Durr's eleventh FAStplant installation will go into operation at VW’s factory at Uitenhage in South Africa. FAStplant is at the heart of a comprehensive conveyor system that Dürr is supplying to VW Uitenhage for the assembly line. Trim Lines I and II have skillet conveyors and are followed by a chassis line comprising FAStplant modules. VW chose not to use height adjustable hangers on the chassis line but instead to incorporate an incline/decline electric monorail system similar to that being supplied by Dürr for the SVW assembly line at Shanghai (China). A further skillet conveyor is being provided for the final trim area and, finally, a modular chain conveyor for the finish area at the end of the line. 

FASmotion non-contact power and data transfer is used throughout the trim and final assembly lines; it also provides the energy supply necessary for all work processes carried out on skillets equipped with lifting tables. The project at Uitenhage has a demanding time schedule. It allows only 13 weeks from layout approval to installation and four to six weeks of this period are needed for transportation. FAStplant modular technology is already on its way to South Africa and the commissioning of the plant is scheduled for the spring of 2009, when the pre-production series of the new model generation will be manufactured. The system - based on five pre-assembled and freely positionable module types - can be assembled quickly and easily, saving both time and money. 

Several well-known OEMs are already taking advantage of these benefits worldwide in large series, SKD and CKD production: General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Audi and BMW are just a few examples, illustrating the level of interest aroused by FAStplant.

Bajaj Auto has issued a statement that its primary responsibility in the small car project with Renault-Nissan includes design, development, manufacturing, and supply chain activities. Emphasizing that the project remains largely on schedule, the Pune-based automaker has stated that it is proceeding as before to implement the project and any financial or other constraints that Renault-Nissan may have have no bearing on the ability of Bajaj to implement this project. 

Bajaj Auto sources state that the key issue addressed, in consultation with Renault-Nissan, has been towards the purpose of ensuring that this car will, true to its originally intended brief, be positioned not on low price but on high fuel economy, and a breakthrough in fuel economy has thus been achieved and will serve as a powerful competitive edge in differentiating this product from its potential competitors. The project is expected to be completed as per schedule.

Nissan Motor India and Renault Nissan Automotive India (RNAI) have announced changes in top management. Nissan Motor Co. has appointed Akira Sakurai, currently General Manager of Vehicle Production Engineering Division as the new Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RNAI. He will be taking charge on April 1, 2009. 

Shohei Kimura, current CEO of Nissan Motor India and MD & CEO of RNAI will return to Nissan in Japan and will take charge as Corporate Vice President, New Vehicle Production Development Division. Kiminobu Tokuyama, current MD & COO of Nissan Motor India has been appointed as the MD & CEO of Nissan Motor India. He will be taking charge on April 1, 2009.