Latest automotive news & insights
Comprehensive coverage of the automotive industry's latest, breaking news and insights brought to you by just-auto's leading network of international journalists.
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RESEARCH SNAPSHOT: Taiwan's auto industry
By: Guest author | 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
By: Glenn Brooks | 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
By: Graeme Roberts | 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’.
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Current 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 columns
Latest blog: UNI-CUB: Honda looks beyond bikes, cars, robots & jets
By: Glenn Brooks
16 May 2012
Honda thinks it might have found itself another new revenue stream: personal mobility devices.
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.
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Latest news
JAPAN: Isuzu 2012 net profit surges 77%
16 May 2012
Isuzu Motors booked net income of JPY91.26bn (US$1.14bn) for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2012, up 76.9% year on year.
US: Tributes flow for Ford's 1980s turnaround chief
16 May 2012
The words "Ford" and "turnaround" are today most likely to be used in the same sentence as "Alan" and "Mulally", the ex-Boeing chief recruited by Ford chairman Bill Ford who has transformed the fortunes of the company in recent years and helped it avoid a government bail-out. But tributes are being made this week to another top Ford man who help revive the troubled automaker in the 1980s - former chairman and CEO Harold 'Red' Poling.
US: Detroit Three improve in supplier relationships survey
16 May 2012
Toyota and Honda's relationships with suppliers have slipped while Chrysler, General Motors and Ford have improved, the latest Planning Perspectives survey showed.
CHINA: JVs boost SAIC April sales 12.6%
16 May 2012
Sales by joint ventures with automakers including General Motors and Volkswagen helped SAIC Group boost sales 12.6% year on year to 367,600 vehicles in April. March growth was 10.4%.
US: GM axes paid for advertising on Facebook
16 May 2012
GM is to halt paid advertising on social media website Facebook.
CHINA: Honda JVs' sales up 43% in April
16 May 2012
Honda Motor's Chinese joint ventures Guangqi Honda and Dongfeng Honda said they sold a combined 62,089 vehicles in April, up 43.2% year on year.
US: Nissan starts redesigned Altima production
16 May 2012
Nissan has begun production in the US of its fifth generation Altima after making over 4.4 m of the previous generations which date back to 1992 - the original was the US version of the Bluebird and replaced the Stanza.
SWEDEN: Volvo Truck volume off 4% in April
16 May 2012
Volvo truck deliveries in April fell 4% year on year to 18,497 vehicles.
CHINA: SORL Auto Parts Q1 gross profit dips
16 May 2012
SORL Auto Parts, a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of automotive brake systems, said gross profit for the first quarter of 2012 was $12.2m, slightly lower than the $14.6m booked in 2011.
INDIA: Eicher Q1 aftertax profit up 33% to US$30m
16 May 2012
Eicher Motors reported that its consolidated profit after tax for the first quarter of 2012 increased 33.3% to INR1.63bn (US$30m) compared to INR1.23bn in 2011.
RUSSIA: UAZ swings to net profit in first quarter
16 May 2012
Russian automaker Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant (UAZ), controlled by Ford's local partner Sollers, posted a net profit of RUB70.8m (US$2.3m) in the first quarter of 2012 versus a net loss of RUB251.6m a year ago, the company said in a statement.
RUSSIA: Avtovaz Q1 net profit down 88.5%
16 May 2012
Net profit at Russia’s largest car maker Avtovaz plunged 88.5% year on year to RUB105m (US$3.4m) in the first quarter of 2012, the company said.
UK: Volvo Car confirms Connor as MD
16 May 2012
Former sales director Nick Connor has been confirmed as managing director of Volvo Car UK as well as its Ireland and Iceland subsidiaries.
INDIA: Mercedes eyes top luxury spot by 2020
15 May 2012
Mercedes Benz India plans to regain top spot in the Indian luxury car market with measures including extending its model range.
GERMANY: Hesse PM piles pressure on Opel to expand export envelope
15 May 2012
German Hesse state prime minister, Volker Bouffier, has added his powerful voice to those clamouring for Opel/Vauxhall to expand its export philosophy.
