Latest emerging markets news and analysis articles 
Vehicle markets, companies and automotive industries in developing economies; includes BRICs
INDIA: Ssangyong considers local manufacture with M&M
7 February 2012
Ssangyong is considering manufacturing vehicles in India, a senior executive of the Mahindra & Mahindra-owned Korean automaker said.
CHINA: General Motors January sales off 8% year on year
7 February 2012
General Motors sales in China last month were up 25.3% over December 2011, the automaker's second-best January ever there but the 246,654-vehicle tally, including joint ventures, was down 8% year on year. There were three fewer shopping days as a result of the Lunar New Year holiday.
INDIA: Mahindra & Mahindra readying Saab bid - paper
7 February 2012
Mahindra & Mahindra, one of four companies interested in Saab Automobiles, has signed a confidentiality agreement with the bankrupt company and is in the process of finalising its bid, an Indian media report said. China's BAIC, possibly in conjunction with Panasonic reportedly may also submit a bid.
JAPAN: Toyota targets minimum 14% rise in China sales
7 February 2012
Toyota aims to sell at least 1m vehicles in China this year, up from 880,000 in calendar 2011, senior managing officer Takahiko Ijichi has said.
INDIA: Mahindra & Mahindra net profit dips 10%
7 February 2012
Mahindra & Mahindra has posted a worse than expected 10% year on year fall in third-quarter net profit. It had booked an exceptional gain in 2011.
CHINA: Infiniti posts 60% increase in 2011 sales
7 February 2012
Nissan Motor's luxury division Infiniti posted a 60% increase to 19,075 units in 2011 sales in China, making it the company's second largest market for two consecutive years, reported China Daily.
CHINA: Mitsubishi Motors plans Pajero SUV JV with Guangzhou Automobile
6 February 2012
Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) plans to establish a joint venture (JV) with Guangzhou Automobile Group by the end of September, a media report said.
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.
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.
COMMENT: Where does the Chinese car industry really stand?
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.
RUSSIA: Toyota to expand local production capability
2 February 2012
Toyota is expanding the role of its assembly plant in St Petersburg by adding stamping and resin moulding processes to the current CKD kit welding, painting and assembly capabilities.
VIETNAM: Bridgestone to build $575m export tyre plant - reports
2 February 2012
Vietnam's northern port city of Hai Phong has approved the construction of a US$575m tyre factory by a subsidiary of Bridgestone, the state-run newspaper Nhan Dan quoted municipal authorities on Thursday as saying.
JAPAN: Mazda expects losses to worsen
2 February 2012
Mazda today (2 February) reported a group net loss of JPY112.84bn (US1.3bn) for the April-December period, blaming sluggish sales because of the yen's strength and Europe's debt crisis.
RUSSIA: Chrysler takes over Fiat sales and service from Sollers
2 February 2012
Sales, aftersales and warranty for Fiat passenger cars and Fiat Professional light commercial vehicles in Russia are now managed by Chrysler Group's national sales company, CJSC Chrysler Rus, the automaker said on Thursday (2 February).
CZECH REPUBLIC: Skoda builds car #14 million
2 February 2012
Škoda produced its 14 millionth car - a Laurin & Klement Superb special edition - at its Kvasiny plant earlier this week. The milestone vehicle is for a German customer.
FRANCE: PSA may put India plan on hold
31 January 2012
PSA Peugeot Citroen said it may delay its planned EUR650m (US$850m) plant investment in India, adding only that it is "reviewing the investment calendar”.
THAI FLOODS: Honda Ayutthaya plant back on stream in March
31 January 2012
Honda Motor said on Tuesday (31 January) its car factory in Thailand (in the Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya) would resume production by the end of March.
GERMANY: VW Transporter SKD assembly in Indonesia begins
31 January 2012
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has begun assembly of the T5 Transporter from SKD kits through local importer Garuda Mataram Motor.
GERMANY: Carmakers angry at trade plan
31 January 2012
European carmakers are unhappy about a potential trade agreement between the EU and India which, they claim, is unfairly tilted towards India.
INDIA: Scania invests in India
31 January 2012
Scania has said that it is planning to invest about SEK200m in an industrial facility in Bangalore during the coming year.
ROMANIA: Johnson Controls opens seat plant in Craiova
30 January 2012
Johnson Controls has officially opened its new seat factory in Craiova, Romania, which will supply Ford's local assembly plant with complete seat systems for the new B-Max minivan on a just-in-sequence basis.
RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ raises prices
27 January 2012
AvtoVAZ is raising the prices of its Lada cars by 2.4% from Monday to counter rising costs and taxes.
INDIA: Maruti Alto world's best selling small car
25 January 2012
India's largest-selling car, Maruti Suzuki's Alto, has emerged as the best-selling small car in the world for the second straight year in 2011, outpacing Volkswagen and Fiat models.
RUSSIA: Carmakers call for cuts in steel duty
25 January 2012
Russian carmakers are calling for the abolition of import duty on steel because they are unhappy with the quality of local supplies.
RUSSIA: MAN Trucks & Bus to open first plant this year
25 January 2012
MAN Trucks & Bus, part of MAN Group, plans to open its first, EUR25m plant in Russia in 2012, Colliers International, the firm’s consultant, said on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS: ASEAN sales up by 3.8% in 2011
24 January 2012
New vehicle sales in the ASEAN region’s six largest markets fell by 15.4% to 584,790 units in the fourth quarter of 2011, from 691,517 units a year earlier, writes Tony Pugliese.
BRAZIL: BMW looks to Santa Catarina for new plant - report
24 January 2012
BMW is homing in on the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil as the site for its first Latin American factory, according to Reuters.
GERMANY: Opel discussing sales cooperation with SAIC - report
24 January 2012
General Motors' European unit Opel is talking with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), one of its parent company's joint venture partners in China, about sales cooperation.
UK: just-auto surveys the global auto industry
24 January 2012
just-auto has launched its latest annual survey of the auto industry to identify key trends and forecasts for the year ahead.
ASEAN: Q4 sales down 15.4%
24 January 2012
New vehicle sales in the ASEAN region’s six largest markets fell by 15.4% to 584,790 units in the fourth quarter of 2011, from 691,517 units a year earlier, writes Tony Pugliese.
