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Odin Automotive named B-ON & partners with Hitachi

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Odin Automotive named B-ON & partners with Hitachi

Odin Automotive has announced its change of name to B-ON and a partnership with the Hitachi Group following the acquisition of Deutsche Post’s StreetScooter business. Under the new name, besides offering vehicles, the company will be offering a range of new services.

These services are to include service and maintenance, charging infrastructure and energy management, telematics and fleet management software and even drivers. These will be delivered through a combination of internal capabilities and external partnerships. For charging infrastructure and energy management, B-ON is partnering with Hitachi. Hitachi Venture, Hitachi’s venture capital company, will also become a shareholder.

“Acquiring StreetScooter earlier this year gave us a great head start, providing the vehicle piece of our complete electrification solution,” says Stefan Krause, CEO and Chairman of B-ON. “And now we are very pleased to have secured a partner like Hitachi to support the service part of our plan. We believe this holistic solution is the key that will finally open the door for fleet owners to finally make this transformation.”

The involved companies have not revealed further details of Hitachi’s investment in announcing the latest developments. Tobias Jahn, Partner at Hitachi Ventures, simply says: “Hitachi Ventures is committed to supporting key initiatives driving society’s transformation to carbon net-zero. B—ON’s vision of a world where last-mile transportation works for people and planet is perfectly in line with our own and made them a natural strategic choice for us.” He went on to say that their proven product, the expert team behind it, and the “insightful holistic business model are a unique and unbeatable combination for accelerating the electrification of commercial fleets worldwide.”

Earlier this year, Deutsche Post sold its electric delivery vehicle subsidiary to Luxembourg-based holding company Odin Automotive. In this deal, all of Deutsche Post’s rights and production know-how, including its subsidiaries in Switzerland and Japan, went to the new owner. Deutsche Post DHL Group did not disclose the purchase price. Later it became clear that the German postal services company retained a ten per cent share of the company. StreetScooter was originally founded simply because back in only 2014, not a single German vehicle manufacturer was producing electric delivery vans and Deutsche Post required electric vehicles for its own services.

Three weeks after its takeover of StreetScooter this year, Odin Automotive announced the official start of production of the first vehicles under the new management. These will be manufactured on the existing production line in Düren, Germany, and delivered to the former owner Deutsche Post DHL Group.

At the end of March this year, Odin Automotive also became active in North America. The company partnered with delivery company GoFor to deploy its electric transporters in the US and Canada from the second quarter of 2022.

Nexperia, Kyocera AVX team on GaN automotive modules

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Nexperia, Kyocera AVX team on GaN automotive modules

Nexperia, the expert in essential semiconductors, has announced a partnership covering gallium nitride (GaN) automotive power modules with Kyocera AVX Components (Salzburg) GmbH, a leading international supplier of advanced electronic components for the automotive industry. The partnership represents the next step in a long-lasting close relationship between both firms and will focus on power components with the aim of jointly developing GaN applications for electric vehicles (EV).

As passenger vehicles become increasingly electrified, the demand for power semiconductors to provide efficient power conversion at increasingly higher power densities also grows. High voltage Power GaN FETs, when combined with innovative packaging technologies, can address the requirements for better efficiency, higher power density and reduced system cost.  GaN power devices not only offer superior performance in these applications but now also provide the reliability, robustness and manufacturability expected of a mainstream technology serving a broad range of applications across multiple market segments. Nexperia manufactures GaN devices in its own facilities using mature mass production techniques which have been proven to meet the highest reliability requirements for devices to achieve AEC-Q101 certification.

NTSA Partners With Inchcape, PBAK To Sensitize Boda Boda Operators In Kajiado

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NTSA Partners With Inchcape, PBAK To Sensitize Boda Boda Operators In Kajiado

The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) has partnered with Inchcape and Private Bikers Association of Kenya (PBAK) to sensitize boda boda operators in Kajiado on road safety measures. The road safety campaign comes in the wake of a sharp rise in road accidents that have led to loss of lives and serious injuries to many operators.

