US: One-off Q4 item boosts Ford 2011 results
A one-off, non-cash special item of US$12.4bn "for the release of almost all of the valuation allowance against the company’s net deferred tax assets" helped boost Ford's 2011 net profit $13.7bn to 20.2bn, or $4.94 per share.
TURKEY: Brightwell to make imminent Saab engineer statement as confidentiality deal inked
Turkish private equity company Brightwell Holdings is to make an imminent statement on retaining skilled engineers at Saab, following the inking of a confidentiality agreement with the bankrupt automaker's receivers.
US: Nissan announces $2bn third factory for Mexico
Nissan Motor on Wednesday (25 January) said it would spend up to US$2bn on a new manufacturing complex in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to support its Americas growth strategy.
GERMANY: VW launches five-door Up
Volkswagen has launched a five-door version of its new Up city car, saying the new model has the same space for rear passengers as the three-door.
COMMENT: Italy on its knees as Fiat austerity ad airs
Maybe Sergio Marchionne could be excused a wry smile as he plies the airwaves of the world - at the recent Automotive News World Congress in Detroit the Chrysler/Fiat CEO remarked he spent the equivalent of 42, 24-hour days on aircraft last year.
Webinar: Where's the automotive industry heading in 2012?
Review the results of just-auto's annual automotive industry outlook survey under the guidance of just-auto's editor Dave Leggett. Dave will be joined by Jonathon Poskitt, analyst from LMC Automotive, to present their latest market forecasts.
NETHERLANDS: Mitsubishi Europe volume up 7% in 2011
Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) boosted unit volume 7% year on year to 149,967 sales.
Latest automotive news 
US: One-off Q4 item boosts Ford 2011 results
27 January 2012
A one-off, non-cash special item of US$12.4bn "for the release of almost all of the valuation allowance against the company’s net deferred tax assets" helped boost Ford's 2011 net profit $13.7bn to 20.2bn, or $4.94 per share. Pre-tax operating profit rose $463m to $8.8bn "as strong performance in North America and Ford Credit offset challenges in other parts of the world", the automaker said on Friday.
INDIA: Is Mahindra & Mahindra a third Saab bidder?
27 January 2012
Mahindra & Mahindra is declining to comment on speculation it may be a third party interested in buying bankrupt Saab.
ITALY: Fiat haemorrhaging 4,000 cars a day as truck blockade continues to bite
27 January 2012
Fiat says it is losing production of more than 4,000 vehicles per day as Italy's devastating industrial action by truck drivers continues to choke the country's supply lines.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Fiat and the truckers
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has had enough trouble with unions lately, and now, as I write, Fiat is struggling with the logistics nightmare of a truckers strike that seems to be bringing Italy to a halt.
Hot issue
Geneva 2012
The 82nd Geneva International Motor Show will be held from March 8-18, 2012 (press days March 6-7)
Latest analysis
January 2012 management briefing: world markets – Europe
It is probably fair to say that the analysts and pundits are – in early 2012 - less certain about prospects for the year ahead than they were a year ago.
US: Ford to expand EcoBoost model range
27 January 2012
BELGIUM: Toyota Europe delivers 400,000th hybrid
27 January 2012
SWEDEN: Trelleborg sells off auto parts unit
27 January 2012
US: Ford uses kenaf plant inside Escape doors
27 January 2012
RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ raises prices
27 January 2012
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Motors recalls 300,000 vehicles
27 January 2012
US: Timken books record sales in 2011
27 January 2012
ANALYSIS: European sales down, VW remains top brand
The Volkswagen Golf remained Europe’s best-selling car in 2011, despite a drop in sales of 1.6% in 2011 compared to 2010, analysts JATO Dynamics said. The VW Polo retained second place for December and for the year, with sales up 2.9% and 0.5% respectively, while Ford’s Fiesta held third place.
Hot issue
Delhi Auto Expo 2012
As automakers focus more and more on the BRIC markets, eyes are increasingly turning towards motor shows like Delhi's, once just of local interest but now another launchpad for global models. Our men on the ground include Chris Wright and local resident Satnam Singh while Glenn Brooks provides the product details.
Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles
January 2012 management briefing: world markets – Europe
27 January 2012
It is probably fair to say that the analysts and pundits are – in early 2012 - less certain about prospects for the year ahead than they were a year ago.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Fiat and the truckers
27 January 2012
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has had enough trouble with unions lately, and now, as I write, Fiat is struggling with the logistics nightmare of a truckers strike that seems to be bringing Italy to a halt.
COMMENT: Italy on its knees as Fiat austerity ad airs
26 January 2012
Maybe Sergio Marchionne could be excused a wry smile as he plies the airwaves of the world - at the recent Automotive News World Congress in Detroit the Chrysler/Fiat CEO remarked he spent the equivalent of 42, 24-hour days on aircraft last year - as he digests the current wave of popular unrest sweeping Italy
INTERVIEW: Nissan Mexicana president Jose Munoz
25 January 2012
Interviewed at Nissan's Americas media centre, Nissan Mexicana president Jose Munoz discusses his team’s achievements in 2011 and plans for 2012, including construction of a new manufacturing plant to be built in Aguascalientes. The facility, which will complement Nissan’s two existing Mexican factories, is scheduled to begin operations in late 2013. He envisions an environment where his team will be poised to achieve an unprecedented 30% share of the market in the future.
ANALYSIS: ASEAN sales up by 3.8% in 2011
24 January 2012
New vehicle sales in the ASEAN region’s six largest markets fell by 15.4% to 584,790 units in the fourth quarter of 2011, from 691,517 units a year earlier, writes Tony Pugliese.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Fuel tank systems
20 January 2012
Fuelled by the need to save weight and reduce evaporative emissions, a great deal of innovative design and materials work is going into vehicle fuel tank systems, writes Matthew Beecham.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Unions, Saab and a Ford milestone
20 January 2012
Union news and Saab updates were amongst the most-read stories on just-auto this week.
ANALYSIS: European sales down, VW remains top brand
20 January 2012
The Volkswagen Golf remained Europe’s best-selling car in 2011, despite a drop in sales of 1.6% in 2011 compared to 2010, analysts JATO Dynamics said. The VW Polo retained second place for December and for the year, with sales up 2.9% and 0.5% respectively, while Ford’s Fiesta held third place both in December and for the year.
COMMENT: Radio silence from Saab receivers as CLEPA acts
19 January 2012
Just why aren't Saab's receivers on today's (19 January) trip to China as a high-powered delegation seeks to salvage something from the wreckage of the automaker's recent bankruptcy?
COMMENT: Radio silence from Saab receivers as CLEPA acts
Just why aren't Saab's receivers on today's (19 January) trip to China as a high-powered delegation seeks to salvage something from the wreckage of the automaker's recent bankruptcy?
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Reports in focus
LMC Automotive's Estimated Pan-European Passenger Car Assembly by Model, December 2011
This monthly update for LMC Automotive's European Passenger Car Production history uses the latest actual data and estimates. Detailed production numbers are shown for the latest month and year-to-date, for both the current year and previous year for comparison. Total production is shown for Pan-Europe, Western Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe regions, with model line detail provided.
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 150.00)
- Global market review of automotive cockpits and instrumentation - forecasts to 2026
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1000.00) - QUBE automotive battery technology intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - Car Finance - UK
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 2887.31) - Introduction Report on Russian Automotive Market, Passenger Cars 2010 - 2015
Published Dec 2011 - ($ 618.06)
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- Global market review of automotive HVAC - forecasts to 2026
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1000.00) - QUBE automotive HVAC intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - Global market review of active and passive safety systems - forecasts to 2026
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1000.00) - QUBE active and passive safety systems (annual subscription)
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - Global market review of automotive wiper blades - forecasts to 2026
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 1000.00)
The just-auto blog
When is a target not a target?
By: Dave Leggett
27 Jan 2012
Just how do the average CO2 rules and targets in the EU apply to car manufacturers?
Solar windows 1, Prius mirrors 0
By: Graeme Roberts
26 Jan 2012
Just when you think you've heard it all, comes this from California.
Trip to the cinema, courtesy of General Motors
By: Dave Leggett
25 Jan 2012
I caught the Steven Spielberg directed epic 'War Horse' last night at the flicks.
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 1524 current and future global models from 95 OEM groups, spread across 186 brands, with data for 976 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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