DETROIT ELECTRIC WILL BUILD THE WORLD’S FASTEST PRODUCTION EV IN EUROPE

ACB News

Limited-edition SP:01 two-seat, 100% electric sports car to be launched in Europe and Asia in fourth quarter this year and soon followed by the US introduction. New sports car showcases class-leading electric vehicle powertrain technologies Family of high-performance EVs to follow from Detroit Electric brand Production to commence at new facility in heartland of UK’s high tech auto industry New EMEA headquarters in Houten, Netherlands   DETROIT, USA: Detroit Electric, one of the most prolific manufacturers of electric cars in the early 20th Century, is back with an all-new, pure electric sportscar, a new production facility and a highly-experienced new team that will develop a range of high-performance pure EVs. The brand’s first product, the lightweight, limited-edition SP:01 sportscar, will be the world’s fastest production electric vehicle when it goes on sale in European and Asian markets later this year and soon followed by the US introduction. Detroit Electric has secured additional investment following an initial reveal of the SP:01 in the first quarter of last year. The car has since undergone extensive further development, heralding significant changes to enhance its aerodynamic performance and improve interior comfort and quality. The EV is currently undergoing engineering sign-off tests, and the final styling of the car will be revealed in the coming weeks. The SP:01 will set new standards for performance and handling in the EV segment. Its high-power electric motor will propel the car to an impressive 155 mph (249 km/h) top speed and a 0-60mph time of just 3.7 seconds. All the cars will be manufactured in a new, dedicated Detroit Electric production facility in Leamington Spa, UK, which will progressively increase staff levels to 80 by the end of the first quarter of 2015. Detroit Electric has also invested in a new EMEA headquarters, located in Houten, Netherlands, where the company has already recruited a new team to manage the brand’s Sales and Marketing activities including vehicle sales, customer service and marketing. The company has its global headquarters on the 18th floor of the iconic Fisher Building, located in downtown Detroit, USA. This facility will be the company’s financial headquarters and will be the centre for overseeing sales activities in North and South America, and eventually assuming responsibility for developing, engineering and ultimately assembling new Detroit Electric models. Albert Lam, Chairman and CEO of Detroit Electric, said: “We’re truly delighted that we’re just weeks away from bringing to fruition our plans to introduce Detroit Electric’s first pure electric sports car. With a new production facility in the UK, a magnificent EMEA headquarters in The Netherlands and plans to engineer and assemble vehicles in the USA, the world will soon be able to experience the pure electric performance of our range of exciting and innovative Detroit Electric vehicles. “While Detroit was our preferred initial assembly location, the regulatory process for the production and sale of the SP:01 in the US has taken longer then expected,” he added. “That means the assembly operations have to be located in Europe to allow us to bring the vehicle to market globally in line with our timing plans. We’re growing our team at the company’s headquarters in Detroit and we are committed to bringing investment and jobs to the Detroit economic area in the very near future.” The SP:01 will spearhead a diverse family of all-electric production cars, including an electric 2+2 supercar and a sedan model that will be engineered, developed and assembled at  a planned facility in Michigan. “We are custodians of an iconic electric vehicle brand, and we intend to honour and carry forward its proud heritage of creating cutting-edge, innovative transport technologies,” Lam continued. “We will come to the market with a range of exciting vehicles that will deliver thrilling pure electric performance with zero emissions. Our production base and new regional and global headquarters will give us the international reach we need to fast-track our growth. We have a fantastic, growing team of people, as well as the resources and expertise necessary to succeed in a competitive market.” Early in the last century, Detroit Electric led the fledgling electric car market. By 1912, there were numerous American electric vehicle makers, with Detroit Electric both the market leader and the most prolific, going on to make around 13,000 cars – an electric vehicle production world record for the twentieth century. Notable customers included Thomas Edison, Mamie Eisenhower, John D. Rockerfeller Jr. and Clara Ford, the wife of Henry Ford. The brand was revived in 2008 by Lam, former Group CEO of the Lotus Engineering Group and Executive Director of Lotus Cars of England, with a vision to produce an electric vehicle that seamlessly integrates refined aesthetics, innovative technology and superior handling and performance. To safeguard its sustainable growth, Detroit Electric employs an ‘asset light’ business model, similar to brands such as Apple and Nike, focusing investment on R&D and marketing. Lam, brings to Detroit Electric various operational disciplines from his time heading up technology and innovation-driven businesses in Asia, including Apple and Sun Microsystems.

