Navicom Inc. - automotive industry company news 
US: "Pernicious cartel" sees Yazaki and Denso pay huge price-fixing fine
31 January 2012
Two Japanese suppliers of automotive electrical components -Yazaki and Denso -have agreed to plead guilty and to pay a total of US$548m in criminal fines for their involvement in multiple price-fixing and bid-rigging conspiracies in the sale of parts to automobile manufacturers in the US, the Department of Justice has announced.
DETROIT PREVIEW: Analysts expect Big Three renaissance
6 January 2012
The renaissance of Detroit’s “Big Three” will be on full display at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, according to Edmunds.com analysts.
FRANCE: Renault offices raided in fraud probe
18 November 2011
The extraordinary row at Renault, which began last March over leaked information regarding the company’s electric vehicle plans, rumbles on.
ANALYSIS: Can the premium car boom continue?
14 October 2011
The premium brands have been posting record sales as they have benefited from strong sales in car markets across the world – and especially in Asia. But does the latest economic turbulence pose a growing threat to them? Dave Leggett considers the issues.
FRANCE: PSA and GE sign EV agreement
16 September 2011
PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Electric have signed a European co-operation agreement to co-develop electric vehicles.
US: OnStar launches 'family vehicle' tracking system
3 August 2011
OnStar, a subsidiary of General Motors, has launched the OnStar Family Link pilot for subscribers to locate their vehicle's exact location.
GERMANY: Opel "not disappointed" by lack of direct EV subsidy: Stracke
19 May 2011
Opel is insisting it is not disappointed by this week's German government decision not to directly subsidise the introduction of electric vehicles.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Saab saga sustained
21 April 2011
"Saab's way of communicating is a catastrophe," FKG managing director Sven-Ake Berglie said this week in Sweden. "They must have seen this [the cessation of parts shipments] coming up before in December already, but they did not say anything." And: "When the suppliers did not get paid, Saab said it was a few [of them] and it was due to the [fact] the suppliers wanted improved payment terms, which was a complete lie." Not perhaps the best endorsement of an automaker customer by the head of its supplier group. And still the assembly line lies silent.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Saab and 'spies'
15 April 2011
The two big questions as we lurched into this week were "What will happen to Saab?" and "What will happen at Renault?" One was answered, sort of.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: PSA output returning to normal
28 March 2011
PSA Peugeot Citroen "expects to see a gradual return to normal conditions, beginning Thursday, 31 March," after disruptions announced last week in some of its production in Europe, caused by difficulties in deliveries of electronic components from Japan, the group said on Monday afternoon (28 March).
JAPAN: Industry faces acute component/power problems: IHS Automotive
15 March 2011
IHS Automotive analyst Paul Newton has offered his take on the fast-moving situation that has seen component and power supply shortages across Japan as the effects of last week's earthquake continue to be felt.
Q&A with TRW: Driver assistance systems
9 March 2011
Driver assistance technologies aim to make the vehicle capable of perceiving its surroundings, interpret them, identify critical situations, and assist the driver in performing driving manoeuvres. The object is, at best, to prevent accidents completely and, at worst, to minimise the consequences of an accident for those concerned. Matthew Beecham talked with executives of TRW about their driver assistance technologies and how the global market is shaping-up.
US: Brazilian currency worries Chrysler/Fiat chief
10 February 2011
Chrysler Group is closely tracking currency exchange rates in Brazil, where the increasing strength of the Brazilian real has put pressure on its growth plans in the region, CEO Sergio Marchionne said.
INTERVIEW: Ford of Europe's Stephen Odell
15 November 2010
Ford of Europe's chairman and CEO Stephen Odell tells just-auto that he is relishing his return to Europe, happy with Ford's prospects, but concerned with industry overcapacity in the region.
US: GM secures nearly 50% of 25,000 strong EV order from General Electric
12 November 2010
General Electric (GE) is to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015 for its own fleet and through its Capital Fleet Services business.
UK: Land Rover names Evoque launch 'influencers'
25 October 2010
Land Rover has announced the names of a group of 'influencers' from the arts world who will collaborate on the launch of the new Range Rover Evoque.
US: September uplift to market seen
24 September 2010
New vehicle retail sales in September are expected to recover from the tumultuous summer selling season and post a significant selling rate increase, compared with August, according to analysts at JD Power.
Q&A with TRW
20 August 2010
Driver assistance technologies aim to make the vehicle capable of perceiving its surroundings, interpret them, identify critical situations, and assist the driver in performing driving manoeuvres. The object is, at best, to prevent accidents completely and, at worst, to minimise the consequences of an accident for those concerned. Matthew Beecham talked with Andy Whydell, senior manager for electronics product planning at TRW Automotive, about the company’s driver assistance technologies.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The return of stroppy unions?
20 August 2010
We, or, to give due credit, our business/industry reporter Simon Warburton, have been tracking the little spat between automakers and workers down in South Africa. Usual scenario: What do we want? More money. When do we want it? Now.
US: Chevrolet Caprice police cruiser returns in 2011
27 July 2010
New rear drive Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicles will be available again from April 2011 for the first time since GM discontinued its full-size body-on-frame Caprice in 1996. This time, the design is unibody and Holden will build the cars in Australia.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Review of front-end modules
14 June 2010
What is a front-end module? It depends who makes it and for whom. Front-end modules typically encompass the bumper, headlights, radiator and various others parts. Matthew Beecham reviews some notable trends and developments in this arena.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: GM in the frame
11 June 2010
Nein. That little word, or more likely a longer-winded variant, was not what GM Europe supremo Nick Reilly needed to hear from Germany's coalition federal government over the little matter of backstopping a EUR1.3bn loan with taxpayers' money.
Q&A with Bridgestone on TPMS
25 May 2010
Now that European legislation is coming in to make tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) mandatory, the motorist no longer has to pay extra. Matthew Beecham talked with Franco Annunziato, senior vice president, technology, Bridgestone Europe about the future for TPMS, run-flats and the so-called intelligent tyre.
THE FRIDAY STORY: Brussels tops list as Europe's most road congested city
23 April 2010
A new study has unveiled Europe’s 59 most congested cities for drivers – and Brussels is top of the list. Poland and the UK are also places where urban driving can be a nightmare, while Spain and the Nordic countries offer a smoother journey.
US: Daimler escapes corruption criminal charges
25 March 2010
Daimler has escaped criminal charges in a US investigation into the firm's bribery practices.
SOUTH AFRICA: Electricity price hike threatens global competitiveness
25 March 2010
A 25% hike in electricity charges due to come into effect in South Africa on April 1 will place strain on car makers and suppliers global competitiveness according to Nissan SA purchasing chief Stefan Haasbroek.
SOUTH AFRICA: Imperial buys stake in MiX
11 March 2010
South African vehicle tracking group MiX Telematics (MiX) has announced that diversified industrial holdings group Imperial has acquired a strategic stake of 25.4% in MiX.
INTERVIEW: Greg Baribault, US marketing director, Microsoft Automotive
25 February 2010
Microsoft has been developing its presence in the automotive sector for a number of years and working with several manufacturers on the software that helps the interface between driver and the increasingly sophisticated in-cabin telematics environment. Microsoft's Greg Baribault explains the firm's automotive sector presence and strategy
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Toyota recall rumbles on
5 February 2010
Anyone else getting heartily sick of those two little words 'Toyota' and 'recall'? There's been a few signs of pushback today.
UK: Guangzhou Auto selects MIRA as new prod partner
17 December 2009
Guangzhou Automobile Co. Ltd (GAC) and MIRA have signed a contract for MIRA to provide engineering support on a new vehicle programme for GAC.
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