#vehicle_manufacturing

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Modernization today even includes new flooring UAZ continues to modernize the plant, in particular, a robotic system for rolling front doors has been introduced on the SGR welding line, and the floor covering on the main conveyor has been replaced. Before innovation on the main conveyor, modular PVC tiles were tested in a small area of ​​50 square meters. m. for two months. After a successful test, the central passage of the main conveyor was covered with PVC tiles. “The use of such material will reduce the cost of repairs and maintenance of floors in the future,” reports Panorama. Such tiles are characterized by high strength and wear resistance; they can withstand large static and dynamic loads. In addition, the new floors can absorb sound and vibration vibrations, and thanks to the springing effect, the load on the back and joints when walking is reduced. Therefore, in the future, they plan to cover the entire floor of the main conveyor with PVC tiles and use them in other areas. UAZ modernized production and improved the quality of “Loaf” [caption id="attachment_77858" align="aligncenter" width="780"] UAZ[/caption] At the SGR welding site, a robotic system for rolling front doors was put into operation: “Modern manufacturing technology will improve the productivity of the site, improve assembly quality, eliminate the production of defective parts, and achieve an economic effect by improving quality.” The car plant did almost everything on its own: “For several months, from October to December 2022, toolmakers on their own produced the necessary equipment that met all mathematical parameters and features. The employees also developed a pneumatic system for fixing parts. Specialists from the industrial electronics department were simultaneously developing and writing a part processing program. We also took into account the safety system of the robotic complex.”

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The word “Lada” disappeared from the name Once upon a time, this enterprise, located in St. Petersburg, was called Nissan Manufacturing RUS and produced Nissan cars. After Nissan left Russia, the plant was transferred to AvtoVAZ and renamed Lada St. Petersburg. And recently the company was once again renamed: now it is called “Avtozavod St. Petersburg”. As you can see, the word “Lada” has disappeared from the name. Why? [caption id="attachment_81320" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ[/caption] No more Lada. St. Petersburg AvtoVAZ plant was renamed due to sanctions It turned out because of sanctions. The situation was explained by auto expert and host of the Telegram channel “Russian Automobile” Sergei Tsyganov. “ I was told that employees of the Lada St. Petersburg (formerly Nissan) plant have for some time been prohibited from using this name in business correspondence. Because it contains the sanctioned word Lada. This was especially true for correspondence with the Chinese, in which it was ordered to replace the name with something neutral, such as “our factory”. This couldn't go on for long, of course. And so the plant was renamed. Now no Lada. The plant is called simply: "Automobile Plant St. Petersburg." The legal entity is also called ,” said Sergei Tsyganov. He also added: “ One of the workers wrote to me that “everything is secret, everyone is afraid, the fate of the plant is in question.” However, preparations for Chery production continue ." Let us recall that earlier the head of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, said that the St. Petersburg plant will be fully operational in 2024 .

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Lada Granta and Granta Drive Active are available AvtoVAZ spoke about how the company evaluates online sales of Lada cars at the factory price. Let us remind you that this project was launched about a month ago. The Lada Granta is offered for purchase in the Standard configuration (669,900 rubles) and Granta Drive Active (910,900 rubles). “Based on the results of the pilot launch in September, the program showed extremely high efficiency - the conversion to purchase was 4 times higher than the average for the site. We see extremely high demand from consumers - high traffic to the promotion page and online sales service, and, accordingly, quick bookings. This is one of the reasons for the decision to potentially expand the model range as part of the promotion, but we will announce more detailed information in early November,” stated the AvtoVAZ press service. “Unprecedented” AvtoVAZ project: online car sales turned out to be very effective [caption id="attachment_78138" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ[/caption] To buy a car without markups, you need to fill out an application form on the official website of the brand and make an advance payment of 10 thousand rubles, then apply for a loan with a rate of 10.5% and get approval. You can pick up a car at one of the Central Service Station dealerships in Togliatti. AvtoVAZ calls the project “unprecedented” and also adds that the new program has become part of the successfully functioning Lada online storefront. Over 9 months, the company sold 242,522 cars, doubling sales compared to the same period in 2022. In September, it showed its best result in a couple of years.

