BMW

New injection moulding plant in Serbia / Germany “too expensive” / Production of ventilation nozzles for BMW, Mercedes, VW

Izoblok acquisition strengthens EPP activities in car industry / Deal includes four plants in Europe

China JV for automotive electronics / Move suits strategic shift

Acquisition of PP recycler underway / Plans for European plant / Global capacity of 550,000 t/y seen by 2025

EUR 15m additive manufacturing centre in Germany opens / Series production of plastic parts

Supply chains remain unreliable / Volatile demand affecting production more than usual / Suppliers expect at least 20-30% lower sales for the year / Losses inevitable

European and US vehicle production shutting down due to Covid-19 / Car giants dealing with supply disruptions and plummeting demand

Lighting systems specialist expands its plants in Mexico and Slovakia / Total investment of EUR 222m

New USMCA trade deal signed between US, Mexico and Canada / NAFTA replacement includes major changes for carmakers and suppliers

Chemical recycling of PA and PET / Same properties as virgin material plus suitability for food-contact applications

Winds of change / Alternative mobility concepts compete with petrolheads at "IAA" / Suppliers more realistic than their big customers / Industry's "new beginning" mantra torn apart by double standards

Global car sales down 5% in 2019 / Industry faces consolidation and job cuts / Electric vehicles need one third fewer employees / Plastic content in cars above 30% for first time

Is another change of direction imminent? / CEO Knaebel says this "shaky period” in car production will last a while / Criticism of portfolio structure

Fiat Chrysler's plan to merge with Renault Nissan on the table

James Bond – a licence to green

Additional compounding line to increase production capacity by over 20% / Alistair Barber new business development manager

Fewer exhibitors at "Composites Europe" / Industry associations and organisers to counteract in 2019 with "Foam Expo" / GRP growth in Europe at 2017 level / Thermoplastic matrix products and pultrusion are strong

Sales slump puts sector under pressure in Germany and Europe / Weakness especially apparent with SCR tanks for diesel vehicles / Situation could mean a breather for plastics processors / Brexit and e-car issues

Automotive supplier opens seat production plant in Czech Republic

Car seat manufacturer expanding plant in Slovakia

Canadian firm buys Italian car lighting manufacturer Olsa / Joint ventures for Chinese e-cars planned

Car components supplier now called Akwel / Targeted turnover of EUR 1.2 bn

Thermoset prepreg resin designed for high volume auto application

Facility for 3D printing in Germany / Idea of decentralised components manufacturing

The combustion engine lives on – for the time being / More upheaval in auto components supply sector / Automotive engineering plastics conference in Germany delivers fresh approaches for car interior / More requirements, more competition, more plastic