Latest automotive news & insights

THE WEEK THAT WAS: A mixed start to 2012

By: Graeme Roberts | 3 February 2012

The jury on the likely US sales tally for 2012 is still out after a January that (pleasantly) surprised our resident statistician Bill Cawthon and sparked off a bit of discussion at just-auto Towers this week - will the light vehicle market for the year break through 14m, as an increasing number of pundits suggest or will the remaining 11 months see it pegged back to the 13.5m-ish suggested late last year?

COMMENT: Where does the Chinese car industry really stand?

By: Guest author | 2 February 2012

Investment banker Meyrick Cox describes the development of the Chinese auto industry, its structure and offers a view on the challenges it faces in the future.

GOLDING’S TAKE: Marchionne tells rival car makers to behave

By: Rob Golding | 2 February 2012

Sergio Marchionne was in ebullient form when he hosted the telephone conference call to explain the Fiat/Chrysler financial results announced yesterday (1 February).

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US: Chrysler adding 1,800 Belvidere jobs

3 February 2012

Chrysler last night (2 February) confirmed it will add about 1,800 jobs at its Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant, including a third shift "and hundreds of jobs for the production of the new Dodge Dart", by the third quarter of 2012.

JAPAN: Mitsubishi returns to profit in fiscal Q3

3 February 2012

Reduced costs and an improved model line-up helped Mitsubishi reverse last year’s loss to post a net profit in the nine months to December 2011.

CHICAGO PREVIEW: Updated global debuts list [2013 VW Beetle TDI added]

3 February 2012

Various concepts and production models are due to be revealed at the Chicago auto show's 8 & 9 February media preview days. Our list continues to be updated as manufacturers confirm further debutantes.

BELGIUM: CLEPA cautions Saab receivers not to sell assets to pay huge lawyer army

3 February 2012

Europe's automotive supplier body CLEPA, is urging Saab receivers not to sell off the bankrupt automaker piecemeal in order to pay a vast army of lawyers.

FRANCE/ITALY: January car sales sharply down in France and Italy

3 February 2012

The year of 2012 is off to a poor start in terms of European car sales if the January results from France and Italy are anything to go by.

JAPAN: Denso nine-month net income drops 71.9%

3 February 2012

Denso announced financial results for the nine months ending 31 December 2011 showing that onsolidated net income fell 72% year on year to JPY36.4bn (US$467.8m) and consolidated operating income was off 53% to JPY82.1bn on consolidated net sales down 6.1% to JPY2,214.4bn.

TURKEY: Brightwell confident of 'immediate' start if Saab bid successful

3 February 2012

Saab bidder Brightwell Holdings says with some "minor adjustements," production could restart immediately in Trollhattan, should its pitch for the bankrupt automaker be successful.

INDIA: Audi to assemble Q3 and Q7 SUVs - reports

3 February 2012

Volkswagen unit Audi India is adding an extra assembly line at its Aurangabad plant in Maharashtra to build the luxury Q7 SUV and the upcoming entry level Q3, which is expected to be launched in June-July this year, according to local reports.

SOUTH KOREA: Citroen to re-start sales

3 February 2012

Citroen is planning to re-enter South Korea in April with its DS3 models, according to local distributor Hanbul Motors.

SWEDEN: Volvo truck sales up 27% in December; 53% for year

3 February 2012

Volvo Trucks’ December deliveries increased 27% year-on-year to 11,882 trucks. For the full year 2011, deliveries rose 53% to 115,346 trucks.

JAPAN: NSG closing Pilkington UK float line

3 February 2012

Japan's NSG Group, said its UK-based Pilkington automotive and building glass unit is to close a float glass production line due to falling demand. It has also revised down its fiscal 2012 full year forecast.

JAPAN: GT86 will “revive” Toyota’s sports car tradition

3 February 2012

The new GT86, developed with Subaru, will mark the revival of Toyota's sports car development tradition said president Akio Toyoda.

INDIA: Audi to expand models and dealers this year

3 February 2012

Audi will launch seven new models in India and add 10 dealers to its current network of 15 this year.

SOUTH KOREA: New Mercedes chief arrives from Berlin

3 February 2012

Thomas Urbach took up his new post as president and CEO Mercedes-Benz Korea, replacing Harald Behrend, this week.

ITALY: Fiat-Chrysler full year financials "ahead of guidance"

2 February 2012

Combined Fiat-Chrysler revenues and trading profit for calendar year 2011 were "significantly ahead of guidance" at EUR59.6bn and EUR2.4bn respectively, "despite uneven trading conditions, particularly weak in Europe in the second half", Fiat Group Automobiles said in a trading statement on Thursday (2 February). The result included Chrysler's contribution from June 2011.

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