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Another effect of the agreement with the United Auto Workers At the end of February, Stellantis suspended its assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, where the Jeep Cherokee was previously built. This drastic decision meant that 1,200 workers had to be laid off with no promise of future work. After signing a preliminary agreement with the United Auto Workers union, the situation changed. In an official statement posted on YouTube, UAW Vice President Rich Boyer shared the good news: “UAW Family, I am... honored to announce that we have saved Belvidir. We've done it again... We'll be launching a new vehicle in Belvidere, it'll be a mid-size pickup truck, and we'll have two shifts." [caption id="attachment_77913" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Stellantis car[/caption] We've done it again..." - 1,200 workers will return to the factory to assemble the new Stellantis car Even before production at the plant resumes, those laid off will receive benefits. They will again be placed on temporary layoff with continued pay and medical benefits until they are reinstated to their jobs. The UAW vice president added that Stellantis will create more than 1,000 jobs at the new battery manufacturing plant in Belvidere. It is unclear what kind of pickup truck Stellantis will produce in Belvidere. The first thought that comes to our mind is the Ram Rampage, which is already produced in Brazil at a plant located in Pernambuco. It was repeatedly noticed during tests in the United States. The pickup will probably be equipped with a hybrid or electric powertrain since we are also talking about battery production.

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The production transfer process is going according to plan AvtoVAZ plans to restart production of the Lada Largus family at the plant in Izhevsk in the second quarter of 2024, as stated by a company representative in an interview with RIA Novosti. In August, AvtoVAZ announced the transfer of Lada Largus production from the main site in Togliatti to a plant in the capital of Udmurtia. The start of production will begin immediately after the completion of this process. “The transfer of Largus production to Izhevsk is going completely according to plan. The transfer of equipment continues, the process of setting it up has begun, and recruitment of personnel has also opened. Production of the model is planned to begin in the second quarter of 2024,” the agency’s interlocutor noted. AvtoVAZ will restart production of the practical [caption id="attachment_77854" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ[/caption] The head of the company, Maxim Sokolov, previously stated that the transfer of Largus production from Tolyatti to Izhevsk would require about two billion rubles. But these investments will pay off since Largus is a popular and high-margin model. In September, dealers began selling the last Lada Largus out of 650 cars assembled this year. Then prices soared to 2.5 million rubles.

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Goodbye to unevenly lit lights, twitching speedometer, and “phantom” battery charging? As reported by the Lada.online resource, AvtoVAZ has issued technical instruction No. 93-23, which states the need to update the software of the universal body electronics unit on Lada Vesta NG cars. Moreover, simultaneously with the software update, they will make a “ mandatory replacement of two electronic keyboards and, if necessary, batteries by the methodology .” [caption id="attachment_77008" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ[/caption] AvtoVAZ will repair buggy Lada Vesta NG for free Since this is a service campaign and not a recall, cars will be repaired free of charge during your first visit to the auto center (for example, during routine maintenance).  It is not reported why the order was issued, but there is an assumption that these measures should eliminate several glitches that owners are complaining about en masse. These include unevenly lit lights, a twitching speedometer, “phantom” battery charging, and many others. Let us remind you that the Lada Vesta NG is equipped with electronic units from ITELMA, a company that now produces ABS for AvtoVAZ models. Renault units were installed on pre-crisis cars.

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Goodbye to unevenly lit lights, twitching speedometer, and “phantom” battery charging? As reported by the Lada.online resource, AvtoVAZ has issued technical instruction No. 93-23, which states the need to update the software of the universal body electronics unit on Lada Vesta NG cars. Moreover, simultaneously with the software update, they will make a “ mandatory replacement of two electronic keyboards and, if necessary, batteries by the methodology .” [caption id="attachment_77008" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ[/caption] AvtoVAZ will repair buggy Lada Vesta NG for free Since this is a service campaign and not a recall, cars will be repaired free of charge during your first visit to the auto center (for example, during routine maintenance).  It is not reported why the order was issued, but there is an assumption that these measures should eliminate several glitches that owners are complaining about en masse. These include unevenly lit lights, a twitching speedometer, “phantom” battery charging, and many others. Let us remind you that the Lada Vesta NG is equipped with electronic units from ITELMA, a company that now produces ABS for AvtoVAZ models. Renault units were installed on pre-crisis cars.

