Join the AutoForm Global Webinar: Smart Engineering Enabling Smart Production at Volvo Cars, May 11, 2023

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The quest for “Zero Production Failures” has been a focus of many automotive part producers for the past years – suppliers and OEM’s alike. High output and high cost efficiency are crucial to keep the pace and compete at high levels. Smart Production can be a means to accomplish the mission as long as the term “Smart” implies the adoption of a production control system capable of predicting and preventing failures. But prediction does not automatically imply prevention. In order to build the foundations for the smart factory to stand up to, the process engineering work must be as “smart”…
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Quebec toughens ZEV sales mandate, frustrating automakers

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Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette announced April 21 that the province was “accelerating” the yearly percentage of ZEVs that must be sold until the goal of 100 per cent is reached in 2035. The current Quebec sales mandates are already more aggressive than the proposed federal mandates and the new provincial targets widen that spread significantly. For example, the federal ZEV target for 2027 is 23 per cent, the current mandate in Quebec is 34 per cent and the newly proposed mandate is 43 per cent. For the 2030, the federal target is 60 per cent, the current Quebec target…
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Used car prices are surging. Here’s why you should buy now

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Well, it was nice while it lasted. For nearly a year, the average used vehicle in the United States has been edging toward affordable again for millions of people. The relief felt belated and relatively slight, but it was still welcome. From an eye-watering peak of $31,400 in April of last year, the average price had dropped 14% to $27,125 early this month. Now, with the supply of used vehicles failing to keep up with robust demand, prices are creeping up again, with signs pointing to further increases ahead. So many buyers have been priced out of the new-car market…
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Aston Martin to renew DB11, Vantage, DBS sports cars in 2023

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LONDON — Aston Martin will reveal the first of its overhauled sports-car range at the end of this month, Chief Financial Officer Doug Lafferty said. The automaker has promised to reveal new versions of its three core sports-car models – the DB11, Vantage and DBS – over the next 12 months. The company has not said which will be first, but the DB11 is the oldest model in its lineup. Aston Martin will increase prices on all three cars as it looks to return to profitability with a target margin of 40 percent. “All the next-generation sports cars carry that…
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Why do you need to get emotion out of pricing

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Image credit: Depositphotos. comA business that doesn’t follow a price matrix means the owner is emotionally invested in price. That means they will be more willing to give discounts — reducing their margins and reducing profits. As inflation continues to impact everything, it’s important for shops to adjust their pricing. There are some areas that may be more flexible for higher markups than others. Take lug nuts, for example, said Cecil Bullard, chief executive officer of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. This can be charged at a higher rate because no customer will challenge the cost of a…
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Searching “Windshield Replacement Near Me”

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Car windows and windshields are things that many drivers just don’t think much about– until one day they suddenly need to be replaced. Maybe it’s a large chip, or a small crack that has since flourished over time into a web of other cracks. Perhaps it was a single incident of blunt force that smashed the windshield in seconds. Regardless of what it looks like or how it happened, the truth is that any damage to car windows and particularly windshields should be repaired as soon as possible. But since this is not something drivers actively think about, it can…
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MULN Stock Alert: Mullen Announces $63 Million Order

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Source: Ringo Chiu / ShutterstockAmong the meme stocks gaining traction today is Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ:MULN). Shares of MULN stock have surged more than 8% in today’s session, moving off of an all-time low seen over the past week. This move is on some rather compelling news for speculators and investors in this upstart electric vehicle (EV) maker. Mullen announced an impressive 1,000-vehicle order from the Randy Marion Automotive Group’s (RMA) Randy Marion Isuzu, LLC segment. The company reports that the deal should amount to $63 million when all Class 3 EV cab chassis trucks are delivered. RMA is a…
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Robotaxi companies like Cruise, Waymo, Baidu seek scale

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Robotaxis operate like ride-hailing services. Both incorporate data analytics to determine where rides will be needed, maximizing the utilization of their platforms. Customers hail them via apps. The similarities end there. “It is an entirely different business than ride-hailing,” said Alisyn Malek, CEO of consulting firm Middle Third and former COO of self-driving tech startup May Mobility. Unlike Uber and Lyft, which rely on independent drivers who own and maintain their own vehicles, robotaxi providers must account for vehicle ownership and maintenance costs, whether they absorb themselves or partner with fleet management companies. That business is inclined to conventional taxi…
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