Tag Archives: Production

News

Two Million Strong: Stellantis Vigo Plant Hits Major Milestone in LCV Production

In the world of light commercial vehicles (LCVs), few names carry as much weight as the Peugeot Partner, Citroën Berlingo, Opel/Vauxhall Combo, and Fiat Doblò. These workhorses of Europe’s roads—and driveways—just hit a major milestone. The Stellantis Pro One Business Unit has announced that its Vigo, Spain, manufacturing plant has rolled off its two-millionth example of the current-generation small van family. The honor of marking the moment? A Citroën Berlingo passenger variant.

That figure isn’t just impressive—it’s symbolic of how deeply rooted Vigo is in the European commercial-vehicle landscape. Since 1996, the plant has produced 6.5 million units of these compact carriers across three generations (known internally as M49/59, B9, and K9). And stretching further back, since its doors opened in 1958, Vigo has assembled more than 16 million vehicles total—half of them light commercial models.

Built for Work. And Everything Else.

Launched in 2018, this latest crop of Stellantis small vans—Peugeot Rifter/Partner, Citroën Berlingo/Berlingo Van, Opel/Vauxhall Combo Life/Cargo, and Fiat Doblò/Doblò Van—shares a modular platform engineered for versatility. Available in both passenger and cargo configurations, they cater equally to tradespeople, families, and urban fleets.

Vigo’s System 2 production line currently builds around 1,200 units per day, shipping them to over 70 markets worldwide. And since 2021, that output includes fully electric versions, each powered by a 50-kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for roughly 275 kilometers (171 miles) of range on the WLTP cycle.

It’s this combination of scale, adaptability, and electrification that has made Stellantis a dominant force in Europe’s compact LCV segment. Together, these models hold a 49-percent market share across the European Union, with 137,000 units sold so far this year—nearly one out of every two small vans sold.

The People Behind the Milestone

The two-millionth-vehicle celebration brought together Stellantis Pro One’s global head Emanuele Cappellano, Vigo plant director José Luis Alonso Mosquera, and a team of proud workers for a commemorative photo on the factory floor.

“It is an honor to participate in this event, which reaffirms the strong leadership of our light commercial vehicles,” Cappellano said. “With both internal combustion and battery-electric versions, we’re able to offer sustainable mobility without compromise.”

Mosquera echoed that pride, calling the achievement “a symbol of transformation” and proof that Vigo remains a benchmark for efficiency and quality in both thermal and electric production.

Innovation, Backed by Legacy

Vigo’s expertise in alternative powertrains isn’t new—it stretches back to 1995 with the electric Citroën C15, a quirky pioneer that hinted at today’s e-van boom. The plant’s transformation has been bolstered by support from the Galician regional government, whose Axencia Galega de Innovación helped back the industrialization project for Stellantis’s multipurpose van lineup.

Today, with Stellantis’s multibrand platform strategy firing on all cylinders, Vigo stands as a model for how tradition and innovation can coexist on the same assembly line. Two million vehicles later, the formula still works: build them smart, build them versatile, and build them to last.

Source: Stellantis

News

JLR Gears Up Again: Production to Restart After Six-Week Cyber Attack Shutdown

After a bruising six-week standstill triggered by a devastating cyber attack, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is finally ready to hit the ignition again. The British automaker confirmed it will begin restarting production on Wednesday, marking the beginning of what it calls a “controlled, phased restart” across its global manufacturing network.

The recovery begins tomorrow, October 8, with the reopening of JLR’s Wolverhampton engine plant and Birmingham battery centre — the heart of its powertrain operations. Stamping facilities in Castle Bromwich, Halewood, and Solihull will follow, along with the Solihull body shop, paint shop, and logistics centre — all crucial arteries feeding JLR’s global output.

Vehicle manufacturing itself will return “closely” after, according to the company. The first models off the line will be the Land Rover Defender and Discovery at the firm’s Nitra, Slovakia, facility, alongside the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport at Solihull, the brand’s historic home.

What remains uncertain is the timing of production at Halewood, currently undergoing a £500 million transformation to prepare for JLR’s next generation of electric vehicles. The plant, which builds the Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport, will resume operations “at a later date,” the company confirmed.