The sensitization initiative was a culmination of the BMW Motorrad Ride, a group ride conducted by BMW bike owners aimed at drawing together the biking community and sharpening their riding and precautionary skills on off roads.

Speaking during the training, Inchcape Kenya Managing Director, Hussein Ibrahim, noted that as the country’s official distributor of BMW Bikes and as a responsible corporate citizen, the organisation strives to enhance road safety among riders as part of its community outreach.

“As we grow the BMW Motorrad product range in the Kenyan market, it is not lost on us that motorbikes have for a long time now greatly contributed to the spike in road accidents. As a key player in the automobiles industry, we are committed to playing a part in limiting motorcycle accidents through upskilling and sensitizing riders across the country on road safety,” said Ibrahim.

According to the 2022 Economic Survey Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the number of newly registered motor and autocycles rose by 15.6 per cent from 246,705 units in 2020 to 285,203 units in 2021.

Consequently, the number of motorcycle accident casualties rose by 13.6 per cent from 3,818 in 2020 to 4,336 in 2021. Additionally, the number of pillion passenger casualties in the reported road accidents went up by 16.5 percent from 2,332 in 2020 to 2,716 in 2021.

The 150 KM group ride by 50 BMW bikers, culminated in an off-road training session at Stoni Athi resort, located in Machakos County. Ibrahim and Chair of Women Bikers Association, Faith Kanja took part in this edition of the BMW Motorrad Ride.

On his part, the Private Bikers Association of Kenya representative, Lawrence Mbagara, noted that the initiative was a welcome move and will go a long way in instilling road discipline among motorcyclists.

Nigerian startup lifts Africa’s automotive industry with $2.15m

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Nigerian startup lifts Africa’s automotive industry with $2.15m

The automotive industry in Africa has received a major boost with the entry of Mecho Autotech, a Nigerian startup which closed a $2.15million seed fund to grow the sector. Expectedly, the foremost high-tech automobile company launched “Mecho Retail App,” a digital platform that seeks to revolutionise the process of vehicle maintenance and repairs nationwide. This is in a bid to provide Nigerians, including businesses, with access to affordable high-quality automobile services to improve economic productivity.

The strategic launch of the digital platform aims to leverage the usage of technological automation to offer both individuals and businesses seamless vehicular maintenance and repair solutions. This is in a bid to champion the formalisation of the highly-fragmented Nigerian vehicle maintenance ecosystem through connecting businesses to qualified in-house and third-party mechanics while also contributing to the socio-economic development of the Nigerian economy.

Executive Officer of Mecho Autotech, noted that the recent development reinforces the company’s commitment to ensure Nigerians have access to easy, affordable, and high-quality vehicle maintenance services.

“As an organisation focused on delivering unbeatable vehicle-related services, we have come to realise that Nigeria is a predominantly huge market for fairly-used vehicles while vehicular transportation remains our predominant mode of transportation nationwide. As such we decided to build a viable technologically-driven solution that cuts across vehicle inspection, vehicle maintenance and repairs, and auto-parts sales for all kinds of vehicles. This will help Nigerian businesses, including individuals, to maintain their profitability and productivity levels while also elongating the lifespan of their vehicles,” he said.

Mecho Autotech is a Y Combinator-backed startup that connects car owners to quality repair and maintenance providers at an affordable cost through a digitalised platform.

Hopium partners with Bridgestone to develop bespoke tyres for Hydrogen-Powered Hopium Machina

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Hopium partners with Bridgestone to develop bespoke tyres for Hydrogen-Powered Hopium Machina

HOPIUM, the first French manufacturer of hydrogen-powered vehicles, is partnering with Bridgestone, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, to develop premium tyres for its high-end sedan, Hopium Machina.

