tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53912556262323852932024-03-13T20:23:34.013+00:00Auto Industry NewsletterAs the world's leading provider of confidential insider information from 1979 to 2000, Auto Industry Newsletter has now re-emerged by popular request to provide chief executives with the insight necessary to meet today's challenges.
Editor: John MortimerWhaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.comBlogger1089125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-43921545762010319682017-12-31T13:34:00.003+00:002018-11-21T21:07:38.772+00:00CLOSED<div class="Body">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This blogspot is now
closed. Is it any wonder, bearing in mind VW's emissions scandal and the debacle surrounding Carlos Goshn, who wil be fired from heading up Nissan on 21 Nvember 2018, that the decision was taken a year ago, to shutter this blogspot. Thus since the end of 2017 no posts have been added.</span></b></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
editor thanks readers throughout the world for their interest and support; and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #606061; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">offers <b>PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR</b> wishes to hisreaders everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #606061; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">John Mortimer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: #606061; font-family: "tahoma", "sans-serif";">21 November 2018</span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-71477976940228942962017-12-05T22:47:00.001+00:002017-12-06T15:56:17.295+00:00Torotrak: squirming for survival<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Torotrak plc, well
known for the paucity of late of vital shareholder information, is expected to
make a statement later this month about Flybrid Automotive.</span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The founders of Flybrid Automotive are looking to
extricate themselves from what appears on the surface to be the debris of
Torotrak Plc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Flybrid developed a name for itself through its
flywheel technology (and patents) – a means of absorbing energy which, at a
later stage can be released as a device to improve fuel economy, or boost power
output. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a statement, Torotrak plc, a developer and supplier
of emissions reduction and fuel efficiency technology for vehicles, announces
that, further to the announcements on 28 November 2017 and 1 December 2017, the
Board has received notification that Jonathan Hilton and Douglas Cross have
filed an application for administration for Flybrid Automotive Limited.
application is listed for hearing on 15 December 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Board meet with its administration advisers to
consider if any value can be generated from its assets or whether the Company
should to be put into administration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Company will make further announcements in due
course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It may be recalled that Hilton has recently completed
a year as president of the UK’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hilton joined the Institution as a young member in
1982 when he started his engineering career with Rolls-Royce military engines
group at Leavesden, Hertforshire. Completing the Rolls-Royce undergraduate
training scheme and graduating from the Hatfield Polytechnic, Jon took a first
appointment in helicopter engine design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His passion for engines led him to Formula One and in
1991 he moved to Cosworth where he rose up the ranks from engine designer to
chief engineer of the F1 programme by the end of 1997. In 1998 Jon moved to the
TWR Arrows team as chief engineer of the F1 Engines group and here he built up
a team of skilled engineers to design and develop F1 engines for TWR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In early 2003, Hilton moved, along with the whole of
his F1 engines team, to Renault F1 where he formed the UK based engine division
for the team. As technical director Engine Division, Hilton was involved with a
successful period for the team, which won driver</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">s and constructor</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">s Formula One World Championships in 2005 and 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In January 2007, Hilton with former Renault F1
colleague Doug Cross, formed a new engineering company called Flybrid
Automotive to develop high-speed flywheel based hybrid systems for automobile
application. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As managing director, Hilton ran the company providing
direction for all activities and with prime responsibility for commercial
aspects of the business until January 2014, when Torotrak PLC acquired the
company. Hilton occupied a non-executive role as deputy chairman of the parent
company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hilton has held various official posts at the
Institution including chairman of the Midland Region, chairman of the
Automobile Division and chairman of the Formula Student organising committee.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; text-indent: 21.3pt;">Two years ago, in August 2015, following a period of “resetting the strategic focus of the fgroup to commercialise its technology”, new Torotrak chief executive officer
Adam Robson saw Torotrak’s key markets as being bus, off-highway and passenger
car with KERS (kinetic energy recover systems) and V-Charge appearing to take
centre stage compared with the company’s original focus of development, namely
infinitely variable transmissions (IVTs). Hmmm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; text-indent: 21.3pt;"></span><br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly,
it is understood Flybrid Automotive Ltd cost Torotrak plc of the order of £</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">11 million in 2014 with a potential further </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">£</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">15 million should performance targets be met.
Unsecured loan notes of </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">£</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1.8m, were given as part of the deal, and were
repayable subject to certain commercial targets being met. It is possible these
form part of the current dispute. </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 37.7953px;">A few FTSE companies show their shareholders utter disdain by failing to correctly 'reward' them; Torotrak plc is certasinly one of them.</span><br />
<div style="text-indent: 37.7953px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It now remains to be seen what happens to the technology, know-how and patents stored within Torotrak – and the value placed upon them.</span></div>
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-89184698931259189092017-12-03T08:21:00.001+00:002017-12-04T09:18:48.116+00:00Torotrak given up hope?<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">Torotrak
Group’s share price falls to an all-time low as the company appears to have
lost direction.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">FRIDAY 1 December 2017
marked a grim day for Torotrak Group as its share price fell to an all-time
low. No statements seemingly are being issued and the company’s website gives
no email addresses for shareholders to contact staff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">The last news item
appeared 27 July 2017 when the company issued final year results for the period
to 31 March 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">On the basis of the latest
share price the company would seem to be almost worthless as directors appear
to have lost all sense of both direction, motivation and momentum. A sad testament to those
who have committed time and effort over the years to developing three main
technologies: Torotrak’s (Perbury’s) CVT, V-Charge and Flybrid. And Allison? Little seems to be heard about its involvement with the beleaguered UK company which was spun out if BTG all those years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-9238890423689462242017-05-04T15:30:00.002+01:002017-12-03T08:23:41.319+00:00Torotrak signals the end of an era<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Preston-based Torotrak, a developer and supplier of emissions
reduction and fuel efficiency technology in vehicles, is to close its Leyland
headquarters and make all staff based at the site redundant.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">This is indeed the end of
an era. But the end cannot be allowed to pass without some comment being made.
For it seems that faith has been lost in the concept of traction drive
transmissions which had its heart in Leyland, Lancashire for so many years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">This is an era that many
people have forgotten about. Or not even aware. Some may regard it as a
nostalgic era, when the future appeared not only bright but lucrative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The era extends back at
least until around 1962 (the actual date is unclear as one of the principal
participants is no longer alive) when a 1957 Hillman Minx fitted with a Perbury
continuously variable transmission (CVT) covered some 25,000 miles of testing to
prove the capabilities of the CVT developed by Forbes Perry of Perbury
Engineering Ltd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Perbury Engineering developed
a CVT for a car project centred within the British Technology Group (BTG and formerly
NRDC) out of which blossomed Torotrak plc based at Leyland in Lancashire where
there was also a CVT programme, again based on the Perbury design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The era certainly embraces
BL Technology, a small part of British Leyland, tasked with exploring new
technology and based at Gaydon, in Warwickshire – now the home of Aston Martin
and JaguarLandRover. Perbury-type transmissions were developed on this former
RAF airfield site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It is fair to say that
designs of the Perbury transmission were based on the Hayes transmission (once
fitted to Austin cars), it being the point at which Forbes Perry’s designs
began to evolve and improve this type of transmission. He probably started serious
work circa 1957.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">A great deal of water has
passed under the bridge, most of it happening within the confines of the
facilities in Leyland Truck & Bus which undertook some work in applying the
technology to buses. Facilities in Leyland near to the original truck plant became
the bedrock for Torotrak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Executives of major automotive
companies made their way to Torotrak Leyland during the last 50 years, all in
search of the ‘perfect’ seamless transmission – that disappearing elixir. But
for one reason or another, the reality eluded everybody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Perbury Engineering was
for many years the hub of the fountain of ideas. Yet no one liked to admit that
a stand-alone engineer knew more about the transmission than anyone else. It
was as if he did not exist. Boffins at Leyland believed they knew everything
and looked down their noses at ‘clowns’ working in workshops in deepest
Oxfordshire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The little company in
Oxfordshire however built a variety of experimental prototypes including those produced
by Leyland Truck & Bus, from which people moved across to nearby Torotrak
as the company evolved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><b> Careers built on the back of CVT technology</b></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Countless technical papers
have been written down the years in Europe, Asia and North America, about CVTs
as engineers expounded their ideas about one tiny facet or another of the
design. Indeed, careers were forged on the back of the Perbury system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Now it looks as though,
in a bid to cut costs, a huge slimming down process is under way which could
see the end of the Perbury-type transmission. Of course, many will dispute that
the current design is a Perbury design, as so many man-hours have been invested
in pushing out the frontiers of knowledge to expand the power base of
understanding of this simple design which relies on traction drive
characteristics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Torotrak plc, which
specialises in the use of ground-breaking KERS technology for buses and
V-Charge to boost the power of smaller engines for cars, has seen its share
price tumble as the car industry has turned its attention to electric cars
instead of making traditional engines more efficient.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Interestingly, none of the directors of the company have any history in toroidal transmissions - a passion to drive the technology forward into the market place. None has held board directorship for longer than four years, with the exception of non-executive chairmanNick Barter who joined in 2003. The most recent encumbent is Adam Robson, (April 2015). John McLaren and Rex Vevers joined in June 2013 while Jon Hilton, who is also president of the prestigious Institution of Mechanical Engineers, joined in January 2014. </span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">In January, Torotrak
(which has seen chief executives come and go) announced<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="af"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">a
strategic refocus of the group including the consolidation of its engineering
resources to reduce its ongoing cash operating costs. Indeed, it is possible that some may view Torotrak's acquisition of Flybrid Automotive as a clever device for the Silverstone-based company to reverse into Torotrak plc. Time alone will reveal the outcome.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The company, which also
has an office and workshops in Silverstone, has not given details of how many
people will be affected but company accounts to March 2016 show it employed 85
staff, 57 of which were engineers at the Leyland site, and it had a total wage
bill of £4.7million.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Significantly, perhaps,
the Silverstone unit was the technology hub for Flybrid Automotive which became
part of Torotrak and led to the emergence of Flybrid executives having a
greater say in the running of the company. After all, it was Flybrid Automotive’s
KERS technology which now appears to be driving Torotrak forward – if indeed it
is making any headway at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Last year’s Torotrak plc pre-tax
losses almost doubled to £14.3million on a turnover of £1.2 million. Could
Torotrak be on the verge of throwing in the CVT towel? It appears not from
today’s statement. But who knows the truth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span class="af"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“The board
continues to focus on realising value from Torotrak’s technology portfolio and
other assets,” Torotrak said today in a stock market statement.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span class="af"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The group
said it expects to close the financial year to the end of March with £5.1 million
in cash, in line with expectations but added that the net assets of the company
will fall below half of the value of the called-up share capital. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span class="al"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Under
Section 656 of the Companies Act 2006, when this happens the directors are
required to call a general meeting of the company to discuss whether steps
should be taken to deal with the situation. It will hold this meeting on 31<sup>st</sup>
May.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span class="al"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“The board
does not consider that any steps are required to be taken beyond those already
in hand and accordingly, no resolutions will be put to Shareholders at the
General Meeting,” it said.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span class="al"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">So there
we have it. The company rumbles on. The question has to be raised, after this
recent activity: just how long can Torotrak survive? The technology does not
seem to be attractive enough for an OEM to step in and buy the company to add
to its portfolio. But of course this could change. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FEFEFE; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span class="al"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Only in
the minds of those ‘running’ Torotrak is there perhaps the germs of ideas to
take the technology strands forward. But these minds are holding their real thoughts close to their chests. Whether the truth of Torotrak's collapse ever emerges remains to be seen.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-77926192646654090182017-05-02T16:59:00.003+01:002017-05-02T16:59:50.158+01:00Toyota to put fuel cells in heavy trucks<div class="Body">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Toyota Motor North
America, Inc. has revealed “</span></b><b><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Project Portal</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” - a
hydrogen fuel cell system designed for heavy duty truck use at the Port of Los
Angeles.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Announced
at a press conference with Port officials and representatives from California
Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), the
zero-emission truck proof of concept will take part in a feasibility study
examining the potential of fuel cell technology in heavy duty applications.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The study will begin this summer and
contribute to the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan, which has "dramatically
reduced harmful" emissions from operations at the Ports of Long Beach and
Los Angeles since 2005.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“As they did with the Prius and the
Mirai, Toyota is taking a leap into the future of technology. By bringing this
heavy duty, zero emission hydrogen fuel cell proof of concept truck to the
Port, Toyota has planted a flag that we hope many others will follow,” said
Mary D. Nichols, Chair of CARB. “CARB will be following the progress of this
feasibility study with interest, as we look to develop the best mix of
regulations and incentives to rapidly expand the market for the cleanest, most
efficient big trucks to meet the need for dramatic change in the freight
sector.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Project Portal is the next step in
Toyota’s effort to broaden the application of zero-emission fuel cell
technology that can serve a range of industries. The company claims the vehicle
is a fully functioning heavy duty unit with the power and torque capacity to
conduct port drayage operations while emitting nothing but water vapour.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is claimed heavy duty vehicles make
up a significant percentage of the annual emissions output at the Port of Los
Angeles, and the Portal feasibility study may provide another path to further
reduce emissions. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Toyota believes that hydrogen fuel
cell technology has tremendous potential to become the powertrain of the
future,” said TMNA executive vice president Bob Carter. “From creating one of
the world’s first mass market fuel cell vehicles, to introducing fuel cell
buses in Japan, Toyota is a leader in expanding the use of versatile and
scalable zero-emission technology. With Project Portal, we’re proud to help
explore the societal benefits of a true zero emission heavy-duty truck
platform.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Cutting edge</b></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Project Portal platform is designed to provide the target performance required
to support port drayage operations. The truck generates more than 670 bhp and
1325 lbft torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery, a
relatively small battery to support class 8 load operations. The concept’s
gross combined weight capacity is 80,000 lbs., and its estimated driving range
is more than 200 miles per fill, under normal drayage operation.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Among companies giving assistance to
Toyota is UK consulting company Ricardo which has provided technical assistance
to the project, including areas of design, vehicle build, testing and
development, and is currently supporting vehicle trials.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ricardo says it has assisted Toyota on
this project across a wide range of engineering functions. These have included
systems integration and packaging, including the fuel cells, power electronics,
hydrogen tanks, cooling systems, batteries, electric motors and transmission.
