BMW - automotive industry company news

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Pain and gain

24 May 2013

More read-it-and-weep news for struggling European rivals from Volkswagen group this week as it chalked up another little milestone - selling over 3m vehicles in the first four months of a year.

AUSTRIA: Lexus banishes diesel from new IS line

24 May 2013

Though diesels account for the biggest share of the UK premium executive car market, Toyota's Lexus brand is plugging for hybrid instead.

MALAYSIA: Market competition to intensify with duty cuts – BMW

24 May 2013

The Malaysian automotive industry is expecting competition in the local market to intensify as the government reduces excise duties further to lower new car prices.

PRODUCT EYE: Lexus tries again with new IS

23 May 2013

A colleague who shall remain nameless asked, among fellow journalists, the rhetorical question during the European launch of the third generation IS: given the success of Audi, BMW and Mercedes on home European turf, why does Lexus bother?

UK: Toyota overtakes BMW as world’s most valuable car brand

21 May 2013

Toyota has reasserted itself as the world’s most valuable car brand, replacing BMW, rated the top brand in the Millward Brown survey in 2010 and 2012. Toyota held the top spot in 2006-2009 and again in 2011.

UK: BMW announces 'i' dealer network

20 May 2013

BMW UK has announced the network of dealers that will sell and service its new i sub-brand using electric drive systems and offer 'premium mobility services'.

CHINA: Anti-corruption campaign hitting premium brands – analyst

17 May 2013

Although the Chinese car market is expected to see growth of around 10% this year, prospects for premium brands have deteriorated as a result of the Chinese government's anti-corruption campaign, according to LMC Automotive.

COMMENT: Is Tesla really worth twice as much as Fiat SpA?

16 May 2013

We live in strange times. As Fisker, a rival with supposedly superior range-extending technology falls apart, the value of Tesla rises yet again, this time by almost two percent on Wednesday to US$9.7bn.

CANADA: Magna unit receives supplier innovation award from BMW

15 May 2013

Magna International said its Cosma International operating unit was one of eight suppliers which received a BMW Supplier Innovation Award. It was recognised for a lightweight, high-voltage battery housing made of die-cast aluminum made in Germany by Magna BDW technologies.

GERMANY: BMW pins future on new models and technology

14 May 2013

BMW Group is paving the way for continued success in the future with a high level of expenditure on new technologies and models and investments in its production network, shareholders were told at the annual general meeting on Tuesday (14 May, 2013).

GERMANY: BMW group sales continue climb in April

14 May 2013

BMW Group sales rose 6.8% in April 2013 to 155,419 vehicles worldwide while sales for the first four months of the year climbed 5.7% over 2012 to a record high of 603,619.

UK: Western Europe's main dealer count declined in 2012 (but only by 3%)

14 May 2013

Research by the UK-based ICDP shows that the collapse to demand in Western Europe is leading to a decline in the number of main dealer sales networks across the region.

FRANKFURT PREVIEW: Global debuts list [Peugeot 308 & Volvo VEA engine family added]

13 May 2013

The media days for the Frankfurt motor show are 10 & 11 September. Each time a vehicle or concept world premiere is confirmed for this biennial event, our preview list is updated.

UK: 'Genius' plan to boost BMW customer satisfaction

13 May 2013

BMW is rolling out its ‘Genius’ programme at UK dealerships following a successful pilot scheme in 2012.

CANADA: Magna International boosts Q1 sales and profits

10 May 2013

Magna International said on Friday sales of US$8.36bn for the first quarter ended 31 March, 2013, were up 9% year on year as vehicle production increased 1% in North America and fell 9% in Europe.

UK: Urgent action needed to replace 96,000 engineers: Ebm-papst

10 May 2013

Motors and fans supplier, Ebm-papst, has issued a clarion call for the UK to urgently replace its engineer stock as demographics and competing career options take their toll.

UK: Sovereign debt crises to affect Europe to 2017: LMC Automotive

10 May 2013

Ongoing sovereign debt crises across Europe are continuing to have a major impact on the Continent's automaking development, with 2007 production levels not expected to return until 2017, says analysts, LMC Automotive.

Q&A with Lear Corporation: Review of vehicle seating

10 May 2013

Back in the 1970s, a car seat was a functional component with few or no added value features. Nowadays, with drivers spending more time in their car on longer commutes, they expect a comfortable ride. Matthew Beecham caught up with three top executives of Lear Corp to hear how the seat has become an integral part of the car’s overall design and appeal in the showroom. Here, Ryan Burns, Lear’s Vice President of Global Seat Engineering led the discussion with contributions from Karl Henn, Director of Seating Engineering and R&D and Mandy Sarotte, Vice President of Global Trim Sales.

GERMANY: Porsche announces regional management re-shuffle

10 May 2013

After leading the successful expansion of Porsche in China since 2007, Helmut Bröker is to take over as head of the region covering the Middle East, Africa, India, South-East Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Japan and Latin America from 1 July.

GERMANY: BMW recalls vehicles over Takata airbag issues

10 May 2013

BMW is recalling some 220,000 vehicles worldwide from model years 2002 and 2003 as part of a wider recall affecting airbags made by supplier Takata. The BMW recall follows those announced by Japanese OEMs.

PRODUCT EYE: Now entering new niche - BMW's 3 GT

8 May 2013

There's lots of talk these days from auto industry executives about entering new segments or niches. From BMW - and arch-rival Audi - there's less talk and more action; we've seen a vast expansion of both luxury brands' offerings over the last three decades and, especially from BMW, there is more to come after this latest: the 3 Series GT.

CHINA: General Motors wins $1.3bn Cadillac plant approval

7 May 2013

General Motors which, through its local joint ventures, is the largest foreign automaker in China, announced it had won regulatory approval to build a new Cadillac factory to boost local sales.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Once more to the toy shop, brothers!

3 May 2013

Those three of you who peruse every bit of just-auto's home page every day will probably already know The Editorial Team had our annual Fun Day Out this week, courtesy of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Test Day. I've been going, on and off, sice 1987 and the agenda follows a refreshingly familar, welll-proven and immensely popular programme which I believe is unique to the UK auto industry. After earlier using other venues, the SMMT nowadays books Millbrook, the former Vauxhall Proving Ground (founded 1968), almost every importer/manufacturer shows up with the allocated six cars, caterers lay out a fine breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea - and we show up and go nuts.

US APRIL SALES: Detroit grows market share

3 May 2013

US light vehicle sales continued their upward swing in April, finishing up 8.5% year on year at 1.29m for the month. Year to date (YTD) results were 6.9% ahead of the first four months of 2012.

GERMANY [updated 3/5/13]: BMW revenues and profit slip in Q1

2 May 2013

Tough trading conditions in Europe have put a dent in BMW's first quarter revenues and profit.

US: Penske Logistics wins bid to operate BMW parts centre

1 May 2013

Penske Logistics has announced it has been awarded the contract to be the operational manager of the BMW of North America distribution centre in Nazareth, Pa.

PRODUCT EYE: BMW 114i

25 April 2013

Can a BMW be considered a sports model if it’s only got 100 horsepower? Glenn Brooks tries the base version of what was last month the UK's best selling premium brand car.

GERMANY: Daimler lowers earnings forecast as Q1 profits slump

24 April 2013

Daimler has said it now expects earnings to fall this year, following a 60% slump in first quarter profits and a 3% decline in revenue.

COLOMBIA: Sales fell 23% YTD in Q1 but recovery is expected

24 April 2013

The government announcement about reducing credit interest rates came as Colombian new car sales fell 23% YTD though month on month sales in March rose 2.9% to 22,888 units, the best month in 2013 so far.