Latest forecasts news and analysis articles 
Vehicle market and industry outlook projections
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai names next Tucson as first fuel cell production car
21 May 2013
Hyundai Motor has announced that the fuel cell vehicle it will build at the rate of 10,000 units a year will be a version of the next Tuscon.
ANALYSIS: Light at the end of the tunnel for Europe?
20 May 2013
April's sales figures for the European car market have marked a return to growth following a precipitous plunge that has left sales in Western Europe some 20% off the last peak and at a level comparable with the early 1990s. Are we at the bottom and is recovery in prospect?
FRANCE: Unions give Michelin flexible working green light
20 May 2013
Michelin has secured agreement at central union level for three of its French plants to operate flexible working in a bid to address a drop in European demand.
GERMANY: BMW pins future on new models and technology
14 May 2013
BMW Group is paving the way for continued success in the future with a high level of expenditure on new technologies and models and investments in its production network, shareholders were told at the annual general meeting on Tuesday (14 May, 2013).
RUSSIA: Flattening market subject to familar Western cycles: Renault-Nissan-Dacia
13 May 2013
Renault-Nissan is forecasting the market for Russia this year to be "relatively flat" as the hitherto booming automotive sector starts to plateau in relative terms.
UK: Sovereign debt crises to affect Europe to 2017: LMC Automotive
10 May 2013
Ongoing sovereign debt crises across Europe are continuing to have a major impact on the Continent's automaking development, with 2007 production levels not expected to return until 2017, says analysts, LMC Automotive.
QUOTES: Russian Automotive Forum - Moscow
3 May 2013
This year's Russian Automotive Forum in Moscow organised by Adam Smith Conferences produced some lively debate and interesting comments. Here's a snapshot of what some of the speakers said.
SHANGHAI: Mixed messages from German premium brands
23 April 2013
Germany’s premium brands appeared confident about further growth in sales in China, but it will be slower than it has been in the past.
RUSSIA: Slow sales see cut in AvtoVAZ forecast
19 April 2013
AvtoVAZ will reduce its sales forecast for 2013 in May, CEO Igor Komarov has told the Prime Tass news service. This followed a decline in sales last month.
SEOUL SHOW: Global debuts list [final version]
2 April 2013
Multiple concepts and new models have made their global debuts at the bienniel Seoul motor show. The media day was 28 March.
GERMANY: Schaeffler upbeat for 2013
26 March 2013
Bearings and vehicle component maker Schaeffler said it remains "optimistic" this year, even though profits fell in 2012 by 1.9% to EUR872m (US$1.13 bn).
CZECH REPUBLIC: Global sales and future plans for Skoda
25 March 2013
Škoda Auto has revealed global build numbers by model for 2012, and announced where and when several new vehicles will be built or assembled.
UK: Mitsubishi sees Q1 sales up 56% so far
22 March 2013
Speaking at the launch of the Mirage A-segment hatchback, Mitsubishi UK managing director Lance Bradley said that brand sales were up 105% in February, and have averaged a 56% rise YoY for Q1.
UK: MQB allows dual suspension systems for new SEAT Leon
21 March 2013
Multiple future variants of the new León range, plus details of base and premium suspension system modules for MQB platform cars have been revealed by SEAT UK at the car's media launch.
UK: Mitsubishi first with sub-100g/km across a model range
20 March 2013
Thanks to the new Mirage, Mitsubishi Motors will be the first brand in the UK market to launch a car range in which every variant delivers a sub-100g/km CO2 average.
PRODUCT EYE: Ford Kuga
19 March 2013
Ford sees no reason why near-record fuel prices should make now a bad time to be launching a new SUV. Quite the opposite, in fact, as Glenn Brooks learned on the UK market launch of the abstemious new Kuga.
PORTUGAL: Electrification helps the internal combustion engine – Renault's Ghosn
15 March 2013
Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn believes that electric vehicles can help the broader auto industry as the numbers of cars produced globally continues to rise.
FRANCE: No good news in Europe until 2016: Carlos Ghosn
8 March 2013
Renault is predicting "no good news" on the European automotive market until 2016 as the Continent continues to act as a giant anchor on manufacturers' global competitivity.
GENEVA 2013 PRESS PREVIEW DAYS REVIEW: Part One
7 March 2013
As our list of vehicle and concept world premieres attests, this year’s Geneva motor show media preview days saw a bumper crop of new models revealed. Glenn Brooks, our man at the Palais des Expositions, reports his observations.
US: NADA sees market momentum in 2013
11 February 2013
The sales momentum of new cars and light trucks established last year in the US is likely to continue in 2013, according to Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Cold winds blowing for some
8 February 2013
There have been some cold winds blowing this week, literally and metaphorically. The metaphorical blasts are all too familiar and can be summed up in three words: problems in Europe.
UK: Range extender EV market set for 'rapid acceleration' – consultants
5 February 2013
Range extender technology for electric vehicles that overcomes 'range anxiety' is set for a rapid boost as more models embracing a supplementary engine solution hit the market, according to consultants at Frost & Sullivan.
GERMANY: Truckmaker confident of increased sales
31 January 2013
Daimler Trucks plans to increase sales this year despite the market downturn in Europe.
UK: Global vehicle market to slow in 2013 - LMC
30 January 2013
After a solid 2012, which saw global light vehicle sales increase by 5% to 81m units, LMC Automotive forecasts a slower expansion in 2013.
CHINA: Shanghai GM to lift 2013 sales target - reports
29 January 2013
Shanghai General Motors is set to raise its 2013 sales target in the first quarter, China Business Times and China Daily reported, citing internal sources.
CHINA: Market could see 10% growth this year
28 January 2013
China’s car market may rise up to 10% this year despite fears of more government policies to limit car ownership, reported the South China Morning Post.
UK: Online auto sales to soar by 2020 - Frost & Sullivan
21 January 2013
Automakers will increasingly apply an 'Omni' channel strategy to market and sell cars to customers with about 4%, or about 4.5m units, sold completely on line by 2020, predicted Frost & Sullivan global practice director Sarwant Singh. That compares to 5,000 new cars sold solely on-line in 2011, he added.
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Motor reveals China sales targets
17 January 2013
Hyundai Motor Group wants to sell 1.47m in China this year and expand market share.
US: GM expects profitability to rise 'modestly' in 2013
17 January 2013
GM has said it expects its global profitability to rise modestly in 2013 on an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) adjusted basis, with improvements anticipated from each world region.
MALAYSIA: Perodua targets 2% 2013 sales rise
17 January 2013
Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua (Perodua) aims to sell 194,000 units this year for a market share of 30%.
