Leggett At Large
By: Dave Leggett
just-auto editor Dave Leggett's overview of the auto industry, its companies, products and people.
RESULTS PREVIEW: Daimler to get trucks boost to end-year results
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.
January 2012 management briefing: 2012's growing vehicle markets
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.
US: Market recovery to maintain momentum – analyst
31 January 2012
The recovery to the US light vehicle market is expected to maintain momentum this year, according to a market analyst who spoke to just-auto.
January 2012 management briefing: world markets – Europe
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.
INTERVIEW: Simon Hetherington, Kia Motors (UK) Dealer Development Director
18 January 2012
With 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.
December 2011 management briefing: Review of 2011 (part 2)
23 December 2011
Like any year in the auto industry, 2011 saw its fair share of company ups and downs, industrial comings and goings, and a fair old sprinkling of corporate drama. Added to the mix this year were devastating natural disasters. We covered it all on just-auto. Editor Dave Leggett sifts through the lot and picks out a few highlights from the year just gone, month by month. Part two covers the second half of the year.
December 2011 management briefing: Review of 2011 (part 1)
20 December 2011
Like any year in the auto industry, 2011 saw its fair share of company ups and downs, industrial comings and goings, and a fair old sprinkling of corporate drama. Added to the mix this year were devastating natural disasters. We covered it all on just-auto. Editor Dave Leggett sifts through the lot and picks out a few highlights from the year just gone, month by month. Part one covers the first half of the year.
UK: European light vehicle output to fall 6.5% in 2012 – LMC
19 December 2011
Analysts at LMC Automotive have told just-auto that the European auto industry is heading for a sharp downturn in 2012 stemming from the region's ongoing economic crisis. However, they also say that the downturn will be much less severe than that of late 2008 and early 2009 because there is less of a surplus stock problem this time round.
UK: Kia upbeat on UK prospects
13 December 2011
Kia UK managing director Michael Cole has told just-auto that he expects the brand to grow sales in the UK car market in 2012, despite concerns over the strength of demand in the market as a whole.
UK: Lotus CEO signs up for another four years
13 December 2011
Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has entered into a new agreement to stay in his post at the company until the end of 2015. He has also told journalists that the company could be sold then.
ANALYSIS: LMC Automotive revises 2012 WE market forecast down
7 December 2011
UK-based market analyst LMC Automotive has made a significant downward revision to their Western Europe car vehicle market forecast for 2012 as economic growth projections are revised down. A 5% car market decline in 2012, to 12.15m units, is now forecast.
INTERVIEW: Vauxhall MD Duncan Aldred
7 December 2011
General Motors' European operations have hit a setback with the realisation that it will not hit breakeven this year after all. Next year's market environment is looking tough, too. However, Vauxhall MD Duncan Aldred tells just-auto that a wave of new product will help to transform the brand in Britain over the next few years.
COMMENT: VW-Suzuki politics undermined business case
21 November 2011
The industrial logic behind the Volkswagen and Suzuki tie-up looked pretty good, on the face of it. Suzuki would get access to VW technology and VW would get a helping hand in India where Suzuki leads the car market. It would be a strategic partnership to build on, synergies to be exploited.
COMMENT: European trading conditions deteriorate further
14 November 2011
Worries over the state of Europe's economy and its prospects are persisting. If anything, those worries got more serious last week when the eurozone's financial crisis spotlight swung from Greece to Italy.
ANALYSIS: Risk of overcapacity looms in China
10 November 2011
There were reports in China earlier this week that a residential property developer was throwing in free BMWs for those who signed up for slow selling units at a luxury apartment complex in Wenzhou, where property prices have fallen sharply in recent months.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Global oil demand to peak before 2020 – study
8 November 2011
A study by engineering services and consulting company Ricardo predicts that global demand for oil may well peak before 2020 and fall back to levels significantly below 2010 demand by 2035.
ANALYSIS: BMW benefits from cost reduction and higher sales in China
4 November 2011
BMW's strong third quarter results must have pleased shareholders. The business pages may have constituted rather gloomy reading generally of late, but the good ship BMW appears to plough on regardless.
ANALYSIS: US car market growth no surprise, but don't cheer too loudly
2 November 2011
October's US sales figures for light vehicles have posted another respectable looking number despite gathering gloom over the US economy in recent months. Dave Leggett considers the reasons behind the growing US vehicle market and the outlook for 2012.
RESULTS PREVIEW: Daimler in 'good shape' – analyst
26 October 2011
Daimler is in good shape to face global economic challenges ahead, according to an analyst who spoke to just-auto ahead of the company's Q3 results.
October 2011 management briefing: world vehicle markets in focus
24 October 2011
Global economic conditions have deteriorated in recent months. The national debt crisis in Europe has combined with sluggish economic performance in North America to heighten fears of renewed recession. Dave Leggett considers the outlook for major vehicle markets across the world.