SANDOUVILLE: NEW PLANT, NEW TRAFIC AND 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

ACB News

▪ Opened in 1964, the Sandouville plant celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Opening a new chapter in its history, the site is about to start building LCVs for the first time: New Trafic (to be launched this summer) and the high-roof version of the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, previously built in Spain (Nissan plant in Barcelona) and the UK (General Motors plant in Luton). ▪ This new human and industrial adventure involved a complete transformation of the site. Following an industrial and cultural transformation involving an investment of €230 million and three years of exceptional efforts, the plant can be compared to a greenfield site. ▪ The year 2014 sets the scene for the renewal of the plant, with a secure long-term future on the promising LCV market. The challenge now is to successfully conduct the start-up and ramp-up of New Trafic and the Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro while continuing to maintain the highest standards for Laguna and Espace, which the site will continue to build at the same time until the arrival of their successors, after which they will be produced at the Renault Douai plant.   A historic transformation: the transition from a passenger car plant to an LCV plant Construction work began on the Sandouville plant at the end of 1963, in order to meet growing demand for cars. The site occupied a strategic geographical position: on the banks of the Seine and close to  the port of Le Havre. Over the past 50 years, Sandouville has built more than eight million vehicles. The site has specialized in passenger cars since its founding, building first  R 16, then R 12 (1970), R 15 and R 17 (1972), R 30 (1975), R 20 (1976), R 18 (1978), R 25 in 1984, R 21 in 1986, Safrane in 1992, Laguna in 1992, Vel Satis in 2001, Espace IV in 2002, and Laguna III in 2007. In 2011, the Renault group announced plans to invest €230 million in the long-term future of the Sandouville plant as part of a new project: to build light commercial vehicles at the site rather than passenger cars. Leader on the LCV market since 1998, Renault was keen to relocate production of New Trafic along with the high-roof version of the Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro. The entire Renault brand LCV range for Europe will now be built in France: Kangoo at Maubeuge, Master at Batilly and Trafic at Sandouville.   It took three years of exceptional efforts, from summer 2010 to summer 2013, to transform the plant and put new resources in place, for a result comparable to a greenfield site: ▪ In the press shop, 5,000 tonnes of cast iron to manufacture LCV production line tooling, i.e. three-quarters of the weight of the Eiffel Tower’s metal frame. ▪ In body assembly: 20,000 m² of space was freed up to install new tooling with 187 new robots to make the 5,000 spot welds required to assemble the body of New Trafic. ▪ In the paint shop: a complete transformation was necessary to adapt the process to LCV dimensions. The anti-corrosion treatment tunnel was raised by 70 cm and the paint booth extended by 12m. Resources specific to LCVs were put in place: cradles and conveyor belts to help operators adopt the correct positioning in applying part of the 120m of mastic beading, and interior robots to apply mastic and paint the interior of the van. This process is unnecessary on passenger cars, since the interior is lined. ▪ In final assembly, employees at Villiers-Saint-Frédéric and Sandouville have put in place the new LCV line. Until summer 2011, Espace IV and Laguna III were built on two separate lines. In September 2011, the two passenger cars were moved to the same line. As part of this process, 130 machines were moved, upgraded or acquired, and 240 assembly line workstations adapted. Owing to its specific dimensions, New Trafic has a dedicated line. This transformation also marks a cultural shift and a human challenge that paves the way for a return to two production shifts (only one since 2009). Site management placed particular emphasis on developing the skills of operators through extensive training: ▪ 20 days of training for each operator prior to starting the job, ▪ quality and safety support for personnel with respect to the new installations.   For Jérome Moinard, Director of the Sandouville plant: “The transition from building passenger cars to building LCVs is a major industrial event and a new page in the history of Sandouville. After three years of work and an investment of €230 million, the site is like new, whereas in reality, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The site is at a pivotal point, closing one chapter and beginning another. For plant employees, it is first and foremost a source of pride and the promise of a secure future”.   The LCV market: the promise of a secure future Sandouville is a key site in the LCV production base of the Renault brand, on a buoyant market. Renault markets a broad range of LCVs (between 2 and 22 m3) to meet the needs and expectations of business customers. The brand is European No. 1 in the LCV market for the 16th consecutive year with market share of 14.5% at end-2013. In the first quarter of 2014, Renault reported a 4.8% rise in global LCV sales (10% for the Group as a whole). More specifically, Trafic is an enduring success. Renault has sold more than 1.6 million Trafic vehicles since production started in 1980. In France, Trafic leads its segment with a share of 36.6% in 2013. The launch of the new generation will help Renault consolidate its position as European No. 1 in LCVs. With 270 body versions, more than 100 colours, and vehicle adaptations built into the production flow, New Trafic will seek to carry on from its predecessors. Its ambitions will be to build loyalty and to win new customers looking for a reliable, innovative…

