SWITZERLAND: Nissan announces major expansion in Russia
Nissan has announced major plans for further significant localisation of production in Russia including doubling output at its St Petersburg plant.
JAPAN: Toyota hybrid sales pass 4,000,000
Total global sales of Toyota and Lexus full hybrid vehicles passed the 4m mark at the end of April with cumulative sales in Europe reaching 423,000.
GERMANY: Opel CEO has no Bochum news after 2014
Unlike staff at the English Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, whose recent win of the next generation Astra guarantees work until the early 2020s, workers at GM's Bochum plant in Germany were on Monday (21 May) told no decision had been made.
US: Ford starts selling C-Max hybrid
Ford has begun taking orders for the C-Max hybrid in the US, claiming it is America's most affordable, fuel-efficient hybrid utility vehicle.
US: GM reshuffles sales team ahead of product blitz
General Motors has reshuffled its US sales team "in preparation for numerous product launches in the coming months".
US: Chevrolet confirms Holden-built SS for MY2014
Chevrolet has confirmed an open secret - return of an Australian-made V8 powered, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan to the US lineup, the Holden Commodore-based Chevrolet SS.
The redesigned Audi A3 will offer buyers greater choice than either of the previous two versions, including a four-door sedan for the first time.
Latest automotive news 
SWITZERLAND: Nissan announces major expansion in Russia
22 May 2012
Nissan has announced major plans for further significant localisation of production in Russia including doubling output at its St Petersburg plant.
JAPAN: Toyota supplier eyes developing markets
22 May 2012
Toyota Boshoku is considering constructing an autoparts plant in Myanmar, company president Shuhei Toyoda told reporters.
JAPAN: Toyota hybrid sales pass 4,000,000
22 May 2012
Total global sales of Toyota and Lexus full hybrid vehicles passed the 4m mark at the end of April with cumulative sales in Europe reaching 423,000.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Vauxhall workers get a reprieve
That huge collective sigh of relief you probably heard from Merseyside (and very likely Westminster) yesterday would have been Vauxhall management, workers and politicians greeting the news from General Motors' European unit that the Ellesmere Port Astra plant is good to go.
Hot issue
General Motors grapples with Europe's problems
As Europe's auto industry faces up to overcapacity in a falling car market, attention is turning to General Motors. With its European operations currently in loss, GM is looking to reshape its European manufacturing footprint and adjust plant-model mix to raise capacity utilisation. As ever, the possibility of plant closures is proving controversial.
Read more here / View all hot issues
Latest interview
Q&A with Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies
South Africa’s Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies believes that its so-called Variable Spark Ignition system can replace conventional spark plug technology. To find out how, Matthew Beecham talked with Deon Smit, CEO and James Mackenzie, vice president of development, Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies.
INDIA: Premier buying Fiat diesels
21 May 2012
May 2012 management briefing: European car market forecasts (France)
As the financial crisis in Europe swirls, we bring you exclusive extracts from LMC Automotive's suite of quarterly European national market sales reports and forecasts. The reports cover forecasts for car and light commercial vehicle sales by make and model over the next seven years.
Hot issue
Quarterly results season rolls around again
It's quarterly results time and we've been slicing and dicing the reports to remove the bumpf, claimed 'highlights' and so on to bring you just the facts. Analysis, where applicable, courtesy of Rob Golding.
Latest automotive interview, analysis, comment and insight articles
Q&A with Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies
21 May 2012
South Africa’s Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies believes that its so-called Variable Spark Ignition system can replace conventional spark plug technology. To find out how, Matthew Beecham talked with Deon Smit, CEO and James Mackenzie, vice president of development, Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies.
INTERVIEW: BMW UK MD Tim Abbott on Olympic sponsorship
21 May 2012
As one of seven Tier 1 partners of the Olympic Games, BMW is banking on massive exposure for the brand during this summer's jamboree in London, not the least through the automaker's sponsorship of 150 athletes. BMW UK managing director, Tim Abbott, is not revealing what the cost will be, but outlined his Olympic thoughts to Simon Warburton.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Vauxhall workers get a reprieve
18 May 2012
That huge collective sigh of relief you probably heard from Merseyside (and very likely Westminster) yesterday would have been Vauxhall management, workers and politicians greeting the news from General Motors' European unit that the Ellesmere Port Astra plant is good to go until at least around 2020.
