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AUTO PRODUCTION: Is the beginning of the end of the combustion engine in sight?

Pete Kelly’s recent blog post – Pain from policy, and politics, referencing LMC Automotive’s recent client conference, highlighted the increasing burden of regulation facing the industry. The rollout of Euro VI emissions limits in stages, encompassing the shift from the NEDC testing regime to WLTP and the introduction of RDE, has resulted in significant disruption, dissatisfaction and even legal challenge from a variety of stakeholders. But as the scale of the regulatory ambition of those...

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AUTO PRODUCTION: Brexit shutdown slashes UK car production by 45%

Factory shutdowns designed to cope with disruption from a 29 March Brexit, slashed UK car production in April by almost a half.

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AUTO PRODUCTION: Mazda: Skyactiv-X engine still on track for U.S. launch

It may be a while before Mazda's innovative Skyactiv-X engine -- which combines gasoline and diesel combustion traits -- reaches North American showrooms.

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AUTO PRODUCTION: Twilight of combustion engine comes for Germany

The completed combustion engine fitted into a BMW M5 is a 1,200-piece puzzle that weighs more than 181 kg (400 pounds). There are about 150 moving parts whose interlocking precision can catapult a six-figure sports car to 97 kph (60 mph) in 3.3 seconds.

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AUTO PRODUCTION: Toyota to give royalty-free access to hybrid-vehicle patents

Toyota Motor Corp said it would offer royalty-free access to its hybrid-vehicle technology patents through 2030, as it seeks to expand use of lower emissions vehicles before the global auto industry shifts to all-battery electric cars.

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AUTO PRODUCTION: Carmakers Get No Relief in China as Auto Sales Keep Plunging

China’s car sales fell for the ninth consecutive month in February, pulling automakers deeper into a slump that’s threatening their long-term growth plans in the world’s largest market.

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AUTO PRODUCTION: Chinese NEV market

China’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market thrived in 2018, supported by the subsidies already in place, coupled with the advent of the new dual-credit system. We estimate that total output and sales exceeded 1.05 million units and 1.08 million units, respectively, last year. These figures – which encompass battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) – equate to robust year-on-year (YoY) growth of 84% (production) and 88% (sales).

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AUTO PRODUCTION: BMW may stop making Mini at Cowley if there is no-deal Brexit

BMW has said it might be forced to stop making the Mini at its Cowley plant near Oxford in the event of a no-deal Brexit, putting more than 100 years of carmaking at the site at risk.

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