http://www.just-auto.comDaily automotive news - from just-auto.com© 2012 All content copyright just-auto.com. Published by Aroq Ltd.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:16:54 GMTWed, 08 Feb 2012 04:16:54 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.com10021Daimler is poised to post strong full-year financial results later this week (February 9) boosted by strong performances in its heavy trucks and financial services divisions.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/daimler-to-get-trucks-boost-to-end-year-results_id119980.aspxMon, 06 Feb 2012 17:43:00 GMTThe 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 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 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 GMTWhite Van Man might well be in danger of losing his innate haste and stress, should he get behind the wheel of the new EV version of Renault's Kangoo van.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/renault-kangoo-maxi-ze_id119847.aspxWed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:00 GMTThe problems facing the European vehicle market were described in the last instalment of January's briefing. In this article, we consider the prospects for vehicle demand in other world regions.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/2012s-growing-vehicle-markets_id119801.aspxTue, 31 Jan 2012 20:22:00 GMTIt 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.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/world-markets-europe_id119674.aspxFri, 27 Jan 2012 14:23:00 GMTFiat 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.http://www.just-auto.com/comment/fiat-and-the-truckers_id119673.aspxFri, 27 Jan 2012 14:06:00 GMTMaybe 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 Italyhttp://www.just-auto.com/comment/italy-on-its-knees-as-fiat-austerity-ad-airs_id119595.aspxThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:56:00 GMTInterviewed 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.http://www.just-auto.com/interview/nissan-mexicana-president-jose-munoz_id119581.aspxWed, 25 Jan 2012 15:17:00 GMTNew 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.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/asean-sales-up-by-38-in-2011_id119537.aspxTue, 24 Jan 2012 15:45:00 GMTFuelled 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.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/fuel-tank-systems_id119433.aspxFri, 20 Jan 2012 14:40:00 GMTUnion news and Saab updates were amongst the most-read stories on just-auto this week.http://www.just-auto.com/comment/unions-saab-and-a-ford-milestone_id119431.aspxFri, 20 Jan 2012 12:17:00 GMTThe 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.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/european-sales-down-vw-remains-top-brand_id119395.aspxFri, 20 Jan 2012 10:28:00 GMTJust 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?http://www.just-auto.com/comment/radio-silence-from-saab-receivers-as-clepa-acts_id119377.aspxThu, 19 Jan 2012 12:48:00 GMTHow's this for a summary of the old-shape Optima: "the last time Kia had a vehicle in the D segment it was one that, pragmatically, had no credibility whatsoever". So says the company's head of UK media relations.http://www.just-auto.com/analysis/kia-optima-17_id119300.aspxTue, 17 Jan 2012 18:07:00 GMTWith the launch of the D-segment Optima model in the UK car market, Kia's dealer development director tells just-auto that it is another important step in the transformation of the company's position in the UK.http://www.just-auto.com/interview/simon-hetherington-kia-motors-uk-dealer-development-director_id119336.aspxWed, 18 Jan 2012 14:23:00 GMTAfter 20 years in charge, Ratan Tata steps down as chairman of Tata Sons next December after 20 years. He took time at the recent Delhi Auto Expo to reflect on his achievements.http://www.just-auto.com/interview/ratan-tata_id119168.aspxMon, 16 Jan 2012 12:11:00 GMTChina's meteoric rise to number one status in terms of global auto sales prompted some lively discussion at last week's Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, not the least of which was the observation there was US$60bn of Chinese cash potentially waiting for foreign company investment.http://www.just-auto.com/comment/china-to-steer-us60bn-to-the-west_id119225.aspxMon, 16 Jan 2012 15:56:00 GMTTriple-D week for me, this, first time in Detroit, first time at the Detroit show, first time on Delta. Despite the dire predictions of certain sages I know, it was all good.http://www.just-auto.com/comment/detroit-sunny-detroit_id119154.aspxFri, 13 Jan 2012 13:55:00 GMT