ZUFFENHAUSEN, Germany—Engineers at Porsche are setting up a new type of assembly line at its factory here to build a new type of sports car. The all-electric Taycan will be assembled in a “factory within a factory” as part of the Porsche Production 4.0 initiative.
LAFAYETTE, IN--Subaru of America is expanding its U.S. assembly plant here to accommodate an upcoming model. The company is shuffling assembly lines and adding space for its upcoming Ascent three-row crossover. Subaru says it is investing $100 million into its plant here and adding about 200 jobs. The additions will yield a total of 5,800 employees working in the facility to produce the Outback, Impreza, Legacy and new Ascent.
INGOLSTADT, Germany—While automotive manufacturing may have more than 100 years of history under its belt, it could see a radical change if Audi has its way. The automaker is exploring the idea of ditching the assembly line altogether.
GREENVILLE, OH—After two years in product development, Whirlpool and KitchenAid finally began producing the new KitchenAid Pro Line Blender on March 28. The new product joins a host of other appliances assembled in Greenville, such as the KitchenAid Stand Mixer and hand mixer.
OAK RIDGE, TN—The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Whirlpool Corporation are collaborating to design a refrigerator that could cut energy use by up to 40 percent compared with current models.
What will factories look like 100 years from now when the bicentennial of the moving assembly line is celebrated? Will people still be involved in the production process?
