David Leggett's automotive industry blog - from just-auto.com

UNI-CUB: Honda looks beyond bikes, cars, robots & jets

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:48:00 GMT

Honda thinks it might have found itself another new revenue stream: personal mobility devices.

The UNI-CUB, which the company has just unveiled in Japan as a working prototype, could soon be the right product at the right time. Vehicle sales might be booming just now but that's due to government incentives designed to reverse last year's collapse, so the market is expected to resume its long term decline later this year. In short, Japan has minimal immigration and is greying at a far quicker rate than equivalent rich countries, while people have been having fewer children for decades.

The interesting thing about the video which demonstrates the UNI-CUB is the absence of what seems the obvious target audience: the less mobile and by implication, a large percentage of older people.

Autonomous cars

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:49:00 GMT

Autonomous vehicles that have the ability to drive themselves are a big talking point right now. The potential implications are huge. We had some insight from GM in this interview published last week.

And here's a video from Google that is well worth a look and an indicator of just how advanced things have now got. Mind-boggling.

Opel-Vauxhall's Project Junior gets a model name at last

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:27:00 GMT

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'.

The Adam won't be seen in the metal until the Paris show in late September, with LHD cars reaching showroooms across Europe just in time for Christmas. The Vauxhall Adam plus Ireland's Opel model will follow in early 2013.

The announcement of this new model's name also sees us publishing our first list of cars making a global debut at Paris. You can find it here.

Labour costs in car manufacturing - just how important are they?

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:55:00 GMT

How do costs compare between a car manufacturing plant in the UK and a plant in Turkey? Earlier this week I got the opportunity to put that question to Tony Walker, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK. His answer surprised me. He said that much of the cost of manufacturing is down to parts and logistics. Okay...and labour at the assembly plant? He put that at just 6-8%. I must say I thought it would be a larger proportion than that. Making the C-segment sedan in Turkey for shipment to markets in southern/southeastern Europe therefore makes sense. And Burnaston serves as the manufacturing plant for the higher spec C-segment hatch that mainly sells in northern Europe; no big incentive to go for lower labour costs there on the basis of that kind of percentage.

There's an interesting difference between Toyota and Nissan in their respective UK plant strategies. Nissan uses Sunderland for nichey models like Qashqai and Juke (Leaf from next year). It now brings in the Micra for Europe from India (where, presumably, labour costs and parts costs are significantly lower than in Europe – sufficient to more than compensate for the EU tariff and shipping costs). Toyota on the other hand is using its UK plant for more mainstream cars.

Except that Nissan is now going to make a C-seg hatchback (Invitation-based) for Europe in Sunderland as well...

UK: Toyota's UK manufacturing base 'in revival phase'

Suzuki sidelined

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:55:00 GMT

I guess the corporate amalgamation that was DaimlerChrysler is a good example of an auto industry coming together that ultimately failed. On paper there was a rationale that made some sense. In practice, it just didn't work out. The two partners didn't share much in the end. The less they shared, the less they felt they needed to share. The synergies never materialised in the ways they should have and shareholder value gradually evaporated. One partner (Chrysler) felt aggrieved that it wasn't on an equal footing with the other and the other (Mercedes-Benz) arguably developed something of a superiority complex.

The Renault Nissan Alliance however, has worked well. The key there, perhaps, is that the relationship is an alliance, not a takeover or merger. Areas of cooperation – notably parts procurement and platform sharing – are well defined, corporate independence protected under limited cross shareholdings and politically comfortable board make-ups.

Volkswagen and Suzuki were going to have an alliance, but the smaller firm got the distinct impression that the bigger one was eyeing control and an eventual takeover. An acrimonious parting of the ways is still not over. Volkswagen has a small but significant stake in Suzuki and is not prepared to hand it back; lawyers are involved and the case could rumble on for a while. And while VW retains that stake, Suzuki is effectively ruled out of the automotive partners game.

I wouldn't mind betting that Sergio Marchionne has looked at the post-VW Suzuki and wondered whether Suzuki might be a good Asian fit to Fiat-Chrysler's alliance. Suzuki had clearly recognised that it could do with a partner to help in some areas, but it also wanted to retain its independence. Marchionne might well be in a position to deliver some reassurance on that. Fiat has been very careful in its relationship with troubled Chrysler.