Many of the ancillary systems that are traditionally driven by the engine were
also electrified, including the air compressor, power steering and HVAC system,
the controls of which required integration into the vehicle’s J1939 CAN BUS.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Project Portal is one part of Toyota’s
ongoing commitment to fuel cell technology and the potential of a hydrogen
society. It follows on the company’s continued work to expand California’s
hydrogen refueling infrastructure, including the recently announced partnership
with Shell to increase the number of hydrogen refueling stations in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles play a
role in California’s efforts to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction
goals, improve air quality, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,” according
to Janea A. Scott, Commissioner, California Energy Commission. “That’s why the California Energy Commission
is investing in the refueling infrastructure needed to support adoption of
these vehicles. The Commission applauds Toyota for putting this cutting edge
technology to use in a heavy-duty freight proof of concept. This demo will show
how fuel cells can help support the heavy-duty sector’s efforts to increase
efficiency, transition to zero-emission technologies, and increase
competitiveness.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-32278123535425413522017-03-17T15:27:00.000+00:002017-03-17T15:27:17.605+00:00VW uses Hololens to design cars of future<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Volkswagen’s Virtual Engineering Laboratory in
Wolfsburg is using augmented and virtual reality techniques to design cars of
the future.</span></strong></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">In
the laboratory two dozen screens flicker, some of them showing graphics and
others hundreds of lines of program code. In the center of the room, there is a
1:4 scale model of a Golf. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Fs9SVlRFJM/WMv_9drlBwI/AAAAAAAACQw/nwfsGEyZMWoVP7u7PNOnK2xRKG3-vb6mwCLcB/s1600/VW%2Bvirtual%2Bcar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Fs9SVlRFJM/WMv_9drlBwI/AAAAAAAACQw/nwfsGEyZMWoVP7u7PNOnK2xRKG3-vb6mwCLcB/s400/VW%2Bvirtual%2Bcar.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Frank Ostermann inspects the model, and then he changes its wheels,
replaces the rear lights and modifies the wing mirrors. Ostermann uses voice
commands and gestures to change the design. It is all completed in a matter of
seconds. Augmented reality makes it possible. The software required was
developed in the Virtual Engineering Lab and the team's results could
revolutionize the work of engineers and designers.</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Ostermann is wearing ‘HoloLens’
mixed-reality goggles. The mobile computer developed by Microsoft projects
virtual content onto a physical object through gesture control and voice
commands. Ostermann only needs to point his finger and the HoloLens projects a
different paint colour onto the Golf, installs different wheels and modifies
the fenders. Initially, the Golf is an R-Line model but it then becomes an
entirely new version. Perhaps this model will appear at the dealership in six
months' time.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Ostermann (52) is a
graduate engineer in computer engineering. At Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, he heads
the Virtual Engineering Laboratory, one of six labs now operated by Volkswagen
Group IT in Wolfsburg, Berlin, Munich and San Francisco. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">The latest laboratory
is currently starting operations in Barcelona. At these labs, specialists from
Volkswagen are working on the digital future together with research institutions
and technology partnerships. New solutions in the fields of big data, Industry
4.0, the Internet of things, connectivity, mobility services and virtual
reality are being created in close cooperation.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"> <b>Using augmented and virtual reality</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">"At Volkswagen, we
have been using augmented reality and virtual reality for some time, mainly to
obtain a three-dimensional view," says Ostermann. "We are now taking
a major step forward at the Virtual Engineering Lab. We are transforming this
technology into a tool for Technical Development. This will allow Volkswagen
engineers to work on a virtual vehicle, to change its equipment as they wish
and even to design new components virtually. They will be able to see the
results of their work immediately."<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">"We are
cooperating very closely with our colleagues from Technical Development and are
already close to the first new vehicle concepts and design studies,"
Ostermann reports. "We contribute our know-how for technical product
development and offer tailor-made solutions for all Group brands in the fields
of virtual engineering and systems engineering."<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">What is the reason for
this approach? Augmented and virtual reality help save time and development
costs. Each step in the process can be made faster and more efficient, for
example with HoloLens software from the Virtual Engineering Lab.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">The HoloLens not only
projects each design or equipment change directly onto the physical model. It
also allows several project teams to work at the same time but at different
places, for example teams from Wolfsburg, Chattanooga and Shanghai. All
concerned always have the current design model in view and time-consuming
reworking, for example on a clay model, may become a thing of the past.
"The teams can directly follow and compare minimal changes to the model
and then make a decision. This means that they can reach their goal
faster," Ostermann explains.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Currently, the HoloLens
software is still in the trial phase. In future, it will allow users to call up
the entire Volkswagen brand model portfolio and to present different body versions
of a model in all conceivable variants: the developers will then be able to
transform a saloon virtually into an SUV, an estate car, a convertible or a
coupe.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">"Just a few years
ago, this was all science fiction," says Ostermann. "Now it is clear
that this is how we will be developing our next models."<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-86948326029027425022017-03-10T15:20:00.002+00:002017-03-10T15:33:13.789+00:00VW and Tata Motors to explore cooperation<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Volkswagen AG and Tata
Motors Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at exploring
long-term strategic cooperation in clearly-defined fields.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Volkswagen, which has set about 'rescuing' Navistar International Corporation in the US has turned its face eastwards and has hooked up with Tata Motors. The
goal of the strategic alliance is to “bundle the expertise” of both car
manufacturers with a view to jointly developing vehicle components and possibly
also vehicle concepts. </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 28.4px;">ŠKODA Auto has been given the job of spearheading the investigation into any possible collaboration</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the Volkswagen Group, the MoU with Tata
Motors Ltd. marks a “further trailblazing step” in the context of its “TOGETHER
– Strategy 2025”. Under the terms of the memorandum, the Volkswagen and Tata
will explore possibilities for a strategic partnership in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In order to share responsibility among the
Volkswagen Group brands, ŠKODA Auto is to lead the project. The first step will
address topics such as the application of specific market knowledge as well as
local development expertise. In the long term, the Volkswagen Group is looking
to further expand its product portfolio in the fast-growing emerging markets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Our aim with the envisaged strategic
partnership with Tata Motors is to lay the foundations in the Group and the
brands that will enable us to offer customer-oriented mobility solutions in the
emerging, fast-growing automobile markets, as elsewhere. By offering the
appropriate products we intend to achieve sustainable and profitable growth in
very different parts of the world. That is why we are systematically pursuing
our regional growth strategy”, explained Matthias Müller, chief executive
officer of Volkswagen AG.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We are delighted to announce our potential
cooperation with Volkswagen Group and ŠKODA. We strongly believe that both the
companies, by working together, can leverage from each other’s strengths to
create synergies and develop smart innovative solutions for the Indian and
overseas market. This is in alignment with Tata Motors efforts to make itself
‘FutuReady’ by embracing new technologies, fostering higher platform efficiency
and offering solutions that connect with the aspirations of our customers”, noted
Günter Butschek, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Motors
Ltd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We are looking forward to the joint project
with Tata Motors. Delegating project responsibility to ŠKODA underscores the
great confidence of the Volkswagen Group in the ability of our brand. Together
with Tata we will be specifying the concrete opportunities for collaboration
over the coming months”, added Bernhard Maier, chief executive officer of ŠKODA
Auto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The contractual framework and the guidelines
for a strategic cooperation between the Volkswagen Group and Tata Motors Ltd.
will be examined and defined in detail over the coming months. Until then, the
parties have agreed not to disclose any information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tata Motors Limited is India’s largest
automobile company, with consolidated revenues of INR 2, 75, 561 crores (US$
41.6 billion) in 2015-16. Through subsidiaries and associate companies, Tata
Motors has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia.
