Find out what top analysts think of challenging topics in the automotive industry

THE WEEK THAT WAS: A mixed start to 2012

By: Graeme Roberts | 3 February 2012

The 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?

COMMENT: Where does the Chinese car industry really stand?

By: Guest author | 2 February 2012

Investment 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.

GOLDING’S TAKE: Marchionne tells rival car makers to behave

By: Rob Golding | 2 February 2012

Sergio Marchionne was in ebullient form when he hosted the telephone conference call to explain the Fiat/Chrysler financial results announced yesterday (1 February).

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Fiat and the truckers

By: Graeme Roberts | 27 January 2012

Fiat 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.

COMMENT: Italy on its knees as Fiat austerity ad airs

By: Simon Warburton | 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

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Unions, Saab and a Ford milestone

By: Graeme Roberts | 20 January 2012

Union news and Saab updates were amongst the most-read stories on just-auto this week.

COMMENT: Radio silence from Saab receivers as CLEPA acts

By: Simon Warburton | 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?

By: Simon Warburton | 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.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Detroit, sunny Detroit

By: Graeme Roberts | 13 January 2012

Triple-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.

COMMENT: Designing for youth and unexpected consequences

By: Graeme Roberts | 11 January 2012

General Motors executives from CEO Dan Akerson to global director of youth strategy, John McFarland, to Chevrolet marketing chief Chris Perry have all been consistently on-message this Detroit show - we are going to listen to young potential buyers, the 18-30 millennials, and we are going to engage them and develop the products that excite passion in them for cars again. Or words to that effect.