Autoblog

Marchionne assures Fiat jobs will stay in Italy, amid Chrysler merger talks

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Fiat

Even though Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has repeatedly said he won't pick up, leave Italy and take his Fiat factories with him, his occasional pointed comments about the challenges of running operations in that country has worried Italian politicians dealing with government, economic and labor-force seizures the past few years. After Fiat Industrial announced it was moving its headquarters to London and it was rumored that the car division's HQ would move to Auburn Hills, MI after the merger with Chrysler, it was worried that more Italian jobs would disappear.

Industry Ministry Flavio Zanonato sought assurances from both Marchionne and Fiat chairman John Elkann that they would "commit to the country," and it appears those assurances have been given. Unemployment in Italy is at 20-year-highs and car sales are at 20-year-lows, but Marchionne said "We have confirmed our commitments for Italy" and the company will hold steady on employment. The nation and the corporation said they would work together to "relaunch Italy's car market," although it's not clear what either of them will be able to do beyond wait it out. At the very least, Fiat's stance means there's one less ball the country's politicians have to juggle.

Marchionne assures Fiat jobs will stay in Italy, amid Chrysler merger talks originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia calls reports of second US plant 'groundless'

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Kia

In discussing how Kia planned to use a focus on quality to raise its brand perception and take the fight to BMW and Audi instead of Toyota, a recent article in Automotive News Europe said one of the primary constraints was production capacity; Kia simply doesn't have the ability to make enough cars to meet its aims with the plants it has.

The CEO of Hyundai-Kia is said to be reluctant to build more plants because of that focus on quality and the fact that its suppliers are stretched to the limit. The effects of that position are being felt right now with both makers losing market share, as in the case of Hyundai not being able to make enough of its Veloster Turbo for the US market.

A South Korean newspaper apparently reported last week that Kia was planning to build a second factory in Georgia with capacity for up to 150,000 units annually, and that the company would break ground as soon as this month on "KMMG2." Kia has responded to the news by saying, "The report is all groundless." The mayor of West Point, site of the current KMMG plant, said he didn't know anything about such plans, nor did the Georgia department of economic development have knowledge of a new Kia factory.

Kia calls reports of second US plant 'groundless' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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North America's automakers ran at 97% of their production capacity last year

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing

Wards Auto began tracking North American light-vehicle production capacity utilization in 2005, and last year produced the highest amount on record: 97.8 percent of available production was utilized, an improvement of 9.3 percent versus the year before. The number represents straight-time capacity plus things like the addition of a third shift or a third crew and worker overtime due to less vacations. Production with straight-time capacity utilizing two shifts still came out to 97.1 percent in 2012, an improvement of 13.7 percent versus 2011.

In the US, capacity use was 91 percent, a rise of 12.2 percent year-on-year; the only plants to show a decline were the Ford/Mazda facility in Flat Rock that ceased production of the Mazda6 last year and where the Ford Fusion is now built, and the Subaru plant in Indiana that produces the Toyota Camry alongside Subaru vehicles. In Canada, the capacity-use numbers jumped 19.4 percent to 99.6 percent, and in Mexico overutilization was the theme, their plants running at 124 percent. The Mexican situation isn't new, that country exceeding 100 percent of capacity utilization in 2010 and 2011 as well. In total, 15.6 million vehicles were produced last year in North America, 842,000 more than in 2011.

North America's automakers ran at 97% of their production capacity last year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda's new Mexican plant capacity rises to 230,000

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Mazda, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

After the turmoil of last year, 2013 is getting off to a much better start for Mazda. The company has issued a release indicating that the forthcoming plant in Salamanca, Mexico has had its production capacity raised even though it isn't scheduled to go online until March 2014. The original plans called for a 140,000-unit capacity, 90,000 of that allotted for the Mazda2 and Mazda3, the remaining 50,000 for a small car Mazda would build for Toyota that would be based on the Mazda2. The new plans call for raising that by 90,000 units to a total of 230,000 units within two years, by the end of March 2016, and it looks like it will all go toward Mazda production to satisfy growing demand for Skyactiv vehciles. The Mexican plant's opening will be the return of Mazda manufacturing to North America, after Mazda6 production was moved back to Japan last year.