Alas, Ferdinand Piech has, for now, picked up the Suzuki ball and run off with it.

GOLDING'S TAKE: Three in Fiat's bed better than two?

China Infographic

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:09:00 GMT

Infographic? As the name suggests, it's the graphic visual representation of information, data or knowledge. Cave paintings and maps are early examples of attempts to visualise info. 'Pictograms' in the signs we understand every day are another example. Anyway, 'infographics' today are also seen as a means to convey a story via the use of statistics and charts. We've been dipping our toes in the water. This infographic looks at China's booming auto industry and its constituents. I'd be interested to know what people think...

China Infographic - Click to enlarge

You can download a PDF version of this infographic here.

Opel Junior's model name revealed

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:42:00 GMT

Germany's Autobild says it has learned the name of Opel's forthcoming Mini rival: Adam.

Using the founder's first name to mark the company's 150th anniversary makes sense for Opel, but surely there will be a different model name for the Vauxhall variant? Dave Leggett, who's just read this blog, suggests 'Eve'.

Opel and Vauxhall were set to announce the car's name(s?) on 8th May - so far there has been no official confirmation or denial of Autobild's claim.

Codenames and platforms of future models for the Chinese market

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:21:00 GMT

The second press day of the Beijing motor show is under way and our round-up of new vehicle premieres now stretches to over 100. But what are their codenames, which ones will be built, and when, not to mention on what platforms, and in which plants?

I devote a large part of most working days to tracking down, checking and cross-checking information for future vehicle programmes. Then I update PLDB, just-auto's global database of current and future vehicles. There's currently over 1,500 models listed there, so if you're interested in what's ahead (out to 2025) for China-built cars and light trucks, you can take a free demo tour.

As well as spending lots of time updating all the future models coming for the Chinese market, I've also been adding loads of information about 2013 model year vehicles for the US market in recent weeks - the fact that you can search the database by such criteria makes it easy to find you're looking for.

The Beijing blog

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:00 GMT

Wednesday 25 April

13.30 (CST)

That's me sorted. Done all I need to do at the conference and heading back to the hotel to put my feet up. Ant should be in the air now, winging his way homewards. I have it all to do tomorrow. After yesterday's appalling weather it really is quite nice outside and you can actually see blue sky above. Maybe a walk then.

08.30 (CST)

Here I am back at the Automotive News China conference, feeling a lot better than I ought to after a few beers out with Ant last night. He arranged for us to meet at his favourite Italian restaurant - well, he's been there once before - and I set out into the night. First stop was the concierge to translate the address into Mandarin. I've done this before you know.

That done, a mile long queue for a cab and when it did arrive the driver hadn't got a clue re the address. The doorman had a go before disappearing back into the hotel to get a map. I meanwhile am wondering how far away it is and how much it's going to cost. Finally on the way and the driver stops twice to look at the map then gets a call on his mobile, the ring tone appeared to be a small child hurling abuse at him. Bizarrely the restaurant is all of four minutes drive from the hotel! I could probably have walked it.

After food we hit a couple of bars, the second of which was a country and western pub called Nashville - and why not when you're in Beijing? Performing on stage were two middle aged guitar playing Chinese women which didn't bode well but they had just the most brilliant country voices. Tried some local beers and one brew in particular was quite challenging, then it was time to have fun with another taxi driver. You would have thought he would know the Westin Hotel? He did, actually, but not before I finally got the message across by saying it in the worst Chinese accent that you'll ever hear.

Tuesday 24 April

18.00 (CST)

At the reception following the Automotive News China conference I bumped into former General Motors Europe chief Nick Reilly. Nick, who was also MD at Vauxhall for a while, retired a couple of months ago but he is obviously not spending his time tending the garden. He has got a couple of gigs with companies looking to expand their presence in China and Asia. Nor is he being the typical retired Brit and decamping to Spain or the South of France - he's going to live in Kuala Lumpur.

16.30 (CST)

I'm glad I've been inside all day, it's absolutely tipping down outside. I can't image what it must be like for those who had stands outside at the show - I wonder if some people had to make the long walk again? Apparently that happened a couple of years ago.

