AUSTRALIA: Holden commits as union calls for bi-partisan auto approach
Holden says it is committed to continuing its Australian presence despite Ford's decision to end production in the country, while a major union is calling for both political parties to unite around supporting the automotive sector.
COMMENT: Will 'outrageous' 20% pay rise keep South Africa lights on?
Here we go again. In 2010, South Africa was convulsed by a wave of industrial unrest as pay bargaining talks lumbered into action and three years later, hey presto, the same actors seem to be going through the same painful process once more.
AUSTRALIA: Irate union slams Ford 'Detroit edict' as costing 6,000 jobs
Ford's decision to axe production in Australia has provoked fury at one of Australia's largest unions that estimates the cascade effect of shuttering plants will cost up to 6,000 jobs.
PRODUCT EYE: Lexus tries again with new IS
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?
INTERVIEW: Magma's Martin Leach
It was a telephone call from then UK prime minister Tony Blair that prompted Martin Leach to form Magma, the multi-faceted automotive industry consultancy and service provider.
SOUTH AFRICA: Mercedes-Benz resumes work after paint shop lightening strike
Further details have emerged surrounding this week's lightening strike that saw 1,600 workers walk out at a Mercedes-Benz South Africa plant in East London.
COMMENT: Colombia's OEM suppliers and assemblers at the crossroads
Vehicle assembly in Colombia began in 1956 when the government signed an agreement to build Austin trucks locally. Colombian entrepreneurs soon saw the opportunity to invest in technology to be part of the necessary OEM supply chain.
Latest automotive news 
just-auto takes a break
24 May 2013
Monday May 27 is a public holiday here in the UK. The late May holiday traditionally heralds the start of our summer. Yeah, right. Today, as they say, it is nice weather for ducks - very wet and unseasonably chilly.
AUSTRALIA: Holden commits as union calls for bi-partisan auto approach
24 May 2013
Holden says it is committed to continuing its Australian presence despite Ford's decision to end production in the country, while a major union is calling for both political parties to unite around supporting the automotive sector.
SOUTH AFRICA: Union threatens Volkswagen production
24 May 2013
South Africa's main auto union on Friday threatened to "halt production" at a Volkswagen factory in the country to protest against the dismissal of its members.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Pain and gain
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.
Hot issue
Mixed fortunes for EV start-ups
Tesla has just posted its first quarterly profit in ten years. Some more recent EV start-ups have come and gone. Even the established OEMs are finding the going hard and EV sales targets missed as mixed fortunes and uncertainties for the electric vehicle sector abound.
Read more here / View all hot issues
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THE WEEK THAT WAS: Pain and gain
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.
SWEDEN: Visser moves up at Volvo Cars
24 May 2013
MALYASIA: Sales up 10% in April
24 May 2013
May 2013 management briefing: ASEAN growth prospects (1)
In the last decade of last century, before the term “BRICs” had even been coined, there was another acronym that loomed large on the agenda of any global automaker. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, looked like a potential powerhouse for growth.
Hot issue
Quarterly results roll round again
It's quarterly results time again. We're compiling them here for quick 'n' easy access.
Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles
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.
COMMENT: Colombia's OEM suppliers and assemblers at the crossroads
24 May 2013
Vehicle assembly in Colombia began in 1956 when the government signed an agreement to build Austin trucks locally. Colombian entrepreneurs soon saw the opportunity to invest in technology to be part of the necessary OEM supply chain. But those with up to 57 years of experience are in danger of disappearing unless they make radical decisions.
COMMENT: Will 'outrageous' 20% pay rise keep South Africa lights on?
24 May 2013
Here we go again. In 2010, South Africa was convulsed by a wave of industrial unrest as pay bargaining talks lumbered into action and three years later, hey presto, the same actors seem to be going through the same painful process once more.
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?
May 2013 management briefing: ASEAN growth prospects (1)
21 May 2013
In the last decade of last century, before the term “BRICs” had even been coined, there was another acronym that loomed large on the agenda of any global automaker. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, looked like a potential powerhouse for growth. In this month's management briefing, Mark Bursa takes a look at the region's automotive prospects, starting with an overview.
PRODUCT EYE: Honda CR-Z
21 May 2013
It isn't often that a three-year old car, albeit one that was facelifted not long ago, attracts admiring glances in car parks. Glenn Brooks was surprised to learn that few people know what a Honda CR-Z is.
EXCLUSIVE: Next Mazda2 to use downsized CX-5 platform
20 May 2013
A spokesperson for the company's UK importer has told just-auto that the replacement for the Mazda2/Demio will use the same platform as the far larger CX-5 crossover.
ANALYSIS: Light at the end of the tunnel for Europe?
20 May 2013
April's sales figures for the European car market have marked a return to growth following a precipitous plunge that has left sales in Western Europe some 20% off the last peak and at a level comparable with the early 1990s. Are we at the bottom and is recovery in prospect?
INTERVIEW: Magma's Martin Leach
20 May 2013
It was a telephone call from then UK prime minister Tony Blair that prompted Martin Leach to form Magma, the multi-faceted automotive industry consultancy and service provider.
COMMENT: Colombia's OEM suppliers and assemblers at the crossroads
Vehicle assembly in Colombia began in 1956 when the government signed an agreement to build Austin trucks locally. Colombian entrepreneurs soon saw the opportunity to invest in technology to be part of the necessary OEM supply chain. But those with up to 57 years of experience are in danger.
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Reports in focus
Germany Autos Report Q3 2013Business Monitor International's Germany Autos Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, auto associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Germany's automotive industry.
Published May 2013 - ($ 1296.00)
- Venezuela Autos Report Q3 2013
Published May 2013 - ($ 1296.00) - Mexico Autos Report Q3 2013
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Published May 2013 - ($ 1296.00) - India Autos Report Q3 2013
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- Global market review of vehicle access, anti-theft and security - forecasts to 2027
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The just-auto blog
Future mobility
By: Dave Leggett
23 May 2013
How our cities will function in the future, with particular reference to the movement of people, is emerging as one of the big challenges ahead - particularly with the rising rate of urbanisation around the world and the creation of so-called 'megacities'.
Marchionne in some hot water
By: Dave Leggett
21 May 2013
Fiat-Chrysler supremo Sergio Marchionne has got himself into a spot of bother with the 'Italian American One Voice Coalition'.
Why the Mazda6 wagon is smaller than the sedan
By: Glenn Brooks
20 May 2013
I've been wondering about this since Mazda launched the different body styles months apart last year: is the latest sedan a rebodying of the old car, while the wagon has the latest platform as introduced by the CX-5? If so, why?
Production life database
Global current and future (to 2025) vehicle database
PLDB (Product Life Database) from just-auto covers all regions, so researching both existing vehicles and models yet to be launched by all of the world's major manufacturers is easy.
This database, which is constantly audited and updated, can be searched by various fields, including segment, vehicle architecture/platform, plant location or country of build. PLDB also lists each car or light truck's lifecycle, expected next styling refresh or scheduled replacement date. Where possible, vehicle codenames are also included.
PLDB lists 1555 current and future global models from 98 OEM groups, spread across 198 brands, with data for 1329 vehicles having been checked or revised in the last month. Simply click on the link below to take a tour and see pricing.
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‘Black box’ technology could drive down car insurance costs
The Department for Transport (DfT) has said it will work together with the motor industry in a bid to drive down the number of fraudulent claims for whiplash and other injuries, which would reduce the overall cost of car insurance from providers like Staveley Head.
