Automotive Assembly

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BEIJING—China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology agency said last week that the country's automobile sector is back to normal, with both output and sales in May increasing more than 50 percent from April. Major suppliers SAIC Motor and SKF concur.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI—On Monday, Stellantis began indefinite layoffs of workers at its Sterling Stamping Plant here. A spokeswoman did not disclose how many workers will be affected.

Training the next generation of manufacturing workers is essential to the success of U.S. manufacturing and the economy. A recent McKinsey study found that restoring growth and competitiveness in 16 key manufacturing industries could boost annual U.S. GDP by more than 15 percent.

Every assembly technology has its advantages. But, it’s hard to top the variety of fasteners and fastening methods available to manufacturers.

KOKOMO, IN—Stellantis and Samsung are investing $2.5 billion in a new lithium-ion battery assembly plant here. The factory will produce battery cells and modules to supply Stellantis’ North American assembly plants.

Ford plans to add more than 6,200 new U.S. manufacturing jobs in the Midwest to boost production of EVs.

On an assembly line, a fastening tool is typically set up to install specific fasteners at a specific workstation. While an assembler might be tempted to use that tool to help a colleague down the line, such good intentions could actually lead to fastening errors. To keep that from happening, several companies have developed a variety of ways to ensure that fastening tools stay put.

Manufacturers around the world are increasingly concerned about their carbon footprint. One company that is doing something about it is General Motors. Last fall, the automaker announced that it plans to source 100 percent renewable energy to power its U.S. sites by 2025.

Whether it rolls, floats or flies, every electric vehicle needs sensors to monitor current, temperature and voltage. Battery management systems (BMS) are the “brains” responsible for the efficiency, safety and longevity of lithium-ion batteries. 

Valeo is a Tier One automotive supplier that specializes in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), interior, lighting, power train and thermal management systems. The $17 billion French company operates 184 plants in 31 countries around the world that support both traditional automakers and startups.