My hosts at JLR have kindly put a Range Rover and driver at my disposal so I'm lording it around town. Automotive News conference is interesting, I'm learning how to sell cars in China, you never know it might come in handy one day. Ant has been sweeping up on the pix then looking to see if there's anything we can do tonight. I have been to Beijing many times but still haven't worked out my way around. Ant has already braved the metro after taking a roundabout route into town via a taxi from his hotel to the airport, then the train into the centre before disappearing underground.

08.30 (CST)

Pretty swanky place called Capital M last night but a very relaxed atmosphere after a hard day at the show. Have taken an executive decision not to go back into the show today having done all I could yesterday. I just couldn't stand the hour long drive back out there. Most of the other journos on the JLR trip have caught the bomber home today. At lunchtime I am off to the Automotive News China conference across town which will be running today and tomorrow. It should provide a good insight into the market here.

Monday 23 April

16.30 (CST)

Well, that's the last interview of the day, with Tony Williams who heads up the design for MG and Roewe here in China. He's now based in Shanghai rather than Birmingham and says it's a bit different but good fun.

Have been charging around a bit too much to see if I can spot any odd vehicles, actually charging is not the right word - trying to dodge through the seething mass of humanity more like. I did see something that looks incredibly like a Mini while my favourite name was the Great Wall Wingle [domestic version of the Steed pickup truck just launched here in UK - ed]. What on earth was GM thinking by putting a lurid green Chevrolet Camaro on the front of their stand?

I never did see Ant again but I see from the site he has been working away, bless him. I think he half knackered himself yesterday climbing the Great Wall, the real one, not the cars. He had to order in a takeaway Italian last night - now there's a different spin on things.

One thing I do know is that I am in desperate need of a shower and other amenities: How can you let about a million people into a show and only have two urinals in each of the toilets? Oh, and don't put carpets on the toilet floor.

There's an informal trough with JLR this evening - a beer might be in order as well.

12.00 (CST)

A bit like the Delhi show earlier this year, I feel some way out of my comfort zone trying to find out what is going on. Try as we might, no one has actually been able to unearth a press conference list, there's not even anything on the organiser's website. Finally found one, of sorts, given to me by Ford PR man Craig Von Essen and guess what? Most of the conferences are at the same time in different halls! Never mind, there's not a lot of point in going to them as my mandarin is non-existent. As I feared, the place is rammed with people and getting around is not easy. It has also become fiercely hot.

11.00 (CST)

Some, it seems, we're not as lucky as us. Just bumped in to [Volkswagen UK's] Paul Buckett who took three hours to get in from the centre of the city. His crew were not allowed along the closed roads and had to hoof the last 40 minutes - good job it wasn't raining. Met up with camera man Anthony Holdgate and have left him snapping away following our lavish brunch in the on-site MacDonalds.

08.00 (CST)

I am totally confused. The place we went to yesterday to collect our credentials (I got the passport back, by the way) was not actually the show halls, despite having 'Auto China' emblazoned all over it. This was a shame as it was only about 10 minutes from the hotel. The actual show is out near the airport, about an hour on a coach away. But how cool is this, we had a police escort complete with blues and twos. Despite the roads around the show being closed, we got the full VIP treatment right up to the doors.

Sunday 22 April

00.00 (CST)

It's midnight and the plan for the early night has gone out the window. I blame those JLR girls. Just come back from the press conference with Victoria Beckham. Huge crowd outside - for her not me. Plan is to head for the show at 7am. I sooooo looking forward to that.

16.00 (CST)

Just spent the morning in JLR's largest dealership in the world in Beijing. It's massive and the showroom alone can hold 20 cars. The customers get pretty well looked after as well. There’s a restaurant, lounge area with wi-fi, a table tennis table (of course) and even a massage room – you won’t get one of those in Honest Joe’s used car lot. It is apparently a nice day, hot and the sun is shining – although you still can’t actually see it, or, indeed, any blue sky, just the smog and an endless cascade of blossom coming from the trees. As I was in China I thought it would be good to have a curry at lunchtime. Actually, the hotel restaurant has a full English roast on offer complete with Yorkshire pudding but I resisted the urge. In fact today was “bubble-iscous” day in the restaurant, hence the bizarre appearance of a girl in a bubble in the hotel foyer – a somewhat surreal site. Even so I still didn’t quite get the “bubble” bit apart from another girl walking around the restaurant in a see-thru ra-ra skirt – she did have a leotard on as well. It was covered in teaspoons.

