Automotive

Metal 3D printing company Aurora Labs, located in Perth suburb Bibra Lake, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swedish industrial company, Gränges AB. The MoU was signed by subsidiary of Aurora Labs, A3D Operations. If the proposed transactions were entered into, the value to Aurora could be US$ 7.75 million ($11 billion). The … Continue reading Australian 3D printer signs MoU with Swedish manufacturer →

Businesses seeking to undertake automotive product development will be able to apply for federal government support, following the opening of a new grant program. Under the $7 million Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grants program, businesses can receive up to $200,000 in matched funding for eligible project costs for new automotive products. Eligible project costs can … Continue reading Grant program launched for automotive product testing →

The federal government has launched a new program that provides funding for engineers pursuing research in Australia’s automotive sector. The Automotive Engineering Graduate Program provides universities with grants of between $200,000 and $1 million to deliver research support for post graduate students to undertake engineering projects in priority areas for the automotive industry. The purpose … Continue reading New funding program supports automotive engineering research →

Fifteen companies from Victoria and South Australia have been named as recipients of nearly $19 million worth of grants under the second and final phase of the government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund. Recipients of the grants include BNNT Technology, which will receive a $1.4 million grant to help produce its boron nitride nanotubes on an … Continue reading Fifteen manufacturing businesses to share $19m in government funding →

Volvo Group Australia, the largest automotive manufacturer in the country, has opened a new national headquarters Brisbane. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined AB Volvo CEO and President Martin Lundstedt and Volvo Group Australia CEO and President Peter Voorhoeve on Wednesday to unveil the $30 million development at the Metroplex Westgate business park, close to the … Continue reading Volvo opens new national headquarters →

Kay Hart, global BEV manager, distribution & digital experience, Team Edison, has been named president and CEO, Ford of Australia and New Zealand. Hart, will be based in Melbourne, reporting to Peter Fleet, Ford group vice president and president, Ford Asia Pacific. Hart succeeds Graeme Whickman, president and CEO, Ford of Australia and New Zealand, … Continue reading Ford Australia gets new CEO →

Three Geelong businesses have been able to transform their operations, buy new equipment, employ extra staff and retain their current workforce thanks to $2.3 million from the Victorian State Government. Minister for Industry Ben Carroll visited Flat Glass Industries Geelong last week, which, with the state government’s Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT), has successfully started … Continue reading Jobs and manufacturing in Geelong gets a LIFT →

The Huf Group (Velbert, Germany) and the MH Group (Sydney, Australia) agreed that Huf International (Velbert, Germany) will acquire all shares in MHG (Thailand). The automotive supplier located in Rayong, Thailand, engages in injection moulding and robotic painting. Main customers are Ford, Automotive Alliance Thailand (a joint venture between Ford and Mazda) and other automotive … Continue reading Huf to take over MH Group Thailand →

The ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures (ATLAS) was launched this week at RMIT University by Senator James Paterson. ATLAS is led by RMIT University in close partnership with Deakin University and the Australian National University, lead partner the Ford Motor Company, CSIRO and 11 additional local and international partner organisations including those from … Continue reading ATLAS launched at RMIT, automotive industry to get boost →

Tesla is in the process of recalling 11,000 Model X SUVs that have been manufactured between October 28, 2016 – August 16, 2017, worldwide because the company says the SUV’s rear seats might not lock into place – thus posing a potential safety issue. At this point, Tesla has not mentioned what could have caused … Continue reading Tesla voluntarily recalls 11,000 Model X SUVs worldwide →

A purchaser for General Motors Holden’s Elizabeth manufacturing site in Adelaide has been selected following a six-month search. Holden, which wants to retain a presence “across a significant portion of the site” with a spare parts operation, has also announced interest from other major occupiers. With its closure on October 20 marking the end of the … Continue reading Holden finalising contracts at SA automotive factory →

Workers at Toyota’s Altona manufacturing plant will clock off for the last time today. Toyota is the last passenger vehicle manufacturer to close its doors in Victoria. According to the Labor government in Victoria, the Turnbull Government’s decision to push vehicle manufacturing offshore by closing local plants has affected Victorian jobs adversely. According to the press … Continue reading Toyota finally shuts its doors in Victoria →

 SAP has announced the initial companies participating in its blockchain co-innovation initiative and plans to make the digital ledger system an integrated part of Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturing and digital supply chain solutions using the SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain service. Companies including Capgemini, Deloitte, GrainCorp, HCL Technologies, HERE Technologies, Moog Inc., Natura Cosméticos S.A., NetApp and PeerNova are collaborating with SAP to validate use cases and … Continue reading SAP announces first co-innovation customers, partners in blockchain initiative for IoT →

In a press release by the SA government, Adelaide has been announced as now being a hub for SA’s electric vehicle charging network with eight fast charging stations opening today within a new dedicated electric vehicle (EV) parking area, adjacent to the Central Market precinct. A further 11 charging stations will be installed in the Adelaide Central … Continue reading Adelaide an electric vehicle hub →

Former automotive industry workers have found jobs working to remove dangerous level crossings after taking part in an Victorian Government’s South East Automotive Transition program to reskill and retrain them for new careers. Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney visited the Rosanna Level Crossing site to meet six former apprentices and two former trainees … Continue reading Vic government program helps former automotive workers transition to new roles →

Australian car manufacturers have been warned they must meet their consumer guarantee obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) because they are squeezing dealers. As retailers, car dealers are the first point of call for consumers experiencing a problem with a faulty car. However, information provided to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and … Continue reading Car manufacturers ‘squeezing dealers’ over consumer expense – ACCC →

The Queensland Government is providing almost $350,000 to fund innovation kick-starting safer handling and a more enjoyable experience for motorcycle riders world-wide. In a media release last week, Minister for Innovation Leeanne Enoch said two Brisbane-based companies – Queensland Motorcycle Innovation and Heluva ­ – have received Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding to back bright ideas … Continue reading Qld Government backs innovative motorcycle technology →

Driverless vehicle company Navya and the SA Government have agreed on plans to establish Navya’s Asia-Pacific manufacturing facility in Adelaide. The agreement followed discussions between Premier Jay Weatherill and Navya CEO Christophe Sapet in Paris. Investment Attraction South Australia has been working with Navya for the past 12 months to bring the project to fruition. … Continue reading Navya to establish Asia-Pac HQ in Adelaide →

The government of Victoria has helped a Sunshine West engine repair business create highly-skilled jobs for former automotive workers. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan met workers at Cornell Diesel and toured the company’s new state-of-the-art servicing facility. “We know Melbourne’s west has been hit hard by the end of local car manufacturing, and these … Continue reading New jobs for former auto workers in Victoria →

Bosch has announced last week that it has launched a digital vehicle access system which would turn the smartphone into a car key. With this system, smartphones are identified by the on-board sensors in a car as drivers approach them. If verified, the car will then unlock automatically. With this new application, Bosch says that … Continue reading Bosch announces digital keyless access system for cars →