The Challenge of China
In late November the New York Times ran a 20-page special report in a Sunday edition titled “China Rules.” If you know anything about the state of publishing—especially newspapers—in this age of reading things on screens, you probably know that running 20 pages, of which only one was an ad, and a house ad at that, is no small undertaking.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
Toyota, Aisin Invest $800 Million in Texas Plants
Toyota Motor Corp. and its Aisin AW Co. supplier affiliate are investing a combined $791 million in Texas as the carmaker expands production at its San Antonio truck plant.
Ram 3500 Ups Torque to 1,000 lb-ft
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV says the re-engineered 2019 Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup truck will generate an industry-best 1,000 lb-ft of torque with its 6.7-liter inline-six Cummins diesel engine.
GAC Opens EV Factory in Guangzhou
China’s Guangzhou Automotive Group Co. (GAC) has completed construction of the first phase of its 4.7 billion-yuan ($680 million) electric vehicle factory in Guangzhou.
Toyota Affiliates Plan Autonomous-Car Tech Venture
Four Toyota Motor Corp. suppliers are teaming up to form J-Quad Dynamics Inc., which will develop software and provide engineering services related to automated driving and vehicle motion control.
Denso to Expand Autonomous Car Testing Capabilities in Japan
Denso Corp. is building a proving ground and prototype complex adjacent to the Haneda Airport outside Tokyo.
Toyota Affiliates to Form Self-Driving-Tech Venture Unit
Four members of the Toyota Motor group intend to pool their resources to integrate autonomous-vehicle systems with artificial intelligence controls.
The Volvo XC40: A New SUV for a New Generation
Volvo Cars has been through a lot of changes in the past 20 years. And lately, it has been driving many changes based on its SPA and now CMA vehicle architectures.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
PSA Unveils European Powertrain Plan, Minus Germany
PSA Group has reported new powertrain production assignments for its facilities in Europe—except in Germany, where labor talks continue about hiking efficiency at its Opel unit.
Toyota Forms Autonomous Tech Venture with Aisin Seiki and Denso
Toyota Motor Corp. is teaming up with supplier affiliates Aisin Seiki Co. and Denso Corp. to form a new company that will develop software for self-driving cars.
PSA to Produce Aisin Transmissions in France
PSA Group is pushing ahead with plans to assemble automatic transmissions designed by Aisin Seiki Co. after the Japanese company opted not to form a joint venture production company in France, sources tell Reuters.
Guangzhou Auto Breaks Ground on EV Plant
China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) has begun construction of a 1.9-sq-mile industrial park that will produce electrified vehicles, components and other advanced vehicle technologies.
Aisin Readies Trio of New Transmissions
Japan’s Aisin AW is rolling out three new transmissions: an 8-speed automatic for front-drive applications, a 10-speed rear-drive automatic and a “multi-stage” 8-speed unit for rwd hybrid vehicles.
On the 2017 Kia Cadenza
Many OEMs would do a refresh after three years. Kia has come out with a new generation, instead.
2017 Jeep Compass: For the Four Corners of the Earth
The compact SUV segment is gaining traction in the global market, so Jeep, the brand known for vehicles with incredible tractive capabilities, has designed and engineered a new vehicle for that segment, the all-new Compass.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
Toyota’s President to Head Company’s EV Efforts
Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda has been named head of the company’s new electric-car planning unit, Reuters reports.
Toyota Sets Up In-House EV Team
Toyota Motor Corp. says it will launch a four-member “venture company” in December to quickly develop all-electric vehicles.
Toyota Forms EV Task Force
Next month Toyota Motor Corp. will launch an “in-house venture company” to speed the development of electric vehicles.
Lighter Doors Make a Massive Difference for 2025 (To Say Nothing of the Rest of the Closures)
Here’s a look at a study conducted to get a sense of just how much mass can be taken out of closures through the use of mixed materials rather than just one. You may be surprised at what they determined.
Nissan Targets Work Truck Market with 2-Door Titan
Nissan Motor Co. is adding a two-door version of its Titan fullsize pickup truck to better compete in the U.S. commercial vehicle segment, which has long been dominated by U.S. Big 3 carmakers.
Suzuki Factories Idled by Supplier Plant Explosion
Suzuki Motor Corp. is halting production at three assembly plants in Japan until Monday because of a shortage of brake components, Reuters reports.
Money for Something
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
Disrupted Toyota Plants Resume Production in Japan
Several Toyota Motor Corp. assembly plants that were idled in Japan on Monday by an explosion at a supplier facility will be back online today, the company says.
Supplier Plant Blast Disrupts Toyota Production in Japan
Toyota Motor Corp. has again idled some of its plants in Japan because of a problem with one of its domestic suppliers.
Toyota Extends Shutdown after Second Quake Hits Japan
Toyota Motor Corp. says its will idle much of assembly capacity across Japan for about one week after a second earthquake struck the country on Saturday.
Japan Earthquake Idles Two Assembly Plants
Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. each have idled an assembly plant in Japan following a major earthquake and aftershocks in southwest Japan on Thursday that killed at least 10 people.
On the Nissan Titan XD: The Industrial-Strength Pickup
While Nissan will have various cabs and powertrain offerings for its all-new pickup, it is starting with a crew cab and a V8 turbodiesel to underscore the fact that this is a serious truck.
Auto Industry Accounts for 10% of Top 100 Global Innovators
Three carmakers—Honda, Nissan and Toyota—and seven predominately automotive suppliers were included in this year’s Thomson Reuters' list of the top 100 global innovators.