Among them is JaguarLandRover, the business comprising the two iconic British
brands. It also has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 9
million Tata vehicles on India’s roads, Tata Motors is the country’s market
leader in commercial vehicles and among the top in passenger vehicles. Tata
cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe,
Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia,
CIS and Russia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-48071213878732752412017-03-10T08:48:00.000+00:002017-03-10T08:48:03.857+00:00JLR to boost its design, engineering resources<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fuelled by success at
home and overseas, </span></b><b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">Jaguar Land Rover Automotive</span></b><b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(JLRA) is boosting in engineering resources at
Gaydon, the former home of sibling BL Technology Ltd in the days of British
Leyland.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">JLR
the UK’</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;">s largest car manufacturer, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">has begun construction
work on a £200 million redevelopment of its design and engineering centre at
Gaydon, Warwickshire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the emphasis moves increasingly to hybrid
and electric vehicles, this latest expansion represents the first major
construction project at one of the company’s non-manufacturing sites in over a
decade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The development is intended to become one of
the world’s foremost automotive product, engineering and design sites – fitting
for a company with ambitious plans for continued global growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chris Elliott, JLR’s property programmes director,
said: “The new design and engineering centre is a testament both to Jaguar Land
Rover's British heritage of innovation and its compelling vision for future
vehicle technology. The new space will centralise our design, product
engineering and purchasing functions in an original and modern environment, as
well as creating additional capacity for the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">JLR has worked with leading architectural
practice Bennetts Associates to design the scheme and engaged Laing O’Rourke as
its construction partner. Laing O’Rourke will develop the site to create a
unique landscaped campus comprising new offices and Jaguar and Land Rover
design centres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In recent years JLR has invested heavily in
its UK vehicle manufacturing facilities at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and
Solihull to support the introduction of all-new vehicles such as the Jaguar XE,
XF and F-PACE, Range Rover Evoque Convertible and Land Rover Discovery Sport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It has also made significant progress in
building its international manufacturing presence over the last year, with a
new manufacturing facility under construction in Slovakia and the opening of
its plant in Brazil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the past five years JLR has employed more
than 20,000 people, taking its workforce to more than 40,000. The company has
invested more than £11 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">COMMENT.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"> Gaydon has come a long way since during WW2 it
was opened (in 1942) as an RAF station, being the first station to receive the
Vickers Valiant in 1955. But the ghosts of past automotive technology hover timelessly
and tantalisingly in unseen corners, ghosts associated with, for example, the
ECV3, a bonded-aluminium-structure aerodynamic concept car developed by Spen King (father
of the Range Rover <i>et al</i>) working at
BLT in Gaydon and first shown to the public 35 years ago in December 1982 <span style="color: #252525;">The third in a series of Energy Conservation Vehicles BLT
was developing at the time, ECV3 (housed in the nearby museum) ncorporated new engine technologies and construction
materials. The three-cylinder, four-valves-per-cylinder engine developed 72bhp
(54kW) and was mated to a five-speed gearbox. The engine weighed 84kg and led
to the K-Series. BLT also developed infinitely variable (or continuously
variable) transmissions based on the Perbury transmission.</span> Other ghosts
include British Leyland’s first dabble with robotics under Mike Kelly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-58910946672310888082017-03-09T22:44:00.002+00:002017-03-14T08:02:23.932+00:00Navistar has woes but Clarke remains bullish<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar International
Corporation has announced a first quarter 2017 net loss of $62 million,
compared to a first quarter 2016 net loss of $33 million.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Revenues
in the quarter were $1.7 billion, a decline of six per cent compared to $1.8
billion in the first quarter last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The decrease primarily reflects lower truck
volumes due to soft Class 8 heavy industry conditions and lower global sales.
First quarter 2017 EBITDA was $63 million, compared to first quarter 2016
EBITDA of $82 million. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Our results are on track with our plan for
the year, and demonstrate our ability to effectively manage costs at a time of
persistent Class 8 industry headwinds,” said Troy Clarke, chairman, president
and chief executive officer. “Our order share continues to outpace our market
share, which confirms our confidence in the retail share improvement to come.
At the same time, we are rolling out a steady stream of new product
introductions that are helping us generate new sales opportunities, and
position us to take advantage of the anticipated Class 8 rebound in the second
half.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar finished the first quarter 2017 with
$771 million in consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
and $697 million in manufacturing cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the first quarter, Navistar began customer
deliveries of its new International LT Series Class 8, long-haul truck
featuring advanced technologies that deliver “unrivalled fuel efficiency,
best-in-class uptime and unparalleled driver appeal”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<b>A26 based on VW’s MAN D26<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar
has launched its A26 engine, which it expects will be “the catalyst that drives
improved share in the 13-litre segment”, when it is launched mid-year in the LT
Series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar admits the A26 is driven from the “proven
MAN D26 engine platform”. This new 12.4-litre engine retains the compacted
graphite iron (CGI) I6 block and is designed to deliver “superior fuel
efficiency and provide industry-leading uptime”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar says it plans to continue to
introduce new products every four to six months through the end of 2018,
refreshing its entire product portfolio, while also expanding it with its
re-entry into Class 4/5 vehicles through its collaboration with General Motors. While giving mention of GM, the company makes not reference to Cummins Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last month, the company went into production
on its other major project with this automaker, when it began manufacturing
General Motors’ cutaway G van at its Springfield, Ohio plant. In addition to
generating additional revenues, it will also help enhance the company’s
manufacturing capacity utilization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar adds that its “wide-ranging strategic
alliance” with Volkswagen Truck & Bus, which included a $256 million equity
investment in Navistar by that company and the creation of a procurement joint
venture and a strategic technology and supply collaboration, are “already up
and running”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The company reiterated it expects the cumulative
synergies for Navistar will ramp up to at least $500 million over the first
five years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Now that the transaction has closed, we can
start collaborating with Volkswagen Truck & Bus to increase our global
scale, strengthen our competitiveness, and provide our customers with expanded
access to cutting-edge products, technology and services,” Clarke said. “This
marks an exciting new chapter in Navistar’s history, and another step in our
journey to becoming a stronger, more profitable company.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The company expects 2017 retail deliveries of
Class 6-8 trucks and buses in the US and Canada are forecast to be in the range
of 305,000 units to 335,000 units. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>COMMENT.</b> On 13 March, <i>Transport Topics</i> reported remarks by </span><span lang="DE" style="background: white; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stephen
Volkmann of Jefferies Securities, in which he said with respect to Navistar
International Corporation: "We believe the strategic alliance with VW provides a
blueprint for eventual full ownership by VW, though this is likely years away,
rather than measured in quarters</span>."<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-54568872143268737542017-03-08T22:49:00.000+00:002017-03-08T22:49:26.114+00:00Cummins to have new 12-litre I6 by 2018?<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to truckinginfo.com Cummins Inc. is
working on a new engine, the X12, that will be available in 2018.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Cummins
X12, notes truckinginfo.com, aims to redefine the medium-bore, 10-litre to
13-litre engine category by setting new standards for productivity in regional-haul,
vocational, and intermodal truck applications. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
least 150 lb lighter than the next closest competitive engine and up to 600 lb
lighter than other medium-bore engines, the new 12-litre will still deliver between
350 bhp to 475 bhp and 1250 to 1700 lbft of peak torque. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is expected the new X12 engine will weigh 2,050 lb, it has the highest
power-to-weight ratio of any heavy-duty engine between 10-litre to 16-litre in
size. News of Ummins' new engine comes hard on the heels of International launching its 'new' 12.4-litre A26 which is in the same horsepower and torque range of the X12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
big question is: Will this engine have a compacted graphite iron (CGI) block
when it is introduced?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is understood that at least one company is planning to offer the engine to its
customers in 2018 and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Alkane
Truck Company, a South Carolina-based assembler of alternative-fuel vehicles,
is said t0 be exploring a supply agreement with Cummins in a bid to offer clean
diesel engine options for Alkane’s line of heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pending
successful engineering tests and modifications, truckinginfo.com notes that
Alkane has identified three Cummins engines to offer its customers. These are
the V5.0 engine for the Alkane Dominator, the B6.7 diesel engine for the Class
7, and, once it becomes available in 2018, the X12 engine for the Alkane Class
8 heavy-duty trucks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
supply agreement would accelerate the company's operations and vision of
introducing clean diesel engines to join the broad range of alternative fuel
vehicles for the trucking and off-road vehicle industries in America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-26289883961640955552017-03-08T14:56:00.000+00:002017-03-08T14:56:31.051+00:00China and US markets bolsters JLR<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">JaguarLandRover (JLR), the UK's leading manufacturer of premium luxury
vehicles reported its best February retail sales figure of 40,978 vehicles, up
nine per cent on February 2016, driven by strong sales performances in China
and North America.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The company sold 88,671 vehicles in the
first two months of 2016, six per cent up on the same period in the prior year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Retail sales for
the month of February were up year-on-year across many key regions: 40 per cent
in China, 16 per cent in North America and 14 per cent in the UK. Europe and
other overseas markets were down two per cent and seven per cent respectively
year-on-year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In the first two
months of 2017, Jaguar has sold 26,152 vehicles, up 78 per cent while Land
Rover’s sales were 62,519, up nine per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jaguar had its
best February performance, delivering 12,203 vehicles, up 81 per cent on the
previous year, due to continued solid sales of the XE (3,309 vehicles) and the
all-new F-PACE (5,323 vehicles). China recorded outstanding year-on-year growth
of 118 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Land Rover retailed
28,775 vehicles in the month, down 6 per cent year-on-year. Best-sellers for
the month were the Discovery Sport, retailing 8,357 vehicles, the Range Rover
Evoque, retailing 7,806 vehicles and the Range Rover, with retails of 4,790 in
the month. Sales have now begun for the all-new Discovery and this month Land
Rover launched a new addition to the Range Rover family, the Velar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">
Boost for women in
engineering<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Meanwhile, in an attempt
to reverse the image of women in engineering JLR had teamed with Getty Images
as more people than ever are searching images of women in science, technology,
engineering and maths (STEM) careers, yet results are often out-dated and don’t
reflect today’s exciting and varied roles. This partnership aims to change
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; outline: 0px; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Pictures
released today by JLR and Getty Images show women in a variety of STEM roles
from aerodynamics to cyber and audio engineering. They are intended to
encourage more women to apply for these jobs by accurately portraying the
modern workplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; outline: 0px; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2Oa1ATcRpw/WMAbUtI1blI/AAAAAAAACQM/xlpiL0WhW6MmOZlgquYBvtXCJPhZtaW_QCLcB/s1600/Jaguar%2BGetty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2Oa1ATcRpw/WMAbUtI1blI/AAAAAAAACQM/xlpiL0WhW6MmOZlgquYBvtXCJPhZtaW_QCLcB/s400/Jaguar%2BGetty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; outline: 0px; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">New data
released by Getty Images shows that web traffic for imagery showing women in
engineering careers is significantly increasing. The number of people
searching “women + STEM” imagery has risen by 526 per cent in the past year
alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Fiona
Pargeter, JLR’s global PR communications director, said: “We have always
championed women in the car business and are committed to inspiring more girls
and women to consider careers in engineering and manufacturing. Our female
workforce has grown from nine to 11 per cent over the past four years due to
our focused STEM initiatives. But this is still far too low – businesses being
proactive about using realistic imagery is one of the many ways that we can
attract the bright minds we need into STEM careers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Michelle
Mortiboys, vehicle line director, JLR Special Vehicle Operations, said: “Here
at Jaguar Land Rover we need the diversity of skills that women bring to ensure
we thrive and maintain our competitive edge for years to come. It is well
known that gender diversification in business is not just healthy culturally
but also propels progressiveness and innovation. Our partnership with Getty
Images is not just about recruiting women into engineering, it’s a small part
of the work that needs to be done to upscale female employees in the automotive
sector as a whole.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-34004447443777898302017-03-07T19:32:00.000+00:002017-03-07T19:32:18.559+00:00When is a new engine a new engine?<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Journalists are
frequently criticised for highlighting the ‘smoke and mirrors’ marketing departments use to create something new that is not really new at all.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Take
for example the recent introduction of Navistar's International A26 truck
engine that later this year will appear in LT and RH 'over-the-road' tractor
units in the US. The A26 is hailed as a new engine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Production of the engine is due to begin in
April at Navistar International's plant at Huntsville,, Alabama. They will
begin appearing in trucks from May onwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jonathan S. Reiskin, associate news editor of <i>Transport Topics</i>, notes in the issue of
6 March that Bill Kozek, Navistar's president of truck and parts, claims the
"A26 replaces the N13 engine and is part of the company's three-year
turnaround plan and commitment to uptime for fleet operators."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"This is a great time to be at
International," Reiskin quotes Kozek."We've been through a lot and we
are coming out of it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So far so good. The problem comes with remarks
attributed to Darren Gosbee, vice president of powertrain engineering, who said
the engine is the "first fruit of the company's Project Alpha, a
rethinking of the company's engine business."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In other words, it is a new engine. But is it?
