http://www.just-auto.comDaily automotive news and comment - from just-auto.com© 2012 All content copyright just-auto.com. Published by Aroq Ltd.Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:59:42 GMTSat, 04 Feb 2012 03:59:42 GMTjust-auto.com - RSS feedjust-auto.comhttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss20http://www.just-auto.com/images/small_logo_style.gifhttp://www.just-auto.com10021The jury on the likely US sales tally for 2012 is still out after a January that (pleasantly) surprised our resident statistician Bill Cawthon and sparked off a bit of discussion at just-auto Towers this week - will the light vehicle market for the year break through 14m, as an increasing number of pundits suggest or will the remaining 11 months see it pegged back to the 13.5m-ish suggested late last year?http://www.just-auto.com/comment/a-mixed-start-to-2012_id119935.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 13:21:00 GMTChrysler last night (2 February) confirmed it will add about 1,800 jobs at its Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant, including a third shift "and hundreds of jobs for the production of the new Dodge Dart", by the third quarter of 2012.http://www.just-auto.com/news/chrysler-adding-1800-belvidere-jobs_id119934.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 13:18:00 GMTReduced costs and an improved model line-up helped Mitsubishi reverse last year's loss to post a net profit in the nine months to December 2011.http://www.just-auto.com/news/mitsubishi-returns-to-profit-in-fiscal-q3_id119912.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 11:18:00 GMTVarious concepts and production models are due to be revealed at the Chicago auto show's 8 & 9 February media preview days. Our list continues to be updated as manufacturers confirm further debutantes.http://www.just-auto.com/news/updated-global-debuts-list-2013-vw-beetle-tdi-added_id119804.aspxWed, 01 Feb 2012 09:48:00 GMTEurope's automotive supplier body CLEPA, is urging Saab receivers not to sell off the bankrupt automaker piecemeal in order to pay a vast army of lawyers. http://www.just-auto.com/news/clepa-cautions-saab-receivers-not-to-sell-assets-to-pay-huge-lawyer-army_id119938.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 15:27:00 GMTThe year of 2012 is off to a poor start in terms of European car sales if the January results from France and Italy are anything to go by.http://www.just-auto.com/news/january-car-sales-sharply-down-in-france-and-italy_id119936.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:00 GMTDenso announced financial results for the nine months ending 31 December 2011 showing that onsolidated net income fell 72% year on year to JPY36.4bn (US$467.8m) and consolidated operating income was off 53% to JPY82.1bn on consolidated net sales down 6.1% to JPY2,214.4bn.http://www.just-auto.com/news/denso-nine-month-net-income-drops-719_id119925.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:00 GMTSaab bidder Brightwell Holdings says with some "minor adjustements," production could restart immediately in Trollhattan, should its pitch for the bankrupt automaker be successful.http://www.just-auto.com/news/brightwell-confident-of-immediate-start-if-saab-bid-successful_id119911.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:51:00 GMTVolkswagen unit Audi India is adding an extra assembly line at its Aurangabad plant in Maharashtra to build the luxury Q7 SUV and the upcoming entry level Q3, which is expected to be launched in June-July this year, according to local reports.http://www.just-auto.com/news/audi-to-assemble-q3-and-q7-suvs-reports_id119910.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:20:00 GMTCitroen is planning to re-enter South Korea in April with its DS3 models, according to local distributor Hanbul Motors.http://www.just-auto.com/news/citroen-to-re-start-sales_id119907.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 09:31:00 GMTVolvo Trucks' December deliveries increased 27% year-on-year to 11,882 trucks. For the full year 2011, deliveries rose 53% to 115,346 trucks.http://www.just-auto.com/news/volvo-truck-sales-up-27-in-december-53-for-year_id119937.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 15:10:00 GMTJapan's NSG Group, said its UK-based Pilkington automotive and building glass unit is to close a float glass production line due to falling demand. It has also revised down its fiscal 2012 full year forecast.http://www.just-auto.com/news/nsg-closing-pilkington-uk-float-line_id119913.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 11:38:00 GMTThe new GT86, developed with Subaru, will mark the revival of Toyota's sports car development tradition said president Akio Toyoda.http://www.just-auto.com/news/gt86-will-revive-toyotas-sports-car-tradition_id119909.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 09:57:00 GMTAudi will launch seven new models in India and add 10 dealers to its current network of 15 this year.http://www.just-auto.com/news/audi-to-expand-models-and-dealers-this-year_id119908.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 09:38:00 GMTThomas Urbach took up his new post as president and CEO Mercedes-Benz Korea, replacing Harald Behrend, this week.http://www.just-auto.com/news/new-mercedes-chief-arrives-from-berlin_id119926.aspxFri, 03 Feb 2012 12:41:00 GMTInvestment banker Meyrick Cox describes the development of the Chinese auto industry, its structure and offers a view on the challenges it faces in the future.http://www.just-auto.com/comment/where-does-the-chinese-car-industry-really-stand_id119891.aspxThu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMTCombined Fiat-Chrysler revenues and trading profit for calendar year 2011 were "significantly ahead of guidance" at EUR59.6bn and EUR2.4bn respectively, "despite uneven trading conditions, particularly weak in Europe in the second half", Fiat Group Automobiles said in a trading statement on Thursday (2 February). The result included Chrysler's contribution from June 2011.http://www.just-auto.com/news/fiat-chrysler-full-year-financials-ahead-of-guidance_id119883.aspxThu, 02 Feb 2012 13:43:00 GMTSergio Marchionne was in ebullient form when he hosted the telephone conference call to explain the Fiat/Chrysler financial results announced yesterday (1 February).http://www.just-auto.com/comment/marchionne-tells-rival-car-makers-to-behave_id119851.aspxThu, 02 Feb 2012 10:44:00 GMTJanuary US light vehicle sales were stronger than anyone expected.http://www.just-auto.com/news/january-light-vehicles-sales-surprise_id119849.aspxThu, 02 Feb 2012 09:36:00 GMTAlgerian and French politicians have agreed to continue discussions concerning the potential establishment of a Renault assembly factory in the North African country that could see up to 150,000 units produced per year.http://www.just-auto.com/news/top-level-delegation-meets-to-discuss-new-renault-plant_id119905.aspxThu, 02 Feb 2012 17:18:00 GMT