Graeme Roberts
Biography
Graeme Roberts has been deputy and news editor of just-auto.com since 2000. Car-mad virtually from birth, he began writing features for a B2B fleet magazine in his native New Zealand in 1983 before becoming a reporter on a fortnightly motoring and motor sports tabloid and then motoring editor of the evening newspaper in his home town.
During his first stint in the UK in the late 1980s, Roberts worked briefly on the newsdesk at Autocar before becoming launch deputy editor of Diesel Car magazine. Back in New Zealand, he freelanced as a motoring and personal computing journalist and also worked as an account manager for a PR agency, specialising in computing and networking.
He returned to the UK in the mid-90s, initially as a part-time PR at the then Rover-run Heritage Motor Centre museum and conference centre in Warwickshire and, after a brief but enjoyable stint on news and consumer issues at Auto Express magazine and work at three PR agencies, where clients included Mercedes-Benz and construction equipment maker JCB, returned to journalism at a motoring news, road test and features agency before joining just-auto.
Columns by Graeme Roberts
The Week That Was
Deputy/news editor Graeme Roberts' Friday wrap on the important automotive news from the week just ending.
Articles by Graeme Roberts
JAPAN: Toyota nine-month operating profit plunges 72% on costs and currency
7 February 2012
Toyota Motor (TMC) operating profit for the nine months to 31 December, 2011 plunged 72% year on year to JPY117.1bn (US$1.52bn) on sales down 10.2% to JPY12.9 trillion. Net income fell from JPY382.7bn to JPY162.5bn. The company has, however, revised upwards its fiscal full-year forecast for 2011/12.
CHINA: General Motors January sales off 8% year on year
7 February 2012
General Motors sales in China last month were up 25.3% over December 2011, the automaker's second-best January ever there but the 246,654-vehicle tally, including joint ventures, was down 8% year on year. There were three fewer shopping days as a result of the Lunar New Year holiday.
INDIA: Mahindra & Mahindra readying Saab bid - paper
7 February 2012
Mahindra & Mahindra, one of four companies interested in Saab Automobiles, has signed a confidentiality agreement with the bankrupt company and is in the process of finalising its bid, an Indian media report said. China's BAIC, possibly in conjunction with Panasonic reportedly may also submit a bid.
JAPAN: Toyota targets minimum 14% rise in China sales
7 February 2012
UK: January new car sales flat
7 February 2012
SWEDEN: BAIC eyes joint Saab bid with Panasonic
7 February 2012
INDIA: Mahindra & Mahindra net profit dips 10%
7 February 2012
US: Chrysler's Eastwood ad attracts talk, not clicks - Edmunds
7 February 2012
JAPAN: Mitsubishi closing Netherlands assembly plant in 2013
6 February 2012
JAPAN: Suzuki nine-month profit falls
6 February 2012
US: Toyota Mississippi plant adds second Corolla shift
6 February 2012
GENEVA PREVIEW: Look, honey, we shrunk the hybrid powertrain
6 February 2012
US: Super Bowl truck ad pits Ford against GM
6 February 2012
US: Fisker starts sales in Canada
6 February 2012
THE WEEK THAT WAS: A mixed start to 2012
3 February 2012
US: Chrysler adding 1,800 Belvidere jobs
3 February 2012
JAPAN: Denso nine-month net income drops 71.9%
3 February 2012
INDIA: Audi to assemble Q3 and Q7 SUVs - reports
3 February 2012
JAPAN: NSG closing Pilkington UK float line
3 February 2012
SOUTH KOREA: New Mercedes chief arrives from Berlin
3 February 2012
ITALY: Fiat-Chrysler full year financials "ahead of guidance"
2 February 2012
VIETNAM: Bridgestone to build $575m export tyre plant - reports
2 February 2012
UK: Jaguar Land Rover hiring 133 apprentices
2 February 2012
TURKEY: Oyak Renault plans investment boost
2 February 2012
RUSSIA: Chrysler takes over Fiat sales and service from Sollers
2 February 2012
GENEVA PREVIEW: Fiat shows 500L
2 February 2012
NEW ZEALAND: SUVs lead 2011 sales
2 February 2012
CZECH REPUBLIC: Skoda builds car #14 million
2 February 2012