To what extent is it a reincarnation of MAN’s D26 engine?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to <i>Transport Topics</i>, the name A26 is explained in two parts. The A is
for Project Alpha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then, according to <i>Transport Topics</i>, the pistons have a diameter of 126mm, almost five
inches. In fact, 4.96 inches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"So the company's marketing department
dropped the 1 and added an A in front of the number 26," notes associate
news editor Reiskin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In other words, the marketing department is
trying to conjure up the idea that 126 is a new dimension.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But the bore of 126mm is not new at all,
however much International's marketing department might like to think it is.
The N13 engine also has a bore of 126mm and both engines have compacted
graphite iron (CGI) I6 cylinder blocks and swept volume of 12.4 litres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to Gosbee, an LT tractor unit
powered by the A26 can achieve 9 per cent better fuel economy than a ProStar
Plus fitted with an N13 engine. The A26 can deliver up to 1,750 lbft torque and
475 bhp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to Transport Topics, the A26 weighs
in at 2,299 lb or 55 lb less than the N13, or 650 lb lighter than a 15-litre
engine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Transport
Topics</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
notes that International will continue to make the N13 through to the end of
this year "and then retire the design in favour of the A26."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, according to <i>Transport Topics</i>, Gosbee said that
engineers "made more use of aluminium and CGI in the A26."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gosbee is also reported as saying the engine
uses Bosch's common rail fuel injection system which "Navistar's engineers
learned about from MAN's use of it in an engine."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The engine has a B10 life of 1.2 million
miles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the meantime, Navistar has submitted to the
Environmental Protection Agency all the necessary paperwork required for
certification and is waiting for approval for 2017 emission standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-24269959179245031632017-03-07T08:38:00.000+00:002017-03-07T08:56:37.255+00:00Ford explores large-part 3D printing<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d is exploring how large one-piece car parts could be
printed for prototyping and future production vehicles. It claims it is the
first automaker to pilot the Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Capable of printing car parts of practically any shape
or length, the Stratasys Infinite Build system could be a breakthrough for
vehicle manufacturing. It could provide a more efficient and affordable way to
produce tooling, prototype parts, or components at lower volumes, such as might
be used as personalised car parts or specialised parts for high performance
racing cars.</span><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Parts made by 3D
printing has been used for many years. It will be recalled that Chuck Hull
invented stereolithography just 30 years ago leading to the formation of 3D Systems
Inc. in California. Even when Rover Group was in being, the company’s engineers
employed the technology to produce
prototype engine parts. The main issue then was size. Part size was governed by
the capability of the 3D printing machine. In general, the technology was
employed for complex engine components.</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The 'breakthrough' in
this latest development comes with the increased size of part that can be
produced, including by Ford, see below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbjUaL76YWQ/WL504y4BVTI/AAAAAAAACP4/PJ6gKTUnpvg9_BU30NiCtkAKpxyQsMsSQCLcB/s1600/Ford%2B3D%2Btwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbjUaL76YWQ/WL504y4BVTI/AAAAAAAACP4/PJ6gKTUnpvg9_BU30NiCtkAKpxyQsMsSQCLcB/s400/Ford%2B3D%2Btwo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3D printing could have
immense benefits for automotive production, including the ability to produce
lighter-weight parts, which may help improve fuel efficiency. A 3D-printed
spoiler, for instance, may have half the weight of its metal-cast equivalent. </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With the Infinite
Build technology, we are now able to print large tools, fixtures, and
components, making us more nimble in design iterations,</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">said Ellen Lee, Ford technical leader for additive manufacturing
research. </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re excited to have early access to Stratasys</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">new technology in order to help steer the development of large scale
printing for automotive applications and requirements.</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The new 3D print
system is located at Ford</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, Michigan.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
An emerging technology</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to Ford, as 3D printing becomes increasingly
efficient and affordable, companies are employing this emerging technology for
manufacturing applications in everything from aerospace, to education, to
medicine. However, it should be pointed out that the technology is already used
for many of these applications already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wider adoption in 3D
printing has been driven by recent technology advances and new areas of
application and government support, according to Global Industry Analysts Inc.
By 2020, the global market for 3D printing is expected to reach $9.6 billion,
the organization reported.</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Ford’s case, below, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">specifications
for the part to be made are transferred from the computer-aided design program
to the printer</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s computer, which analyzes the design. Then, the device goes to work,
printing one layer of material at a time </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">– </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">in this case,
plastic </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">–
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and then gradually stacking the layers into a finished
3D object.</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkl14odmJKo/WL501G5WYMI/AAAAAAAACP0/rYAyWyHdkrcUgij1KZ-T-dRzkAH1BX_3wCEw/s1600/Ford%2B3D%2Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkl14odmJKo/WL501G5WYMI/AAAAAAAACP0/rYAyWyHdkrcUgij1KZ-T-dRzkAH1BX_3wCEw/s400/Ford%2B3D%2Bone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When the system
detects that the raw material or supply material canister is empty, a robotic
arm automatically replaces it with a full canister. This allows the printer to
operate for hours or days while unattended.</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although 3D printing
is not yet fast enough for high-volume production manufacturing, it is a more
cost-efficient way to produce parts only needed at low volumes. In addition,
when not limited by the constraints of mass production processes, components
can be designed to function more efficiently.</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Using traditional
methods, an engineer would create a computer model of the part and wait for
months for prototype tooling to be produced. With 3D printing, Ford claims it can
print the same part in days at a significantly reduced cost. For example, a
prototype for a new inlet manifold could be produced over a couple of days as
opposed to several months, at an order of magnitude lower cost</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the UK, Stratasys is based in Foston, Derby..</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-35206364451341981422017-03-06T15:43:00.000+00:002017-03-07T08:36:35.631+00:00PSA-GM: The final solution?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is quite clear that executives of General Motors Europe and PSA Group have been working behind the
scenes for quite some time in secret to cobble together a deal to off-load
General Motors’ Europe (GME) vehicle-making operations.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even then, it does seem strange that the
announcement of PSA Group’s acquisition comes just hours before the opening of
the Geneva Motor Show, as if perhaps in some way it was deliberately
stage-managed to achieve maximum exposure and effect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, PSA Group will want to be seen as
trying to create a ‘good image’ in the UK, which might give a clue to various
remarks being made about wanting to ‘make the two plants in the UK (Luton - making Vivaro vans - and
Elllesmere Port - making Astra passenger cars) profitable’. The clear inference being that if this is not
done then they will be closed. Failure cannot be tolerated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However, it has to be remembered that PSA
Group does not have a good record when it comes to operating in the UK. It
closed its plant in Ryton, Warwickshire in 2007 with the loss of some 2,000
jobs. So workers at both Ellesmere Port and Luton will be bearing this in mind
as their respective plants move to profitability.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two years later, in 2009, but in mainland Europe, Carl-Peter Forster, GME's then chief executive, supported a deal to sell Opel/Vauxhall to the Canadian parts maker Magna International. He was replaced by UK's Nick Reilly who repoprtedly turned round GME's operations. When Reilly retired in 2012 his place was taken by </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 28.4px;">Karl-Frederick Stracke.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But more recently than, in May 2012, GME
executives had their own problems as they unfurled restructuring plans in a bid
to return the operation to profit. At that time, GME executives had to placate
German workers in Opel’s mother plant in Russelsheim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even then GME was in the midst of making
intricate and politically sensitive decisions on future production allocation
to its plants, including vehicles made in conjunction with PSA Group. No doubt
these included plans for small vans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So even at that point, GME executives must
have been mulling the ‘final solution’ – dump the European vehicle plants on
PSA and run away from Europe. In 2011 GME made a loss of US$747 million. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Cross-company review of performance</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the time – May 2012 – Karl-Frederick Stracke
said: “it is in no way a pure cost-cutting exercise, rather it will be a
comprehensive strategy under which we will quickly return to profitability. By
2016 we will clearly improve our margins, market share and revenues.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, here we are in the first flush of 2017
and nothing has changed. Stracke’s forecast of profits has come to nought. So
the only solution was – the ‘final solution’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Either Stracke did not know what he was
talking about, or the plans the GME executive cobbled together were completely
off register in being able to deliver the returns needed. The ‘plan’ clearly
was not a sensible plan – one that could deliver the results required.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It cannot be argued the European market is
dead. BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen (which launched its Arteon <b>(below)</b> at Geneva and despite its fraudulent diesel emissions
episode) can make vehicle-building a profitable activity. And PSA Group
likewise, even though owned 14 per cent by the French government, has been able
to turn round its business.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-73AoXfnu0Sg/WL3Cd6zROtI/AAAAAAAACPg/XCLNWvnME844xyF83N6L4QqEt0c96qkggCLcB/s1600/Volkswagen%2BArteon%2BR-Line%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-73AoXfnu0Sg/WL3Cd6zROtI/AAAAAAAACPg/XCLNWvnME844xyF83N6L4QqEt0c96qkggCLcB/s400/Volkswagen%2BArteon%2BR-Line%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, in one sense the writing has been
on the wall ever since GM unloaded its Millbrook Proving Group in the UK. This
was, in effect, the beginning of the end as work was centralised in its Technical
Centre in Germany which will become part of te National Sales Company. quite what its long-term future will be remains to be seen but insiders are expecting no immediate changes - and changes will be long-term.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">GME was founded on 4 April 1986. It has lasted
just 31 years. It this period it has developed operations in Germany, Spain, the UK, Sweden,
Hungary, Poland, Belgium and Russia and in 2009 employed 54,500 people. Today, the GME operation has 12 plants and 40,000 employees.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is, according to sources, too early to say what will happen to these factories that remain. THere will, for example be a large cross-company review of plant efficiencies and productivity levels. Arising out of these benchmarking exercises decisions will be taken as to closure or otherwise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is quite clear from the latest statement
that GM and PSA Group have been talking about the acquisition of Opel and
Vauxhall plants for some time. Still to be thrashed out is the future of GME’s
engine plants. It might seem that until there is a complete switch-over to PSA
Group powertrains then there is some future for GME’s engine plants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>The future: strengthening both companies?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so it is that we have arrived at today’s announcement. But before the deal is
finally closed there is considerable work to be done in the area of due
diligence – a headache for in-house financial staff but a huge bonus for those
legal firms employed to carry out the work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Under the deal, General
Motors and PSA Group have reached an agreement under which GM’s Opel/Vauxhall
subsidiary and GM Financial’s European operations will join the PSA Group in a
transaction valuing these activities at €1.3 billion and €0.9 billion,
respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">With the addition of
Opel/Vauxhall, which generated revenue of €17.7 billion in 2016, PSA will
become the second-largest automotive company in Europe, with a 17 per cent
market share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The wording of the
statement is most interesting. Notice the use of the words ‘proud’, ‘fine’,
‘strong’ and ‘valued’ in PSA Group/General Motors management-speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“We are proud to join
forces with Opel/Vauxhall and are deeply committed to continuing to develop
this great company and accelerating its turnaround,” declared Carlos Tavares,
chairman of the managing board of PSA. “We respect all that Opel/Vauxhall’s
talented people have achieved as well as the company’s fine brands and strong
heritage. We intend to manage PSA and Opel/Vauxhall capitalizing on their
respective brand identities. Having already created together winning products
for the European market, we know that Opel/Vauxhall is the right partner. We
see this as a natural extension of our relationship and are eager to take it to
the next level.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“We are confident that
the Opel/Vauxhall turnaround will significantly accelerate with our support,
while respecting the commitments made by GM to the Opel/Vauxhall employees,”
added Tavares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“We are very pleased
that together, GM, our valued colleagues at Opel/Vauxhall and PSA have created
a new opportunity to enhance the long-term performance of our respective
companies by building on the success of our prior alliance”, said Mary T.
