Latest analysis for today's automotive industry

RESULTS PREVIEW: Daimler to get trucks boost to end-year results

By: Dave Leggett | 6 February 2012

Daimler 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.

PRODUCT EYE: Renault Kangoo Maxi Z.E.

By: Glenn Brooks | 1 February 2012

White 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.

January 2012 management briefing: 2012's growing vehicle markets

By: Dave Leggett | 31 January 2012

The 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.

January 2012 management briefing: world markets – Europe

By: Dave Leggett | 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.

ANALYSIS: ASEAN sales up by 3.8% in 2011

By: Tony Pugliese | 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

By: Matthew Beecham | 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.

ANALYSIS: European sales down, VW remains top brand

By: Graeme Roberts | 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.

PRODUCT EYE: Kia Optima 1.7

By: Glenn Brooks | 18 January 2012

How'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.

ANALYSIS: Class 8 truck sales suggest US boom ahead?

By: Glenn Brooks | 12 January 2012

Back in 2007, I remember reading the thoughts of some who saw an economic collapse for the US in 2008. One of the theories was that freight trends and Class 8 heavy truck sales indicate what's 10-12 months away. In December 2011, Class 8 sales surged.

ANALYSIS: Hyundai goes after Lexus

By: Glenn Brooks | 5 January 2012

Laugh no longer at Hyundai's ambition to tackle Lexus: a car that was never designed for the US market, the glitzy Equus sedan, has turned in some strong sales numbers for 2011.