Controlled Restart After a Costly Blow

While the exact scale of the restart is unclear, JLR emphasized that production will ramp up gradually to ensure stability and supply chain integrity. The company has also rolled out a new financing scheme to help “qualifying” suppliers weather the storm, providing early payments to ease immediate cash flow pressures.

It’s a crucial move: the prolonged shutdown strained suppliers to breaking point, with some forced to lay off workers to stay afloat. UK government officials and parliamentary committees even intervened to monitor the situation.

“This week marks an important moment for JLR and all our stakeholders as we now restart our manufacturing operations following the cyber incident,” said JLR CEO Adrian Mardell. “Our suppliers are central to our success, and today we are launching a new financing arrangement that will enable us to pay our suppliers early, using the strength of our balance sheet to support their cashflows.”

Mardell also praised the resilience of employees and partners who worked “tirelessly” to restore operations.

The Cyber Incident That Stalled Britain’s Biggest Carmaker

The cyber attack on September 1 brought JLR’s global business to its knees. Production across all facilities — from the UK to Slovakia and India — ground to a halt as the company shut down internal systems to protect sensitive data. The move crippled parts ordering, disrupted dealer operations, and froze supply chains.

Analysts estimate the outage could have cost JLR as much as £5 million per day, with thousands of unfinished vehicles and supplier contracts left in limbo. In the same quarter last year, JLR built more than 80,000 cars — a production gap that will inevitably weigh on the brand’s Q3 performance.

Road to Recovery

As the restart unfolds, JLR faces the delicate task of rebuilding momentum while keeping cybersecurity front and center. The company, which has been transitioning toward electrification under its Reimagine strategy, cannot afford prolonged downtime — especially with new electric Range Rovers and Jaguars on the horizon.

Still, the tone from the top is one of cautious optimism. “We know there is much more to do,” Mardell said, “but our recovery is firmly under way.”

For the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, that statement is more than reassurance — it’s a signal that one of Britain’s most storied brands is finally back on track.

Source: Autocar

News

Volvo Begins Production of ES90, Its First 800-Volt Electric Sedan

Volvo’s march toward an all-electric lineup just hit its biggest stride yet. Production of the brand-new Volvo ES90 has officially begun for European markets, marking a turning point for the Swedish automaker as it pushes toward a fully electrified future.

The ES90 isn’t just another electric sedan—it’s Volvo’s first model built on an 800-volt architecture, which allows for both longer driving ranges and significantly faster charging than any electric Volvo before. For buyers who’ve grown impatient with slow charging times, this could be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for.

From the outside, the ES90 leans into what Volvo does best: Scandinavian minimalism wrapped in modern elegance. But this isn’t your typical three-box sedan. Instead, it blends sedan refinement with fastback adaptability and even SUV-like ground clearance, creating a sort of all-in-one design that aims to sidestep traditional compromises. Think executive comfort without the low-slung inconvenience.

Inside, the ES90 continues Volvo’s focus on safety-first, tech-forward design. The cabin runs on a next-gen core computing system built on Volvo’s Superset tech stack, giving it the ability to evolve through continuous over-the-air updates. In theory, the car you buy today should be smarter—and possibly safer—three years from now.

Safety, naturally, remains the anchor point. Volvo has built its reputation around it, and the ES90 is no exception, layering in the brand’s latest active and passive systems. But there’s also an increasing emphasis on sustainability. Produced at Volvo’s climate-neutral Chengdu plant, the ES90 carries one of the lowest carbon footprints of any Volvo yet, according to the company’s recent Life Cycle Assessment.

Francesca Gamboni, Volvo’s chief industrial operations officer, framed it this way: “The fully electric ES90 marks a major milestone as Volvo Cars steps into a new era of safety, sustainability and human-centric technology.”

Volvo opened order books for the ES90 earlier this year, with customer deliveries expected before the end of 2025 in Europe. Key Asia Pacific markets will follow shortly after.

The ES90 represents more than a single new model—it’s a litmus test for Volvo’s ability to deliver an EV that doesn’t just check the boxes but redefines how versatile an electric luxury car can be. By bridging sedan sophistication, fastback utility, and SUV practicality, the ES90 is betting that buyers no longer want to pick a lane.

Whether that gamble pays off depends on real-world range, charging network compatibility, and how well Volvo balances all that promised versatility. But one thing is certain: with the ES90, Volvo isn’t just building another EV. It’s building a manifesto.

Source: Volvo