AUSTRALIA: Ford to end local manufacture in 2016

AUSTRALIA: Ford to end local manufacture in 2016

After announcing an after-tax operating loss of A$141m for the 2012 financial year, following a A$290m loss in 2011, Ford has finally thrown in the manufacturing towel in Australia and will close its factories in 2016.

US: Tesla pays back big Federal loan early

US: Tesla pays back big Federal loan early

Tesla Motors has announced that it has paid off the entire loan awarded to the company by the US Department of Energy in 2010.

AUSTRALIA: Irate union slams Ford

AUSTRALIA: Irate union slams Ford 'Detroit edict' as costing 6,000 jobs

Ford's decision to axe production in Australia has provoked fury at one of Australia's largest unions that estimates the cascade effect of shuttering plants will cost up to 6,000 jobs.

PRODUCT EYE: Lexus tries again with new IS

PRODUCT EYE: Lexus tries again with new IS

A colleague who shall remain nameless asked, among fellow journalists, the rhetorical question during the European launch of the third generation IS: given the success of Audi, BMW and Mercedes on home European turf, why does Lexus bother?

INTERVIEW: Magma

INTERVIEW: Magma's Martin Leach

It was a telephone call from then UK prime minister Tony Blair that prompted Martin Leach to form Magma, the multi-faceted automotive industry consultancy and service provider.

SOUTH AFRICA: Mercedes-Benz resumes work after paint shop lightening strike

SOUTH AFRICA: Mercedes-Benz resumes work after paint shop lightening strike

Further details have emerged surrounding this week's lightening strike that saw 1,600 workers walk out at a Mercedes-Benz South Africa plant in East London.

CHINA: Anti-corruption campaign hitting premium brands – analyst

CHINA: Anti-corruption campaign hitting premium brands – analyst

Although the Chinese car market is expected to see growth of around 10% this year, prospects for premium brands have deteriorated as a result of the Chinese government's anti-corruption campaign, according to LMC Automotive.


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AUSTRALIA: Ford to end local manufacture in 2016

23 May 2013

After announcing an after-tax operating loss of A$141m for the 2012 financial year, following a A$290m loss in 2011, Ford has finally thrown in the manufacturing towel in Australia and will close its factories in 2016.

US: Tesla pays back big Federal loan early

23 May 2013

Tesla Motors has announced that it has paid off the entire loan awarded to the company by the US Department of Energy in 2010.

SOUTH AFRICA: Paint shop dispute at heart of Mercedes-Benz lightning strike

23 May 2013

Striking workers at a Mercedez-Benz plant in South Africa walked out this week concerning a dispute surrounding paint shop practices, it has emerged.

 

THE WEEK THAT WAS: A little bit of niggle

I wouldn't have thought that, with the current state of play in the European auto industry, there'd be too much niggle in the union ranks. But we've reported on a bit this week.

Hot issue

Mixed fortunes for EV start-ups

Mixed fortunes for EV start-ups

Tesla has just posted its first quarterly profit in ten years. Some more recent EV start-ups have come and gone. Even the established OEMs are finding the going hard and EV sales targets missed as mixed fortunes and uncertainties for the electric vehicle sector abound.

Read more here / View all hot issues

Latest analysis

IS gains the latest Lexus signature spindle grille

PRODUCT EYE: Lexus tries again with new IS

A colleague who shall remain nameless asked, among fellow journalists, the rhetorical question during the European launch of the third generation IS: given the success of Audi, BMW and Mercedes on home European turf, why does Lexus bother?

Read more here / View all analysis articles

 

ANALYSIS: Light at the end of the tunnel for Europe?

April's sales figures for the European car market have marked a return to growth following a precipitous plunge that has left sales in Western Europe some 20% off the last peak and at a level comparable with the early 1990s. Are we at the bottom and is recovery in prospect?

Hot issue

Quarterly results roll round again

Quarterly results roll round again

It's quarterly results time again. We're compiling them here for quick 'n' easy access.

Read more here / View all hot issues

Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles RSS feed

PRODUCT EYE: Lexus tries again with new IS

23 May 2013

A colleague who shall remain nameless asked, among fellow journalists, the rhetorical question during the European launch of the third generation IS: given the success of Audi, BMW and Mercedes on home European turf, why does Lexus bother?

May 2013 management briefing: ASEAN growth prospects (1)

21 May 2013

In the last decade of last century, before the term “BRICs” had even been coined, there was another acronym that loomed large on the agenda of any global automaker. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, looked like a potential powerhouse for growth. In this month's management briefing, Mark Bursa takes a look at the region's automotive prospects, starting with an overview.

PRODUCT EYE: Honda CR-Z

21 May 2013

It isn't often that a three-year old car, albeit one that was facelifted not long ago, attracts admiring glances in car parks. Glenn Brooks was surprised to learn that few people know what a Honda CR-Z is.

EXCLUSIVE: Next Mazda2 to use downsized CX-5 platform

20 May 2013

A spokesperson for the company's UK importer has told just-auto that the replacement for the Mazda2/Demio will use the same platform as the far larger CX-5 crossover.

ANALYSIS: Light at the end of the tunnel for Europe?

20 May 2013

April's sales figures for the European car market have marked a return to growth following a precipitous plunge that has left sales in Western Europe some 20% off the last peak and at a level comparable with the early 1990s. Are we at the bottom and is recovery in prospect?

INTERVIEW: Magma's Martin Leach

20 May 2013

It was a telephone call from then UK prime minister Tony Blair that prompted Martin Leach to form Magma, the multi-faceted automotive industry consultancy and service provider.

Q&A with Magna Seating

20 May 2013

Seat manufacturers must develop seats that are lighter, offer more space for occupants and incorporate environmentally friendly materials. Yet space creation inside the vehicle has become critical with the explosion of added content and features. Discerning tastes also mean consumers want more flexible living space within their cars. To find out how Magna Seating is meeting these demands, Matthew Beecham talked with three of the company’s top executives, namely Randy Koenigsknecht, VP Sales & Marketing, Jeff Lambert, VP Engineering and Global IT Services, Dino Nardicchio, Executive Director, Advanced Engineering and Consumer Interface Products.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: A little bit of niggle

17 May 2013

I wouldn't have thought that, with the current state of play in the European auto industry, there'd be too much niggle in the union ranks. But we've reported on a bit this week.

COMMENT: Bochum union factionism a voice from the past

17 May 2013

What are Opel's 3,000 odd workers at its Bochum plant in the heavily-industrialised region of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) thinking today?

 

Q&A with Magna Seating

Seat manufacturers must develop seats that are lighter, offer more space for occupants and incorporate environmentally friendly materials - with space creation at a premium. To find out how Magna Seating is meeting these demands, Matthew Beecham talked with three of the company's top executives.

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