Barra, GM chairman and chief executive officer. “For GM, this represents
another major step in the ongoing work that is driving our improved performance
and accelerating our momentum. We are reshaping our company and delivering
consistent, record results for our owners through disciplined capital
allocation to our higher-return investments in our core automotive business and
in new technologies that are enabling us to lead the future of personal
mobility.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“We believe this new
chapter puts Opel and Vauxhall in an even stronger position for the long term
and we look forward to our participation in the future success and strong
value-creation potential of PSA through our economic interest and continued
collaboration on current and exciting new projects,” Barra concluded, no doubt
hoping that by dumping Opel/Vauxhall she and her team in the US can indeed “accelerate
our momentum”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; padding: 0cm;">
Long-term benefits?</span></strong><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The statement says that the transaction
“will allow substantial economies of scale and synergies” in purchasing,
manufacturing and R&D. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“Annual synergies of
€1.7 billion are expected by 2026 – of which a significant part is expected to
be delivered by 2020, accelerating Opel/Vauxhall’s turnaround. Leveraging the
successful partnership with GM, PSA expects Opel/Vauxhall to reach a recurring
operating margin of 2 per cent by 2020 and 6 per cent by 2026, and to
generate a positive operational free cash flow<sup><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"> </span></sup>by 2020,” the
statement adds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It is clear, just
looking at PSA Group’s figures for last year, that 6 per cent is PSA’s magic
number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">PSA, together with BNP
Paribas, will also acquire all of GM Financial’s European operations through a
newly formed 50/50 joint venture that will retain GM Financial’s current
European platform and team. This joint venture will be fully consolidated by
BNP Paribas and accounted under the equity method by PSA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The statement notes
that the transaction is another step in GM’s ongoing work to transform the
company, which has delivered three years’ record performance and a strong 2017
outlook, and returned significant capital to shareholders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Of course, the question
has to be asked here: If GME has been transformed and there has been record
performances, why the need to sell it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Without answering this
question, the statement notes the deal “will strengthen GM’s core business,
support its continued deployment of resources to higher-return opportunities
including in advanced technologies driving the future, and unlock significant
value for shareholders.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It adds that by
immediately improving EBIT-adjusted, EBIT-adjusted margins and adjusted
automotive free cash flow and de-risking the balance sheet, the transaction
will enable GM to lower the cash balance requirement under its capital
allocation framework by $2 billion, which it intends to use to accelerate share
repurchases, subject to market conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It adss that GM will
also participate in the future success of the combined entity through its
ownership of warrants to purchase shares of PSA. GM and PSA also expect to
collaborate in the further deployment of electrification technologies and
existing supply agreements for Holden and certain Buick models will continue,
and PSA may potentially source long-term supply of fuel cell systems from the
GM/Honda joint venture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; padding: 0cm;"> Terms
of the Agreement</span></strong><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Opel/Vauxhall automotive operations will
be acquired by PSA for €1.3 billion. GM Financial’s European operations will be
jointly acquired by PSA and BNP Paribas for 0.8 times their pro forma book
value at the closing of the transaction, or approximately €0.9 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The transaction has a
total value of €2.2 billion for Opel/Vauxhall automotive operations and 100% of
GM Financial’s European operations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The transaction value
for PSA, including Opel/Vauxhall and 50 per cent of GM Financial’s European
operations, will be €1.8 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">In connection with this
transaction, GM or its affiliates will subscribe warrants for €0.65 Bn. These
warrants have a nine-year maturity and are exercisable at any time in whole or
in part commencing five years after the issue date, with a strike price of €1. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Based on a reference
price of €17.34 for the PSA share, the warrants correspond to 39.7 MM shares of
PSA, or 4.2 per cent of its fully diluted share capital. GM will not have
governance or voting rights with respect to PSA and has agreed to sell the PSA
shares received upon exercise of the warrants within 35 days after exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The transaction
includes all of Opel/Vauxhall’s automotive operations, comprising Opel and
Vauxhall brands, six assembly and five component-manufacturing facilities, one
engineering center (Rüsselsheim) and approximately 40,000 employees. GM will
retain its engineering centre in Torino, Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The statement adds that
Opel/Vauxhall will also continue to benefit from intellectual property licenses
from GM until its vehicles progressively convert to PSA platforms over the
coming years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It remains to be seen
what will happen with respect to GM’s van joint
venture with Fiat (in that programme the latter’s Doblo van is badged by
Vauxhall as the Combo). With this due to end the project seems to be dead in
the water. No doubt a quite different Combo will emerge by way of a re-badged
PSA vehicle – either Peugeot or Citroen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, in
connection with the transaction, GM will take a primarily non-cash special charge
of $4.0-4.5 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; padding: 0cm;"> Pension Fund Commitments</span></strong><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">All of Opel/Vauxhall’s European and UK
pension plans, funded and unfunded, with the exception of the German Actives
Plan and selected smaller plans will remain with GM. The obligations with
respect to the German Actives Plan and these smaller plans of Opel/Vauxhall
will be transferred to PSA. GM will pay PSA €3.0 billion for full settlement of
transferred pension obligations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The transaction is
subject to various closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and
reorganizations, and is expected to close before the end of 2017.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><b>COMMENT</b>. Former top GM man, Nick Reilly, who has run plants in other parts of the world, including the Far East, makes the observation that the main problem with the two UK plants, and therefore issues which make the plants vulnerable to acts of closure, centres on purchasing: both plants have to import two key and expensive components for their products, namely the powertrain. In the case of the van plant in Luton these are supplied by Renault in France. And, with Brexit just round the corner, this could be another contributory factor.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-5738890292600412072017-03-02T14:35:00.002+00:002017-03-06T15:41:21.158+00:00Uncertain times ahead for Bridgend Plant<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It looks as though Ford Motor Company is set to reduce its workforce at
the Bridgend Engine Plant in south Wales, UK, by 2021 as Dragon begins to show its teeth and JLR pulls out.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a name='more'></a><b><span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Bridgend Engine Plant currently
employs 1,760 members of staff, but the fears for the future of the site and
its staff has been steadily increasing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There have been
reported the car company has drawn up a plan to cut the workforce to around 600
by 2021<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Ford production
plant has been based in Bridgend for over 35 years; production began at Ford
Bridgend in 1980. This came three years after the car manufacturer signed an
investment deal with the Welsh Development Agency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bridgend's first
engine was the CVH, which powered a number of models including Fiesta, MK2
Escort and the Ford Orion between 1980 and 2004.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Specialist
low-volume customers included the Morgan Motor Company which took from engines
built at the plant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Volvo’s SI6 engine
was built in Bridgend from 2006 and used in the Swedish company’s cars until
2014. Land Rover also used it in Freelander.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Launched amidst doom and gloom<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2008 the plant received a £70 million
investment, with £13.4 million in support from the Welsh assembly, and Rhodri
Morgan, Wales’s then first minister, said: "The factory was opened 28
years ago amid the doom and gloom of the early 1980s. This investment probably
means Ford will be making engines here for another 28 years."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2010, Ford
announced it would produce the new lightweight, compact and ultra-efficient
1.6-litre 'EcoBoost' engines at Bridgend and to be used in Ford's modern car
range.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2013 a £24 million
investment - with £12 million in non-repayable finance from the Welsh
Government - ensured continued [production of the fuel-efficient 1.5-litre
EcoBoost gasoline engine at the plant. Products from Bridgend now power Ford
Fiesta, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX, Kuga and Mondeo models.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2015 Volvo called
a halt on production at the plant and next year Tata Motors is calling ‘time’
on engines made at Bridgend for its JaguarLandRover business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The production of
the Sigma engine is to stop in 2019-20, and this led the Unite trades union
last September to express ‘grave concerns for the future of the plant’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This was at the
time Ford announced it was going to halve the plant’s proposed production of
the new Dragon engine, due to begin in 2018, and “significantly reduce” planned
investment in the site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ford has confirmed
that instead of an investment of £181 mullion to produce the family of all-new,
technologically advanced, fuel efficient petrol engines, the initial investment
will now be £100 million with a workforce requirement of 550 and not 750
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Production set to end next year</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 21.3pt;">With production of
the two engines set to end by 2020 and investment in the Dragon project reduced,
the plant has been plunged into uncertainty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In September last
year Unite Wales Secretary Andy Richards said the halving of the Dragon
production and other pre-planned reductions "places the plant in a very
dangerous situation".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And Unite’s Bryan
Godsell said workers have been gripped by uncertainty: "The real fear is
that four years down the line what happens then because the programme with
Jaguar Land Rover and the Ford Sigma engine stops around 2019-20."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last month a Ford
spokeswoman said: "Ford announced in September that it was taking the
option to invest an initial £100 million of an approved investment to build a
family of all-new, technologically advanced petrol engines at Bridgend from
late 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--N-y3AbQVtk/WLgtpa04o3I/AAAAAAAACPI/ABdIREkbssMvZIyfGYJByq_0I9LXVkxIwCLcB/s1600/Ford%2BBridgend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--N-y3AbQVtk/WLgtpa04o3I/AAAAAAAACPI/ABdIREkbssMvZIyfGYJByq_0I9LXVkxIwCLcB/s320/Ford%2BBridgend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"In addition,
Ford once again reiterated that the anticipated production volume of engines
from Bridgend remains healthy in the upcoming years, with associated labour
requirements expected to be similar to today’s level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Bridgend must
fulfil its commitment in terms of delivery, quality and cost of the products it
manufactures and – just as in the case for every Ford plant around the world –
winning new product contracts depends on the plant’s efficiency and global
competitiveness."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dragon production
requires a workforce commitment of around 550 people, so staff have become
increasingly anxious over what will become of the other 1,300 jobs at the site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Union issues a deadline</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Len McCluskey,
general secretary of Unite, gave a 1 March deadline to Ford for reassurances
for the future of the plant, following meetings with car company's Europe chief
executive officer Jim Farley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the start of
February McCluskey said: "I am delighted to say that this was a very
positive, wide-ranging meeting, in which Mr Farley shared with us the company’s
future plans but also their concerns about the value of sterling and the type
of Brexit currently being considered, which would see this industry lose its
access to the European single market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Our automotive
industry is world class, and Ford is a big part of this. It was good to hear
Ford Europe’s chief executive personally express his thanks for the dedication
and loyalty of the UK workforce and that the company wants to work with us on
jobs and investment planning for the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“On the Bridgend
plant, talks are ongoing and I will be visiting the plant in the coming weeks
to speak to the shop stewards about the direction we need to travel to secure
jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Given the
turbulence of current times, however, we fully share Mr Farley’s view that the
sector must retain access to the single market on a tariff-free basis."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #141414; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was at this time
the shop stewards bulletin sent out to staff in Bridgend stated Ford bosses had
outlined a planned $1.5 billion investment for other UK plants over the next
five years, but had not mentioned Bridgend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-86991789500055867802017-03-02T13:59:00.002+00:002017-03-02T13:59:39.820+00:00VW-Navistar: Full steam ahead<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Expect some changes at
Navistar International Corporation now that two top Volkswagen AG executives
are on board the train following the authorities‘
approval of Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH's stake in U.S. partner Navistar
International Corporation.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Volkswagen Truck & Bus has paid US$ 256 million
for a 16.6 per cent share of the company shares in the joint venture Global
Truck & Bus Procurement LLC which has been established.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">VW chief executive
officer</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Andreas Renschler and chief financial officer Matthias Grü</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ndler have become members of Navistar's board of directors. These two men
are not small fry; they understand VW’s operations and soon will have a handle
of those of beleaguered Navistar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So one can expect
changes (following the handshakes and general niceties of the first board meeting)
now these two men have joined the existing board of directors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Andreas Renschler puts
it kindly: "The authorities have given our strategic alliance with
Navistar the green light. Our newly-founded purchasing cooperation will begin
work immediately. This puts both partners in a stronger position for the
future."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But in effect, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Volkswagen
AG has been given official approval to set up a </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">strategic alliance
between Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">—
which houses the MAN, Scania, Volkswagen Caminh</span><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">ões
e </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ô</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">nibus, and RIO brands — and U.S. commercial vehicle manufacturer
Navistar International Corporation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Volkswagen Truck &
Bus has therefore acquired a stake of 16.6 per cent in of the company shares in
Navistar Purchasing joint venture Global Truck & Bus Procurement LLC. But
for its stake, VW will expect to make some changes and bring some muscle of its
own to the party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Navistar paid US$
15.76 per share giving a purchase price is US$ 256 million and takes the form
of a capital increase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The cooperation
primarily involves “working together on technical components” and in
procurement. Following an internal Navistar resolution, Volkswagen Truck &
Bus’s Renschler and Gr</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ü</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ndler yesterday joined
the Navistar board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"The authorities
have given our strategic alliance with Navistar the green light. Our
newly-founded purchasing cooperation will begin work immediately. This puts
both partners in a stronger position for the future. The strategic alliance
provides Volkswagen Truck & Bus with access to the all-important North
American market. This is a major step towards becoming a global champion,"
said Renschler, boss of Volkswagen Truck & Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Troy Clarke, president
and chief executive officer added his two-pennyworth saying: "This
alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus marks a significant milestone in our
company's history, and will create multiple benefits for both companies in both
the near- and long-term. Now that the transaction has closed, we will move
quickly to collaborate with an industry-leading, strategic partner to increase
our global scale, strengthen our competitiveness, and provide our customers
with expanded access to cutting-edge products, technology and services."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Note Clarke’s use of the words global scale.