More good news for the company is that it projects 10 billion yen ($114 million) in net income for the financial year that will end in March. That would be a welcome turnaround from the 100-billion-yen loss in the previous financial year, part of a series of three annual losses in a four-year span.

You'll find the press release with the factory update below.

Continue reading Mazda's new Mexican plant capacity rises to 230,000

Mazda's new Mexican plant capacity rises to 230,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru to raise US production from 130,000 units to 300,000 by 2016

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Subaru, Earnings/Financials

Ask Subaru about the difficult car market and it is likely to ask in response, "What difficult car market?" The little Japanese brand has its XV sitting on top of sales charts in (one small corner of) Europe, the BRZ is still allergic to sitting on dealer lots, the company has raised its financial forecast due to strong US sales and being in the top five of Consumer Reports' reliability ratings is the sprinkles on the cupcake. Just-Auto now reports that Subie is considering increasing US production by 30,000 units as soon as 2014, and another 100,000 units as soon as 2016. That's good news for Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana plant, which builds the Legacy, Outback and Tribeca.

The increase in production has yet to be approved, but the company's been talking about it for a few months now, especially after it wasn't able to build a factory in China. The Chinese government denied Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) the right to build a factory in the People's Republic since Toyota, an FHI shareholder, already has two plants there. That ended up helping Subaru in the short term since it wasn't affected by the anti-Japanese sentiment over the issue of ownership of some islands in the South China Sea. In addition to the bumped-up production numbers, the president of FHI said he expects Subaru to sell more than 350,000 cars in the US next year; doing so would be an improvement of almost 30 percent over 2011.

Subaru to raise US production from 130,000 units to 300,000 by 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda ceases production in U.S. as last sedan rolls off line in Flat Rock

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Mazda

The photo above was taken July 23, 2008 at the production kickoff for the Mazda6 at the AutoAlliance International plant, jointly owned by Mazda and Ford, in Flat Rock, Michigan. And as of this week, though neither company made a big deal about it, the AutoAlliance facility stopped building the Mazda6, ending Mazda production in the United States.

Although Ford takes total practical control of AutoAlliance International, the two companies will maintain their 50-50 stake in the plant for now while Ford invests $550 million in the facility to gear up for 2013 Fusion production.

The plant has built some well-known nameplates, including the Probe, Cougar and Mustang. The success of the joint venture led to the opening of an AutoAlliance Thailand plant in Rayong, modeled on its Flat Rock forebear. Mazda's manufacturing departure from the U.S. will see 2014 Mazda6 production return to Japan; the automaker's North American production relocates to Salamanca, Mexico in early 2013.

Mazda ceases production in U.S. as last sedan rolls off line in Flat Rock originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opel cutting work hours in two plants to avoid layoffs

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Opel

Trying to make the best of a nasty situation for everyone involved, Opel has reportedly worked out an agreement with its Works Council and the IG Metall union to reduce working hours at two of its plants. From the end of September until the end of the year, there will be 20 days of short shifts and short working days for two Opel facilities: the Rüsselsheim factory that builds the Insignia and Astra and the Kaiserslautern component plant. About half of the 13,800 Rüsselsheim employees will be affected, including everyone but engineers, along with all 2,500 workers at Kaiserslautern.

The move helps keep people employed, and a German goverment program called Kurzarbeit - short work - will reimburse workers either 60 or 67 percent of their lost wages. Analysts commenting on the plan say, yet again, that it will not help the practically Europe-wide issue of overcapacity, which in the case of General Motors is said to equal the output of ten factories. Nor will it help Opel's slide: deliveries in the first half of this year are down 15 percent. The Adam subcompact and the promised restructuring can't come soon enough.

Continue reading Opel cutting work hours in two plants to avoid layoffs

Opel cutting work hours in two plants to avoid layoffs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Honda Accord production fires up with Earth Dreams power

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

Production of the "Earth Dreams" powertrains that will slot into the 2013 Honda Accord got underway at the Japanese automaker's Anna Engine and Honda Transmission Mfg. plants last week, and both facilities have begun feeding engines and gearboxes to the Marysville, Ohio, assembly lines where the 2013 Accord has started rolling off the lines. A ceremony marking the start of the new generation's assembly today also served to celebrate Honda's 30 years of production in the States.