PRODUCT EYE: Heads-up on BMW's 640d Gran Coupé
18 May 2012
BMW tends to do things in style and with just a month or two before this year's Tour de France, they turned on a bit of that glamour with the press drive yesterday (17 May) of its 640d SE Gran Coupé west of Strasbourg in the Vosges mountains.
May 2012 management briefing: European car market forecasts (France)
17 May 2012
As the financial crisis in Europe swirls, we bring you exclusive extracts from LMC Automotive's suite of quarterly European national market sales reports and forecasts. The reports cover forecasts for car and light commercial vehicle sales by make and model over the next seven years. This first extract from the quarterly series is France.
RESEARCH SNAPSHOT: Taiwan's auto industry
14 May 2012
Taiwan has, due to its geographic position, political stance and population size, traditionally had both its import and export potentials defined by external factors. This quarterly report from Business Monitor International assesses prospects for its automotive market and industry.
COMMENT: GM and PSA's plans to share plants and architectures
14 May 2012
The past few days have seen all sorts of rumours and supposed leaks from plant managers, union officials and senior executives at Opel and PSA. What should we believe?
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Autonomous motoring
11 May 2012
Most popular news article this week: an interview with Nady Boules, director of General Motors' electrical and control integration research skunkworks. He told how the automaker sees the pathway, timeframe and costs in moving through semi- to fully autonomous driving - the automaker has begun road testing prototype Cadillacs capable of semi-autonomous driving. GM calls the system ‘Super Cruise’.
COMMENT: Germany can afford it
11 May 2012
Well, that was unexpected. Normally, the last thing safe, conservative, can we even say staid, German politicians do is pitch head first into domestic wage negotiations, preferring to stay grandly above the fray until the dust settles.
just-auto's research round-up
Here's a brief run-down of reports available in our research store that caught our eye over the past week or so...
Get connected:
Reports in focus
Global Electric Vehicle Charging Station Market 2011-2015
TechNavio’s analysts forecast the Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station market to grow at a CAGR of 76.9 percent over the period 2011–2015. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing need for energy independence. The Global EV Charging Station market has also been witnessing increasing demand for energy. However, limited performance of EVs could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00)
- Automotive Industry in Russia. Results of 2011. Prospects
Published Apr 2012 - ($ 549.24) - China Automotive Windshield Wiper Industry Report, 2011-2012
Published Apr 2012 - ($ 2000.00) - Connected Cars - Global End User Survey
Published Aug 2011 - ($ 6762.00) - Tire Market in India 2011-2015
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00)
Latest just-auto research
- Global market review of starter motors and alternators - forecasts to 2026
Published May 2012 - ($ 1800.00) - QUBE starter motors and alternators intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published May 2012 - ($ 1800.00) - Global market review of vehicle access, anti-theft and security - forecasts to 2026
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - QUBE vehicle access, anti-theft and security intelligence service (annual subscription)
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00) - Global market review of automotive HVAC - forecasts to 2026
Published May 2012 - ($ 1500.00)
The just-auto blog
Israel's quick-drop battery stations open for business
By: Glenn Brooks
21 May 2012
The first battery-swap stations for EVs have just opened in Israel, but how will this brave experiment between Renault and Shai Agassi's Better Place fare? And is the promised 500km anxiety-free range now a reality?
FI Monaco race
By: Dave Leggett
19 May 2012
I see the Formula 1 circus is next to descend on Monaco.
AvtoVAZ hits milestone
By: Dave Leggett
18 May 2012
Job#27m has rolled off the line at the AvtoVAZ plant.
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 schedule replacement date. Where possible, vehicle codenames are also included.
PLDB lists 1531 current and future global models from 95 OEM groups, spread across 186 brands, with data for 1138 vehicles having been checked or revised in the last month. Simply click on the link below to take a tour and see pricing.
Related services
‘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.
New vs second hand carsIf we all had our way, every car we ever buy would be brand new; shiny, unmarked and full of the new car smell. However, the reality is that we're often restricted financially, or circumstances may present us with a second hand car as our most convenient option.
