As the North American automotive manufacturing industry continues to face disruptions that threaten the health of the sector, OEMS and suppliers in Canada and the US are rethinking automotive manufacturing for the future.
General Motors has announced plans to invest $300 million in a Michigan plant that will produce a new Chevrolet-branded electric vehicle.
The new investment will fund the development of a new Chevrolet electric vehicle that will be added alongside the Bolt EV. GM is keeping the wraps on the upcoming EV for now, but the company said that the new vehicle will be designed and engineered off of “an advanced version” of the Bolt EV architecture, according to a Reuters news report.
And in Canada, a CBC news report, noted that Windsor area suppliers are taking steps to stay involved “using advancements in technology to take automotive manufacturing to the next step.”
According to the CBC story, automotive research institutions and suppliers alike are focusing on electric vehicle technology and virtual reality.
For example, the University of Windsor’s CHARGE (Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy) lab is focusing on creating the most efficient, low cost, and durable electric motors. CHARGE lab partners with a few big names in the auto industry: Ford, Magna, D & V Electronics.
And the same CBC report says that Windsor will soon have a virtual reality testing site at The Institute for Border Logistics and Security, which will allow autonomous automotive manufacturers to test their products in a VR enviroment.