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And delays the opening of a new battery plant Ford Motor Company's third-quarter earnings showed widening losses from electric vehicles, driven primarily by slowing demand and the electric vehicle price war initiated by Tesla earlier in the year. Ford managed to sell 20,962 electric vehicles in the third quarter, beating General Motors by a small margin, thanks in large part to increased production of the Mustang Mach-E: Mach-E sales rose 42.5% in the third quarter with 14,824 units sold, 5,872 of which implemented only in September. The automaker's electric vehicle deliveries increased 44%, driving Ford's Model E EV division's revenue up 26% year over year to $1.8 billion. [caption id="attachment_76688" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Ford[/caption] Ford loses $36,000 on every electric vehicle sold. That's where the good news for Ford's electric vehicle business ends. Despite the higher volume, EV losses continued to widen in the third quarter, with the company reporting an operating loss of $1.3 billion, up from $1.1 billion in the prior quarter and more than double the 2022 third quarter. That means Ford lost about $36,000 on every EV sold in the quarter, beating the estimated loss of $32,350 per EV in the second quarter. For the full year, the automaker expects its electric vehicle division to report an annual loss of $4.5 billion. Ford said the third-quarter loss was "driven by continued investments in next-generation electric vehicles and challenging market dynamics." Regarding the latter, the automaker noted that "many North American customers interested in purchasing electric vehicles are unwilling to pay more for them than for gasoline or hybrid vehicles." According to Ford, this puts pressure on the prices and profitability of electric vehicles. As a result, the company said it was cutting its planned investment in electric vehicles by about $12 billion. Ford is cutting production of the Mustang Mach-E and delaying the opening of one of its two battery plants.

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New details have appeared KamAZ has greatly increased the production of K5 trucks, as Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of the Za Rulem magazine, writes. Information about this appeared last week, but now there is an important clarification. Over the three quarters of 2023, KamAZ produced more than 3,000 KamAZ-54901 tractors, which is 2.5 times more than during the same period in 2022 - then 1,150 vehicles were produced. Maxim Kadakov KamAZ is already producing much more tractors than before the sanctions [caption id="attachment_76672" align="alignnone" width="780"] KamAZ[/caption] In September of this year, 600 tractors were assembled, which is four times more than was assembled a year earlier (150 vehicles). And the most important thing is that KamAZ has reached record production rates and is not worried about sanctions, since in the last pre-sanction month - February 2022 - KamAZ assembled only 407 such vehicles.

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The first reviews have appeared Sales of Toyota's battery electric vehicles lag behind many of its competitors, but the auto giant is investing billions in them and wants to make them interesting. The company has developed a simulated manual transmission for electric vehicles. The automaker recently allowed journalists to test this transmission for the first time. The system is currently installed on the Lexus UX 300e and includes a clutch pedal, traditional tachometer and six-speed console-mounted shift knob. There are no mechanical connections for these parts, but instead use sensors that simulate the driving experience of a traditional manual transmission. Toyota did it: the six-speed manual transmission for electric vehicles feels like the real thing [caption id="attachment_81981" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Toyota[/caption] Auto News tested the system in Japan and says it works just like a regular manual transmission. This means that it reacts to incorrect inputs, such as not using enough throttle or using the clutch pedal incorrectly. The system also interrupts torque when changing gears. The timing of the implementation of such a solution has not yet been specified.

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The UAW trade union reported on its successes This weekend, the UAW reached a tentative agreement with Stellantis and expanded its strike against General Motors. As for Stellantis, the deal largely mirrors the agreement reached with Ford. As a result, it will "provide a 25% increase in base wages until April 2028 and will collectively increase the maximum wage by 33% combined with an estimated COLA to more than $42 (£34.63/€39.70) per hour " The union further said starting wages would increase by 67%, combined with estimated cost of living allowances, to more than $30 (£24.74/€28.36) an hour, while casual workers would see increases by more than 165% during the term of the agreement. [caption id="attachment_77877" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Ford and Stellantis[/caption] The largest strike in the USA: Ford and Stellantis have already given in, but General Motors is still resisting The agreement also includes three years of salary increases, the elimination of salary levels, and the aforementioned cost of living allowances. The UAW also said union members can expect increased benefits as well as "the right to strike over product and investment obligations." This is good news, but the preliminary agreement must be approved by union members. The tentative agreement with Stellantis leaves General Motors as the only automaker without a deal, and the union has increased pressure by extending its strike to GM Spring Hill Manufacturing. The plant produces the GMC Acadia, as well as a range of Cadillac crossovers, including the XT5, XT6, and Lyriq. GM released a statement saying, “We are disappointed in the UAW's actions in light of the progress we have made. We continue to negotiate in good faith with the UAW, and our goal remains to reach an agreement as quickly as possible."

