Latest vehicle manufacturers news and analysis articles 
Developments for the automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that produce/assemble whole vehicles
May 2013 management briefing: ASEAN growth prospects (1)
21 May 2013
In the last decade of last century, before the term “BRICs” had even been coined, there was another acronym that loomed large on the agenda of any global automaker. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, looked like a potential powerhouse for growth. In this month's management briefing, Mark Bursa takes a look at the region's automotive prospects, starting with an overview.
UK: Ford Europe chief criticises 'unbalanced free trade agreements'
21 May 2013
Stephen Odell, head of Ford of Europe, has urged Europe's politicians, business leaders, academics and regulators to create market conditions that enable Europe's automotive industry to flourish. He also warned that unbalanced free trade agreements threaten the struggling European auto industry's future recovery.
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.
SWEDEN: Saab trio arrested on tax suspicions
21 May 2013
Three senior former Saab employees are currently being interviewed in Sweden on suspicion of tax evasion.
US: GM invests for greater flexibility at Lansing Grand River
21 May 2013
General Motors has announced a US$44.5m investment to build a “Logistics Optimisation Centre” at its Lansing Grand River Assembly plant (that makes the Cadillac ATS and three CTS models), creating 200 new jobs.
THAILAND: New vehicle sales rise 25% in April
21 May 2013
New vehicle sales in Thailand increased by 24.9% to 109,658 units in April, compared with 87,788 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Federation of Thai Industries.
UK: Toyota overtakes BMW as world’s most valuable car brand
21 May 2013
Toyota has reasserted itself as the world’s most valuable car brand, replacing BMW, rated the top brand in the Millward Brown survey in 2010 and 2012. Toyota held the top spot in 2006-2009 and again in 2011.
PRODUCT EYE: Honda CR-Z
21 May 2013
It isn't often that a three-year old car, albeit one that was facelifted not long ago, attracts admiring glances in car parks. Glenn Brooks was surprised to learn that few people know what a Honda CR-Z is.
US: Harman delivers NTG5 infotainment system for Mercedes-Benz S Class
21 May 2013
Harman says it has delivered the new NTG5 infotainment system for Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles.
THAILAND: Mitsubishi reveals Attrage - Mirage/Space Star sedan
21 May 2013
Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) has revealed initial details of the production version of the G4 concept from the recent Bangkok motor show. This new model, a sedan version of the Mirage/Space Star hatchback, is called 'Attrage'.
JAPAN: Mitsubishi/Nissan minicar starts production
21 May 2013
Mitsubishi Motors began production of a new mini-car at its Mizushima plant in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, this week.
INDIA: Honeywell turbos fitted to Honda Amaze ('India's most fuel efficient car')
21 May 2013
Honeywell turbocharger technology developed in India is fitted to the 1.5L diesel engine in the Honda Amaze, a car described as 'India's most fuel efficient car'.
JAPAN: Mitsubishi/Nissan minicar in production in Japan
21 May 2013
Mitsubishi Motors began production of a new mini-car at its Mizushima plant in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan this week.
EXCLUSIVE: Next Mazda2 to use downsized CX-5 platform
20 May 2013
A spokesperson for the company's UK importer has told just-auto that the replacement for the Mazda2/Demio will use the same platform as the far larger CX-5 crossover.
INTERVIEW: Magma's Martin Leach
20 May 2013
It was a telephone call from then UK prime minister Tony Blair that prompted Martin Leach to form Magma, the multi-faceted automotive industry consultancy and service provider.
GERMANY: VW group passes 3m sales in first four months
20 May 2013
Volkswagen Group sold 3.05m vehicles from January to April, boosting sales 5.6% year on year, and topping the 3m mark for the first time in the first four months of a year.
FRANCE: CGT fires bitter parting shots as Aulnay strike ends
20 May 2013
PSA Peugeot-Citroen's factory at Aulnay is thought to be restarting work tomorrow (21 May) after a bitter four-month strike protesting against its closure next year that unions claim has cost almost 40,000 vehicles.
UK: BMW announces 'i' dealer network
20 May 2013
BMW UK has announced the network of dealers that will sell and service its new i sub-brand using electric drive systems and offereing 'premium mobility services'.
BRAZIL: New Anfavea president wants exports to double by 2017
20 May 2013
Exports are top of the agenda for Luiz Moan, the new president of Anfavea, the lobby group for Brazil's auto industry. He wants to see a foreign sales recovery by 2017 as his tenure’s legacy.
US: Chrysler's Toledo North plant builds millionth Jeep Wrangler
20 May 2013
Chrysler Group's Toledo (Ohio) assembly complex has built its millionth JK series Jeep Wrangler.
US: Hyundai joins Department of Energy in new partnership focused on fuel cells
20 May 2013
Hyundai is uniting with the US Energy Department on a new public-private partnership called H2USA, which will focus on advancing hydrogen infrastructure to support more transportation energy options for US consumers, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
THE WEEK THAT WAS: A little bit of niggle
17 May 2013
I wouldn't have thought that, with the current state of play in the European auto industry, there'd be too much niggle in the union ranks. But we've reported on a bit this week.
ITALY: Jeep quick to change to keep customers happy
17 May 2013
Jeep global sales were a record 701,200 last year, a 100% increase in just two years and a long way from the dark days of 2008/09 when ailing Chrysler Jeep was rescued by Fiat.
COMMENT: Bochum union factionism a voice from the past
17 May 2013
What are Opel's 3,000 odd workers at its Bochum plant in the heavily-industrialised region of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) thinking today?
ITALY: Fiat plants working again after supplier dispute
17 May 2013
Fiat says production at three plants in Italy, Spain and Serbia has now resumed after huge disruption caused by a dispute with a key supplier.
CHINA: Anti-corruption campaign hitting premium brands – analyst
17 May 2013
Although the Chinese car market is expected to see growth of around 10% this year, prospects for premium brands have deteriorated as a result of the Chinese government's anti-corruption campaign, according to LMC Automotive.
GERMANY: IG Metall resigns itself to Bochum closure, moots EUR100,000 compensation
17 May 2013
Opel's main union at its Bochum factory in Germany appears resigned to the fact the site will close at the end of next year and is citing an unconfirmed compensation figure of EUR100,000 (US$129,000) for staff with 20 years service.
SPAIN: Ford strongly backs Transit state aid request as EC launches probe
17 May 2013
Ford has strongly rebuffed questioning from the European Commission (EC) as to whether Spanish plans to grant state aid for its Valencia project are against regulations.
PRODUCT EYE: Porsche Cayman
17 May 2013
When Porsche GB invites you to the Scottish Highlands to drive its new Cayman, you tend to reschedule whatever else was in the diary. Glenn Brooks was just-auto's man on EasyJet to Inverness.
ITALY: Fiat denies planning HQ shift to US
17 May 2013
Fiat has denied it is shifting its legal company headquarters from Italy following the planned merger with Chrysler Group.
