Autoblog

Mercedes-Benz taps Valmet to build new A-Class

Dan Roth — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz

"Is that a Uusikaupunki A-Class?" It sounds like an awfully personal question, but it's something you might be asking soon, since Mercedes-Benz is partnering with Finland's Valmet Automotive to boost production of the new A-Class. There are already more than 40,000 orders in for the new hatchback, and Daimler plants in Germany and Hungary are running at full tilt to keep up.

Since Mercedes plans to start selling the A-Class in North America in 2014, and Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche anticipates a compact vehicle boom, Daimler wants to make sure it has cars available for buyers. The contract with Valmet runs for three years from 2013 until 2016 and will add another 100,000 A-Class vehicles to the mix, important as Mercedes tries to roll out five compact models including a coupe and SUV. For its part, Valmet is happy to have something more to do other than tinker around with low-volume cars like the Fisker Karma and Marussia B2.

Mercedes-Benz taps Valmet to build new A-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valmet working to meet demand for sold-out Marussia B2

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Russia, MISC

By all accounts, Marussia is just another exotic automaker hoping to sell a few supercars but just as likely to disappear into obscurity. Except that it hasn't, and may not for some time.

Having potentially overextended itself by buying the majority of a Formula One racing team from Virgin, the Russian upstart needed its newest product - dubbed the B2 - to be the runaway success that the (relatively) less dramatically-styled B1 wasn't. And so it appears it will be as reports indicate that Marussia has sold out its entire production run of 500 vehicles.

In order to keep up with demand, production is reportedly shifting from Marussia's own facility in Moscow to Valmet in Finland, the same place where the Fisker Karma is built now and the Porsche Boxster and Cayman were before it. Cosworth will then be shipping the 3.5-liter V6 that provides between 300 and 420 horsepower (depending on customer specification) to drive the 2,425-pound lightweight supercar to 60 in as little as 3.2 seconds.

Check out the pair in the fresh image gallery above for a closer look.

Valmet working to meet demand for sold-out Marussia B2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valmet Dawn gets its Tron on in Geneva

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Electric

There are a lot of ways to describe the Valmet Dawn you see pictured above, but our favorite could be mouthed by Keanu Reeves: Whoa. And then we would expand it to WTF? As in, "Whoa the F?"

That's because Valmet Automotive - the makers of the Fisker Karma, among other vehicles - has wrapped its electric vehicle engineering chops in what is perhaps the most impractical and odd-looking concept vehicle we've ever seen. The Dawn concept is meant to show that Valmet can both research and develop EV components like drivetrains and batteries and put them together into a vehicle, a two-prong approach that Valmet says is a new strategic focus area for the company. With that in mind, perhaps it not a total surprise that Valmet hasn't released any sort of information about the range, power or really any real-world details about the Dawn. Like, for example, what's that blue disc in front? An inductive charger? A 21st Century cow catcher? An Identity Disc?

Valmet says this test bed vehicle "integrates both the component developer and integrator roles. Displaying the battery pack, drivetrain, control unit and charging options, it also shows what ultimately can be achieved in the world of electric mobility, by integrating solutions in an innovative fashion." Innovative. Yeah, that's the word.

Continue reading Valmet Dawn gets its Tron on in Geneva

Valmet Dawn gets its Tron on in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab Saga Update: Genii and Spyker pondering joint bid? Workers rally in Trollhätten, etc.

Chris Paukert — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing

Saab: A history in pictures - Click above for high-res gallery

Despite the fact that the Detroit Auto Show put the focus back on General Motors' new products and pulled the spotlight away from the will-they/won't-they saga that is the Saab sale/wind-down, there are no shortage of developments to report in the ongoing story.

Yesterday, Genii Capital and Bernie Ecclestone submitted a freshly revised bit for Saab, and Spyker Cars reportedly also did so, with CEO Victor Muller going so far as to say that, "We have shown Mr. Whitacre the money." For its part, Merbanco has also apparently been asked to tweak its bid by General Motors, and it has done so as well.

Swedish-language outlet Svenska Dagbladet has reported that Genii and Spyker may team up to present an even stronger bid, and Dagens Industri has gone so far as to speculate that Genii and Spyker might try to pull Renault into a three-way deal (as you may remember, Genii purchased Renault's Formula One team recently), but Saabs United indicates that there's not much to this rumor.

In what critics are suggesting as a less-than-good-faith move, GM may also schedule transportation of the 2010 Saab 9-5's tooling to China as early as tomorrow, January 15, where the model would likely be built wearing Buick badges. The General appointed Steven Taylor and Peter Torngren to oversee the liquidation of Saab on Monday, and as part of that move, they replaced both Saab's CEO and board effective immediately.

Despite all of this, GM's new president of North America, Mark Reuss, has been quoted suggesting that the protracted bidding struggle may continue until early February, all while GM continues to the process of shuttering the brand. It's enough to make us long for the simpler days of last November, when Saab was nearly sold to Koenigsegg for the symbolic sum of one krona (about .14 cents).