I really should stop smoking that stuff...

Next it was back in the fleet of Jaguars and Land Rovers to go to the show to collect credentials. Unfortunately there was a queue that appeared to be several miles long which didn’t bode well given how hot it was outside. Fortunately a very nice man from JLR China collected up all our passports and said he would sort it all out for us and sent us back to the hotel... at least I think he was from JLR.

Saturday 21 April

22.00 (CST)

Saturday afternoon and we were stuck in a huge traffic jam! It took considerably longer than expected to get back to the hotel from the press conference but at least there was an hour or so to relax before dinner with the JLR top bods via another traffic jam. Have to say most of us were flagging come pudding. Haven't seen Ant yet, although we have exchanged emails - he tells me he's nice and close to the runway at Beijing airport, in fact he has to keep his windows open so the aircraft can pass through on landing and take-off. He's been doing the sight-seeing thing and is off to the Great Wall in the morning... don't they make cars?

17.00 (Chinese Standard Time) Beijing

That went well, nice list of films to watch on the flight and, er, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until landing time! Still, the time passed quickly. Beijing, as ever, covered in smog so I have no idea what the weather is actually like. No time to rest, it's straight out to the first press conference with Land Rover chief designer Gerry McGovern telling us about the new special edition Evoque, the first fruits of the collaboration with Victoria Beckham. Looks pretty good as well and the Land Rover people are genuinely impressed with Victoria's input. Brand director John Edwards told me they have learned a lot from her about protecting the brand - she is very focused. We'll get to meet her at tomorrow's event.

Friday 20 April

14.28 (GMT) Heathrow airport

So, here we go again - on the road once more for the next round of the 2012 motor shows. Just checked into the BA lounge at T5, already spotted a couple of fellow travellers across a crowded room - PFPR out in in force with Peters Frater and Rawlinson, Ray Massey and Land Rover MD John Edwards. Bound to be a few more before long.

Looks like a busy schedule ahead with a couple of JLR events on Saturday and Sunday followed by the show proper on Monday and Tuesday followed by the Automotive News conference. You'll be able to read all about it on just-auto of course. Lensman Anthony Holdgate is a day ahead of me, probably still sleeping off the effects of the horse tranquillisers he takes to get him through economy class. I, on the other hand, am in the officers mess - you wouldn't expect anything less, surely?

No Lewis or Stansfield with me this time, dammit, looks like I'm going to have to do some work .......

The Chinese arrive

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Two minor firsts for me yesterday. A visit to the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) proving ground in north Warwickshire where a small off-road workout had been laid out for the new Great Wall Steed pickup - the first Chinese vehicle on sale here in the UK.

MIRA's been around a lot longer than Millbrook and is the less flashy version. No posh entertainment centre, just business. The drive to the offroad bit almost dislodged fillings - pickups being prone to a lousy ride unless a decent load of builders' mix is in the back - and I could have sworn we'd crossed at least two more counties before we got there.

The Steed looks and feels more late 90s than mid-2000s but it is a far better first-out-of-the-gate than some of the products Japan foisted on the west in its early export days. Sure, the motors were reliable but the bodies rusted, some models didn't like foreign fuel and a lot of early pickup cabs and rear seats were simply far too cramped for burly westerners. It was not till the late 70s that many of the Japanese D-segment cars had the sort of legroom you took for granted in a UK or American equivalent.

Importer IM Group - which also does the Isuzu D-Max separately - is pitching the value for money aspect with a simple, very well equipped, 4WD, turbodiesel manual double-cab line and the presentation was free of hyperbole. No grandiose predictions of volume or buyer type - the 40 dealers and a low-key, direct-target marketing campaign will get to work and then we'll see. Some success in right-hand drive Australia and New Zealand, and also in LHD Italy suggests the brand will find its place; leather trim and cheek heaters has to at least guarantee a showroom or farm show look.