That is what Navistar must be wanting – a global footprint. But Clarke could
not do that alone without new technology and purchasing inputs. He also talked
of the new partnership creating multiple benefits without spelling these out.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And by using the word components the joint press
statement clouds the issues, because the only siginifcant component of interest
must be powertrains – this is the soft underbelly of Navistar International
Corporation. It also has to make its trucks and buses more competitive.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thus technical
cooperation therefore between the two groups can now begin. Volkswagen Truck
& Bus says it is to become one of Navistar's key technology partners.
Navistar will be able to benefit from Volkswagen Truck & Bus's advanced
powertrain technologies in the future. This in turn will result in
significantly higher volumes for Volkswagen Truck & Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Although the opportunities for cooperation are said to
lie in the fields of autonomous driving, alternative fuel technologies, and
connectivity which will be explored, there is no doubt that powertrain will be
the big focus of attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This whole field of cooperation underscores Volkswagen
Truck & Bus's aspiration to offer its customers all over the world
intelligent and eco-friendly solutions.</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Purchasing joint
venture and Alliance Board</span></b><b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The aim of closer cooperation in the supply chain is
for both alliance partners to benefit from cost advantages and economies of
scale. To this end, Volkswagen Truck & Bus and Navistar have founded the joint
venture Global Truck & Bus Procurement LLC, headquartered in Lisle
(Illinois). It will begin work immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">An alliance board made
up of representatives from both companies will drive the strategic alliance
forward at operational level. On behalf of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, Dr. Frederik
Zohm will be in charge of its operational work.</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Volkswagen Truck &
Bus GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG and is a global leader
in commercial vehicles with its brands MAN, Scania, Volkswagen Caminh</span><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">ões e </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ô</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">nibus and RIO. </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 2016, the brands of
Volkswagen Truck & Bus sold a total of 184,000 vehicles. Its product range
includes light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses that are manufactured at
25 sites in 17 countries. As of 31 December, 2016, the company employed 77,000
people at all commercial vehicle brands worldwide. The Group says it is
committed to driving transportation to the next level — in terms of products,
services, and as a partner for its customers.</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Navistar International
Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce
International</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">branded trucks, proprietary diesel engines, and IC Bus</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">brand school and commercial buses. An affiliate also provides truck and
diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-71343151844853586682017-02-27T23:29:00.001+00:002017-03-01T17:07:51.252+00:00International launches A26 for Class 8 trucks<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">International
Truck yesterday used the AMC annual meeting and exhibition in Nashville, Tennessee,
to launch its 'new' CGI-based A26 engine for the US Class 8 heavy-duty truck market at the 2017.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="background: white; color: #696f6f; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">T</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">he “new” International A26 is said to be engineered
with proven components that deliver optimal uptime and fuel efficiency in a
lightweight design.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This 12.4-litre “big bore engine” has been relentlessly
tested, according to International, with hundreds of thousands of hours of dyno testing and millions of real-world
test miles, according to International's engineers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The A26 (below) bows with an element of smoke and mirrors before the two new Volkswagen AG board
directors join Navistar International Corporation. They will, hopefully, be able to differentiate between 'new' and 'new'. The 'new' engine which, when it first came into life was known as the MaxxForce 13, produces up to
475 bhp and 1750 lbft. of torque, yet International claims the engine is 600 to
700 lb lighter than traditional big-bore engines. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9CWVe5Tar4/WLS2ELvm-bI/AAAAAAAACOU/P8wsuK9u26c6t4pEdsNqgamnrmBKLGd-gCLcB/s1600/International%2BA26%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9CWVe5Tar4/WLS2ELvm-bI/AAAAAAAACOU/P8wsuK9u26c6t4pEdsNqgamnrmBKLGd-gCLcB/s400/International%2BA26%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span id="goog_974527567"></span><span id="goog_974527568"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It features, according to the company, "North America’s first Class 7-8
compacted graphite iron (CGI) crankcase design" for greater strength, plus an
all new cylinder head and other refinements for up to a 5 per cent fuel economy
improvement over the engine it replaces. The engine also has an assembled camshaft, again in a bid too cut weight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Engine braking power is increased by up to 67
per cent for confident braking performance, particularly at low- to mid-RPMs
and at higher altitudes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a previous life, this engine was known as International's N13 engine, also of 12.4 litres and the same power rating of 365 bhp to 475 bhp and with a CGI block. That engine weighed in at 2,422 lb. No weight is given as yet on the spec sheets for the A26 which is running at 2,500 bar injection pressure compared with 2,200 bar for the previous N13. The N13 also featured assembled camshafts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How International can call the A26 'new' is of course interesting. But that is the way of life!</span><br />
<div class="Body">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">COMMENT</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The question from all
of this is: By changing the designation of this 12.4-litre engine from N13 to
A26, is the new creation really the German-designed MAN engine in disguise?
Does A26 stand for American 26 compared with Deutsch (D) 26? If this is the
case, the ground is being prepared for the skids to be put under Navistar's
deal with Cummins Inc. Because, according to MAN’s spec sheets, the D2676 engine in work boat applications has at least three ratings: 588kW or 800bhp; 478kW or 650bhp and 383kW or
520bhp. These figures demonstrate the full capability of the engine. In truck applications, the D2676 gives between 309kW (420bhp) and 2,100 Nm torque and 368 kW (500 bhp) with 2,500 Nm torque.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DCRHVgNpPRc/WLb_lMUkdgI/AAAAAAAACO4/YFDrjAxyTBE2xlMuU2AqfAgpWllEEedJwCLcB/s1600/MAN%2Btruck%2Bracing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DCRHVgNpPRc/WLb_lMUkdgI/AAAAAAAACO4/YFDrjAxyTBE2xlMuU2AqfAgpWllEEedJwCLcB/s1600/MAN%2Btruck%2Bracing.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Incidently, an MAN D26 engine in truck racing form (see above) can develop 1,160bhp and generate 5,600 Nm torque.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The D26
engines with their CGI components weigh in at 1,215kg or 2,676lb. A figure
somewhat different to that given by International for its A26. But, as we have
seen in the past, what constitutes one maker's dry weight does not always the
interpretation of another engine maker's dry weight; it all depends on
configuration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A further
implication of the terminology suggests that if the A26 engine really is the
D26 engine, then Volkswagen's top brass must have given the go-ahead long ago
and if so, then already VW began to set the wheels in motion for major changes
in Navistar's engine line-up. From this it has to be assumed that Cummins has
already seen the writing on the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This should
be good news for component suppliers to MAN, foundry vendors and companies like
Mahle which makes pistons and assembled camshafts. It would make sense if
eventually all of Navistar's engines went down the VW route; after all this
must have been the rationale all the way along from those first exploratory
talks when some while ago the Americans and Germans first began to rub noses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-57965239220250066932017-02-27T22:55:00.000+00:002017-02-27T22:55:39.959+00:00Renault-Nissan expand driverless fleet activities<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Another automaker is expanding the
driverless vehicle bandwagon. Renault-Nissan Alliance and Transdev have signed
up to a research contract to develop mobility services system for self-driving
vehicles. In so doing they are to jointly develop driverless vehicle fleet
system for future public and on-demand transportation.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">They are also to collaborate to develop
a comprehensive, modular transportation system to enable clients to book rides,
and mobility operators to monitor and operate self-driving car fleets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">“As the mobility
services landscape keeps evolving, we have a great opportunity to offer
innovative, connected mobility solutions for the evolving needs of our
customers, fully aligned with our vision of a zero-emission, zero-fatalities
society,” said Ogi Redzic, Renault-Nissan Alliance (RNA) senior vice president
of Connected Vehicles and Mobility Services. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">“Partnering with
Transdev allows us to share our knowledge as leaders in electric vehicles,
autonomous drive and connected-car technologies with one of the largest
multi-modal mobility operators worldwide. Together we will develop an advanced
driverless mobility system that will enhance existing public and on-demand
transport systems,” he claimed.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The research will
initially include field tests in Paris-Saclay with Renault ZOEs, said by RNA to
be “the leading electric vehicle” in Europe, and Transdev’s on-demand dispatch,
supervision and routing platform.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">“The future of mobility
will be P.A.C.E. – Personalized, Autonomous, Connected and Electric,” according
to Yann Leriche, chief performance officer at Transdev. “As a worldwide leader
in public transport and on-demand shared services, we are committed to pioneer
in mobility to always offer our clients the best solutions for their journeys.
Our partnership with Renault-Nissan will reinforce our innovation capabilities
and accelerate our time-to-market by combining our strengths with those of a
global car manufacturer that shares the same willingness to enhance daily
mobility to the benefit of clients.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The Renault-Nissan
Alliance claims it has been forming partnerships to accelerate the development
of advanced connected-car technologies and mobility services. These include a
partnership with Microsoft to develop a single global platform that will
improve the customer experience by making driving more intuitive, intelligent
and fun; and a partnership with Japanese internet company DeNA to begin tests
in Japan to develop driverless vehicles for commercial services.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Transdev says it is a
pioneer in autonomous vehicle (AV) services. The company is engaged in a series
of pilot AV deployments in multiple countries and is currently operating the
world’s first commercial driverless service on EDF’s campus in Civaux, France.