Nissan’s second 100% electric vehicle starts global production in Barcelona

ACB News

Nissan e-NV200 is the second model in Nissan’s expanding range of electric vehicles Barcelona plant starts production of Nissan’s first electric van as part of €431 million investment New electric van provides a zero-emission solution for urban cargo delivery and taxi companies Barcelona is the only Nissan plant to produce the e-NV200, which will be exported globally e-NV200 shares drivetrain technology with the world’s best selling electric vehicle – the Nissan LEAF Barcelona (Spain), May 6th, 2014 – Nissan has started the production of its second all-electric vehicle – the e-NV200 – which will be available as both a passenger vehicle and light commercial van. The ceremony was attended by Spanish Ministry of Industry, José Manuel Soria, Catalan President, Artur Mas; and the Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, who were welcomed by Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, Andy Palmer. The Nissan plant in Barcelona will be the global production site for this groundbreaking zero-emission vehicle, which will be available as a light commercial van, passenger vehicle and electric taxi. Representing an investment of €100 million in Nissan’s Barcelona Plant, as part of a wider €431 million investment in its Spanish operations, the e-NV200 will initially be exported to around 20 international markets, including Japan. Just as with the Nissan LEAF introduction, the number of markets will grow after the initial launch, to continue the company’s sustained electric vehicle expansion. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Chief Planning Officer Andy Palmer joined the VIP list at the event, adding: “This is a great landmark day for Nissan, starting production of our second electric vehicle.  This is at a time when EV’s are now recognized as mainstream technology, many competitors are only just starting to launch their first EV and where Nissan has clear first mover advantage. We’re proud that the Nissan LEAF is the world’s best selling electric vehicle with more than 110,000 delighted customers enjoying the quiet and smooth ride of an EV.” Barcelona will be the first city in the world to introduce the e-NV200 as a 100% electric taxi, an initiative Palmer believes is vital for the city, continuing: “This e-NV200 taxi has renewed significance in the wake of record levels of air pollution in London and Paris. Bringing a significant number of zero emission vehicles to Barcelona’s streets will ensure cleaner air for every citizen, visitor and tourist, and we’re confident that forward-thinking councils everywhere will be clamoring to bring these benefits to their municipalities in the coming years.” For the Mayor of Barcelona, the start of production of new all-electric van and the partnership between Nissan and Barcelona “is part of a strategy in Barcelona and its metropolitan area in order to consolidate Barcelona as the centre of a new urban economy model, based on innovation, technology and sustainability. In our city, we are strategically targeting sectors that are essential for the future, and electric vehicles are one of them. Furthermore, we are working to generate wealth in our city, strengthening our economy and the industrial sector; thus making a very important step ahead that will improve the quality of life for residents”. Frank Torres, managing director and vice president of Nissan Spain Industrial Operations said: “Barcelona has the honour of producing Nissan’s second 100% electric vehicle, and this is a result of many years of hard work and quality improvements from the team here. This will be only the second time we have produced a model in Spain for export back to Nissan’s home market in Japan and that is a fantastic achievement by my colleagues at the plant.” Barcelona is the only Nissan plant in the world producing the electric version of e-NV200, which means that it will be exported to all over the world, Japan included. The first vehicles exported to these markets will set sail in June.

