Manufacturing

Honeywell announced today that it would turbocharge the new Chevrolet Sonic unveiled this week at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Sonic launch expands the number of new smaller, turbocharged gas engines introduced into the US auto market to boost fuel economy without sacrificing performance.

Meggitt, the UK engineering group, has announced it is to buy US-based Pacific Scientific Aerospace (PSA) in a deal worth $685 million (£428 million).

Dorset-based Meggitt, which makes engine-monitoring systems for Airbus and Boeing planes, said the acquisition would add fire and smoke suppression to its existing product portfolio, creating an integrated fire and smoke detection and suppression capability increasingly being demanded by its customers.

Azure Dynamics Corporation, the Michigan-based developer and producer of hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for commercial vehicles, today announced a record 600 unit order from Purolator. 

Purolator of Mississauga, Ontario is Canada's largest courier company. The order is the single largest order of hybrid electric technology for Azure Dynamics. 200 units will be delivered in 2011 with an additional 200 units scheduled in both 2012 and 2013, subject to annual authorizations by Purolator.    

A new survey from Deloitte predicts a rejuvenation of the automotive industry, thanks to the purchasing power of Generation Y.

By 2012, Gen Y will account for approximately 40 percent of the car-buying population and represent a new breed of confident consumers who are independent, tech-savvy, engaged, demanding and, according to Deloitte's survey, just the group to help rejuvenate the automotive industry.

Abraham Stephanos, COO of Tata Steel Processing And Distribution Limited, talks to Jayne Alverca about the challenges of shifting focus from a manufacturing orientation to viewing service as a key differentiator.

The L’Oréal Group cares about more than making women beautiful. Vishal Sahgal, industrial director of the Pune manufacturing facility, talks to Jayne Alverca about the importance of promoting sustainable development.

Magna Seating, an operating unit of Canadian autoparts maker Magna International, continues its growth in South America with the acquisition of automotive seat supplier Pabsa SA. The new entity will operate as Magna Seating Argentina.

Pabsa, previously part of the L'Equipe Monteur Group, is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is a vertically integrated supplier of complete seats, foam products, trim covers and seat structures with sales in 2010 of approximately US$110 million.

Airbus has won a large order from the Indian budget airline IndiGo for 180 of its A320 jets.

The order, worth around $15.6 billion (£10 billion) at advertised prices, includes 150 of Airbus’s new eco-conscious A320neo jets.

Blagnac, France-basedAirbus has described the order as the biggest, in terms of number of jets, in aviation history.

Gurgaon-based IndiGo is the first announced customer for the A320neo—a revamped, eco-conscious version of Airbus’s popular single-aisle jet—that Airbus hopes to bring to market in 2016.

Caterpillar Inc. announced today that it plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Thailand to build underground mining machinery.

The company will break ground on the new factory in early 2011, with production scheduled to begin in late 2012. The facility will produce a full range of underground mining articulated trucks and loaders, which are used by Caterpillar customers around the world in hard-rock underground mining applications.

Following years of economic uncertainty and industry restructuring, global auto executives expect US auto brands to increase market share over the next five years, spurred by product innovation, restructuring activities and continued improvement in product quality.  

The outlook marks a dramatic turnaround in their expectations from a year ago, according to the 12th annual global automotive survey by KPMG LLP, the US audit, tax and advisory firm.