As one would expect with car as important to Honda as the ninth-generation Accord, the company has made a huge investment in the North American debut of its new direct-injected, 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a new CVT transmission and a 3.5-liter V6 and its optional six-speed automatic. Honda has spent $220 million on expansions, casting operations and automated lines for its associates, and the plant is now able to make 1.8 million Earth Dreams engines annually.

The new engines are said to be good for a 10-percent improvement in fuel economy compared to current offerings, and the powerplants will eventually migrate to other models in Honda's lineup. Check out the press releases below for more information.

Continue reading 2013 Honda Accord production fires up with Earth Dreams power

2013 Honda Accord production fires up with Earth Dreams power originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Mazda6 wagon rolls up on video

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Mazda

Mazda taped the ceremony commemorating production of the 2014 Mazda6 at its Hofu No. 2 plant in Japan, and now we have it. There are a few dark glimpses of the Euro-spec Mazda6 wagon as a couple of them roll out and do loops for the factory workers, but the cameras don't spend a lot of time on the car. A more well-lit demonstration will likely be seen at the Moscow Motor Show later this month.

The 14-minute video is in Japanese, so once you're finished watching the car you can enjoy the executive speeches, and it ends with a cheer by the workers. Check it out below.

Continue reading 2014 Mazda6 wagon rolls up on video

2014 Mazda6 wagon rolls up on video originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kyushu on the road to becoming Japan's Motor City

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan, Toyota, South Korea

The strong yen has Japanese carmakers looking to optimize every efficiency in order to keep their cars competitive in export markets. One strategy gaining momentum is to do some island hopping, specifically, moving plants and manufacturing to Kyushu, the southernmost main island in the Japanese archipelago. Car production there as a percentage of total Japanese production has doubled from 2001 to 2011, but more startling are the recent increases: Nissan just moved its Note and Caravan production there, Toyota is boosting production there by 600 percent, and total units made in Kyushu climbed 21 percent from 2010 to 2011.

The three big factors involved are lower personnel costs, lower auto parts costs and increased productivity because of newer, more efficient factories. Companies can save ten percent on personnel in Kyushu versus traditional manufacturing centers like Aichi and Kanagawa, which are on the main island of Honshu and near major cities like Nagoya and Tokyo. Kyushu is also much closer to the South Korean peninsula, and the weakness of the South Korean won means importing lower-priced Korean auto parts is an even more attractive option.

Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun says it could soon be the Detroit of Japan. The prediction could be sped up if intergovernment talks can rework laws on transportation: it's illegal for trucks with South Korean plates to drive on Japanese roads, so trucks hauling parts get shipped to Kyushu ports and their cargo is transferred to Japanese trucks. Japanese and South Korean officials are working to determine how to allow trucks from across the strait to travel unhindered from Korean auto parts factories to Japanese car factories.

Kyushu on the road to becoming Japan's Motor City originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford kicks off 2013 Escape assembly [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Crossover, Ford

The 2013 Ford Escape is now a production reality, the completely redesigned crossover now rolling off the lines at Ford's Louisville assembly plant. Still a top seller in its last model year, the brand-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost Escape gets 22 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and yes, the $23,295 base model does get pricey very quickly when you start ticking the reams of options boxes. Nevertheless, the Escape surpassed the 8,000-orders mark before any customer had even driven it.

Its looks have found some detractors, but we have a feeling that it won't have any problem finding new homes. Scroll down for a video of plant workers talking about production processes, and a press release on what the Escape's production has meant to the area.

Continue reading Ford kicks off 2013 Escape assembly [w/video]

Ford kicks off 2013 Escape assembly [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota boosting V6 production in Alabama, adding 125 jobs

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Toyota's Huntsville, Alabama production facility, which makes the company's four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines, is getting a couple of big boosts: $80 million and roughly 125 new jobs. When the spending and hiring is complete, the enlarged factory and the plant's 1,150 workers will raise engine-production capacity to more than 700,000 units, with V6 production more than doubled from 146,000 engines per year to 362,000.

Toyota's been spending and hiring all this year, with $645 million invested in growth and 1,100 jobs added to the rolls. "This V6 line addition," said a company EVP, "continues to reflect our growing optimism for an improving North American market." Toyota's press release is posted below.

