Valmet Automotive, a contract vehicle manufacturer based in Uusikaupunki, Finland, has recently opened branch locations in Detroit and Shanghai.
Korhonen and his staff have provided additional information about the company’s operations in the international auto manufacturing arena.
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Which vehicles do you now have in production?
Today Valmet Automotive produces the luxury electric hybrid vehicle Fisker Karma for Fisker Automotive and electric Garia golf cars and street legal LSV versions for Garia A/S. The production of the urban electric vehicle THINK City is on hold due to the changes in the ownership of the customer company.
Will you be concentrating on electric vehicles?
Flexible manufacturing technology and multi-skilled personnel enable Valmet Automotive to produce various car brands, models and types simultaneously. Consequently, we have attained a pioneering status in series production of electric vehicles. EVs are, and will remain, a focus area both for our engineering and manufacturing. However, Valmet is equally interested and capable of engineering and manufacturing 100 percent electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion engine cars.
What are the differences in manufacturing traditional vehicles versus electric vehicles?
For the most part, making EVs is identical to making combustion engine cars. The most obvious difference is the battery and linked features. However, as EVs are in the frontline of lightweight structure evolution, they benefit from using new materials and sophisticated solutions. Safe work requires special planning, skills and environment. While the engineering and manufacture of EVs is complicated by the lack of universally adopted standards, there is room for groundbreaking innovations. This opportunity is eagerly used by upstart companies in the automotive world.
What is the role of roof systems at your company?
Valmet Automotive is one of the three leading manufacturers of convertibles’ roof systems globally. Roof systems are a strong business line (for us).
Convertibles are a field of expertise – every third car manufactured by us has an open roof. This competence is perfectly complemented by world-class knowhow of roof systems. Today, our clientele in roof systems include Bentley, BMW/Mini, Daimler and Renault.
What is your production capacity?
In car manufacturing, the Uusikaupunki plant has an annual capacity of 30,000 cars per shift. Modern body shops have been established for the welding processes of Porsche and Fisker cars. Additionally, special series like Garia golf car have dedicated production lines with an annual capacity of some 1,000 cars. With a three-shift operation, the capacity of the Uusikaupunki plant can be increased to more than 100,000 vehicles annually.
In roof systems, the plants in Osnabrück, Germany and Zary, Poland have a combined total production capacity of up to 150,000 roofs per year.
What are the benefits of contracting with your plants?
The Uusikaupunki plant is located close to the harbor on the southwest coast of Finland, with frequent and fast sea transports between Finland and continental Europe. The area has decade-long experience of car manufacturing with a well-trained workforce.
The plant in Osnabrück is centrally positioned in Germany, one of the largest convertible markets in the world. The plant has a track record of more than 60 years, with an excellent reputation for innovation and quality. The Osnabrück plant is also home for world-class roof system product development.
The plant in Zary, Poland, is located close to the German border, with excellent transportation connections. The operation benefits from modern production facilities and a well-trained workforce.
What is the scope of your international operations?
Valmet Automotive defines in its strategy that the company will expand internationally and operate close to the customers. Consequently, we are today present in nine countries on three continents. The main locations are in Uusikaupunki, Finland; Osnabrück, Germany; and Zary, Poland. Furthermore, we have units in Detroit and Shanghai, along with an office for procurement in Gothenburg, Sweden and representatives in France, Japan and South Korea.
For more information, visit www.valmet-automotive.com.
