US: Chrysler agrees to "voluntary" Jeep recall
Chrysler Group said it had "resolved" differences with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over NHTSA's request to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-07 Jeep Liberty [exported as Cherokee] vehicles.
HUNGARY: Audi starts full production with A3 sedan
Audi has launched the latest version of its A3, a four-door sedan aimed primarily for the Chinese and US markets and the first complete model to be built at the VW Group premium brand's new plant at Gyor.
AUSTRALIA: Holden cautions on survival as workforce votes
General Motors' Australian division, Holden, has issued a stark warning it may not survive unless drastic solutions are found to improve competitivity and reduce costs.
CHINA: Shanghai GM starts on Cadillac plant
Shanghai General Motors has broken ground for a Cadillac plant and a pan-Asia technical automotive centre in Shanghai.
June 2013 management briefing: active safety and driver assistance systems (1)
Active safety systems and driver assistance technologies are a high-growth area of the automotive business. Global OE fitment levels for driver assistance systems (DAS) are forecast to rise sharply.
AUSTRALIA: Kia Slovakia Sportage source switch
A more favourable exchange rate and inadequate supply from South Korea has resulted in Kia Australia switching Sportage SUV sourcing to Slovakia.
UK: European car sales off in May; YTD showing improvement
According to JATO Dynamics, European new car sales slipped back into decline during May. Following a small 2.0% increase in April (versus April 2012), May ended with a 5.8% reduction in new car sales/registrations.
Latest automotive news 
UK: European car sales off in May; YTD showing improvement
19 June 2013
According to JATO Dynamics, European new car sales slipped back into decline during May. Following a small 2.0% increase in April (versus April 2012), May ended with a 5.8% reduction in new car sales/registrations. However, despite year to date (YTD) figures showing a year on year decline of 6.8%, the downward trend appears to be slowing, as YTD decline rates have become smaller each month since last March.
AUSTRALIA: Holden cautions on survival as workforce votes
19 June 2013
General Motors' Australian division, Holden, has issued a stark warning it may not survive unless drastic solutions are found to improve competitivity and reduce costs.
US: Chrysler agrees to "voluntary" Jeep recall
19 June 2013
Chrysler Group said it had "resolved" differences with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over NHTSA's request to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-07 Jeep Liberty [exported as Cherokee] vehicles and would now conduct a voluntary campaign that, in addition to a visual inspection of the vehicle will, if necessary, provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle to better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: After the automated distraction, the automated help call
Watched a clip from a US TV network last night about some new research into the question vexing many regulators over there, especially as far as younger drivers are concerned, driver distraction.
Hot issue
ANE Congress 2013
Despite the best efforts of striking French air traffic controllers to prevent speedy travel, just-auto's team eventually made it to Paris by various other means such as jam-packed Eurostars. Not sure about getting home... Meanwhile, the traffic controller back at base is compiling everything here to avoid any delays in getting our coverage to you.
Read more here / View all hot issues
Latest analysis
June 2013 management briefing: active safety and driver assistance systems (1)
Active safety systems and driver assistance technologies are a high-growth area of the automotive business. Global OE fitment levels for driver assistance systems (DAS) are forecast to rise sharply, leading to improved safety and an enhancement of the driver experience. Ultimately, the systems arriving now are part of the advancing technology frontier that will lead to the autonomous car. This month we share some of the latest developments in active safety systems, as monitored, analysed and reviewed in our dedicated real-time QUBE research service.
CHINA: Shanghai GM starts on Cadillac plant
19 June 2013
JAPAN: Toyota hikes domestic target to 1.5m
19 June 2013
SWEDEN: Volvo Trucks May shipments slide
19 June 2013
MALAYSIA: sales drop 15% in May
19 June 2013
INDIA: Renault will concentrate on core models
18 June 2013
INDIA: Ford EcoSport taps small SUV demand
18 June 2013
Q&A with TRW: Review of occupant restraint systems
As we enter the next chapter of occupant restraints - which focuses more on individual safety for different occupants or crash configurations - Matthew Beecham talked with senior executives of TRW Automotive.
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.
Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles
June 2013 management briefing: active safety and driver assistance systems (1)
19 June 2013
Active safety systems and driver assistance technologies are a high-growth area of the automotive business. Global OE fitment levels for driver assistance systems (DAS) are forecast to rise sharply, leading to improved safety and an enhancement of the driver experience. Ultimately, the systems arriving now are part of the advancing technology frontier that will lead to the autonomous car. This month we share some of the latest developments in active safety systems, as monitored, analysed and reviewed in our dedicated real-time QUBE research service.