The goal of the partnership is to design bespoke tyres with low rolling resistance technology, a major factor to enhance the vehicle’s 1,000km driving range. The tyres will be created using Bridgestone’s proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology, providing significant benefits in terms of both efficiency and sustainability.

(PRNewsfoto/Bridgestone)

Under its overarching Bridgestone E8 Commitment, the company has pledged to support the realisation of a sustainable society by providing social and customer value throughout every area of its business and operations, together with partners.

Olivier Lombard, Hopium’s CEO and founder said: “Since its start, Hopium has made it a point of honour to collaborate with the best in their fields. Today, this strategic agreement with a renown industrial world leader constitutes a major milestone in our ambitious roadmap. With considerable expertise in designing tyres and tyre technologies for newer types of mobility, Bridgestone will surely bring valuable learnings to the partnership, helping us live up to the challenges ahead.”

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE, Bridgestone EMIA said: “This exciting partnership with Hopium once again demonstrates our support for the next generation of innovative mobility pioneers.  We’re placing our recognised expertise at the service of a real game-changer in the field of zero-emission mobility and helping bring about a more sustainable future of mobility in the process.”

BMW Group to use BASF’s sustainable solutions for automotive coatings

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BMW Group to use BASF’s sustainable solutions for automotive coatings

The BMW Group is the first carmaker to place its trust in more sustainable automotive OEM coatings certified according to BASF’s biomass balance approach. The BMW Group has chosen to use BASF Coatings’ CathoGuard 800 ReSource e-coat at its plants in Leipzig, Germany, and Rosslyn, South Africa, and the iGloss matt ReSource clearcoat throughout Europe.

Using these more sustainable product versions for vehicle coatings enables CO2 avoidance of around 40% per coating layer; this will reduce the amount of CO2 emitted in the plants by more than 15,000 metric tons by 2030.

“As the largest provider of chemical products to the automotive industry, we are aware of our responsibility to support our customers with innovative, eco-efficient solutions. The biomass balance approach allows us to make our coatings solutions even more sustainable while retaining the same quality. We are delighted that the BMW Group has chosen to play a pioneering role in the automotive industry and that our products play a key part in helping it achieve its ambitious sustainability goals,” said Dr Markus Kamieth, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE.

“By reducing our use of fossil raw materials, we can conserve natural resources and lower CO2 emissions at the same time. To achieve this, we are increasingly relying on sustainability innovations in our supplier network,” said Joachim Post, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. “Innovative paints based on renewable raw materials are an important step in this direction.”

The BMW Group produces an average of around 250,000 vehicles every year at its plants in Leipzig and Rosslyn.

As a corrosion protection technology with optimum protection of edges, the CathoGuard 800 e-coat helps cars retain their shine longer. Its biomass-balanced version, CathoGuard 800 ReSource, adds a reduced carbon footprint to the e-coat application’s material efficiency, without changing the product’s formulation.

In BASF’s biomass balance approach, renewable raw materials like bio-based naphtha and biomethane from organic waste are used as raw materials when manufacturing primary chemical products and are fed into the Production Verbund. The proportion of bio-based raw materials is then arithmetically assigned to certain sales products according to a certified method.

This attribution model is comparable with the principle of green electricity. An independent certification confirms that BASF has replaced the quantities of fossil resources required for the biomass-balanced product sold with renewable raw materials.

Isuzu Motors SA Invests R580m to Support Component Localisation

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Isuzu Motors SA Invests R580m to Support Component Localisation

Localisation means assembling or manufacturing a greater percentage of a motor vehicle’s parts and costs in South Africa instead of importing them. This process represents a significant opportunity to transform the automotive sector and usher in the entry of broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) participants in its supply chain. Isuzu has maintained an automotive industry-leading B-BBEE Level 1 for a second consecutive year.