While all of this has been happening, Saab enthusiasts have apparently been gearing up for dozens of rallies around the globe to show support for the sale of the battered marque, with organizers in Yekatarinburg, Russia going so far as to create a commercial and running it on local television. On Tuesday, workers at Saab's Trollhätten plant rallied, calling for the newly-appointed liquidators at AlixPartners to "go home." This, as the very first Saab 9-3 convertible came off the line in Sweden - previous droptops had been assembled by Valmet in Findland and Magna Steyr in Austria.

Given how painfully drawn-out this process has become, we have to wonder... will there be anything left to save when all the chips fall? A final, they-really-mean-it-this-time decision on Saab's fate could happen as early as tomorrow, but sources close to the negotiations seem to think that the proceedings are likely to drag out into next week.

Gallery: Saab - A History in Pictures

[Sources: Saabs United, Saab History, Swedish Wire, Earth Times, Business Week; Contract Hire and Leasing]

Saab Saga Update: Genii and Spyker pondering joint bid? Workers rally in Trollhätten, etc. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker sends Finland good Karma

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:06:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Green, Plants/Manufacturing

Back in July we told you that Fisker had tabbed Valmet Automotive to build its upcoming Karma. Now we get word that all of the contracts have been finalized and production looks certain. Valmet will be doing all of the engineering and manufacturing for the Karma, that sexy new four-door plug-in hybrid sports sedan designed by ex-Aston Martin designer, Henrik Fisker. Production should start about a year from now, in late 2009. The first cars should show up Stateside, with European deliveries following soon after, in early 2010. The companies are planning an annual production of about 15,000 cars worldwide.

The $80k sedan uses lithium ion batteries, and owners should expect about 50 miles of driving before the gas engine ever kicks in. Range should rival the Chevy Volt at 350 miles per charge. Unlike the Volt, however, the Karma will have a top speed of 125 mph, and a 0-60 time of about 5.8 seconds. Even with the price of gas plummeting, we think Fisker should have little trouble selling 15,000 of these beauties a year, even at $80k. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Valmet Automotive]

Continue reading Fisker sends Finland good Karma

Fisker sends Finland good Karma originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche to move Cayman & Boxster production from Finland to Austria

Noah Joseph — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:56:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Porsche

Click for a hi-res gallery of Porsche production in Finland

Porsche has announced that production of its Boxster and Cayman models is to shift to component supplier Magna Steyr's facility in Austria beginning in 2012. Last year the contract with Finland's Valmet to assemble the two associated mid-engined models was extended through 2012, after which the terms will expire and Magna will take over.

Porsche CFO and deputy chairman Holger P. Harter stressed that the decision was not a vote against Valmet - which has to date built over 200,000 vehicles for Porsche - but rather the result of several elements that Magna brought to the table: firstly, Magna's production is scalable so that it will only manufacture what Porsche's own factory in Zuffenhausen (where the rear-engined 911 series is made) cannot handle. Secondly, Magna is able to assume some development responsibilities along with the final assembly. Thirdly, Magna's proposal was more financially attractive (read: cheaper) than Valmet's. And finally, Magna already supplies various components to Porsche - including convertible roofs and body panels - creating the opportunity for future synergies between Porsche and various Magna subsidiaries.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the Porsche Boxster and Cayman production facility at Valmet in Finland.

Gallery: Porsche production at Valmet

[Source: Porsche]

Porsche to move Cayman & Boxster production from Finland to Austria originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An Aston Martin built outside of the UK? Rapide likely to go elsewhere

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Aston Martin, UK

With sales of Aston Martin's existing sports and GT lineup continuing at a strong clip, the question of where to build the new Rapide four-door becomes more problematic. For a company that is still relatively low-volume (7,000 cars last year) like Aston, investing in tooling for more capacity is difficult. That's where contract builders come to the rescue. Aston is reportedly talking to Pininfarina, Karmann, Magna-Steyr and Valmet about assembling the new car, with a decision due by the end of the year. Even though Aston Martin is one of the most quintessentially British brands, having one of these companies build the new car probably won't hurt too much. They've assembled vehicles for the likes of Porsche, BMW and many others without doing much harm to their reputations.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

An Aston Martin built outside of the UK? Rapide likely to go elsewhere originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche produces 200,000th Boxster

Alex Nunez — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Porsche

Last week was big for Porsche as the automaker produced the 200,000th Boxster. The Boxster line, which now includes the fixed-roof Cayman variant, is in the midst of its tenth year on the road. Production of the Boxster and Cayman exceeded 27,000 cars for FY 05/06, reflecting the model's growth since its introduction. At that time, Porsche expected 15,000 cars to be produced annually.

Car number 200,000 was a Boxster S born at Valmet Automotive in Finland and destined for a US customer -- no surprise, as the North American continent accounts for 40% of global Boxster sales. With styling clearly inspired by the Spyders of yore, the Boxster has evolved from concept car to a brand name as recognizable and important as Porsche's other star, the 911. And like its big brother, it serves an aspirational vehicle to many. Over the last ten years, the phrase "first Porsche" and "Boxster" became synonymous for an undetermined number of enthusiasts. A first Porsche is undoubtedly a special thing, and so, by extension is the Boxster.

Congratulations to Porsche on reaching the milestone.

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche produces 200,000th Boxster

Porsche produces 200,000th Boxster originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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