Latest automotive news & insights

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Vauxhall workers get a reprieve

By: Graeme Roberts | 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

By: Simon Warburton | 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)

By: Guest author | 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.

Latest columns

Product Eye

Our team bring you informed analysis of selected new vehicle models and put them in automotive industry perspective

Brooks On OEM Product Trends

Analyst Glenn Brooks looks at OEM new product developments in the context of company strategies and market trends

Slice Of Warburton

just-auto business editor Simon Warburton offers up a wide range of views in his distinctive style, informed by daily contact with the global auto industry

Our Man In ASEAN

Jakarta-based Tony Pugliese's regular updates, news and analysis from the ASEAN countries of south-east Asia

Beecham's Tech-Talk

Matthew Beecham interviews automotive component industry specialists to learn more about changing technologies and new innovations.

The Week That Was

Deputy/news editor Graeme Roberts' Friday wrap on the important automotive news from the week just ending.

Research In Focus

Information summaries and extracts from just-auto's continually updated research portfolio.

Bursa's World

Mark Bursa's in-depth look at key trends and companies across the automotive world.

Golding's Take

Financial analyst and former city slicker Rob Golding's regular sideways look at the automotive business.

Leggett At Large

just-auto editor Dave Leggett's overview of the auto industry, its companies, products and people.

USA: Lexus HS 250h hybrid axed due to poor sales

18 May 2012

Toyota has axed the slow-selling Lexus HS 250h after fewer than three years on the market. The car was sold mostly in Japan, the US and Canada.

UK: Greece will stay in Euro believes BMW UK MD

18 May 2012

BMW's UK managing director says he believes Greece will stay in the Euro currency as the the South East Europe country's woes continue to create huge bow waves of economic uncertainty for automakers.

US: Subaru to increase Indiana plant capacity by 15%

18 May 2012

Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries said it would increase production capacity at its Lafayette, Indiana, plant by 15% due to growing demand for the Outback crossover vehicle and Legacy car.

UK: Workforce flexibility key to Mini investment -BMW MD

18 May 2012

BMW UK says the flexibility of its British workforce in a challenging economic climate led it to sink GBP500m (US$791m) into future Mini investment.

US: GM reshuffles sales team ahead of product blitz

18 May 2012

General Motors has reshuffled its US sales team "in preparation for numerous product launches in the coming months".

UK: Uncertain economy continues to unsettle Europe’s new car market

18 May 2012

Data released by JATO Dynamics points to continued weakness in the European car market in April as the region continues to experience economic instability and slowdown.

POLAND: GM could add staff at Gliwice for Astra win

18 May 2012

The high quality of cars manufactured in Gliwice and the commitment of the factory's staff helped it win the nod as one of two GM Europe plants to build the next Astra from 2015, General Motors Manufacturing Poland's Andrzej Korpak was quoted as saying by Polish News Bulletin.

JAPAN: Toyota to increase electricity self-sufficiency

18 May 2012

Toyota Motor plans to expand power generation capacity at its plants in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, in a bid to cope with possible electricity shortages this summer, company sources have said.

US: Toyota to expand Alabama V6 output

18 May 2012

Toyota will boost the output of V6 engines at its US plant in Alabama by 2.5 times.

CASABLANCA SHOW: World premiere for Dacia Dokker K67

18 May 2012

The Dacia Dokker and Dokker Van have had their global debuts at the Casablanca motor show. Each will be built alongside the related Lodgy minivan at Renault's new Tangiers plant.

JAPAN: Honda to begin Fit Hybrid production in Thailand

18 May 2012

Honda is to start hybrid vehicle production in Thailand, following a similar move in the US in April.

UK: April car production up 9.3%

18 May 2012

UK car production rose 9.3% year on year to 94,352 units in April. Of those, 80,936 were exported, up 9.9%.

US: Ford starts selling C-Max hybrid

18 May 2012

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.

RUSSIA: GAZ plans investment wave as profits soar

18 May 2012

Cash rich van maker GAZ Group is planning a 16bn rouble spend on investment projects over the next 18 months.

UK: General Motors Europe to build next Opel/Vauxhall Astra at Ellesmere Port

17 May 2012

General Motors Europe's Opel /Vauxhall unit on Thursday (17 May) assured the future of its Ellesmere Port plant in northwest England with the announcement that it would be the lead plant of only two in Europe building the next generation Astra (internally coded T3600).

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