Transforming the Sector

Aligned to the South African Automotive Masterplan’s (SAAM) set target and aspiration of ensuring local value addition of 60% by 2035, Isuzu has driven localisation as a key strategic imperative for the business. Billy Tom, Isuzu Motors South Africa’s president, and CEO, said, “Localisation is essential in transforming the automotive sector. SAAM 2035 could see the automotive industry growing from 600 000 to 1.4m vehicles a year in production. This presents a huge opportunity for us to support black-owned automotive suppliers in building their businesses in the industry. It will help drive transformation and create jobs.”

“With the relevant commodities’ intellectual property rights secured, we’ve collaborated with our local supply partners to develop the necessary capabilities to sustainably manufacture those commodities in South Africa,” said Komane Pitso, Isuzu Motors South Africa’s senior vice president of commercial operations.

Collaboration Opportunity

Consequent to the R580m investment, suppliers now have the necessary machinery and equipment required to manufacture the components needed by Isuzu. Through this process, Isuzu has had the opportunity to work with 107 local component manufacturers, maintaining a local value-added content footprint and creating at least 235 new job opportunities at local component manufacturers.

“One such example of our localisation strategy is the partnership between Isuzu Motors South Africa and 73% black-owned supplier Acoustics based in Gqeberha. They received both the sound and carpet assembly contracts specifically for the new D-Max bakkie. Responsible for the manufacturing of smaller boot liners, Acoustics have assisted Isuzu in achieving an industry first through the installation of local vinyl mats.

“We have to do things differently if we are to draw on local content, and Acoustics is an example of drawing on local content and capabilities. “Over the last few decades, multinational companies have taken over design capability, so we have to get involved locally,” Pitso said.

“Great strides have been made in the alliance between the automotive industry and government, and the progressive automotive policies in the country are testament to the strength of the pro-government/industry collaboration. But this isn’t enough. The automotive industry still faces tough challenges in accelerating localisation and developing a future-proof supply chain, and without localisation the automotive industry will struggle to remain competitive.” concluded Pitso.

Pick The Right Spare Parts for Your Truck

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Pick The Right Spare Parts for Your Truck

Opting for spare parts from the factory is always the best bet: guaranteed quality and value. One of the common issues among truck owners is the recovery of certain spare parts for the vehicle over time. They can be damaged or completely removed from the vehicle. This renders them useless after use.

The Durability Advantage of Genuine Truck Parts

Truck spare parts are designed to withstand the toughest challenges. They are extremely durable to take a beating in every possible way imaginable. From rain, dirt, corrosion, and even extreme temperatures, truck parts will stand up to all these and more. They deliver quality performance every single time. Since the parts are designed to survive a wide range of conditions, you don’t need to buy new ones year after year.

Also Read: Essential Light Commercial Vehicle Spare Parts for Thriving in the African Market

A truck is an investment for your business, no question about it. So it is only right that you take care of it by purchasing quality truck spare parts from a reliable dealer or distributor. With quality parts, you are assured of reliability, durability, and safety. These translate to a great return on your investment. This is true whether you are using the vehicle for business purposes. It is also true if you are using it simply for transportation.

Whether you need to repair a small dent or scratch on the truck body or its interiors, there are truck parts manufacturers who can cater to your needs. They offer a large and varied range of spare parts. Whether you are looking for exterior or interior parts, you can count on the distributors. They will get what you need quickly and at competitive prices.

Wide Range of Truck Parts for Every Need

From roof rack mount brackets to bumpers and side skirts, from tyre air tanks and brake pads to engine parts, from rear ends to interiors to fenders and handles, the truck spare parts dealers are all you need. If you need a particular brand or make of truck part, you can be sure they will have it in stock. Some distributors even offer to customize a part for your truck. Thus, if you do not find the exact match you are looking for, they will cater to your needs. So no matter what type of spare part you need for your truck, you can be confident of finding it with the distributors or suppliers.