Transdev is accelerating the development of its AV operating system working
with leading partners including Vedecom and SystemX.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Transdev</span>
is a<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> 70 per cent owned subsidiary of Caisse
des Dépôts in which Veolia has a shareholding of 30per cent. Transdev is a
consultant for public transport authorities and supports them in everything
from the pre-project phase to project management assistance to daily operation
of public transport networks. With 83,000 employees in 19 countries, the group
operates 43,000 vehicles and 22 tramway networks. In 2015, Transdev had a
turnover of €6.6 billion.</span> <span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">See
also</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">transdev.com</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">For the
record, RNA</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> is a strategic partnership between Groupe Renault of France
and Japan-based Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors. The automakers combined
sold 9.96 million vehicles in nearly 200 countries in 2016 – more than one in
nine vehicles worldwide. The Alliance has strategic collaborations with other
automakers, including Germany’s Daimler and China’s Dongfeng. It also owns a
majority stake in the joint venture that controls Russia’s leading automaker,
AVTOVAZ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Despite recent allegations with reference to emissions from Renault
passenger car diesel engines, the Alliance claims it is the industry leader in “zero-emission
vehicles” and is developing “the latest advanced technologies”, with plans to offer
autonomous drive and connectivity features and services on a range of
affordable vehicles.</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-88357787406670228032017-02-27T17:38:00.000+00:002017-02-27T17:38:21.832+00:00Working to mitigate HMMWV rollover<div class="Body">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ricardo
Defense Systems, LLC, and LIFT - Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, a
Manufacturing USA institute, have launched a $7.5 million joint project to
address persistent rollover issues related to the High Mobility Multipurpose
Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV).</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The initiative aims to
limit risk to soldiers’ wellbeing and ensure mission successes by identifying
and deploying a new, robust, reliable alternative to documented braking and
stability problems in the current HMMWV configuration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ricardo has
developed a modified commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) ABS (Anti-lock Braking
System)/ ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system for the HMMWV. The system
includes ABS/ESC functionality and improved brake calipers, pads and rotors –
the system may reduce fatal rollovers by up to 74 per cent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">LIFT will
support further development of Ricardo's system while examining light-weighting
system components with advanced casting techniques and metal matrix parts.
Every kilo saved equates to improved mobility performance, fuel economy and
logistics trail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ricardo
has done tremendous work in developing these systems aimed at solving a
critical problem,” claims Alan Taub, chief technology officer, LIFT.
“Light-weighting a military platform is of vital importance to our military
forces.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ricardo’s
system is being piloted in 10 vehicles with the Michigan National Guard. The
project will expand the National Guard's pilot programme to include
production-grade components and processes developed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is
claimed that the leadership of Michigan's</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;"> National Guard </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and those
of other US states are taking the rollover threat seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Solving
the rollover issue and saving lives is mission critical,” noted Chet Gryczan,
president, Ricardo Defense Systems. “</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">We</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’re pleased
to be working as a team with LIFT, investigating opportunities for light-weighting
while taking the system forward to production.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">GKN is one
of the technology partners on the project while Michigan Technological
University and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute are
participating as research partners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We are
proud that this is a Michigan project providing a national solution to this
ongoing problem,” said Lawrence E. Brown, executive director, LIFT. “Our goal
is to bring our team to the table and enable creative solutions for problems
across a range of manufacturing sectors, including defense.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Training
and additional workforce development will be conducted during integration of
the brake kits onto Michigan National Guard HMMWVs. The project team is also
working toward building additional test-dedicated HMMWVs to conduct shake, roll
and abuse tests and road durability evaluation at the Chelsea Proving Grounds
in Chelsea, Michigan. and limited operational review at Camp Grayling, Also in
Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-63157519707873630732017-02-26T22:53:00.000+00:002017-02-27T07:59:13.243+00:00Is PSA now set to “push-for-pass” on Proton?<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the third year,
the PSA Group has achieved growth of the Automotive division operating margin
to 6 per cent 5% in 2015; growth in vehicle sales to 3.15 million, up 5.8 per
cent; and growth of its net financial position due to €2.7 billion free cash
flow; and finally a group recurring operating income up 18 per cent compared
with 2015 of €3,235 million.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">And,
for the first time since 2011, PSA Group is declaring a dividend of €0.48 per
share to be submitted for approval at the next Shareholders’ Meeting.</span><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With such a glowing set of results, just in time for PSA's bid for beleagured Opel, has come in time for some to ask: Is PSA
Group about to mount an attack on Malaysian-based Proton?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For it seems that while talks with Opel
progress, and workers at Vauxhall and Opel fret about their jobs, PSA Group is “pushing
ahead” with a separate bid for Proton. The manufacturer confirmed to <i>Automotive World </i>that it has “submitted
a bid to go further with Proton.” While the nature of its bid is vague at this
stage, Proton has been clear about its need for an investor. So it could be
that PSA is making bids for two ‘troubled’ automakers – Opel and Proton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Malaysian government granted the
struggling OEM Malaysian Ringgit 1.25 billion (US$280 million) in financial aid
last April to help pay its suppliers. At the time, Proton said it was on the
lookout for a foreign strategic partner (FSP). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the moment, according to AW, it looks to be
boiling down to a race between PSA and Geely. Media reports have claimed that
Geely, which already owns Volvo, is the favoured party but Proton’s parent
DRB-Hicom squashed these reports, stating that it “hopes that the public will
not be misled by various reports that we have already selected a FSP for our
wholly-owned carmaker, Proton. At present, we are focussed on going through the
critical process of identifying the ideal FSP for Proton, and an announcement
of the decision will be made in due course.” An announcement is expected by the
end of the first half of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Turnaround
king achieves growth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile,
‘turnaround man’ Carlos Tavares, chairman of PSA Group Managing Board,
comments: “These (PSA Group) results demonstrate our ability to consistently
deliver an excellent performance in an adverse environment. They are the
outcome of the Group’s operating efficiency improvement and our competitive
teams’ focus on the execution of the “Push to Pass” plan. Day after day, the
Group is building the conditions for profitable and sustainable growth,
reinforced by the success of the first launches in its product offensive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2016, Group revenues were €54,030 million
compared to €54,676 million in 2015 and Automotive revenues were €37,066
million, compared to €37,514 million in 2015 which represent respectively a
growth of 2.1 per cent and 2.7 per cent, at constant exchange rates, driven
notably by the success of recently launched models and the Group’s pricing
power strategy. Net of adverse change in exchange rates, both Group and Automotive
revenues were down 1.2 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Group recurring operating income was
€3,235 million, up 18 per cent compared to 2015. The Automotive recurring
operating income was €2,225 million, up 19 per cent compared to 2015. In an
environment characterised by adverse exchange rates, this growth was driven by
higher volumes, positive price and mix effects, and lower fixed and production
costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Group non-recurring operating income and
expense was a charge of €624 million, compared to a charge of €757 million in
2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Net financial income and expense was a charge
of €268 million versus a charge of €642 million in 2015. Net income reached
€2,149 million, an increase of €947 million compared to 2015. Net income, Group
share, reached €1,730 million compared to €899 million in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the same time, Banque PSA Finance reported
recurring operating income of €571 million (5), up 11 per cent versus 2015,
while parts maker Faurecia’s recurring operating income was €970 million, up 17
per cent. And the free cash flow of manufacturing and sales companies was
€2,698 million.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The PSA group’s total inventory, including
independent dealers, stood at 406,000 vehicles at 31 December 2016, an increase
of 56,000 units year on year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Market and operational outlook<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
net financial position of manufacturing and sales companies amounted to €6,813
million at 31 December 2016, compared to €4,560 million at 31 December 2015. A
dividend of €0.48 per share will be submitted for approval at the next
Shareholders’ Meeting with an ex-dividend date considered to be on 15 May 2017,
and the payment date on 17 May 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2017, the Group anticipates a stable
automotive market in Europe, Latin America and Russia, and growth of 5% in
China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The new objectives of the “Push to Pass” plan
are to: deliver over 4.5 per cent Automotive recurring operating margin on average
in 2016-2018, and target 6 per cent by 2021; deliver 10 per cent Group revenue
growth by 2018 versus 2015, and target additional 15 per cent by 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-19126030801100337052017-02-25T14:03:00.001+00:002017-02-26T22:51:24.451+00:00Volkswagen shows it can ride out diesel crisis<div class="Body" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Volkswagen Group is
making progress despite the diesel crisis with sales revenue exceeding expectations,
increasing by €4.0 billion to €217.3 billion. Group's operating result before
special items reached €14.6 billion.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">At €7.1 billion, the Group's operating result,
which had slipped into the red in the previous year due to the diesel issue,
was back in strongly positive territory. Before special items, the Group's
operating result reached a new record and at EUR 14.6 billion was substantially
higher than the prior-year figure (up 14 per cent); the operating return on
sales rose to 6.7 (6) per cent.</span><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"While the past fiscal year posed major
challenges for us, despite the crisis the Group's operating business gave its
best-ever performance," chief executive Matthias Müller said in Wolfsburg.
"As the figures show, Volkswagen is very solidly positioned in both
operational and financial terms. This makes us optimistic about the
future." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He went on, "The Group's new structure
with more decentralized responsibility will strengthen our brands and regions
and increase our proximity to customers. We will become faster and more focused
and efficient. This will enable us to make much more focused use of the
strengths of our multi-brand group and its potential for synergies."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In spite of further challenges resulting from
the diesel issue and the persistently difficult conditions in vehicle markets
such as Brazil and Russia, the Group delivered 10.3 million vehicles to
customers worldwide in the past fiscal year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Group reached its targets for 2016 but a new
record, helped by increases in Western and Central European markets and in the
Asia-Pacific region. Improvements in the mix and the vigorous financial
services business were the main contributing factors to the increase in the
Group's sales revenue (up 1.9 per cent), more than offsetting negative exchange
rate effects and declining unit sales in individual regions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Profit attributable to the Chinese joint
ventures was down slightly in the reporting period, as expected. The business
of the Chinese joint ventures is not included in the Group's sales revenue and
operating profit because it is accounted for in the financial result using the
equity method.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2016, the Group's earnings before and after
tax, amounting to €7.3 billion and €5.4 billion respectively, were again in
strongly positive territory. The Group claims its financial situation remains “robust”.
Amounting to €.2 billion at year-end, net liquidity in the Automotive Division
was up €2.7 billion on the prior-year figure. The lion's share (€6.4 billion)
of the special items arising from known risks in the reporting period was
attributable to the diesel issue, especially for hedging of legal risks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"In spite of the charges and the
challenges arising from the diesel crisis, we can be satisfied on the whole
with the Group's business development and economic position," said chief
financial officer Frank Witter, commenting on the annual financial statements.