The Haval/Hover H6 SUV we were shown in LHD form also shows promise; it's about the size of a Qashqai and will also go the turbodiesel, six-speed manual route with an auto option likely at some point. Like the Steed it doesn't appear to set any class standards but if the price is right, the equipment list lavish and the dealer service as good as Great Wall promises, the customers will come.

For anyone quick to dismiss the Chinese as johnny-come-latelys, I have two words: Hyundai-Kia. How we laughed at those rebodied Mitsubishis with brown trim that turned green in strong sun. We don't laugh at their products any more, nor those of now-affiliate Kia.

Opel-Vauxhall to reveal Mini rival's name

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:56:00 GMT

Its launch at the Paris motor show might be over five months away, but Opel and Vauxhall are set to announce the model name for Project GM4403.

A source at Vauxhall has told me that Tuesday 8th May is the date when all will be revealed. Will it be 'Junior'? Will it be 'Allegra'? Or might it even be 'TRIXX'?

I recently spoke to Rita Forst, Opel-Vauxhall's head of Engineering, and pressed her for details about the Junior project. If you missed the interview, you'll find it here.

Europe: Nissan overtakes Fiat

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:03:00 GMT

The combination of the ongoing economic downturn and a crippling truckers' strike in its home market saw Fiat outsold across Europe last month by Nissan.

The numbers, which were issued by ACEA earlier on 17th April, list combined sales for 25 EU and three EFTA markets. In a market down 6.6% year on year, Volkswagen Group saw its share rise by 1.7%, meaning that it finished the month with 23.7% of all passenger vehicle sales in Europe. That's more than double what the traditional number two, PSA, managed (11.9%, down 19.2%).

Volkswagen was of course greatly helped by the ongoing expansion of the German market. The BMW (73,899) and Mercedes-Benz (65,814) brands also saw their sales up last month at a regional level, to such an extent that they also surpassed the total for Fiat-badged vehicles (58,480). In March 2011, Fiat's total was 80,174, putting it 10,000 and 20,000 units ahead of BMW and Benz respectively. This time last year, Fiat was also some 20,000 units ahead of Nissan. But last month, Nissan's 62,860 registrations placed it ahead of its Italian rival.

To give those totals some perspective, Nissan sales in March were behind, in this order: VW, Ford, Opel-Vauxhall, Renault, Peugeot, Hyundai-Kia, Audi, Citroen, BMW, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz.

The misery for Fiat might be painful but there is one other major manufacturer doing worse. Believe it or not, Honda Europe found itself outsold last month by Jaguar Land Rover. Honda's 23% YoY drop to only 19,924 registrations in March versus a 27% surge to 21,321 sales for JLR was enough to push the Japanese manufacturer's yearly total (a mere 36,797) behind that for Jaguar Land Rover (38,285). Consider also that Mazda, with no production base in the region, is some 2,000 units ahead of Honda. Let's hope for the future of workers at its plants in Turkey and England that the new Civic can begin to turn things around for Honda.

Dave Leggett also has some thoughts on the ACEA numbers, so do have a look at his words too. You'll find them here.

The 'lost decade' is reality

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:08:00 GMT

I was talking to Jonathan Poskitt, analyst at LMC Automotive, earlier this week about the latest West European car sales numbers.

In essence, the car sales numbers are coming in as expected. Germany (and to a lesser extent the UK) is holding up, but France, Italy and Spain are either declining rapidly or in the doldrums (Spain). And there's not much joy in the smaller markets (Greece was down 43% last month).

If the economic picture is as it is, austerity budgets coming into play and national economies generally struggling, car sales will inevitably take a hit. The forecasters have got this one right.

The conversation turned to the longer-term outlook. There wasn't too much cheer there. A long adjustment is in prospect, the eurozone currency structural issues firmly on a long-term horizon. Household incomes will be under pressure for a while yet.

