MONTGOMERY, AL—Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) recently announced that it will invest $388 million to construct a new plant to manufacture engine heads and support production of the Sonata and Elantra sedans. The investment, which will create 50 new jobs, will be spent on equipment for the engine head machining plant and updating technology in the company’s existing engine plant.
Numbers, like words, need context to be properly understood. Year-to-year production rates, for example, provide lots of insight into a facility"s past, but little about its future survival or success. A better indicator of that is how much money has been invested in the plant for new equipment and expansion.
WASHINGTON—Regulators have sent the White House a proposal seeking to scale back Obama-era rules to combat climate change through tougher fuel-economy standards for cars and trucks. The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently delivered the proposals to the Office of Management and Budget for review, one of the required steps before a federal rule is adopted.
KARIYA, Japan—Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled to the media last week its historic plant here, which is where the company’s first prototype vehicle was developed in the early years of the Showa era (1926-1989). Called “The Prototype Plant at the Establishment of Toyota,” it has an atmosphere of the early days of the domestic auto industry. The plant will open to the public from July 18.
STOCKHOLM—Chinese auto investors are increasingly pouring money into Europe rather than the United States because of intense U.S. scrutiny of their deals under the Trump administration, according to Reuters news service.
SAVANNAH, GA—The burgeoning growth in U.S. auto exports may be coming in separate parts. The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. automakers are exporting more cars this year, even as proposed tariffs on imported vehicles, and key materials such as steel and aluminum, are raising concerns over global supply chains.
If it rolls, floats or flies, lightweighting is one of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers today. The push for new materials is forcing engineers in a variety of industries to explore cost-effective alternatives and develop new assembly processes.
SANTA CLARA, CA—Electric vehicle developer SF Motors has announced a $160 million investment in its recently acquired assembly plant in Mishawaka, IN. The investment will create up to 467 jobs created by 2020, according to Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.
Error proofing, quality control and flexibility are essential on today's assembly lines. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly investing in DC electric fastening tools. These tools allow engineers to adjust tool speed to match various applications and control more aspects of the fastening process, including key parameters such as torque and angle.
Daimler AG is developing a sustainable supply chain for its worldwide assembly plants. In particular, the automaker is strengthening enforcement activities that relate to human rights, including the responsible procurement of raw materials.