Latest news with #STELLANTIS
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Fast Lane: BMW, Bentley, Peugeot, Rolls-Royce
Special wishes: Invited clients can co-create their dream Rolls-Royce at special creative hubs in cities such as Dubai, Shanghai and Seoul. PHOTO: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS Unique Rose Rolls-Royce is keen to show how far it can go to cater to the special requests of clients. The Rolls-Royce Spectre Rose is a customised creation featuring rose motifs on the upholstery and a unique exterior. The company says the car was commissioned by a prominent client in the Middle East for her daughter. To achieve the desired effect, the craftsmen at Rolls-Royce created a new embroidery technique. Two shades of pink threads are blended, using a satin stitch to create a subtle gradient such that the embroidered roses have a three-dimensional look. A single hand-painted pink coach line runs along the flank of the Spectre. Around the world, Rolls-Royce has set up special creative hubs in places such as Dubai, Shanghai and Seoul, where invited clients can work with a designer to create their dream car. More efficient SUV Upgraded: The BMW iX now has more power and a longer operating range. PHOTO: BMW The BMW iX has been subtly updated for more power and higher efficiency. Along with these changes under its skin, it wears a new face – starting with the redesigned front grille with diagonal stripes – similar to the new X3. As with some of the newer BMWs, the border of the grille is now illuminated. The refreshed iX's daytime running lights in the headlamps are set at an angle, also taking reference from the newer generation of BMWs. The updated electric sport utility vehicle has 300kW, which is 60kW more than its previous rendition. This cuts the 0-100kmh sprint time to 5.1 seconds, an improvement of 1 second. In terms of operating range, the iX xDrive45 claims to be able to travel 602km before needing a recharge. This is up from 425km on the pre-updated iX xDrive40 model. Charging speed has also been upgraded from 150kW to 175kW. Hot voltage hatchback Performance EV: The Peugeot E-208 GTi is the brand's first electric hot hatchback. PHOTO: STELLANTIS French brand Peugeot is betting that it can transfer the appeal and character of the GTi badge from its combustion-engine models to the electric age with its new E-208 GTi. The five-door hatchback is one size smaller than the Volkswagen Golf GTI , but quicker. The Peugeot's 209kW front-mounted motor gives the car a 0-100kmh sprint time of 5.7 seconds, versus 6.6 seconds for the petrol-powered Volkswagen. The front axle has a limited-slip differential to enhance handling. The car's wheel tracks are wider than the standard E-208 hatchback. Both the suspension set-up and electronic stability program have been tuned to suit the GTi's more aggressive brief. The E-208 GTi is the first model to be fully designed by Peugeot Sport, the performance arm of Peugeot. The car has big shoes to fill, considering the high bar set by the Peugeot 205 GTi from the 1980s, long regarded as among the best hot hatchbacks in automotive history. Six-seater Bentley on auction MPV of sorts: Special Bentley Mulsanne is a six-seater limousine. PHOTO: COLLECTING CARS The Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousine is an official model from the British luxury car brand and not an aftermarket conversion . The wheelbase has been stretched by 1,000mm and the height raised by 79mm. One of supposedly 12 units made , it has been listed in June on Collecting Cars, an online auction site. It has six individual seats; the two in the middle row are rear-facing. A privacy partition with adjustable opacity separates the front seats from the rest of the cabin. An intercom system and a quilted headliner split by a wood-veneered central spine, which houses the lighting and controls, are among other features that set the car apart from the regular Mulsanne. Mechanically, the Grand Limousine is identical to the standard Mulsanne, with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 engine powering the rear wheels. For details, go to Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
European companies cut jobs in response to slowing economy
Difficult economic conditions, exacerbated by US President Donald Trump's tariffs, and persistently weak demand for many products have forced companies across Europe to freeze hiring or cut jobs. Here are some of the layoffs announced since the beginning of April: Car and car parts makers STELLANTIS - The automaker agreed with trade unions to implement up to 200 voluntary redundancies at its Termoli plant in central Italy, it said on May 8. The Fiom-Cgil union said on May 7 that Stellantis would also cut up to 500 jobs through voluntary exits at its Melfi assembly plant in southern Italy, which employs around 5,000 people. On April 3, Stellantis said it would temporarily lay off 900 workers at five US facilities in response to the Trump administration's tariff announcement. VOLKSWAGEN - The German carmaker's CFO said on April 30 it had cut headcount in Germany by around 7,000 since starting cost savings in late 