<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Production]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Production]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/production http://jalopnik.com/tag/production <![CDATA[Ford Ranger production ends this December]]> Those of you hoarding Crown Vics may want to add the beloved-but-elderly Ford Ranger to your stash. According to the UAW, Ranger production ceases this December. We can't wait for the replacement! Oh... wait, that's right. What replacement? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5814437&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Mitsubishi to export cars from the U.S.]]> Production of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport shifting from Japan to Normal, Illinois isn't interesting news, but exporting cars to other markets like Russia and the Middle East (where they have money) is. Reverse Gung Ho?[Mitsubishi] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5752130&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2,700 People Interested In Buying A McLaren MP4-12C]]> 2,700 people are interested in buying the McLaren MP4-12C. Any anxious potential buyers get a free hat? [Autocar] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5585684&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[SSC To Challenge Bugatti For New Fastest Production Car?]]> The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport just snagged the title of "World's Fastest Production Car" away from the American-built SSC Ultimate Aero. Now the folks at Shelby SuperCars are hinting at a new, faster Aero to challenge the German behemoth. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5581600&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Ford F-150 Raptor Production Reaches Maximum Capacity]]> 1,500 orders have already been placed for the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, maxing out capacity at the Dearborn plant. That's for 5.4s. The 6.2-liter 400 HP version isn't on sale until winter. [Pickuptrucks.com] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5335866&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Hundreds Of 2010 Camaros Spotted Outside Oshawa Assembly Plant]]> A Camaro-obsessed forum fan-boy at Camaro5 snapped these shots of hundreds of 2010 Chevy Camaros outside the Oshawa Assembly Plant birthplace. It would seem production has started — or at least "pre-production." More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5166643&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GM Sues Camaro Supplier, Claims Cadence "Holding Hostage" Interior Equipment Necessary For Launch]]> Liquidation of now-bankrupt Camaro parts supplier Cadence could delay 2010 Chevy Camaro production, costing GM millions of dollars and delaying a crucial new model. So GM plans to sue them. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5118766&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Chrysler Ceasing Production Friday, Won't Promise To Come Back]]> Chrysler just announced plans to stop production for at least a month. Did anyone else notice they wouldn't commit to coming back? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5112800&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Volkswagen Will Build Plant In Chattanooga, Tennessee]]> Volkswagen will build its first American plant since the 1980's in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The city bested competing bids from Alabama and Michigan for the plant, which will cost up to $1 billion to build and could employ as many as 2,000 workers. Chattanooga had a major advantage due to the state's lack of unions and ease-of-access for European travelers. According to their plans, this 1,350-acre facility will produce 150,000 vehicles, one of which will be a new mid-sized sedan for the US market, which is set to see production in early 2011. Press release below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=398558&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Ironhide Spotted With Can-Am Spyder, Motorcycle]]> More details regarding everyone's favorite movie sequel trickle in by the day. We know that filming is set to begin next week in the Philadelphia area and Ironhide, better known as the GMC Topkick, was spotted en route to the location for filming. The interesting item to note is what was being hauled along with Ironhide. A motorcycle was spotted in the bed of the truck as well as a Can-Am Spyder being hauled alongside. We could get all excited speculating about whether the motorcycle and Can-Am Spyder are miniature Transformers, but they're probably just props or stunt vehicles for the less robotic stars of Transformers 2. Click through for more details about the first shoot next week.
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]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=393920&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Industry Group Attempts to Prompt Fears Over Maritime Diesel Switch]]> The International Maritime Organization is considering switching to low-sulphur diesel fuel — just like you use in your Audi — in an effort to help the environment. This sounds like a good thing, right? Cargo ships will pollute a little less, Pandas will have a little more sex, overall oil usage probably won't change that much. Everyone wins. Especially the Pandas. Not according to the Technology for Sustainable Future Shipping Group, they've just issued a press release claiming the result of a diesel-at-sea fuel switch would see the price of oil climb to $150 a barrel. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=373654&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Stop The Presses, The Tesla Factory Is Cranking]]> Well I'll be damned—not only is it Maximum El Camino Day and St. Patrick's Day, but today will forever be known as the birthday of the Tesla. Ze'ev Drori, the new president and CEO of Tesla, has gotten his blog on and announced that today production has begun of the Tesla electric. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=368878&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Toyota Developing Super Cheapo Carbuilding Process]]> If you though the $6,000 Renault Logan was a breakthrough in mass cheapification, Toyota's got a message: Hold on to your centavos. According to President Katsuaki Watanabe, the company is developing a ground-up process of car building that will result in ultra-low-cost vehicles, and potentially, drive down costs across the company's line. The process, Watanabe says, will be all-encompassing, from design to production, and could involve developing new materials. No word on the rumor of slave bots that work for pitted olives and occasional squirts of WD40. [Thanks to Chris for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=230326&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[H2? H2, Where Are You? Hummer H2 Plant To Shut Down For Two Weeks]]> AM General, the maker of all things Hummer, will be shutting down the H2 line for two weeks this month in order to right-size production to match up with slowing sales. The plant employees about 600 from the sleepy little farm-filled hamlet of Mishawaka, Indiana. Which, in many ways we feel, might remind us a little bit of a moisture farm on the planet Tatooine. Except without the sand. Oh, and without the sand people. Oh, and there's no "force." But otherwise, yeah — exactly the same. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=205543&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Dieter's Way Forward To "Step 2" For DaimlerChrysler: Stop Hoping, Double Up Production Cuts, Lose Some Money And Take On UAW]]>
"Hope is not the best business strategy."