Continue reading Toyota boosting V6 production in Alabama, adding 125 jobs

Toyota boosting V6 production in Alabama, adding 125 jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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These are North America's top producing auto plants

Zach Bowman — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has the honor of being this year's top producing North American automotive manufacturer by a wide margin with its Puebla, Mexico facility. The factory managed to produce 510,041 units last year, beating out second-place Nissan and its Aguascalientes, Mexico plant by a staggering 149,245 units, according to Ward's Auto. Nissan jumped from third to second place after Toyota and its Georgetown plant dropped from the top five. Toyota and Honda both saw themselves ousted from the leader board after a year pockmarked by disruptions from earthquake and tsunami activity in Japan and flooding in Thailand.

The Japanese automakers' vacancies made room for Hyundai and its facility in Montgomery, Alabama with 338,127 units to take fourth place. Ford, meanwhile, moved from fifth in 2010 to third in 2011 with 344,446 units from its Dearborn Truck plant. Nissan rounded out the top five last year with the company's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee taking the automaker's second spot on the list.

Ward's Auto reports Volkswagen enjoyed a boost from the popularity of the Jetta. That model alone helped push the company's Puebla facility to a 75,356 unit gain over last year's figures. Head over to Ward's to see the full report.

These are North America's top producing auto plants originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee

Chris Shunk — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan

Mercedes-Benz and Nissan plan on working together in the future, sharing the Mercedes A-Class platform and engines in an effort save cash on engineering and manufacturing resources. A big part of that collaboration is now official with a joint engine announcement.

Nissan will produce high-end four-cylinder engines at its Decherd, Tennessee facility. The engine will find its way under the hood of Mercedes and Infiniti models beginning in 2014, with a max capacity of 250,000 units per year.

Both automakers are understandably excited about the strategic announcement. Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn called the tie-up "our most significant project outside of Europe so far." Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche added that the co-op will help Mercedes achieve its expansion goals, adding that the engine agreement will "make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation."

Hit the jump to read over the Nissan press release. Daimler also issued the exact same release, except the German automaker swapped names so that Daimler appeared before Nissan.

Continue reading Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee

Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada lagging behind U.S. auto recovery

Chris Shunk — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Ford, GM, UAW/Unions, Canada

The Detroit Three are in much better financial shape than three years ago. General Motors and Ford are now profitable, and Chrysler appears poised to begin making real money soon. That success has lead to plans to spend billions of dollars on North American plants, but Automotive News reports that our friends to the north aren't seeing much of the money.

Ford, GM and Chrysler are reportedly planning to spend at least $13.3 billion in the U.S. in the next four years, but investment in Canadian plants is dropping fast. In fact, there was only $1.2 billion in plant spending in Canada in 2011, down 62 percent versus the average of the last decade. A big reason for the decline in spending is the strength of the Canadian dollar and the relative weakness of the U.S. dollar.

Automakers are also spending more in the U.S. thanks to a new labor agreement with the United Auto Workers, which helps level labor costs compared to foreign rivals. Meanwhile, automakers and the Canadian Auto Workers are now working on a new contract for 2012. The CAW has so far fought many of the cost cuts that the UAW has accepted.

To make matters worse for our northern neighbors, Ford closed the St. Thomas plant that once built the Lincoln Town Car and Ford Crown Victoria, and GM ha reportedly announced plans to build two models in the U.S. that are currently being built in Canada.

We're guessing that while the Canada announcements have been few and far between in the past year or two, that could change if the CAW makes a few concessions at the bargaining table in 2012. If not, auto jobs in Canada could be in real trouble.

Canada lagging behind U.S. auto recovery originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reuse of decomissioned U.S. auto plants on the rise

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM

The Detroit Free Press reports that, of the 267 automotive plants that have closed in the U.S. since 1979, 128 have reopened with a new purpose. Astonishingly enough, 40 percent of those reopened sites were purchased between 2008 and 2010 as General Motors and Chrysler underwent restructuring, thanks in part to lower land prices and a larger volume of available properties.

Of those that remain closed, however, 65 percent can be found in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. They don't call it the rust belt for nothing. Even with so many sites finding new owners in recent years, things aren't necessarily looking better for those that remain closed.

According to the report, of the 128 plants that have closed in North America since 1980, three of every five are currently lying idle. Perhaps even more concerning is that only three of the 45 that have reopened under new businesses have been able offer their communities the same number of jobs as the buildings supplied under the automakers. Head over to The Detroit Free Press for the full report.

