Author: Central Desk

Dongfeng Motor Corporation, a leading name in the Chinese automotive industry, has taken a new step forward in revolutionizing its production processes by integrating ForwardX’s futuristic autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). This move initiative highlights Dongfeng’s dedication to innovation and efficiency in the rapidly evolving automotive sector. Establishing a robust infrastructure for independent new energy vehicles, Dongfeng allocates core resources to enhance its competitive edge. The surge in demand for new energy vehicles has revealed the limitations of traditional manual operations, particularly in automotive welding workshop logistics. These manual processes have hindered the flow of information and dampened inventory management efficiency,…

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), China’s premier automotive lithium-ion battery maker, has initiated the construction of its inaugural battery plant in North China, specifically within the industrious confines of Beijing E-town, the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. This new launch of CATL represents an augmentation of CATL’s auto sector chain. With production planning to start in 2026 after two construction phases, the facility will occupy approximately 260,000 square meters. This development leverages Beijing’s major role as a main innovation in the automotive industry, an essential production base endowed with a wealth of talent. Wu Yingming, chairman of CATL’s supervisory board, highlights the…

A major cyberattack has hit CDK Global, a major provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) for car dealerships, causing the company to shut down its systems. This disruption affects over 15,000 car dealerships across the United States, heavily reliant on CDK’s platform for daily operations. Extent of the Attack CDK Global’s platform manages essential functions for car dealerships, including customer relationship management (CRM), financing, payroll, support and service, inventory, and back-office operations. Dealerships connect to CDK’s data centers via an always-on VPN to access these services. Overnight, CDK took its IT systems, phones, and applications offline to contain the attack’s spread. Brad…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery Automobile have inked a Letter of Intent that revitalizes their 12-year partnership, setting a fresh course for the CJLR (Chery Jaguar Land Rover) collaboration with a sharp focus on electric vehicles (EVs) amid China’s rapid shift to electrification. This collaboration merges Chery’s dominant position in the Chinese auto market with JLR’s renowned design heritage. The strategic move will see CJLR adopting Chery’s pioneer EV architecture to develop an exclusive range of electric vehicles under the revitalized Freelander brand. JLR CEO Adrian Mardell articulated the venture’s renewed focus: “Today we are taking this important strategic…

Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) today disclosed that the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 will be the premier model rolling out from its new production facility in Georgia. This new move underscores Hyundai’s ambitious drive to capture a larger share of the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market. Set to start production by the end of the year, the Georgia Metaplant will focus on assembling the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, with plans to produce all trim lines except the IONIQ 5 N. This facility will become the primary production site for the IONIQ 5 in the U.S. Oscar Kwon, President and…

The foremost authority in automotive safety solutions Autolive, has unveiled a groundbreaking development in sustainable manufacturing including, airbag cushions crafted entirely from recycled polyester. This new innovation underscores the company’s dedication to reducing its environmental impact and aligning with global sustainability goals. Through strategic collaborations with major suppliers, Autoliv has engineered yarns, fabrics, and cushions from 100% recycled materials, specifically designed for airbag production. Extensive testing confirms these new airbag cushions uphold the safety standards of traditional polyester airbags while slashing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 50% at the polymer production level. Jordi Lombarte, Chief Technology Officer at Autoliv,…

Global NEVS, a leader in automotive market analytics, has launched a unified model standard designed to streamline market insights and enhance decision-making across the automotive industry. This new standard aims to provide a holistic view of the global car market by integrating data from 60,000 suppliers covering over 1,700 auto parts. The initiative addresses the challenge of differing model names across countries, simplifying comparisons and analysis. For instance, the Toyota Corolla is known by various names in different markets, such as Ka Luo La, Lei Ling, and Hua Guan in China. In 2023 alone, 69 million passenger vehicles were sold…

Polestar, the distinguished electric vehicle manufacturer, is actively expanding its commercial footprint and retail operations with an ambitious plan to penetrate seven new markets by 2025, with an expanding product range. This involves transitioning to a non-traditional agency sales model across Europe, offering customers enhanced flexibility and access to Polestar vehicles. This month, Sweden and Norway adopted this new sales model, with other major markets poised to follow in the second half of the year. Despite these shifts, customers retain the ability to purchase their preferred Polestar models online or through an enlarging network of Polestar Spaces and service points.…

Toyota’s Chairman Akio Toyoda, a direct descendant of the founder, faces a challenge at the forthcoming annual shareholders’ meeting on June 18. Influential proxy advisory firms are mobilizing shareholders to oppose Toyoda’s reappointment, citing deep concern following a vehicle testing scandal. Recent revelations of fraudulent vehicle certification tests have marred Toyota’s renowned quality image. Despite assertions that these issues did not compromise safety or prompt recalls, the repercussions have been profound. The production suspension of three models and a sharp decline in share prices, with a market value loss of around 3 trillion yen ($18 billion), highlight the crisis’s impact.…

New Delhi (India): Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), the Indian subsidiary of South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Co., has filed draft papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise approximately $3 billion through an initial public offering (IPO). The targeted valuation for this IPO is between $18 billion and $20 billion. If successful, this IPO will be India’s largest ever, surpassing the previous record of $2.7 billion set by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in 2022. The IPO will be a pure offer for sale (OFS) by the promoter, involving up to 142,194,700 equity shares…