QOROS COLLECTS NUMEROUS AWARDS IN BEIJING AS HATCH MAKES CHINA DEBUT

ACB News

Brand’s second production car made its Chinese debut at the Beijing Motor Show Qoros 3 Hatch widely acclaimed, won several awards and proved a social media hit   Shanghai, 30 April 2014 – Qoros, the new international car brand headquartered in China, made a successful Beijing International Motor Show debut last week with its second production model, the Qoros 3 Hatch. Presented to Chinese audiences for the first time, it drew substantial attention from media and visitors from across China and the rest of the world, collecting several awards and proving a major hit on Weibo. The latest Qoros model features a bold, dynamic design, excellent connectivity, class-leading space and a generous level of equipment that is not normally available on compact cars. This includes the brand’s innovative Qoros MMHTM eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the pioneering QorosQloudTM connected services platform. The awards bestowed upon the Qoros 3 Hatch during the motor show included: Best Car Design (2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition Organizing Committee) The Most Beautiful Hatch (Car and Driver China magazine’s Most Beautiful Automobile China Awards) Best Exterior Design (Autobild China magazine’s China Design Awards) Smart Car of the Year (China Auto Media Summit’s Intelligent Automobile Awards) These latest prestigious awards for the Qoros 3 Hatch come shortly after it became the first car from a China-based brand to win a coveted Red Dot design award in March 2014. Consumers, too, were impressed with Qoros’ newcomer, according to data analysed by Weibo – one of China’s biggest social media channels – and published by Auto.sina – one of the largest motoring websites in China. The analysis showed that during the first three days of the Beijing show, when public interest was at its highest, the Qoros 3 Hatch was mentioned on Weibo more than any other car displayed at the event. The Qoros 3 Sedan – the brand’s first production model, on sale in China since December 2013 – also continues to receive positive accolades. It was selected as the Intermediate Vehicle of the Year at the 2014 National Car Awards during the Beijing show. Over the course of the eight-day show, more than 366,000 people visited the Qoros stand to take a close look at the new Hatch, which resulted in more than 13,000 expressions of interest. The Qoros 3 Hatch will go on sale in China in the middle of 2014. “We’ve greatly enjoyed our first time exhibiting at the Beijing International Motor Show,” said Guo Qian, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qoros. “Winning awards from respected independent experts at globally renowned organisations is gratifying and a testament to the high standards we have achieved with our cars. “Also highly encouraging is the positive reaction and level of interest that we have seen from consumers, particularly from modern metropolitans, the specific group for which we have designed and built our cars,” concluded Mr. Guo. Also popular on the Qoros stand was another China debutant, the Qoros eBIQE Concept, an innovative electric bike design and connectivity showcase. It featured alongside a safety display that celebrated the status of the Qoros 3 Sedan as the ‘the best performer of any car subjected to Euro NCAP’s crash tests in 2013’.

BMW Group expands U.S. plant in South Carolina

ACB News

Munich/Spartanburg. The BMW Group is expanding capacity at its U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “To meet strong  global demand for our BMW X models, we will invest a total of one billion U.S. dollars in our Spartanburg plant by 2016. This will increase annual production capacity by 50% up to 450,000 vehicles from 300,000 currently,” explained Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Norbert Reithofer, at a special ceremony in Spartanburg on Friday commemorating 20 years of production in the U.S. Among the guests attending the ceremony held on the plant grounds were U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker; Governor of the state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley; Board of Management member for Production, Harald Krüger; and head of BMW Plant Spartanburg, Manfred Erlacher. BMW X7 to be built in Spartanburg BMW X3, X5, X5 M, X6 and X6 M models have been manufactured so far in Spartanburg, BMW’s centre of competence for X vehicles. Friday’s event celebrated the start of production of the BMW X4. Norbert Reithofer also announced a further expansion of the X model family: “With the BMW X7, we are developing another, larger X model, which we will produce at our U.S. plant for our world markets – once again underscoring our commitment to the U.S.” During the ceremony, BMW Board of Management member for Production Harald Krüger talked about the importance of the U.S. to BMW Group’s overall production strategy: “The BMW Group aims for a good balance of growth between all markets and continents. The Spartanburg plant is an important building block in our international network of 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries today. It makes a vital contribution to profitable, globally- balanced growth.” Krüger continued: “The BMW plant in Spartanburg is the best example of our successful strategy of ‘production follows the market’. The state of South Carolina has supported us as a valuable and reliable partner throughout our 20- year involvement in the region and played a decisive part in making the U.S. our second home.” Spartanburg workforce increases to 8,800 The plant’s expansion will also increase the number of employees at the U.S. facility significantly. “Expansion at the site will create 800 new jobs, bringing the total workforce in Spartanburg to 8,800,”  Reithofer explained. “It will also make Spartanburg the largest plant in terms of production capacity in our global production network,” he added. According to a study released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the annual export volume of BMW’s Spartanburg plant totals USD 7.5 billion – which makes the BMW Group’s American facility the largest vehicle exporter in the United States, based on total exports excluding NAFTA. Approximately 70% of Spartanburg’s production is exported to BMW markets around  the world. A recent analysis published by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina found that BMW Group activities in South Carolina had a total impact of around USD 16.6 billion on the state economy. The BMW Group’s presence in South Carolina supports a total of 30,000 jobs. The study also cites the importance of the BMW Group for South  Carolina’s economic standing, improving technological and manufacturing competitiveness and establishing a high level of training. Since the start of production in 1994, Spartanburg has built more than 2.6 million vehicles for BMW customers around the world. The models BMW X3, X5, X5 M, X6 and X6 M are all produced at the plant. In the near future, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 will also be produced here. A total of 297,326 vehicles were manufactured in Spartanburg in 2013, with around 1,100 vehicles currently produced per working day. The Spartanburg site presently employs around 8,000 staff.