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]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=201559&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Toyota Wants The World, Seeks To Boost Production 20% In US, 40% Worldwide]]> Despite talk a year ago of looking for ways to help the down-and-out American automakers through boosting prices, the automaker from the land of the rising sun is looking at boosting production by 20% in the US and global production by 40%. ToMoCo seems to be looking at taking and keeping that #2 spot here in the US, widening its lead over FoMoCo worldwide, and making a hard charge at the General for the top spot on its home turf. Hell, while it's at it, they may even be looking at going all the way with a run for the job as world's top automaker. With that boost in production to 1.84 million vehicles produced here in North America and a jump in global output to 9.1 million vehicles, it's not so far-fetched. Let's hope they've got those quality control issues solved before they make the jump — or this could mean another 20% and 40% more recalls. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=201264&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Quality is Job Ichi? Toyota Considering Delay of New Models to Tackle Snafus]]> Toyota's golden age is looking a bit brassy this morning. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the company may hold off introducing several new models by up to six months due to quality issues. The company's stutter-step offers a fine opportunity for American makers, who've upped their quality ratings of late, to make funny faces punctuated by strategic placement of thumbs and fingers at photos of Toyo prez Katsuaki "You Will All Pay Dearly for My Loss of Face" Watanabe. It's all about the rise in recalls of late, along with potential legal trouble for allegedly delaying a recall filing that may have prevented a fatal accident in 2004. Among the models that could be delayed are the next Sienna minivan, the Solara coupe and Avalon sedan. Sources say the prez, who says the company is in no way stalling, has been under 24-hour hiri kiri watch. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=196613&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Slash and Turn: Ford Cuts Fourth-Quarter Production]]> Word on the wire this morning is that FoMoCo will slow third-quarter output by 10.7% and cut production in the fourth quarter by 21% owing to its sales performance being teh suck, of late. That's a reduction of 20,000 and 168,000 units, respectively, compared to a year ago — adding up to a 9% full-year production drop. The cuts will cause sleepy time in the company's St. Thomas, Ontario; Chicago; Wixom, Mich.; Louisville, Ky.; Wayne, Mich.; St. Paul, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Norfolk, Va.; and Dearborn, Mich. plants. According to the Wall Street Journal Ford's also looking to trim salary costs in North America by 10% to 30%. More on the Bold Moves that comprise the Way Forward are forthcoming in September, according to the those who know. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=195153&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[H1 Goes Bye-Bye]]> GM's announced that the Hummer H1 will cease production this year, saying that they want to take the brand in a more mass-market direction. We think this is dumb, not so much the wanting-to-increase-sales thing, but killing the vehicle that started it all. Of course, the H1 is a ridiculous machine. But it's a halo for the brand, and without it, the other Hummers are just going to seem like Chevys with upgraded off-road suspensions and plastic gewgaws tacked on. Oh wait, that's pretty much what they are. Meanwhile, thanks to the war, AM General doesn't expect any layoffs. Cue H sker D 's M.I.C. and drop the hammer. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=173524&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[They Don't Shoot 605 Horses, Do They? The Carrera GT is Dead]]> Porsche has announced that the last of the nearly-1300 Carrera GTs has rolled off its Leipzig line in a post-Cinco-de-Mayo hangover. We've never heard any less-than-stellar reports of the vehicle, but to at least one of us, the GT was nothing more than a technical marvel. It didn't invite us to get in and drive it, as the Ford GT or Lamborghini Murcielago did. One reporter's opinion, fo' shizzle, but we'll probably look back in five years and kick ourselves for not attempting to get a ride in one. We'll miss her, though we barely knew her. [Thanks to Ryan for the tip.] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=172979&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Next Year's Model: '07 Rangers in Production Already]]> Ford's 2007 allotment of Rangers is already rolling off the lines at the St. Paul plant, which means one of two things: either the Blue Ovals are predicting banner sales for a compact pickup that became irrelevant sometime during the Clinton administration, or they wanna build the five trucks they'll need and then mothball the plant ASAP. The facility's scheduled for a 2008 closure, but working men are worried that the early start to Ranger production means Billy and the boys are planning to shutter it even sooner. [Thanks to Scott for the tip.] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=172577&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nissan, You Too? Isn't Any Automaker Doing Ok?]]> We thought it was only "domestic" automakers with issues. First it was Hyundai with their "legislative slush fund" issues, and now Nissan's looking to cut back on U.S. production to "get it's inventories inline with demand." This is turning into "2006: Summer the World's AutoCo's Crap The Bed". Maybe CNN can run it as a segment to replace "2005: Summer of the Shark". Don't worry — we'll let Wolf Blitzer know. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=168352&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Honda to New Build Plant for High-End Engines]]> Those who've criticized Honda for not having sufficient large-displacement engines in its line may have less to balk about in coming years. The company's looking to build a new factory specifically for its high-end powerplants including hybrid-drive systems and the new V10 the company's CEO said will power its next-generation NSX. The new, high-tech plant, which could be built in the Tokyo suburb of Yorii, Saitama Prefecture, will likely also take over some vehicle production from the company's aging Sayama factory. It'll be part of a plan to increase output of products destined for North America, not the domestic market. Did someone say V8 Ridgeline? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=160768&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Ford's Fusion Production Problems Ease; Supply Still Tight]]> Compared to where it was back in October, when the bankruptcy of interior components supplier Collins & Aikman Corp. stymied Fusion production, Ford's more than doubled the number of Fusions produced from 20,000 to 52,000. According to AutoWeek, the company is still around 3,000 cars under target, but that dealers are benefiting from the tight supply. As any economics freshman knows, tight supply plus strong demand equals no rebates, or even price premiums (plus, a positive news story). It almost seems like the strategy of a profitable automaker. Almost a shame AW put a negative spin on it. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=142415&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Holy Toledo: DaimlerChrysler Commits to Dodge Nitro]]> DaimlerChrysler is investing $600 million in its Toledo North Assembly Plant, which will host its first non-Jeep assembly — the Liberty-based Dodge Nitro SUV. The plant will be expanded by 160,000 square feet and get a team of 150 new robots, all in the name of increasing the plant's flexibility to multiple products can be produced at the same time. Additional improvements will be made to the Toledo South plant, where a larger Jeep Wrangler will be built. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=140019&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Metal Magic: Creating Panels in the Midnight Sea via Hydroforming]]> One of the disadvantages of today's high-strength steel body panels is that they can't be drawn as deeply in a metal press as the more pliable, thicker panels of yore without cracking leading to less flexibility for stylists. However, by using hydroforming, which stresses the metal less than a traditional stamping process, panels can be drawn up to 40% deeper than with traditional methods. The downside? Hydroforming a panel takes up to a minute, as opposed to a few seconds on to a conventional stamping press. Still, for low-volume vehicles like the Pontiac Solstice, this doesn't present much of a problem. The Detroit News has the lowdown on the process, which uses one stamping die and 3,000 psi to work its magic. Autographed copy of Lock Up The Wolves not included. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=138607&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[BMW's 7-Year Product Plan Exposed?]]> Our compadres at new eurocar blog Eurocar unearthed what could be BMW's multiyear plan for its model lines. Sure, it could be a fake — the absence of its Z4 Coupe is startling — but many of the other pipeline products seem to jibe with rumor, like the next-generation mini and Rolls-Royce Phantom convertible in 2007, and X6 allroad coupe in 2008. Also missing is a new, lower-priced Rolls-Royce model that BMW had confirmed would challenge the Bentley Continental franchise in 2009. We're figuring, if it's real, the roadmap is circa 2002-2003, but that, of course, is just a guess. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=137008&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nissan Looks Toward Technology to Reduce Development Time]]> Auto spy photographers take heed: digital technologies are gunning for your business. Nissan executives recently said the company will use virtual test models to cut development time in half. The company wants to trim the time from design freeze, when a new model's look is set in stone, through the start of production to 10 months. That would halve the timeline from the current 20 months, assuming the car uses an existing platform. (Building a new model line from the ground up would take considerably longer — up to five years.) The virtual vehicles, which exist in digital form only, replace two sets of test models, and the company will only build one real set. Sneaking up on one of the virtual testers at a Death Valley 711 would be virtually impossible. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=127994&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[VW Body Picks Portugal Plant to Produce Compact SUV]]> Volkswagen officials in the company's Brand Product Strategy Committee — headed by Wolfgang Bernhard — recommended a new compact SUV should be built at the Palmela plant in Portugal from 2007, and saw fit to issue a press release stating their opinion. The move, the committee says, would reduce costs over the alternative, VW's Wolfsburg plant in Germany, by around $1,000 per vehicle. Bernhard also noted that the deadline for the decision is September 26 to meet production and tooling milestones. Could be that Bernhard, who also sites on the company's management board, is sending a message to trade union bosses in Germany that they had better plan to renegotiate the company's latest wage contract, or VW's harsh cost-cutting strategies will get a bit harsher. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=123128&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Toyota Eyes California for Prius Production]]> Quick, if you were Toyota, where in the US would you build your Prius hybrid — along with, maybe, a hybrid version of your Corolla? Damn straight it's California, or it could be if a report in the Wall Street Journal is accurate. Still, the company already announced, earlier this year that it would build a hybrid version of its next-generation, 2007 Camry at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant. If Toyota does pick California to produce US-bound Prii, it'll likely be at the Fremont plant it shares with GM, which produces the Pontiac Vibe as well as Toyota Corollas and Tacomas, as part of the companies' joint-production venture, New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI). More »
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