The
number of specialty car models and derivatives on the worldwide
car markets is increasing. Cars are made for even more narrowly
limited target groups, and therefore the number of small series
cars is increasing.
Unusual and unique body styling is typical for these vehicles.
Advanced light-weight materials such as aluminum and carbon
fiber are often utilized. The yearly production volumes start
from some thousands of units. The big challenge for the OEMs
is to serve well the customers looking for individuality, without
disturbing the efficiency of higher volume production.
Valmet Automotive has excellent operational readiness to serve
the OEMs on this growing market segment. Also with smaller volumes
the OEM customer can profit from the volume production benefits,
like cost efficiency and constant high quality.
The RaceAbout 2005 sports car was presented on the Valmet Automotive
stand at the Geneva Motor Show as an example of what a modern
small series sports car could be. It is a sporty roadster with
an all- aluminum monocoque,
honeycomb floor pan, stainless steel sub-frames and ultra-light
carbon fiber panels. The light-weight body structure was a distinctive
target in the engineering of the car.
The RaceAbout 2005 was designed and assembled by Finnish automotive
engineering and design students at the Helsinki Polytechnic
Stadia and at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Valmet
Automotive has been a major partner in the project.
Valmet Automotive continuously cooperates with research and
educational institutes. This lays ground for future innovations
and promotes the development of local automotive industry knowledge.
At the same time it ensures the availability of well-skilled
engineering workforce also in the future.
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