Also Read: High-Quality Automotive Spare Parts for Vehicle Safety

Quality Parts Mean Better Safety and Performance

Truck spare parts are a very important aspect of owning and driving a truck. Whether you have a new or used truck, the performance of your truck directly affects the safety of those around you. So it only makes sense to invest in quality truck spare parts. Not all truck spare parts are created equally. There are many suppliers who make unrealistic promises. They sell below average truck parts. You want your truck to work at its best. Therefore, you need to be careful when buying parts.

How to Choose the Right Truck Parts Supplier

It is always best to find a supplier who offers a large variety of truck parts. Some even offer to ship the parts to you. This way, you never even have to leave your home, work place or country. Shop carefully and don’t be fooled by gimmicks. Make sure you know your vehicle’s exact make and model number before ordering any part. There is nothing worse than ordering a part that won’t fit. Ordering online is safe and secure, so choose your supplier wisely and enjoy your investment.

Tips for saving money on Automotive Air Filters

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Tips for saving money on Automotive Air Filters

What are automotive air filters? Automotive air filters are mechanical devices that are installed into combustion engines to help prevent noise, dust, and other particles from entering the combustion chamber. While automotive filters are primarily thought of when it comes to vehicles such as cars and trucks, they can also be found in motorcycles and other types of vehicles that use engines. Filters can be electronic or mechanical, but in general there is a device that fits over the entire engine and inside of an engine bay to catch pollutants before they reach the intake manifold of the engine.

Automotive filters come in a variety of different materials, sizes, shapes, and uses. What is most important to an individual is the quality and performance of the filter that they purchase. Filters are designed to remove contaminants from the air that is breathed by the driver of the vehicle. Many individuals are not sure if the vehicle that they own has enough filters on it, but it is recommended that any vehicle have the proper amount of filters for the model of vehicle that it drives. This will help to ensure that the vehicle performs properly, as well as to keep the air that is breathed inside of the vehicle clean and pure.

The cost of automotive air filters can vary greatly depending on what the particular size is of filter that is needed for the vehicle. Filters can be more expensive than other parts of the vehicle, but there are ways to save money on these filters. Many people who drive a lot choose to purchase a multitude of automotive air filter kits so that they do not need to purchase a filter each time that they bring their vehicle in for service. This is a great way to save money in the long run and to make sure that the air is always clean and pure inside of the car.

Another way to save money on automotive air filters is to purchase the filter that is specific to the model of car that you own. This is a great way to cut down on the overall cost of the filter and to increase the amount of money that you can save. This can really help to get those expensive repairs and maintenance that your car may need, avoided.
There are many places that an individual can purchase automotive air filters. There are online stores that sell various kinds of filters, and there are also places that sell them from brick and mortar stores. Many people like to shop online when looking for automotive filters, because it allows them to find a variety of prices that they can compare before making a large purchase. They can also read reviews about certain filters to see what people think about the filters that they are purchasing. This can help to narrow down the choices that a person has when it comes to purchasing the right type of filters for their vehicle.

If an individual is looking for a way to save money on automotive air filters, they should consider buying them in bulk. Bulk purchases are usually less expensive than individual purchases, because the retail stores that carry them buy them in large quantities. Buying automotive filters in bulk can help to reduce the cost of the filters, and to increase the amount of money that you can save. Many individuals purchase filters for their vehicles at the time of their purchase, but this isn’t always the best option. By shopping for them in bulk, a person can often purchase the filters for much less than they would pay at the time of purchase.

Fablink Group launches Streamline Automotive to provide low to medium volume vehicle manufacturing

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Fablink Group launches Streamline Automotive to provide low to medium volume vehicle manufacturing

Leading British Tier 1 supplier, Fablink Group, has announces the establishment of Streamline Automotive. The new division has been created to meet the rapidly growing demand for low to medium volume manufacturing and clean build assembly services from premium OEMs, specialist brands and e-mobility start-ups.

Streamline Automotive is founded on the success and continuous growth of Fablink Group over more than 15 years and draws on the unique manufacturing and technical expertise within the Group. Streamline Automotive provides cost-effective and complete clean build vehicle assembly capabilities within state-of-the-art facilities. This service is enhanced by the foundations set by Fablink Group’s comprehensive manufacturing base and strong supply chain management capability.

