Help - car development info needed...

[Alan420]

...for another uni project.

I'm writing a report on the cost of developing a model of car (i.e Tamora, Enzo, Focus). Anyone know where I could get some info on this?

I've spent ages browsing manufacturer websites but all I wind up doing is 'speccing my new car'. It's very frustrating (whilst strangely appealing).

Any info on 'the profitability and sales of manufacturers' or 'the cost of developing a new car plant' is also appreciated.

Thanks.

Al.

[apache]

write to joe90, he of Census fame, he posts on here

[Alan420]

Uh? Census? I'm confused.

[alunr]

Autocar has recently been talking alot about car design process. Also lots of books on the design and build of the Lotus Elise are about

[Graham]

Alan420 said: Uh? Census? I'm confused.

FBS Census its a car!!!!

[alfa dave]

I think you'll find that most large manufacturers are fairly vague about how much a new model costs. Anyone on here with that sort of information is unlikley to want to share it I'm afraid.

[apache]

Alan try contacting them, they have been very open so far with PH www.fbscars.co.uk/

[v8guinness]

Typical figures you'll be told are £600-800m for a typical 'new' car program, (existing factory, and some shared/existing parts), this is for a mass market family sort of size car... new Rangey was suppsoed to be around £1bn, or in that region... low volume stuff can be any number really some have been developed on mere 10's or 100's of millions... plants etc are an unknown, they don't get built often and are different everytime... some include engines plants, some have lots of satillite suppliers... etc...

[v8guinness]

Further:
you may find something of use on here:
www.just-auto.com

[Alan420]

Duurrr, my bad. I forgot to mention that the project is about assembly lines, so a bespoke low production car isn't that relevant. Something along the lines of range rover / jaguar would be a good example.


V8, I can't view articles on that site without joining , any others you know of?

Cheers all,

Al.

>> Edited by Alan420 on Thursday 10th April 17:06

[v8guinness]

Here is also worth a look:
www.sae.org/
Don't know how much you'll find as mentioned above not something manufacturers shout about...

[Mark B]

I don't know any strict figures, but for a mass production vehicle, you are probably looking at the thick end of £500M + over 3 years. Bear in mind the average prototype vehicle costs over £0.5M to build and most companies will have 40+ vehicle for development.

Mind you, a 'normal' vehicle production cost is any where from just $1500 per vehicle, so you quickly see where they recoup the cash!?!

Very vague I know, but I hope it helps.

[v8guinness]

Most programs I'm aware of are over £600m these days, and try to keep below 36months... engines now seperate as they still take longer... facelifts may be from £100m upto a little more... $1500 is a very cheap car, engines cost a very good proportion of that... don't forget margins of dealers, marketing, and all of that development needs paying for... auto manufacturers really do operate on tight margins compared to many industries!

[Alan420]

Cheers Guys!

[HiRich]

Some figures to hand for recent expenditures on new plants/factories (though of course, what's included and excluded isn't clear). All in Euros:

Rolls-Royce, Goodwood:
-94million
-Includes design, development, sales, marketing facilities (though not the actual costs of the vehicle development, if you see what I mean)
-For 350 staff & workforce, 1,000 cars per annum (though considered distictly lean for such a labour intensive car - Bentley apparently employ that number on wood and leather alone for 2,000 cars!)

Toyota/PSA-Citroen, assembly plant, Czech Republic:
- 1.5billion
-300,000 small cars
Not clear whether this includes press plant (probably not), but not engines.

Toyota diesel engine plant, Poland:
-175million
-120,000 units per annum

VW have invested 1.5 billion into Bentley, including about 700m to purchase the company and site (net of sale of RR)