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
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 '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
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'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
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
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.
Latest automotive news 
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
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
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?
AUSTRALIA: Ford loses $A141m in 2012
23 May 2013
US: New Chinese bid to buy Fisker – reports
22 May 2013
US: Ford adds 200K capacity in NA
22 May 2013
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
It's quarterly results time again. We're compiling them here for quick 'n' easy access.
Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles
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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Reports in focus
Automotive Fabrics: Expanding Opportunities in the Vehicles of Tomorrow
The use of fabrics in cars, particularly nonwovens, has been increasing as part of a move towards lighter vehicles which consume less fuel. There has also been a gradual switch in many automotive applications towards the use of recycled materials, or those based on natural fibres, as a replacement for conventional synthetics. This report provides invaluable insight into the market for automotive interiors and textiles, including leading suppliers and their products. In particular, it examines the way consolidation in the global automotive supply chain has resulted in Tier 1 automotive interior companies taking control of their own fabric production by acquiring automotive textile companies.
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- Zambia Autos Report Q3 2013
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Published May 2013 - ($ 1175.00) - Global Automotive Head-up Display Market 2012-2016
Published Jan 2013 - ($ 2500.00) - Cote d'Ivoire Autos Report Q3 2013
Published May 2013 - ($ 1295.00)
Latest just-auto research
- Global market review of vehicle access, anti-theft and security - forecasts to 2027
Published May 2013 - ($ 1500.00) - QUBE vehicle access, anti-theft and security intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published May 2013 - ($ 1500.00) - Global market review of active and passive safety systems - forecasts to 2027
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The just-auto blog
Future mobility
By: Dave Leggett
23 May 2013
How our cities will function in the future, with particular reference to the movement of people, is emerging as one of the big challenges ahead - particularly with the rising rate of urbanisation around the world and the creation of so-called 'megacities'.
Marchionne in some hot water
By: Dave Leggett
21 May 2013
Fiat-Chrysler supremo Sergio Marchionne has got himself into a spot of bother with the 'Italian American One Voice Coalition'.
Why the Mazda6 wagon is smaller than the sedan
By: Glenn Brooks
20 May 2013
I've been wondering about this since Mazda launched the different body styles months apart last year: is the latest sedan a rebodying of the old car, while the wagon has the latest platform as introduced by the CX-5? If so, why?
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 scheduled replacement date. Where possible, vehicle codenames are also included.
PLDB lists 1555 current and future global models from 98 OEM groups, spread across 198 brands, with data for 1458 vehicles having been checked or revised in the last month. Simply click on the link below to take a tour and see pricing.
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Lexus ES 2013: A Polished Sedan
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‘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.
