GERMANY: BMW '09 net profit down 36% but improvement seen 

As expected, BMW posted a hefty 2009 decline in net earnings today, but there were signs of significant improvement to the trend in the fourth quarter and the company is being cautiously optimistic on the 2010 outlook.

US: Soave quits VW to head up Fiat launch 

Laura Soave will lead the reintroduction of Fiat in North America, reporting to Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne.

RESEARCH ANALYSIS: China's recession-defying automotive market 

With the world’s economies in turmoil, China’s star continues to rise. Indeed, China has remained the only one of the world’s major economies that continued to show growth through the global recession of 2008-09. In this extract from a just-auto research report looking at the Chinese auto industry and its prospects, Mark Bursa considers the causes of continued - and seemingly inexorable - market growth.

• FEATURE: Daimler sees turnaround on trucks (MEM)
  At 259,328 vehicles, worldwide sales at Daimler Trucks plunged by 45% during the course of 2009. The division's revenues declined by 36% to EUR18,360m. But after that eye-popping downturn, the company sees some improvement to the market environment ahead as well as continued efficiency gains in its manufacturing operations.
• US: GM's Whitacre hints early federal loan repayment likely (MEM)
  General Motors will repay about US$8bn in debt to the United States and Canada before June and could go public in a way that would allow taxpayers to make a profit on the bailout, chief executive Ed Whitacre has said.
• BRAZIL: Peugeot readies small pickup for launch
  Peugeot Brazil has developed this attractive new pickup truck - targeted at the popular 'pseudo offroader' recreational vehicle segment.
• SPAIN: Talks end on Opel plant restructure (MEM)
  Negotiations with management on a restructuring plan for the Opel factory in Spain have collapsed, unions have said.
• JAPAN: Daihatsu recalls 275,000 vehicles
  Daihatsu – a company controlled by Toyota – has said it will recall almost 275,000 vehicles, mainly in Japan, due to defects including a missing or loose bolt in the suspension system.
• INDIA: Raw materials, emission control costs, could hit automakers (MEM)
  A rise in raw material prices, coupled with costs associated with new emission regulations, could force Indian automakers to increase prices further, which may hit volumes according to a local media report.
• RUSSIA: Nissan to produce Murano at St Pete plant (MEM)
  Nissan plans to start producing the Nissan Murano SUV at its St Petersburg plant in early 2011, Fujio Hosaka, head of the firm's Russian manufacturing subsidiary, has said.

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• US: Nissan hopes new van will lure pickup buyers
• KOSOVO: London cab popular in Prishtina
• GOLDING’S TAKE: Lutz of memories
• Total forum discussions: 2558 (view all)

April 21 is date for Fiat Auto spin-off verdict
10th March 2010 13:58

Fiat's Sergio Marchionne is dropping lots of hints that there will be news of a possible Fiat Auto spin-off on April 21 whan an investors' meeting is scheduled in Turin.

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• Latest announcement: New Ergonomic Technology Applied At Bentley
• Total announcements: 1340 (view all)
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• Zagreb International Auto Show (2010)
• Belgrade International Motor Show (2010)
• EV BATTERY TECH 2010

• Intelligence Set: Global market review of vehicle seating – forecasts to 2016 (download)
  Published Feb 2010 - (£ 635.00)
• Intelligence set: Global market review of vehicle instrumentation and cockpits – forecasts to 2016 (download)
  Published Jan 2010 - (£ 740.00)
• Report package: just-auto's global market reviews of: glazing and roof systems (download)
  Special value report package - save 15%!
  Published Jan 2010 - (£ 867.00)
• Intelligence set: Global market review of OE gearbox clutches – NEW UPDATED forecasts to 2016 (download)
  Published Nov 2009 - (£ 605.00)
• Global market review of driver assistance systems – forecasts to 2017 (download)
  Published Mar 2010 - (£ 495.00)

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Automotive industry outlook for 2010

If 2009 was a year of unprecedented turmoil in the auto industry globally, 2010 promises to be a year in which the industry continues to endure hard times. Some vehicle markets remain at historically low volume and some companies will continue to be financially stressed. Written by Dave Leggett, this briefing provides a global outlook on key trends, issues and changes to expect in 2010.

download here >>