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New UAZ rules The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant has been taking “compensatory measures” since November 1, which are caused by an uncontrolled increase in the cost of delivering finished cars across Russia. Now each UAZ car is sold with an additional payment for its delivery to the dealership of 50 thousand rubles, as reported by Auto News of the Day concerning the press service of the Moscow branch of UAZ LLC. [caption id="attachment_78200" align="aligncenter" width="780"] UAZ[/caption] If you order a car on the UAZ website, you will have to wait up to six months “In the second half of this year, UAZ faced a sharp and uncontrollable increase in tariffs for logistics services, as a result of which, since the beginning of 2023, the cost of transporting finished products across Russia has more than doubled. In this regard, from November 1, the company is forced to introduce partial compensation for the cost of delivering cars to dealership centers for 50 thousand rubles,” said UAZ LLC. Those who wish may not have to pay to deliver the car to the dealer. From November 1, any model you are interested in can be ordered directly from the factory by selecting the desired modification, configuration, color, and options using the configurator on the brand’s official website. At the same time, they promise that the car will be ready for delivery in Ulyanovsk in 3-6 months from the moment the order is placed and sold at the recommended retail price.

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Cars were filmed on a car transporter For a long time (in fact, since the restart of production this spring), the Lada Vesta NG was painted only white at the factory, and now an alternative has finally appeared in the form of black. Such cars have already begun to be shipped to dealers. [caption id="attachment_76898" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ[/caption] AvtoVAZ began shipping Lada Vesta in a new color “ Vesta cars painted with black enamel are already being shipped, a protective film is applied when transporting over long distances,” reported the insider public Avtograd News. This data was accompanied by a photo of a car transporter with two black Vesta NGs. Earlier, an explanation appeared as to why AvtoVAZ cannot expand the color palette of Vesta to the pre-crisis variety. And just the other day, AvtoVAZ finally began assembling Lada Vesta SW station wagons - six months after the restart of production.

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White, black, and silver AvtoVAZ seems to have solved the problem with the lack of any paint other than white for its cars since the Lada Granta is already being shipped in three colors, as reported by the insider public Avtograd News. In answer to the question from subscribers, black Grants are also present in the assembly program; they are being released in three colors in October: white, black, and platinum (silver). [caption id="attachment_76356" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ's[/caption] For many months, only white Lada Grantas were assembled at AvtoVAZ, of which a whole sea of ​​cars accumulated on the territory. The situation with Vesta was similar, but recently it became known about the shipment of black cars. AvtoVAZ's bestseller is already shipping in three different colors In addition, dealers began to receive Lada Vesta NG sedan sedans in the Enjoy configuration, which are equipped with a rearview camera, multimedia system, air conditioning, manual gearbox, 16-valve engine, white mirror housings and handles, heated windshield, and heated front seats, as well as a leather steering wheel. [caption id="attachment_76357" align="aligncenter" width="780"] AvtoVAZ's[/caption] The administrator of the Avtograd News public lives in Tolyatti and works at AvtoVAZ. He leaked a lot of accurate information, including photos of the new Lada Vesta NG and information about the incomplete Lada Granta.

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For 1,560,000 rubles AvtoVAZ is expanding the list of available trim levels for its flagship Lada Vesta NG sedan, as reported by the insider public Avtograd News. Dealers began to receive Lada Vesta NG sedan sedans in the Enjoy configuration, which are equipped with a rearview camera, multimedia system, air conditioning, manual gearbox, 16-valve engine, white mirror housings and handles, heated windshield, and heated front seats, as well as a leather steering wheel. The price of the Lada Vesta NG sedan in the Enjoy configuration with a rearview camera is 1,560,000 rubles AvtoVAZ began shipping the Lada Vesta NG in the Enjoy configuration with a rear-view camera. [caption id="attachment_76310" align="aligncenter" width="701"] Lada Vesta NG[/caption] Recently, AvtoVAZ finally began assembling Lada Vesta SW station wagons  - six months after the restart of production. The administrator of the Avtograd News public lives in Tolyatti and works at AvtoVAZ. He leaked a lot of accurate information, including photos of the new Lada Vesta NG and information about the incomplete Lada Granta.

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Prices are predicted to rise by almost 10% Recently, rumors appeared on the Internet that AvtoVAZ will once again raise prices for its cars from November 1st. Now there is a comment from the enterprise. [caption id="attachment_76056" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Lada cars[/caption] Will Lada cars become more expensive starting November 1? AvtoVAZ did not confirm the price increase and said the following: “ The company has repeatedly stated that it does not change prices for the basic configurations of its models and keeps them at a minimum level. These plans are maintained until the end of this year. Thus, the cost of the basic version of LADA Granta is less than 700 thousand rubles. " Four dealers from Krasnodar immediately reported that prices would rise from November 1. But there is no exact data on how much more expensive domestic cars will become. According to one dealer, the increase will be 70-120 thousand rubles, another says prices will increase by 40-140 thousand rubles, depending on the model and configuration. A third announced a 9% price increase.