"I am confident that the Volkswagen Group will overcome the present
challenges. We must use great discipline to achieve the set targets in all
divisions, in order to return to the path of success in the coming years."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> M</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">üller underlined that with its future
program TOGETHER – Strategy 2025 the Group attached great importance to its
responsibility in relation to the environment, safety and society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"The commitment and considerable
technical expertise of our staff are the basis for successfully shaping the
transformation into a leading international provider of sustainable
mobility," Müller said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Board of Management and Supervisory Board
will propose to pay a dividend of €2.00 (previous year: €0.11) per ordinary
share and €2.06 (previous year: €0.17) per preferred share at the Annual
General Meeting on 10 May 10 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cash flows from operating activities stood at
€20,271 million compared with €23,796 million. Cash flows from investing
activities and attributable to operating activities were €15,941 million
compared with €14,909 million. The net liquidity as at December 31 2016 was € 27,180
million compared with €24,522 million.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As for the prospects for 2017, the company
says it expects the global economy to record slightly higher growth in 2017
than in the previous year. The Group anticipates the strongest rates of
expansion in Asia's emerging economies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It expects trends in the passenger car markets
in the individual regions to be mixed in 2017. Overall, growth in global demand
for new vehicles will probably be slower than in the reporting period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-46898283506876604532017-02-25T11:14:00.001+00:002017-02-27T14:31:50.854+00:00Nissan stamps its mark on Sunderland<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Proof of Nissan’s
commitment to the UK can be found in a new extra-large 5,200-tonne press at its
manufacturing plant in Sunderland.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The
£37 million pound project has taken over 18 months to complete, since ground
was broken mid-way through 2015.</span><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once at full capacity, it will be capable of
stamping 2.5 million panels a year with a force in excess of 5,200 tonnes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">An official ceremony was held today at the new
facility, which also celebrated the milestone of nine million cars built at the
plant since production began in 1986.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nissan's divisional vice president, European manufacturing,
Kevin Fitzpatrick, said: “The new press is a fantastic piece of cutting edge
technology which sets up the next generation of production at Nissan Sunderland
Plant. The quality of the build and the efficiency of the installation are a
real credit to the dedication, talent and sheer hard work of our team at the
plant.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Reaching nine million cars is also a
tremendous achievement for the plant. The vehicles we make have come a long way
from the first Nissan Bluebird to roll off the line. And it’s not just the
quantity - it’s the quality of craftsmanship that goes into our innovative and
exciting cars that will keep pushing us towards new production records,” he
added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over 10m in height, with foundations deeper
than 6.5m, the giant facility will press body sides and other panels for
vehicles built in Sunderland, including the leading crossovers Qashqai and
Juke, the Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, and the two
Infiniti models, Q30 and QX30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The new press line and panel storage area
required a building extension totalling 6,780 square metres, taking the total
built up space on site above 362,000 square metres, the equivalent of more than
50 football pitches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The new XL servo press, the first of its type in the
Renault-Nissan Alliance, will be the biggest at Sunderland and joins the
existing seven press lines. The latest press is made by Komatsu of Japan which also supplied Sunderland's first 5,000-tonne press. In this regard, if Schuler had been hoping to be able to pitch in with a bid, no doubt Nissan's experieince with a 'home-built' unit would have counted much in Komatsu's favour <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to the company’s £3bn annual
injection into the British economy through suppliers, services and wages, the
new press forms part of the £650 million ongoing investment in new facilities
and future models in Sunderland which has taken the total capital investment by
Nissan in the plant since it opened to beyond £4 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-825337150074274422017-02-24T20:53:00.000+00:002017-02-25T14:05:49.661+00:00Troy Clarke now in a position to wield power<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Troy Clarke has his
firmly under the table at </span></b><b><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Navistar International Corp</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">oration
where he now becomes chairman of the board of directors as well as chief
executive officer.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">As
well as possibly saving a salary, the move effectively gives Clarke more power
ahead of two key executives arriving from Germany in the near term following
the decision by Volkswagen AG to take a 16 per cent stake in the original
equipment manufacturer.</span><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For a short time, the two German newcomers
will be ‘new boys’, unfamiliar with North American corporate routines, however
much ‘reading up’ they might have done or spent hours poring over columns of
figures, and ever mindful that last November VW announced a programme to shed 7,000 jobs in Latin America. So, in this respect, Clarke will have the ‘whip hand’ until the
newcomers feel their way around the North American truck corporation. It will be up to Clarke to take
advantage of this lull before the serious work begins. Certainly, having seen VW Group's latest bunch of financial figues. Clarke will know that he has hooked onto a financial sound company. He knows he can't do better than that. Hooking onto a 'dud' company would be the death knell for Navistar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clarke succeeds James Keyes as chairman. Keyes
previously announced his plans to retire and stepped down On Valentine's Day,
14 February 2017 at Navistar's annual shareholders’ meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clarke had been a member of the board and
chief executive officer since 2013. Director Stanley McChrystal, a retired Army
general, also was promoted to lead the position of independent director of the
10-member board. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Composition of the board will change further
when Volkswagen AG formerly completes the acquisition of its large minority
share of Navistar. A company spokeswoman said VW will secure two seats, making
it a 12-member board. The VW deal was announced in September and is expected to
be closed in days or weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, all eyes will be on what moves are
made by the 'new' board in 2017 and 2018, especially in the context of Volkswagen do Brasil, which makes VW heavy-duty trucks. The board members could signal a new
direction for the one-time ailing company. The main question will be the part,
if any, that Volkswagen plays in revitalising the North American engine and
truck and bus maker and the interaction, if any, between Navistar's South
American operations and those of Volkswagen in the same region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Long term, it is hard to see Volkswagen NOT
increasing its stake in Navistar from a lowly 16 per cent; why otherwise bother
with the investment in the first place (with all the attendant paper-work) and
the deployment of two senior executives stateside?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether Volkswagen has revealed its hand beforehand
to Navistar's board of directors, or instead adopted a poker-faced stance with
the aim of playing the 'long game' remains to be seen. Despite a serious glitch
over its attitude towards US passenger car diesel emissions regulations, the
German car, van and truck maker is a shrewd operator and possibly more
worldly-wise than Navistar which, to all. Intents and purposes, has operated only
in North and South America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Added to which, Navistar's diesel technology
power base cannot be put on the same footing as that of the Wolfsburg-based
company, otherwise why would the North American company make the serious
mistake that it did in respect of the adoption of EGR-only for heavy commercial
vehicle diesel engines. Clarke has had to go cap-in-hand to Cummins Inc. to recue his truck business. Volkswagen will not be too happy that the Columbus, Indiana company has such a pivotal position in a business it now part owns. The sooner that Volkswagen executives can muscle Cummins out of the back door and substitute its own engines the happier it will be, no doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For his part, the next couple of years will be
interesting for Clarke. By now, during his tenure he will probably have gotten
a real handle of Navistar's operations, understanding its weak points and its
strengths, if any. He will, no doubt, be wily enough to single out what he
needs most from the German company without getting too drawn into being overly
dictated by it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">His vision may be of a jointly-owned (50-50)
business as a means of avoiding the pitfalls that brought Navistar
International nearly to its knees. Clarke too will need to take on the role of
a poker player, keeping his cards close to his chest. For it may be that
Volkswagen (with MAN and Scania in its stable) has its eyes on joining Daimler
(Freightliner), Paccar (Daf) and Volvo (Mack) at the top table of North
American heavy-duty truck makers, using Navistar as its footstool. In which
case, there is a price to be paid for that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-75762029040836801302017-02-22T14:10:00.000+00:002017-02-22T14:10:41.913+00:00Diesel F-150 set to boost SinterCast<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The chief executive of
foundry process control technology specialist SinterCast sees further
substantial growth for the company in the year ahead.</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Steve
Dawson, president and chief executive officer,</span> <span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">pinpoints Ford Motor Company’s in-house
3-litre V6 diesel as one reason for continued growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Based on a SinterCast-CGI cylinder block, the
engine will be the first-ever diesel offered in the F- 150,” declared Dawson,
who added: “Diesel sales are scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2017.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Together with the 2.7-litre V6 SinterCast-CGI
EcoBoost gasoline engine, the introduction of the diesel engine option results
in two of the five F-150 engine options being based on SinterCast-CGI vee cylinder
blocks,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SinterCast specialises in process control
technology for the foundry production of compacted graphite iron (CGI) principally
(but by no means exclusively at Tupy SA of Joinville, Brazil),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Dawson
sees the overall outlook for series production remaining positive, with the pick-up
sector in the US continuing to perform well as demand remains strong for full-
size vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“At the North American International Auto Show
in early-January, Ford introduced a 3-litre V6 diesel engine option for the
model year 2018 F-150 pick-up,” noted Dawson. “This is North America’s
best-selling truck for 40 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle for 35
years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The US pick-up outlook was buoyed during the
fourth quarter by new awards and recognition for the 2017 Ford Super Duty
pick-up,” said Dawson. “After winning the Truck of Texas award in September,
the Ford Super Duty, with a take rate of more than 80 per cent” for the
SinterCast-CGI V8 diesel engine, won the <i>Motor
Trend</i> Truck of the Year award in November. The Ford Super Duty was also one
of three finalists at the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards at
the North American International Auto Show in January. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Referring to issues with VM Motori’s 3-litre V6
diesel engine fitted to the Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) Ram 1500 pick-up
truck, Dawson noted that “in early-January, the EPA issued a notice of
violation to FCA stating that, under certain conditions, NOx emissions from the
3-litre diesel engine were above the permissible limit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dawson added: “FCA has stated that it has
complied with the emissions legislation and it will provide a formal reply
after evaluating the assertions issued by the EPA. In the meantime, sales of
the model year 2016 Ram 1500 diesel are continuing and OEMs including Ford,
General Motors and Mazda have announced new diesel engine offerings in their US
products.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At a business level, since 2012, SinterCast
has achieved four consecutive years of growth, with 50 per cent increase in
series production, 64 per cent increase in revenue and a 25-fold increase in
operating result. This positive development, coupled with the confidence in the
business outlook, has led the Board to propose an increased dividend that will
result in a cumulative transfer of SEK 100 million to the shareholders since
the first dividend was provided in 2011. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the 2016 financial year, SinterCast cash
flow from operations was SEK 26.9 million compared with SEK 21.3 million in
2015. Total liquidity was SEK 45.3 million from SEK 48 million previously.
Total revenue moved from SEK 72.4 million in 2015 to SEK 75.4 million.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-65169244484686237632017-02-17T19:33:00.000+00:002017-02-17T19:33:20.478+00:00Nissan “disappointed” over diesel emissions<div class="Body">
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">NISSAN has maintained
its innocence after being found guilty of cheating emissions on cars made in
its Sunderland, UK facility</span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
company says it is “disappointed” with a South Korean government ruling that it
used devices to bypass regulations on a 1.6-litre Qashqai diesel engine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The affected Qashqais were built at Nissan’s Sunderland
factory and used engines supplied from its sister company, Renault, in France.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As a result, sales have been halted in South
Korea, with a number of models recalled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The business was first accused of malpractice
last year, with Korean officials saying the company had manipulated tests on
the Qashqai, which is the most successful model in the history of the Japanese
firm’s Wearside factory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the time, Nissan, which employs nearly
7,000 workers at its sprawling Sunderland plant, strongly denounced the
allegations, saying separate analysis proved it had not acted illegally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Reacting to the ‘guilty’ verdict, a company
spokesman has retained that stance, saying the engine in question complied with
legislation, known as Euro 6, which aims to make cars cleaner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He said: “We are disappointed with the court’</span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: IT;">s decision.</span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nissan
Korea maintains it has complied with all existing regulations and did not use
an unjustified arbitrary setup or an illegal defeat device in the Euro 6 Qashqai.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nissan is not the first car maker to be
embroiled in a row over vehicle pollution levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Volkswagen previously admitted millions of
cars worldwide could have been fitted with software to trick emission tests,
while Mitsubishi Motors admitted falsifying fuel economy data on vehicles sold
in Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fiat Chrysler has also denied allegations it
concealed details of equipment designed to regulate diesel engine emissions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last week, Nissan revealed demand for vehicles
primed to roll off its North-East production line had strengthened its European
presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Officials said clamour for the Qashqai and
X-Trail had pushed sales higher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Nissan</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’s
Sunderland plant will soon make next generation versions of the models.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It will be the first time the 4x4 X-Trail,
which industry experts have tagged the Qashqai’s bigger brother, has been built
for European markets outside Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The business previously hinted future
production of the Qashqai could hinge on Downing Street EU compensation for any
export tariffs and financial hardship caused by Brexit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However, following Government talks, boss
Carlos Ghosn revealed the site will oversee a new Qashqai, as well as the
X-Trail, leading some critics to claim the move was a result of a sweetheart
deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ghosn has since warned he will review the
Wearside plant again once the workings of a Brexit deal are finalised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is understood work on the new Qashqai could
start in 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nissan also makes the Juke hatchback and
electric Leaf at Sunderland and has extended its plant to accommodate work on
the luxury Infiniti Q30 and QX30 models, which represent the first time
vehicles have been exported from Wearside to the US and China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.3pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The company’s North-East factory made 507,430
cars last year, which was the second highest number in the plant’s 30-year
history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.com0