends production as coronavirus hits sales

* VW says sales down 15% in first two months of 2020
* VW CFO says coronavirus makes forecasts impossible
* VW resumes production in China as Europe shuts down (Adds CFO comment)
FRANKFURT, March 17 (Reuters) – Volkswagen Group , the world's biggest carmaker, is suspending production at factories across Europe as the coronavirus pandemic hits sales and disrupts supply chains, the company said on Tuesday.
The German carmaker, which owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat and Skoda brands, also said that uncertainty about the fallout from coronavirus meant it was impossible to give forecasts for its performance this year.
“Given the present significant deterioration in the sales situation and the heightened uncertainty regarding parts supplies to our plants, production is to be suspended in the near future at factories operated by group brands,” Chief Executive Herbert Diess said on Tuesday.
Volkswagen's powerful works council concluded it was not po..

Nissan shuts Sunderland factory as coronavirus disrupts industry

Nissan Carmakers including Ford and VW cite global economic turmoil as production is suspended at European plants Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Work at Nissan’s Sunderland facility will cease. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Nissan has shuttered its Sunderland factory, Britain’s biggest car plant, joining a number of automotive firms and aerospace giant… Continue reading Nissan shuts Sunderland factory as coronavirus disrupts industry

Volkswagen prepares to halt production at European plants, likely for a few weeks

Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess this week announced plans to suspend production at European factories over COVID-19 fears. The news will impact a number of prominent makes under the umbrella of the world’s largest car maker (by sales). Plants in Spain, Portugal and Italy will be suspended before the end of this week, with VW’s native… Continue reading Volkswagen prepares to halt production at European plants, likely for a few weeks

Audi’s Hungarian plant to suspend production because of coronavirus

BUDAPEST, March 17 (Xinhua) — German carmaker Audi will halt production at its plant in Gyor, northwestern Hungary, next Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainties in component supply, the Hungarian news agency MTI reported on Tuesday.
“The Volkswagen Group is suspending production at most of its sites,” and the measure affects Audi AG's plant in Gyor, MTI said citing a statement from Audi.
The company plans to halt production in an organized and controlled manner by the end of the current week, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Hungary is closing its borders to all personal travel with the exception of nationals returning to the country, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Monday.
According to the Hungarian government's updated statistics, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 50 on Tuesday, with two reported recoveries, one fatality. And 137 people are in quarantine.

VW to start using high-nickel batteries for electric car

FILE PHOTO: An employee works at a production line of the electric Volkswagen model ID.3 in Zwickau, Germany, February 25, 2020. REUTERS/Matthias Rietschel/File Photo GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will raise the amount of nickel used in it electric car battery cells to 80% in the next year from 65% at… Continue reading VW to start using high-nickel batteries for electric car

VW says it still wants to buy Navistar but also needs to conserve cash

A new logo of German carmaker Volkswagen is unveiled at the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany September 9, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Tuesday said it still wants to buy out U.S. truckmaker Navistar (NAV.N) but added that the coronavirus crisis will require the carmaker to conserve cash as it shuts… Continue reading VW says it still wants to buy Navistar but also needs to conserve cash

Porsche reveals innovative 3D-printing tech for bucket seats

German sports car maker Porsche today presented an innovative alternative to conventional bucket seat upholstery. In its concept study ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’, the central section of the seat, or the seat and backrest cushions, is partly produced by a 3D-printer. Customers will be able to choose between three firmness levels (hard, medium, or soft) for… Continue reading Porsche reveals innovative 3D-printing tech for bucket seats

Volkswagen’s Portugal plant suspends production

LISBON, March 16 (Xinhua) — Volkswagen Autoeuropa, the largest Portuguese exporter and auto producer, was forced to stop production on Monday by a lack of personnel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported.
The factory management realized that none of the three daily shifts could be guaranteed, as many workers decided to stay at home with their children after the government suspended classes in an attempt to contain the pandemic, according to the website of the Portuguese newspaper Publico.
“In view of the absences forecast from March 16, it was also decided to reduce daily production from 890 to 744 units, helping to adjust the factory to the conditions required by national authorities. Both decisions were communicated to all employees on March 13,” the day after the announcement of the suspension of classes till the Easter holidays, the company's top management said in a statement.
Anxiety among the workers was triggered further over the weekend when seven who had ..