GERMANY: Opel/Vauxhall to focus on two Astra sites as it cautions on Russelsheim
Opel has confirmed it will concentrate future Astra production across just two sites working three shifts at the same time as firing a broadside across its Russelsheim factory's bows.
US: Nissan starts redesigned Altima production
Nissan has begun production in the US of its fifth generation Altima after making over 4.4 m of the previous generations which date back to 1992 - the original was the US version of the Bluebird and replaced the Stanza.
US: Tributes flow for Ford's 1980s turnaround chief
Tributes are flowing in for a top Ford man who help revive the troubled automaker in the 1980s - former chairman and CEO Harold 'Red' Poling - who died at the weekend.
INDIA: Mercedes eyes top luxury spot by 2020
Mercedes Benz India plans to regain top spot in the Indian luxury car market with measures including extending its model range.
THAILAND: Mitsubishi boosts Mirage output after high demand
Higher than expected orders for the new Mirage 'global small car' have prompted Mitsubishi Motors Thailand to boost output at its third assembly plant in Laem Chabang, Chon Buri province.
UK: All 2013 Volkswagens to have standard digital radio
Volkswagen UK will fit digital (DAB) radios as standard to all 2013 models.
RESEARCH SNAPSHOT: Taiwan's auto industry
Taiwan has, due to its geographic position, political stance and population size, traditionally had both its import and export potentials defined by external factors. This quarterly report is from Business Monitor International.
Latest automotive news 
JAPAN: Isuzu 2012 net profit surges 77%
16 May 2012
Isuzu Motors booked net income of JPY91.26bn (US$1.14bn) for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2012, up 76.9% year on year.
US: Tributes flow for Ford's 1980s turnaround chief
16 May 2012
The words "Ford" and "turnaround" are today most likely to be used in the same sentence as "Alan" and "Mulally", the ex-Boeing chief recruited by Ford chairman Bill Ford who has transformed the fortunes of the company in recent years and helped it avoid a government bail-out. But tributes are being made this week to another top Ford man who help revive the troubled automaker in the 1980s - former chairman and CEO Harold 'Red' Poling.
US: Detroit Three improve in supplier relationships survey
16 May 2012
Toyota and Honda's relationships with suppliers have slipped while Chrysler, General Motors and Ford have improved, the latest Planning Perspectives survey showed.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Autonomous motoring
Most popular news article this week: an interview with Nady Boules, director of General Motors' electrical and control integration research skunkworks. He told how the automaker sees the pathway, timeframe and costs in moving through semi- to fully autonomous driving.
Hot issue
Quarterly results season rolls around again
It's quarterly results time and we've been slicing and dicing the reports to remove the bumpf, claimed 'highlights' and so on to bring you just the facts. Analysis, where applicable, courtesy of Rob Golding.
Read more here / View all hot issues
Latest analysis
RESEARCH SNAPSHOT: Taiwan's auto industry
Taiwan has, due to its geographic position, political stance and population size, traditionally had both its import and export potentials defined by external factors. This quarterly report from Business Monitor International assesses prospects for its automotive market and industry.
CHINA: JVs boost SAIC April sales 12.6%
16 May 2012
US: GM axes paid for advertising on Facebook
16 May 2012
CHINA: Honda JVs' sales up 43% in April
16 May 2012
SWEDEN: Volvo Truck volume off 4% in April
16 May 2012
CHINA: SORL Auto Parts Q1 gross profit dips
16 May 2012
RUSSIA: Avtovaz Q1 net profit down 88.5%
16 May 2012
EXCLUSIVE: UK: Prodrive reports booming UK business
UK-based automotive and motorsport engineering company Prodrive is reporting a surge in business from UK-based OEMs this year.
Hot issue
Auto China, Beijing 2012
Once upon a time, few from the west would have bothered with the Beijing show. Times change. With news like three more JV plants in one week, no one ignores China any more. Press days were 23 and 24 April and our previews and coverage are here.
Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles
RESEARCH SNAPSHOT: Taiwan's auto industry
14 May 2012
Taiwan has, due to its geographic position, political stance and population size, traditionally had both its import and export potentials defined by external factors. This quarterly report from Business Monitor International assesses prospects for its automotive market and industry.
COMMENT: GM and PSA's plans to share plants and architectures
14 May 2012
The past few days have seen all sorts of rumours and supposed leaks from plant managers, union officials and senior executives at Opel and PSA. What should we believe?
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Autonomous motoring
11 May 2012
Most popular news article this week: an interview with Nady Boules, director of General Motors' electrical and control integration research skunkworks. He told how the automaker sees the pathway, timeframe and costs in moving through semi- to fully autonomous driving - the automaker has begun road testing prototype Cadillacs capable of semi-autonomous driving. GM calls the system ‘Super Cruise’.
