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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Q&A with Ambixtra Sustainable Technologies
By: Matthew Beecham | 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
By: Simon Warburton | 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
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.
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Current 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.
Latest columns
Latest 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?
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
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.
GERMANY: Opel CEO has no Bochum news after 2014
21 May 2012
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 on their plant's future beyond 2014. The plant builds the Zafira and Zafira Tourer.
CHINA: Jonway Wuxing undercuts top selling Wuling Sunshine
21 May 2012
Zhejiang Jonway Automobile has launched the Wuxing, a cut-price rival for the country's best selling vehicle, the Wuling Sunshine.
US: Swift Tier 1 response to Nylon 12 crisis praised by AIAG
21 May 2012
Rapid response by US Tier 1 automotive suppliers and OEMs to the crisis in resin production has been hailed by a major vehicle association, with the car sector's action appearing to be contrast to other industry users of the critical component.
TURKEY: Hyundai to double production capacity on growing demand
21 May 2012
Hyundai Motor has announced it will increase its annual production capacity at its Turkey plant, Hyundai Assan Otomotiv Sanayi (HAOS), to 200,000 units from the current 100,000 units.
GERMANY: Audi reportedly eyes management reshuffle
21 May 2012
Volkswagen's Audi division is considering a management reshuffle as it eyes expansion in China, Latin America and the United States, the unit's head told a German magazine.
GERMANY: North-Rhein Westphalia PM offers Detroit talks to save Bochum
21 May 2012
North-Rhein Westphalia's Prime Minister, Hannelore Kraft, says she will fly to Detroit for urgent talks with General Motors if such a visit can persuade the US automaker to retain its plants at Bochum.
INDIA: Fiat to boost market share now Tata deal over
21 May 2012
Fiat has set a target of 80-100 independent dealers spread across 35 Indian cities in the next 12-18 months as it looks to double its market share in the next two to three years, having ended a showroom-sharing deal with Tata Motors.
INDIA: Premier buying Fiat diesels
21 May 2012
Premier, famous for the 1960s Fiat-based Indian Padmini taxi, has agreed a deal with Fiat to supply 1.3 litre multi-jet diesel engines for its compact Rio SUV.
INDIA: Sundaram Clayton now casting closer to Hyundai
21 May 2012
Sundaram Clayton has begun production at its new plant in the auto hub of Oragadam, 45km from Chennai.
RUSSIA: Avtokomponent to spend RUB900m on AvtoVAZ parts plant
21 May 2012
Russian component manufacturer Avtokomponent expects to allocate RUB900m to build facilities producing components for AvtoVAZ vehicles in Tolyatti by 2013, the company told RIA Novosti.
SOUTH KOREA: High yen prompts non-Japan Toyota imports
21 May 2012
Toyota will import over 90% of the cars it sells in Korea from regions other than Japan because it wants to take advantages of Korea's free trade agreements.
JAPAN: New JAMA chief warns re auto taxes
21 May 2012
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association is continuing to lobby for the government to get rid of automobile taxes, new chairman Akio Toyoda told his first news conference.