IBA awarded investors of the year 2013

ACB News

On 5 February 2014, during an official ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel, the Invest Bulgaria Agency (IBA) awarded the winners of the eight annual INVESTOR OF THE YEAR awards. This is a contest that aims to distinguish the most significant investment projects realized in Bulgaria in 2013. Plamen Oresharski, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Dragomir Stoynev, Minister of Economy and Energy, Desislava Terzieva, Minister of Regional Development, other Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Mr. Carlos Bronzatto, CEO of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies took part on the ceremony. Bulgarian and foreign investors from Germany, France, Italy, USA and Switzerland were awarded in 7 categories: Machine Building, Transport and Logistics, Information Technology, Food and Agriculture, Tourism, Electrical Engineering and Electronics and Chemistry. The winners in the different categories are selected according to the criteria debut in Bulgaria, recruitment of highly qualified specialists, number of job openings, creation of high value added, volume of investments made, potential for future development and positive impact on economic growth of the region. ABB Bulgaria was awarded for its overall activity on the Bulgarian market for energy and atomization equipment. The company is a global leader in power and automation, employing over 1,300 people in Bulgaria. ABB operates in Bulgaria through a company headquartered in Sofia having manufacturing facilities and offices in five locations. The French company Montupet was given the big award in category Machine Building for a second time.

Automotive Cluster Bulgaria (ACB) and the Autocluster of Saxony (AMZ) signed a cooperation agreement

ACB News

On 4 February 2014 Automotive Cluster Bulgaria (ACB) and the Autocluster of Saxony (AMZ) signed a cooperation agreement in the Executive Lounge hall at Grand Hotel Sofia. Bulgaria can count on cooperation and assistance for the development of its automotive industry by the German State of Saxony. Rosen Plevneliev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria also took part on the ceremony. He declared that ACB has succeeded in bringing together 28 companies, providing over 10,000 jobs in the country, but the potential for development is much bigger and promised that the country will strongly support this initiative.

SE Bordnetze – Bulgaria EOOD awarded the Golden Wheel 2013 of AUTO BILD Bulgaria Magazine

ACB News

The 2013 Golden Steering Wheel award of AUTO BILD Bulgaria was presented in an official ceremony on 29 November 2013 to SEBN by Dr. Truckenmüller, President of the Automotive Cluster Bulgaria. The member company of ACB was awarded for a most successful automotive supplier in Bulgaria. In the recent years SEBN has hired and trained hundreds of new employees. Currently approximately 2,300 people work in the company’s two plants in Bulgaria. All processes in the plants are optimized and the plants are acknowledged as A-suppliers under the international standards by the OEMs. Congratulations!

ALC Bulgaria to open a second plant in Bulgaria

ACB News

On 26 November, during a ceremony at Novotel Sofia, ALC Bulgaria was given the Bavarian porcelain lion award for 2013 by the Bavaria’s Representative Office in Bulgaria in the category Bulgarian enterprise with economic relations in Bavaria. By the end of 2013 ALC Bulgaria will open a new plant for upholstery for car seats for BMW’s Mini Cooper. The plant will be located in Ihtiman and will create 200 – 300 workplaces. The news was announced by the General Manager of the company in Bulgaria Shaun Bosch. The ALC’s investment in Bulgaria is 10 million euros by now and will be increased with the new projects. Currently more than 800 people work in ALC Bulgaria, compared to 500 at the end of 2012. The company’s main client is the German automaker BMW.

Automotive Cluster Bulgaria took part in the 2nd annual forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube region in Bucharest on 28 and 29 October 2013

ACB News

The Forum is jointly organised by the European Commission and the Government of Romania. The publication of the 1st Report on the implementation of the Strategy (April 2013) and the crucial stage of the negotiations for the future programmes in the period 2014-2020 shaped the debates among decision makers from business, politics, international organisations and civil society coming from all over the Danube Region. Representatives of the Automotive Cluster Bulgaria deepened the cluster’s position within the Danube Cluster Strategy and held discussions with decision makers of the European Commission (e.g. Mr. Hahn), the government of Baden-Württemberg (e.g. Minister Friedrich), the government of Bulgaria (e.g. Minister Terzieva) and ministers / decision makers from Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and other. [print_gllr id=988]