COMMENT: Germany can afford it
11 May 2012
Well, that was unexpected. Normally, the last thing safe, conservative, can we even say staid, German politicians do is pitch head first into domestic wage negotiations, preferring to stay grandly above the fray until the dust settles.
INTERVIEW: GM's autonomous car specialist
9 May 2012
GM has begun road testing prototype Cadillacs capable of semi-autonomous driving. GM calls the system ‘Super Cruise’. just-auto spoke with Dr Nady Boules, director of GM’s Electrical and Control Integration Research Lab. He outlined how GM sees the pathway, timeframe and costs in moving through semi- to fully autonomous driving.
Q&A with Nexteer Automotive: Staff retention and recruitment in the global automotive industry
8 May 2012
Continuing just-auto’s series of interviews with leading automotive component manufacturers, Matthew Beecham talked with Pascale Ruiz, Nexteer Automotive’s Human Resources Director for Europe about staff and recruitment issues in the automotive industry.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: More rain, more results
4 May 2012
More rain and more quarterly results pretty well sums up the week at just-auto.com towers as we head into our 'spring break' also known as a 'bank holiday weekend'. I'm stocking up on BBQ gas, meat, sandbags and a JCB digger to divert the local stream into the neighbour's place if it gets any higher...
COMMENT: Audi hints at production plans for flywheel tech
4 May 2012
Audi's revolutionary R18 e-tron quattro takes to the track this weekend in round two of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Spa this weekend. This marks the first time that a Le Mans sportscar with diesel hybrid drive and two driven axles will compete in a race.
Q&A with BWI Group: Review of suspension systems
1 May 2012
In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Frank Robinson, product line director, suspension systems, BWI Group, about how its damper business is shaping-up this year and customer feedback on the supplier’s adaptive suspension technology, known as MagneRide.
just-auto's research round-up
Here's a brief run-down of reports available in our research store that caught our eye over the past week or so...
Get connected:
Reports in focus
2012 Automotive Supplier Outlook – Europe
This report is the result of a unique growth forecasting approach for the European automotive supplier industry which not only forecasted average growth, but defined groups of companies that over and underperform growth forecasts. Ever since the author, Tamas Rozsa, began forecasting the automotive markets they have never seen such a large growth gap between carmakers and suppliers, and between Western and Eastern Europe.
Published Apr 2012 - ($ 400.00)
- Automotive Industry in Russia. Results of 2011. Prospects
Published Apr 2012 - ($ 549.24) - LMC Automotive UK Automotive Sales Forecast (annual subscription)
Published On demand - ($ 3315.20) - China Automotive Industry Yearbook 2012 - Automotive Parts
Published Mar 2012 - ($ 1450.00) - Global Electric Vehicle Market 2011-2015
Published Apr 2012 - ($ 1500.00)
Latest just-auto research
- Global market review of starter motors and alternators - forecasts to 2026
Published May 2012 - ($ 1800.00) - QUBE starter motors and alternators intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published May 2012 - ($ 1800.00) - Global market review of vehicle access, anti-theft and security - forecasts to 2026
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - QUBE vehicle access, anti-theft and security intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - Global market review of automotive HVAC - forecasts to 2026
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00)
The just-auto blog
UNI-CUB: Honda looks beyond bikes, cars, robots & jets
By: Glenn Brooks
16 May 2012
Honda thinks it might have found itself another new revenue stream: personal mobility devices.
Autonomous cars
By: Dave Leggett
15 May 2012
Autonomous vehicles that have the ability to drive themselves are a big talking point right now.
Opel-Vauxhall's Project Junior gets a model name at last
By: Glenn Brooks
08 May 2012
The wait is over and there was truth in the rumour: both Opel and Vauxhall versions of the Junior small car project are to be called 'Adam'.
Production life database
Global current and future (to 2025) vehicle database
PLDB (Product Life Database) from just-auto covers all regions, so researching both existing vehicles and models yet to be launched by all of the world's major manufacturers is easy.
This database, which is constantly audited and updated, can be searched by various fields, including segment, vehicle architecture/platform, plant location or country of build. PLDB also lists each car or light truck's lifecycle, expected next styling refresh or schedule replacement date. Where possible, vehicle codenames are also included.
PLDB lists 1530 current and future global models from 95 OEM groups, spread across 187 brands, with data for 1211 vehicles having been checked or revised in the last month. Simply click on the link below to take a tour and see pricing.
Related services
‘Black box’ technology could drive down car insurance costs
The Department for Transport (DfT) has said it will work together with the motor industry in a bid to drive down the number of fraudulent claims for whiplash and other injuries, which would reduce the overall cost of car insurance from providers like Staveley Head.
New vs second hand carsIf we all had our way, every car we ever buy would be brand new; shiny, unmarked and full of the new car smell. However, the reality is that we're often restricted financially, or circumstances may present us with a second hand car as our most convenient option.