Reuse of decomissioned U.S. auto plants on the rise originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar's Castle Bromwich plant

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Jaguar, UK, Luxury

A photo tour of Jaguar's Castle Bromwich factory - Click above for high-res image gallery

All Jaguars, whether steel or aluminum, are fashioned in one place: Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands of England. The factory complex originally made RAF Spitfires and Lancaster bombers for World War II service, then was turned over to car production. In the way of Britain's carmaking conglomerates, it produced bodies for brands from Riley to Austin to Morris - when our tour guide started working there in 1966 he was in charge of making Nash Metropolitans.

Jaguar has been the sole occupant since 1977, and consolidated all of its production there in 2005, when its Browns Lane plant was shut. We had a chance to tour the site's C-Block and F-Block recently, where the XJ is assembled and finished. Along the way we came across bodyshells so light they could easily be picked up by one man, a bajillion rivets and miles of adhesive, Ford's gift of reams of data sheets, the shiniest XJ we've ever seen and, of course, signs of Elvis. Have a look at the captioned gallery of high-res photos below to see what's behind the camouflaged red brick walls of Castle Bromwich.

Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar's Castle Bromwich plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hummer grinds gears: production of 2010 H3 and H3T resumes

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Hummer, Off-Road

2010 Hummer H3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although the Hummer sale isn't officially official - which is to say, the Chinese authorities haven't told Tengzhong "Proceed!" - it is official enough that GM has restarted production of the 2010 H3 and H3T at its Shreveport, LA plant. General Motors didn't want to be stuck with dead models, so it closed the Hummer spigot while its side of the deal with Tengzhong was finalized. By the beginning of this month, though, the bottom of the inventory barrel was starting to peek through, with just 1,183 units on hand.

Even though Hummer sales are down more than 50 percent, nevertheless people are still buying, and the company's two H3 models are obviously the most popular. According to Automotive News, a Hummer spokesman reports that the 2010s should be arriving in dealerships in December - and as we reported earlier, you may even find them in two new colors and with biofuel capability.

Gallery: 2010 Hummer H3 and H3T

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Hummer grinds gears: production of 2010 H3 and H3T resumes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Mini 'Countryman' crossover skipping Detroit for Geneva?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, BMW, Mini

Mini Countryman concept -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Everyone is getting ready for the Mini Countryman -- including, perhaps, the WRC -- but everyone is going to have to wait, according to a report by those Mini-mad folks at Motoring File. The holdup is the upcoming BMW X3, which is BMW's foremost concern right now as the little crossover is practically as important to BMW as a Euro print plate is to the European Central Bank.

The Mini will be produced at Magna's plant in Austria, but first BMW has to complete the shift in X3 production from that plant to its facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Until that's done, Countryman production can't begin. That has observers figuring that the production Mini crossover won't meet the public until next year's Geneva show, instead of Detroit.

The other Countryman-related news is that, like SH-AWD and Quattro and Symmetrical AWD, Mini plans on a specific brand for its flavor of all-wheel drive. The name is said to be "All4." Yes, our minds are already agog at the ways in which Mini will be spinning that little moniker...

Gallery: MINI Crossover Concept LIVE

[Source: Motoring File]

REPORT: Mini 'Countryman' crossover skipping Detroit for Geneva? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Labor unrest in India to cause Ford to idle key NA crossover plant

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:47:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln, India

Rico Auto Industries in India makes transmission parts for Ford's Flex and Edge, along with its upscale Lincoln MKT and MKX twins. Unfortunately for the Blue Oval, Automotive News is reporting that Rico's operations are in flux because of persistent troubles between labor and management. A few weeks ago, some of the supplier's workers went on strike after members were suspended and fired by management. On October 18, the striking workers marched to the factory and got involved in an altercation with "unidentified men" supposedly "acting at the behest of Rico Auto's management." During the brawl, a 26-year-old worker was killed.

In the meantime, Ford reportedly hasn't got the parts it needs to build the crossovers it makes at its Oakville, Ontario plant and will be forced to idle the key facility next week. Ford is watching the situation in India closely - if production isn't restored soon, the lack of parts could impact other plants in addition to Ontario and its 3,000 workers.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd. | Image: Simon Hayter/Getty]

REPORT: Labor unrest in India to cause Ford to idle key NA crossover plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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