2023. VOLVO - The Swedish truck maker plans to lay off as many as 800 workers at three US facilities over the next three months, a spokesperson said on April 18. VOLVO CARS - The Swedish carmaker will cut 3,000 mostly white-collar jobs as part of a restructuring announced in April as it grapples with high costs, a slowdown in EV demand and uncertainty over trade tariffs, it said on May 26. On May 7, Volvo Cars said it would cut 5% of the workforce at its US plant in Charleston, South Carolina due to changing market conditions and evolving trade policies. Banks COMMERZBANK - The German bank said on May 14 it had agreed with the works council on terms to cut around 3,900 jobs by 2028, part of a strategy to help it deliver more ambitious profit targets. HSBC - The banking giant plans to cut 348 jobs in France through a voluntary redundancy scheme, amounting to about 10% of its workforce in the country, it said on May 14. UBS - Switzerland's largest bank informed unions in Italy on April 1 of plans to cut 180 jobs in the country, around a third of its workforce in the country, documents reviewed by Reuters showed. Industrial and engineering STMICROELECTRONICS - The French-Italian chipmaker said on April 30 it would cut around 1,000 jobs in France, more than a third of the 2,800 layoffs planned in its cost-cutting programme. SYENSQO - The Belgian chemicals maker is speeding up restructuring measures, which include cutting around 200 jobs, due to demand uncertainty caused by global economic turmoil, it said on May 15. Retail and consumer goods AUCHAN - The French supermarket group will cut 710 jobs and close 25 stores in Spain as it seeks to adapt to changing habits of shoppers, it said on May 8. BURBERRY - The British luxury brand will shed 1,700 jobs, or around a fifth of its global workforce, to cut costs to help revive its performance, it said on May 14. LVMH - The Financial Times reported on May 1, citing an internal video, that the luxury group's wine and spirit unit Moet Hennessy would cut its workforce by about 1,200 employees.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
European companies cut jobs in response to slowing economy
May 20 - Difficult economic conditions, exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, and persistently weak demand for many products have forced companies across Europe to freeze hiring or cut jobs. Here are some of the layoffs announced since the beginning of April: CAR AND CAR PARTS MAKERS * STELLANTIS: The automaker agreed with trade unions to implement up to 200 voluntary redundancies at its Termoli plant in central Italy, it said on May 8. The Fiom-Cgil union said on May 7 that Stellantis would also cut up to 500 jobs through voluntary exits at its Melfi assembly plant in southern Italy, which employs around 5,000 people. On April 3, Stellantis said it would temporarily lay off 900 workers at five U.S. facilities in response to the Trump administration's tariff announcement. * VOLKSWAGEN: The German carmaker's CFO said on April 30 it had cut headcount in Germany by around 7,000 since starting cost savings in late 2023. * VOLVO: The Swedish truck maker plans to lay off as many as 800 workers at three U.S. facilities over the next three months, a spokesperson said on April 18. * VOLVO CARS: The Swedish carmaker said on May 7 it would cut 5% of the workforce at its U.S. plant in Charleston, South Carolina due to changing market conditions and evolving trade policies, including tariffs. BANKS * COMMERZBANK: The German bank said on May 14 it had agreed with the works council on terms to cut around 3,900 jobs by 2028, part of a strategy to help it deliver more ambitious profit targets. * HSBC: The banking giant plans to cut 348 jobs in France through a voluntary redundancy scheme, amounting to about 10% of its workforce in the country, it said on May 14. * UBS: Switzerland's largest bank informed unions in Italy on April 1 of plans to cut 180 jobs in the country, around a third of its workforce in the country, documents reviewed by Reuters showed. INDUSTRIALS AND ENGINEERING * STMICROELECTRONICS: The French-Italian chipmaker said on April 30 it would cut around 1,000 jobs in France, more than a third of the 2,800 layoffs planned in its cost-cutting program. * SYENSQO: The Belgian chemicals maker is speeding up restructuring measures, which include cutting around 200 jobs, due to demand uncertainty caused by global economic turmoil, it said on May 15. RETAIL AND CONSUMER GOODS * AUCHAN: The French supermarket group will cut 710 jobs and close 25 stores in Spain as it seeks to adapt to changing habits of shoppers, it said on May 8. * BURBERRY: The British luxury brand will shed 1,700 jobs or around a fifth of its global workforce to cut costs to help revive its performance, it said on May 14. * LVMH: Financial Times reported on May 1, citing an internal video, that the luxury group's wine and spirit unit Moet Hennessy would cut its workforce by about 1,200 employees. OTHERS * PROSIEBENSAT.1: The German media group will cut 430 full-time positions as part if its digital transformation, it said on May 7. Sources: Regulatory filings, Reuters reporting and company websites