ANALYSIS: 'Flat is the new up' for Western Europe
18 June 2013
As the latest monthly car sales numbers appear to confirm a bleak prognosis for Western Europe's car market, a new study suggests that flat market conditions will persist for some time to come. Dave Leggett reviews the underlying issues for Europe's auto industry in the context of global automotive market trends.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: After the automated distraction, the automated help call
14 June 2013
Watched a clip from a US TV network last night about some new research into the question vexing many regulators over there, especially as far as younger drivers are concerned, driver distraction.
COMMENT: Hyundai looking for love
14 June 2013
The old adage ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ attributed to Ford’s return to racing in the US in the early 1950s* has been given a new twist by Hyundai. The company doesn’t want to be the world’s biggest car brand, but it does want to be the most loved.
ANE CONGRESS 2013: Quotes of the week
14 June 2013
Shrugging off French air traffic controllers' strike action, this week saw many of the industry's top executives gather for Automotive News Europe's Congress in Paris. Here is a brief snapshot of what they said.
PRODUCT EYE: Vauxhall Cascada 2.0 CDTI
13 June 2013
Might there be a niche for a mass market convertible that's not only larger than the Renault Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet and Peugeot 308 CC, but also the Audi A5 Cabriolet? Glenn Brooks ponders the question as he tries the new Vauxhall Cascada.
Q&A with TRW: Review of occupant restraint systems
11 June 2013
As we enter the next chapter of occupant restraints - which focuses more on individual safety for different occupants or crash configurations - Matthew Beecham talked with senior executives of TRW Automotive about what we can expect to see on tomorrow's car. Legislation and various NCAP organisations are also playing a key role as vehicle manufacturers selling into Europe and North America and parts of the Asia-Pacific region are looking to achieve top safety results.
ANALYSIS: New urban mobility trends 'accelerating'
10 June 2013
Emerging trends in urban mobility such as the growth of car sharing are accelerating according to the analysts at Frost & Sullivan.
PRODUCT EYE: Toyota RAV4 2.0 CVT
10 June 2013
Glenn Brooks examines Toyota's attempt to regain dominance of the global C-SUV segment with its new generation RAV4.
ANALYSIS: New urban mobility trends 'accelerating'
Emerging trends in urban mobility such as the growth of car sharing are accelerating according to the analysts at Frost & Sullivan.
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Drowsiness MonitorsThis report analyzes the worldwide markets for Drowsiness Monitors in US$ Million. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World.
Published Apr 2013 - (€ 3281.25)
- ASEAN's Automotive Markets: Tigers and Cubs
Published May 2013 - (€ 1500.00) - Automotive Manufacturing - Top 5 Emerging Markets Industry Guide
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Published Apr 2013 - (€ 675.00) - e-Retailing in the European Automotive Aftermarket
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- Global market review of vehicle access, anti-theft and security - forecasts to 2027
Published May 2013 - (€ 1125.00) - QUBE vehicle access, anti-theft and security intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published May 2013 - (€ 1125.00) - Global market review of active and passive safety systems - forecasts to 2027
Published May 2013 - (€ 1350.00) - QUBE active and passive safety systems (annual subscription)
Published May 2013 - (€ 1350.00) - Global market review of automotive HVAC - forecasts to 2027
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The just-auto blog
Detroit defaults to avoid bankruptcy
By: Glenn Brooks
17 Jun 2013
Friday's US$39.7m missed payment on debt issued to fund pensions has made Detroit the most populous US city to default since Cleveland 35 years ago.
The retail/ownership experience: work to do
By: Dave Leggett
14 Jun 2013
At the SMMT's International Automotive Summit yesterday there were some excellent presentations: autonomous vehicles, supply chain issues, the future of retailing - all fascinating stuff and being tackled by bright people with vigour.
Ford film fake? Fancy!
By: Graeme Roberts
14 Jun 2013
No comment needed really.
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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 1561 current and future global models from 98 OEM groups, spread across 199 brands, with data for 1217 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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Lexus ES 2013: A Polished Sedan
Lexus offers a great range of luxury, convertible and hybrid cars from the compact CT to the beautifully constructed LS saloon. The ES has been around since 1990, a mid-size sedan that has been reworked several times over the years with nine models that include five versions of the ES 350 and four new 300hs hybrids.
‘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.