This brought me to a recent conversation with Honda Europe's Ken Keir. Several things stuck. One, he said that he believes many car customers are realising that they can hold on to their cars for longer – though there are limits. Maintenance costs go up and at some point, many of us want a change. But the economic crisis has ushered in a change in behaviour, and one also supported by ever better quality - cars are better for longer. Two, in southern Europe, he says they are seeing two-car households starting to give up the second car and replace that with a motorcycle (Honda, as a two-wheeler player, in a good position to see that). I wonder how much more of that sort of thing we might see? When you hear that real incomes in some places are going to decline by 20% in real terms, that's not the sort of thing that is easily reversed on a short timescale. People are impacted, severely, and they won't forget it in a hurry either.

The effects in Europe of the economic/financial crisis that began in 2008 (arguably 2007) will run for some time, even if a gradual recovery sets in later this year and into 2013 (it will be recovery from a very low base). Which brings us to the size of the European car market and prospects for recovery. When will we get back to pre-crisis levels? Keir says 2020. Gulp. Is that over-pessimistic? Jonathan Poskitt says that is broadly in line with the LMC projections – around 2018, to be precise.

So there you have it – a decade of adjustment following an international banking sector screw-up. Sobering thought.

Western Europe car sales down 7.1% in March

Mixed recovery in the auto biz

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:59:00 GMT

The auto business, and indeed business generally, hasn't looked too bad lately. Sure, there are ongoing worries over the oil price and price inflation. That has the potential to nudge global interest rates up and cause nervous investors to worry, with all the usual adverse consequences for fragile confidence and the global economy. And the sizeable financial problems in Europe have not gone away – though the lid appears to be on that one for now.

However, stock markets around the world have been rallying so far this year, investors apparently optimistic on prospects for corporate earnings. Interest rates remain very low. Many firms are making money. Emerging markets are still peppy.

In the world of autos, the US market continues to surprise and show better than expected recovery. This recovery may be off a low base compared with where the market used to be, but this 'new normal' appears to be one that many firms can turn a profit on. And some are raising their forecasts for the US light vehicle market this year amid some signs that the US economy is a little perkier than anticipated alongside stronger than expected pent-up demand for new vehicles.

US SALES: March SAAR best since 2008

And things are still looking fairly upbeat in China, especially for the premium brands.

CHINA: BMW JV targets 150,000 2012 sales

GERMANY: Luxury carmakers remain on roll outside Europe in March

The main negative sentiment surrounds Europe and that's nothing new. Depressed demand is coming in pretty much in line with forecasts. Even so, the underlying European economic crisis bound up in unsustainable levels of sovereign debt, austerity budgets and so on, has been out of the headlines lately. It may yet return (I read at the weekend that some banks are still sailing uncomfortably close to the edge), but there is a feeling that we may be over the worst of the risk period, some degree of stability in place.

FRANCE/SPAIN: New car sales continue to slide

UK SALES: March volume up as private buyers return

For Europe-based OEMs and suppliers, there are considerable opportunities out there. It's about being positioned to maximise on those around the world while also addressing a tough European business environment through strategies that limit exposure and/or improve competitiveness in what may be a low-margin region for some time to come. Easy to say, I know.

Ducati and Piech's 75th

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:24:00 GMT

I see Daimler has denied interest in purchasing Italian motorcycle firm Ducati.

There does seem to be some OEM interest in the respected premium Italian two-wheeler brand. The house of brands that is Volkswagen Group is also rumoured to be interested. I can imagine the mighty Piech getting a little excited about the prospect of Ducati being brought in under the wing of, say, Audi.

Somebody I was speaking to the other day had an interesting observation. April 17 is Ferdinand Piech's 75th birthday. That falls a few days before the VW Group AGM. The timing could be very good for an announcement.

'Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me...'

GERMANY: Daimler denies Ducati reports

Not cut out to be an assembler

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:23:00 GMT

I will not be called upon to assemble Nissans any time soon.

Having just spent the day at the company's Sunderland factory in north east England, I found that I couldn't pass the basic skills test, the first towards getting a job on the line. It involved screwing three plates onto a frame and, although I completed the task, it was not within the 'qualifying' time. This will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with my DIY efforts.

Time means everything on the Sunderland line where the tac time is 59 seconds as the plant churns out more than 420,000 cars a year - Qashqais, Jukes and Notes. And there's more to come with Leaf starting production there next year.

That is the next challenge along with bringing a new battery plant on stream which will supply both Nissan and Renault vehicles. We were visiting the factory for a progress report and all is going to plan.

