Slice Of Warburton

By: Simon Warburton

just-auto business editor Simon Warburton offers up a wide range of views in his distinctive style, informed by daily contact with the global auto industry

COMMENT: Italy on its knees as Fiat austerity ad airs

26 January 2012

Maybe 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 Italy

COMMENT: Radio silence from Saab receivers as CLEPA acts

19 January 2012

Just 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?

COMMENT: China to steer US$60bn to the West?

16 January 2012

China'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.

DETROIT INTERVIEW: OESA president and CEO Neil De Koker (part 2)

12 January 2012

In the second of two interviews at this year's North American International Auto Show, Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) president and CEO Neil De Koker talked to Simon Warburton. De Koker represents 410 companies with global automotive sales of US$300bn and outlined his views on the US political environment for OESA, oil prices and the effects of the Japanese earthquake.

DETROIT INTERVIEW: OESA president and CEO Neil De Koker (part 1)

11 January 2012

Neil de Koker is president and CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) representing 410 companies with global automotive sales of US$300bn.

COMMENT: Saab demise provides government with major headache

19 December 2011

What looks now like Saab's eventual demise is presenting the Swedish government with a fairly large headache - not to mention the automaker's thousands of staff - just a week before Christmas.

COMMENT: Just another hectic 24h at Saab

13 December 2011

Even by the frenetic standards at Saab, it's been quite a day.

COMMENT: Saab battles on - just

9 December 2011

Another day, another deadline for Saab.

INTERVIEW: Tata Steel Europe chief commercial officer, Henrik Adam

6 December 2011

Tata Steel - one of the world's largest producers - recently held a Supplier Connection Day. The company's European chief commercial officer talked to just-auto about adapting for automotive customers.

INTERVIEW: BWI Group vice president Dan Warrell

2 December 2011

Features such as automatic transmissions, air conditioning, power steering or radios began as novelties for the most exclusive models and eventually achieved widespread application on mass market vehicles. BWI Group vice-president Dan Warrell talked to just-auto about how its high-tech innovations such as its MagneRide and adaptive chassis technologies are applied and the ways in which the company's wide range of products can be used by OEMs.

INTERVIEW: Belgian employers organisation Agoria: Bert Mons

1 December 2011

Despite the presence of pan-European automotive components body CLEPA in Brussels, Belgium still has a strong national supplier base, represented by employers' trade association Agoria, based in the Belgian capital. Simon Warburton talked to Agoria director Bert Mons in Brussels to find out his take on the current issues facing the organisation and how the lack of a formal government is hindering - or helping.

INTERVIEW: Delphi Automotive CEO Rodney O'Neal

30 November 2011

Delphi's recent US$530m IPO saw shares priced at US$22 on the New York Stock Exchange and comes as the global automotive industry faces challenging times given global economic uncertainty, particularly in Europe.

COMMENT: Saab heading for museum status?

30 November 2011

I spent yesterday (29 November) at the Tata Steel Supplier Day in the surrounds of the magnificent Heritage Motor Centre museum and conference centre at Gaydon in Warwickshire and, even then, the precarious situation at Saab was ever-present.

COMMENT: Saab continues - just - as deadlines loom

18 November 2011

Everything it seems with Saab, comes complete with a raft of deadlines.

COMMENT: Will Chinese dilute Saab ownership to appease GM?

8 November 2011

Just when Saab thought it was out of the woods than it is plunged back in again by former owner General Motors' decision not to allow existing technology licences should Youngman and Pang Da take over.

COMMENT: No blank cheques from China as Saab fights on

2 November 2011

There has been much merited euphoria emanating from a certain Courtroom in Vanersborg this week as Saab finally secured - proposed - new ownership from Youngman and Pang Da but as China has shown this week in dealing with European financial overtures it will be no pushover when it comes to bailouts - of any sort.