Geneva Motor Show reports and interviews

Hyundai has been on a roll in Europe, benefiting in particular from temporary scrappage schemes in a number of markets. Hyundai Motor Europe VP Allan Rushforth tells just-auto how it hopes to maintain momentum going forward.

GENEVA SHOW INTERVIEW: Allan Rushforth, Hyundai Motor Europe

5 March 2010

US: GM's Bob Lutz to retire (again)

4 March 2010

General Motors Vice Chairman Robert ('Bob') Lutz will retire effective 1 May, 2010, capping a 47-year career in the global auto industry that included senior leadership positions at four of the world’s leading automakers.

SWITZERLAND: Fiat may list auto unit separately

4 March 2010

Fiat could discuss spinning off its auto activities when it presents a five-year strategic plan next month, CEO Sergio Marchionne has said. Such a move could unlock value for the company and cheer the market.

GENEVA SHOW: Geely deal presents big opportunities for Volvo

4 March 2010

Ford is still expected to sign an agreement to sell Volvo to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group by the end of this month, according to the Briton in charge of the Swedish carmaker, Stephen Odell. Ford expects to finalise a deal by 31 March and complete the sale by 30 June.

GENEVA SHOW: Reilly relishes new era for Opel/Vauxhall

4 March 2010

As General Motors continues its journey of corporate transformation, the head of its European Opel/Vauxhall unit says he is relishing changes to the group's culture that are simplifying decision-making and devolving more authority to local units.

GENEVA SHOW: Fiat refocuses new Serbia plant

3 March 2010

Fiat has ditched plans to build a city car at its new plant in Serbia, preferring to focus on two bigger models instead, according to a media report.

GENEVA INTERVIEWS: UK distributors fret over tax hike

3 March 2010

With the government's scrappage incentive due to expire at the end of the month, UK car distributors are predicting new vehicle sales will fall by as much as 10 per cent this year to between 1.7 and 1.8m.

GENEVA INTERVIEW: Reilly under no illusions over new GME job

3 March 2010

Former GM China and Vauxhall UK chief Nick Reilly is under no illusions over the size of his new job heading up General Motors' European operations.

GENEVA SHOW: Pay-as-you-go-Peugeots coming to UK

3 March 2010

Peugeot is to launch its Mu pay as you go mobility service in the UK by the end of the year. The service, run through dealers, allows anyone to hire any type of Peugeot vehicle - a cabriolet for the weekend, MPV for a family trip, van for the Ikea flatpacks or even a motor scooter or bicycle.

GENEVA INTERVIEW: New Honda UK chief to "hold ship steady"

3 March 2010

After 20 years overseeing carmaking at Honda's UK plant in Swindon, Wiltshire, David Hodgetts is now in charge of marketing, distributing and selling them.

GENEVA SHOW: Duster will launch Dacia in the UK

3 March 2010

The on-off launch of Renault's affordable Dacia brand in the UK is back on and slated for late 2012 with just one model, the highly-acclaimed new Duster that was unveiled at the Geneva show.

GENEVA SHOW: New Mazda engines for Europe in 2012

3 March 2010

Mazda will launch its new Sky family of petrol and diesel engines in Europe in 2012 following their launch in Japan in 2011 as part of its drive to reduce fuel consumption by around 30% between now and 2015.

GENEVA SHOW: Ferrari reveals green car

3 March 2010

Ferrari used the Geneva motor show to unveil a hybrid future that it said would not only make its sports cars more efficient, but also aid their handling and performance.

GENEVA SHOW: Saab confident of a positive future

3 March 2010

Saab will look to develop strategic alliances and partnerships with other car makers and major suppliers as it builds its independent future. "The benefit of being an independent company is that we can decide who to talk to, who to work with and when," said managing director Jan Ake Jonsson.

GENEVA SHOW: Fuel prices key to small cars in US – Lutz

3 March 2010

While marketing the pint-sized Chevrolet Spark in the US demonstrates GM commitment to small cars in the US marketplace, that area of the market remains difficult on pricing and is extremely sensitive to fuel prices, says GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz.

GENEVA SHOW: Europe pioneers Ford global products

3 March 2010

How times change. North American customers no longer clamour for monster SUVs or gas-guzzling full-size cars. The fastest growing market segment is small cars. Ford product chiefs said that Fiesta and Focus-size cars now account for almost 25% of the US market and sales are growing year on year.

GENEVA SHOW: Opel flexes design muscles with EV concept

3 March 2010

Opel’s stunning Flexstream concept car - not for production - demonstrates shows that cars that run on batteries don’t have to be small and boxy. It shows how large family saloons could look in the future.

GENEVA SHOW: Toyota addresses Auris 'driveability'

3 March 2010

While the introduction of a hybrid variant to the C-segment Auris range from the middle of the year commanded much attention in Geneva, a Toyota executive told just-auto that changes to the rest of the Auris range for 2010 include a much enhanced driving experience – an area seen by many as a competitive weakness for the current model.

GENEVA SHOW: Too early to assess damage to brand in Europe – Toyota

3 March 2010

Toyota Motor Europe's executive vice-president with responsibility for sales and marketing has told just-auto that it is too early to say how much damage has been done to Toyota in Europe due to its highly publicised recalls and quality concerns.

GENEVA SHOW: Sliding doors for revamped VW MPV/minivan

2 March 2010

Sliding rear side doors are a new feature of VW's long-overdue redesigned Sharan MPV/minivan revealed in time for this week's Geneva show.

GENEVA SHOW: Nissan Europe eyes Russia to offset western slump

2 March 2010

Nissan is targeting the Russian market as it looks to soak up an expected shortfall in European registrations this year.

GENEVA SHOW: Cadillac at last realistic about Europe

2 March 2010

Cadillac Europe has revised its volume ambitions lower than in previous years as it grasps reality and adjusts to a new distribution structure for the continent.

GENEVA SHOW: Style and practicality top Opel/Vauxhall agenda

2 March 2010

The Flextreme concept car General Motors Europe unveiled in Geneva today is the strongest and clearest indication to date of Opel/Vauxhall's intentions to be a manufacturer of highly stylish but practical cars which people will be proud to buy, according to design head Mark Adams.

GENEVA SHOW: Alfa's Guilietta underpins next range of Chryslers

2 March 2010

Alfa Romeo's new Guilietta, unveiled in Geneva today, is a far more significant car than it might appear. Not only has it got to appeal to a wider buying public as beleaguered Alfa tries to rebuild its European sales, it also forms the basis of what Fiat hopes will be a 1m units a year Chrysler-Fiat-Alfa range of cars.

GENEVA SHOW: Proton shows first hybrid, styled in Italy

2 March 2010

Malaysia's Proton is working with Italy's Italdesign Giugiaro on a range of compact hybrids, the first of which were unveiled in Geneva today.

GENEVA SHOW: CT 200H new gateway to Lexus

2 March 2010

Judging by the concern shown by its minders when journalists tried to open and shut the rear doors, the description of the CT 200h as a show car rather than a full-blown production vehicle is apt. But this is how the final production vehicle will look when it goes on sale later this year with European sales from early 2011.

GENEVA SHOW: I'll listen, says new Tata Motors boss (and curry fan) Forster

2 March 2010

New Tata Motors CEO Carl-Peter Forster has asked for 100 days on the job before making any formal announcements about his strategy for the British brands he oversees.

GENEVA SHOW: Gordini brand ‘democratises Renaultsport'

2 March 2010

Renault decided to reintroduce its famous Gordini brand to make Renaultsport technology available to a wider, more fashion conscious audience, according to Beatrice Foucher, head of global product planning.