Plant director Kevin Fitzpatrick said: "My ambition is to keep Sunderland as the number one plant in the UK." He expects output to rise over the next two years with the additional vehicles, including a new B-segment hatch from 2013, and with the Juke selling better than expected.

The Japanese manufacturer has sunk over GBP3.3bn into the factory since 1986 and now employs 4,900 people, 133 are still there from the original 430.

I did somewhat better with the driving as we were let loose on the test track in the awesome GTR and the Juke-R which shares the scary 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 and has an even scarier top speed of 160mph.

At least I thought I had done rather well until Jann Mardenborough from Nissan's PlayStation driving academy took the controls. But then he's obviously done it before...

Star carriers

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:25:00 GMT

I arrived back from Brussels yesterday evening after attending this year's CLEPA Reception and seeing union bodies such as the European Metalworkers Federation.

The flight was booked through UK carrier BMI, but was branded as Brussels Airlines. However, Brussels Airlines sub-contracts the route to Tyrolean Airways, an Austrian Airlines Group subsidiary.

But, the safety card on board says Austrian Arrows, part of that Austrian Airlines grouping. And the whole edifice is owned by German carrier, Lufthansa.

And, you can't check-in online despite having an email from BMI the day before as it's a Brussels Airlines service. And BMI is itself the subject of a takeover.

I suppose its shows the interdependency of airlines these days and the power of alliances, but five different strands to one booking was interesting.

At home with the new GS 350 F Sport

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:19:00 GMT

A friend's new Lexus GS has proved to be a great car for Sydney's infamously awful roads. But the smooth ride isn't the thing that matters most about this vehicle.

The first new-shape GS I'd seen in Europe was a GS 450h making its global debut at the Geneva show earlier this month, but down here, the GS 350 is already on sale. Australia, incidentally, was no exception for the old car - it sold poorly here too. I think the local importer has a fair chance of success with the new model, though - the ride is first class and the handling is also pretty good. OK, it's no 5 Series, but unlike the former GS, this one isn't a long way behind.

The new GS might not be a true sports sedan but for me, what's far more important is a particular safety feature on this car. A tiny camera is mounted just below the instruments and it watches the driver's eyes. Should you shut them for a second or two, the result is a short and sharp automatic stab on the brakes - enough to jolt you awake, Toyota claims.

Last Friday I was six cars behind a head-on fatality on the Castlereagh Highway three hours' drive from Sydney. It was a pretty sobering sight seeing what remained of a car a few hundred metres ahead of me under a truck that had been coming in the other direction. Was tiredness the cause? I don't know but it could well have been as there were many long and boring stretches on that narrow rural road. Whatever the reason, I for one hope to see sophisticated anti-fatigue systems such as the one in the new Lexus GS becoming far more commonplace.

Getting into a Twizy

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:58:00 GMT

Some interesting conversations at just-auto Towers today on car companies' EV product strategies.

Cars like the Nissan Leaf are one way to go. With this product development strategy, the starting point is to create a conventional car but one that is electric battery powered. A laudable objective in principle. But it's quite a challenge for the engineers and ends up, inevitably, being a fairly expensive bit of kit that comes with a degree of range anxiety. In a sense, such EVs are hampered by fighting for customer attention on the same ground as very capable (and increasingly so) conventional IC engine B- and C-segment cars. Even customers who voice interest in EVs may have second thoughts due to price when it comes to actually signing up.

Another approach is to go ground up with something much more radical as a transportation concept – the Opel RAKe or the Renault Twizy for example. A 'glorified golf buggy' like the Twizy may be much cheaper to do and may also come with acceptable performance in urban areas. It might even be seen as a 'cool' accessory for young Generation Y types who are attracted to personalisation and high tech. I just wonder if something affordable like the Twizy might stumble upon a sizeable market. However, the line could be very thin between a car like that being seen as either weird/silly or cool/desirable/forward looking though.

"Like 'snow globe of cash' "

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:20:00 GMT

Why does this never happen when I'm driving behind an armoured cash carrier?

And I wonder how much money was handed in by honest peeps in these hard times?

Gives new meaning to the word 'windfall'.