Customers of the new division will also benefit from Fablink Technologies – the advanced engineering hub at the heart of the Group – providing full backing to customer engineering teams from first concept study to full-scale manufacture, including product development, prototyping, tooling and Design for Manufacture (DFM) support.

Streamline Automotive will feature the sub-brand: Streamline E-Mobility. Rapidly scaling for the mass shift to electrification in the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors, Streamline E-Mobility is primed to accommodate increasing demand. The sub-brand will provide EV companies, start-ups, and e-mobility companies a competitive turnkey manufacturing solution for mixed material architecture including body panels, lightweight chassis and bonded structures as well as complete vehicle assembly.

These core technical competencies of Streamline Automotive and Fablink Group are highly applicable to electrically powered vehicles, where lightweight components are of vital importance to battery range, vehicle performance and environmental impact.

Streamline Automotive will also provide customers with fundamental support through purchasing and the supply chain including Bill of Materials (BOM) establishment and sourcing strategies across a range of relevant commodities, including EV powertrain systems and batteries.

Founded Upon Heritage and Proven Technical Expertise

Over more than 15 years, Fablink Group has continually expanded thanks to a proven reputation in the industry and ever-increasing demand for its expertise, technologies and services, establishing itself as a key strategic OEM partner alongside renowned, well-respected brands such as CAT, DAF, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, Morgan and Volvo.

Fablink Group’s expertise in specialist contract vehicle manufacturing has developed over the last ten years in the manufacturing and assembly of low-volume, fully armoured premium SUVs for the UK OEM market.

Fablink Group’s breadth and depth of manufacturing facilities span six UK-based sites and over half a million square feet of manufacturing space that is home to over 700 highly skilled professionals. With a strong reputation for comprehensive DFM, product development, tooling and manufacturing competencies, backed by advanced engineering capabilities, the Group is laser-focused on operational excellence. In addition, Fablink Group’s comprehensive supply chain capability is centred upon strategic commodities, as well as tactical site response and support.

Drawing upon the Group’s extensive manufacturing and engineering capability, Streamline Automotive is now formally introduced to the marketplace. The new division is set to forge new long-term strategic relationships with fellow industry-leading automotive and e-mobility businesses.

The name ‘Streamline’ has strong heritage within Fablink Group. Alan Westley, the grandfather of Fablink Group’s Founder and CEO, Richard Westley, gave the name ‘Streamline’ to his sheet metal business, which he founded with his brother, George, in 1941. Streamline supplied panels, bodies and structures to the aviation and automotive sectors.

Richard Westley, Founder and CEO of Fablink Group, explains: “We are delighted to launch Streamline Automotive – a new division of Fablink Group which is dedicated to specialist low to medium volume contract vehicle manufacturing and assembly.

“The launch of Streamline Automotive is a logical step for Fablink Group following a decade and a half of continuous growth and the development of our engineering and manufacturing capability and OEM customer base. We are seeing rapidly growing demand in the market, including new business enquiries from specialist car companies and EV and e-mobility start-ups who, in the absence of a manufacturing base of their own, increasingly require lightweight, energy-efficient, cost-effective and cutting-edge manufacturing and clean build solutions for their new vehicles and products.

“With the support of Fablink’s engineering, development and manufacturing resources, Streamline Automotive will provide customer engineering teams with comprehensive support from initial concept to full-scale manufacture, making us uniquely positioned to provide a turnkey solution with the breadth of our unmatched in-house expertise and capabilities.

“On a personal note, it also gives me tremendous pride to reintroduce the Streamline name to the industry. My grandfather and his brother founded a business that made lightweight panels and assemblies for the aviation and automotive industries in the 1940s, so it is fitting that the Streamline name returns to the Fablink division which will help define the future of mobility and premium automotive for our customers.”

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