Latest components news and analysis articles 
Companies that produce vehicle parts and vehicle subsystems/modules manufactured for fitment in vehicles being produced as OE (original equipment) or for the aftermarket
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Pain and gain
24 May 2013
More read-it-and-weep news for struggling European rivals from Volkswagen group this week as it chalked up another little milestone - selling over 3m vehicles in the first four months of a year.
COMMENT: Colombia's OEM suppliers and assemblers at the crossroads
24 May 2013
Vehicle assembly in Colombia began in 1956 when the government signed an agreement to build Austin trucks locally. Colombian entrepreneurs soon saw the opportunity to invest in technology to be part of the necessary OEM supply chain. But those with up to 57 years of experience are in danger of disappearing unless they make radical decisions.
AUSTRALIA: Holden commits as union calls for bi-partisan auto approach
24 May 2013
Holden says it is committed to continuing its Australian presence despite Ford's decision to end production in the country, while a major union is calling for both political parties to unite around supporting the automotive sector.
SWEDEN: Geely's Volvo Cars creates new joint purchasing and manufacturing unit
24 May 2013
Geely's Volvo Car Cars will establish a new global purchasing and manufacturing organisation to reduce complexity and costs.
FRANCE: Valeo completes sale of Access Mechanisms unit to U-Shin
24 May 2013
Valeo has announced that it will close the deal which will see the sale of its access mechanism business to Japan's U-Shin today (24 May). According to a statement released by the company, the unit's sale will be completed for an enterprise value of EUR203m.
AUSTRALIA: Irate union slams Ford 'Detroit edict' as costing 6,000 jobs
23 May 2013
Ford's decision to axe production in Australia has provoked fury at one of Australia's largest unions that estimates the cascade effect of shuttering plants will cost up to 6,000 jobs.
US: Denso execs facing prison for price fixing
22 May 2013
Two Japanese executives who worked for Denso Corporation are facing over a year in a US federal prison following their roles in a price fixing scandal.
CHINA: Continental develops infotainment system for PSA in China
22 May 2013
Continental has developed a new Multimedia Radio Navigation (MRN) System for the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group in China.
SOUTH KOREA: Kumho’s operating income rises 93.8% in FY2012
22 May 2013
Kumho Tyre reported net income of KRW130.6bn (US$116.87m) on net sales of over KRW4tn for its fiscal year 2012 ended 31 December 2012, compared with a net loss of KRW26.8bn on sales of KRW3.9tn in the previous year. The company's operating income surged 93.8% to KRW375.3bn, from KRW193.6bn earlier.
SWEDEN: Haldex to axe 200 jobs in $129m cost saving programme
22 May 2013
Haldex has started a restructuring programme involving 200 job losses in a bid to save SEK100m (US$129.4m), from 2015.
GERMANY: Federal-Mogul outlines DuroGlide piston ring coating
22 May 2013
Federal-Mogul's powertrain segment says it has developed an application in piston ring coating, known as DuroGlide, for gasoline and heavy-duty diesel engines.
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai names next Tucson as first fuel cell production car
21 May 2013
Hyundai Motor has announced that the fuel cell vehicle it will build at the rate of 10,000 units a year will be a version of the next Tuscon.
PRODUCT EYE: Honda CR-Z
21 May 2013
It isn't often that a three-year old car, albeit one that was facelifted not long ago, attracts admiring glances in car parks. Glenn Brooks was surprised to learn that few people know what a Honda CR-Z is.
US: Harman delivers NTG5 infotainment system for Mercedes-Benz S Class
21 May 2013
Harman says it has delivered the new NTG5 infotainment system for Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles.
BELGIUM: New Lexus IS comes with real-time parking and navigation service
21 May 2013
Lexus has announced the launch of a real-time parking and traffic navigation service in the new Lexus IS. Lexus says the Lexus IS is the first vehicle to feature such a service as standard on its premium navigation multimedia system.
INDIA: Honeywell turbos fitted to Honda Amaze ('India's most fuel efficient car')
21 May 2013
Honeywell turbocharger technology developed in India is fitted to the 1.5L diesel engine in the Honda Amaze, a car described as 'India's most fuel efficient car'.
US: Visteon unveils HABIT infotainment concept
21 May 2013
Visteon says it has incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the driver experience, with the system known as Human Bayesian Intelligence Technology (HABIT)
CHINA: Continental appoints Ralf Cramer as country president
21 May 2013
Continental says it has appointed board member Ralf Cramer as president of the company's organisation in China from 1 August this year.
FRANCE: Unions give Michelin flexible working green light
20 May 2013
Michelin has secured agreement at central union level for three of its French plants to operate flexible working in a bid to address a drop in European demand.
Q&A with Magna Seating
20 May 2013
Seat manufacturers must develop seats that are lighter, offer more space for occupants and incorporate environmentally friendly materials. Yet space creation inside the vehicle has become critical with the explosion of added content and features. Discerning tastes also mean consumers want more flexible living space within their cars. To find out how Magna Seating is meeting these demands, Matthew Beecham talked with three of the company’s top executives, namely Randy Koenigsknecht, VP Sales & Marketing, Jeff Lambert, VP Engineering and Global IT Services, Dino Nardicchio, Executive Director, Advanced Engineering and Consumer Interface Products.
ITALY: Fiat plants working again after supplier dispute
17 May 2013
Fiat says production at three plants in Italy, Spain and Serbia has now resumed after huge disruption caused by a dispute with a key supplier.
Quote unquote from Automotive Supply Chain's Silverstone Congress 2013
17 May 2013
Automotive Supply Chain Magazine recently held its 2013 Congress at the home of British Formula 1 racing at Silverstone. Here's a round-up of some speakers' quotes.
Q&A with NordGlass
17 May 2013
Glazing continues to play an important part in vehicle design, providing a combination of aesthetic, functional and structural properties. As a result, automakers are increasingly looking for their glazing suppliers to play a key role in the vehicle development process. Continuing just-auto's series of interviews with leading players in the vehicle glazing market, Matthew Beecham talked with NordGlass Group's CEO, Grzegorz Lajca. NordGlass develops and manufactures windscreens for the automotive sector, railway, shipping and construction industry.
CHINA: Magneti Marelli lighting plant opened in Foshan
17 May 2013
A new Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting plant has been opened in Foshan, Guangdong province, in southern China.
GERMANY: Massive metalworker strikes end as IG Metall secures pay deal
16 May 2013
Huge strikes sweeping the German metalworking sector have ended with the main union provisionally agreeing two sets of pay rises to 2014.
GERMANY: Mahle ups Behr Group holding to 51%
16 May 2013
Mahle has increased its holding in the Behr Group from 36.85% to around 51% with the acquisition of all shares in the BWK holding company (BWK).
US: BorgWarner to engineer and make JLR turbochargers in England
15 May 2013
BorgWarner will provide British engineered and made turbochargers for Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR's) new four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, scheduled to launch in 2015.
ITALY: Fiat warns of further plant shutdowns as supplier disruption bites
15 May 2013
Fiat says further plants are at risk following supply disruption to its Maserati plant in Grugliasco, as well as stoppages at sites in Serbia and Spain.
CANADA: Magna unit receives supplier innovation award from BMW
15 May 2013
Magna International said its Cosma International operating unit was one of eight suppliers which received a BMW Supplier Innovation Award. It was recognised for a lightweight, high-voltage battery housing made of die-cast aluminum made in Germany by Magna BDW technologies.
UK: More OEM-supply chain work needed to target GBP3bn opportunity: Ebm-papst
14 May 2013
Further collaboration is needed between OEMs and component manufacturers in order to realise economies of scale in the automotive industry, says motors and fans supplier, Ebm-papst.
