Latest automotive comment
The best views and opinions in automotive industry publishing, all in one place, from just-auto's monthly columnists and in-house experts.
Ford goes for a Spin - the week
9 Nov 2018 | Dave Leggett
When it comes to urban mobility, the stand-on electric scooter is vying to be a part of the picture, via an asset-sharing business model.
Your smart office on the move - the week
2 Nov 2018 | Dave Leggett
I have tried typing from the back seat of a car on quite a few occasions (needs must and all that) and it's not much fun.
Jaguar rethink? Results season starts - the week
26 Oct 2018 | Graeme Roberts
"Will Tata reinvent Jaguar as the new Tesla?" We asked. You read.
Will somebody think of the Brexit? - the week
19 Oct 2018 | Graeme Roberts
"So, how was just-auto's week?" I think "varied" might be the best answer as a wide variety of different articles on many different subjects drew readers' eyeballs over the seven days.
Polestar and polar bears - the week
12 Oct 2018 | Dave Leggett
The Polestar car designs I have seen so far are pretty easy on the eye.
UK auto sector (and Tata) watch closely as JLR hits headwinds
10 Oct 2018 | Dave Leggett
Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been a stunning success story under the ownership of Tata Motors over the past decade.
We love Paris in the autumn time - the week
5 Oct 2018 | Graeme Roberts
If it's autumn and not Frankfurt it must be Paris and we have our show coverage packaged in a handy Hot Topic bundle here.
3 Oct 2018 | Chris Wright
There was a distinctly threadbare feel to this year's Mondial de Paris - more no-show than show.
Enthusiastic about Volvo's new XC baby - the week
28 Sep 2018 | Graeme Roberts
My look at Volvo's first small(er) SUV, the XC40 was the most read yarn on just-auto this week. We've had Cross Country (the name is also applied to a train franchise here in the UK) Volvos for years, of course, including both the original XC90 and various beefed-up versions of the wagons the brand is also well known for (latest XC60 just coming out now), but this is the first venture into 40-sized kerb climbers and also the first of the new models on the CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) architecture shared with parent Geely - the bigger brothers are on the SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform - which gives the economies of scale needed to make a buck in this segment.
Brexit continues to worry automakers - the week
21 Sep 2018 | Graeme Roberts
News Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover would be putting its Jag plant on a three-day week from next month was the most-read article on just-auto this week.
3D metallic printing gains traction - the week
14 Sep 2018 | Graeme Roberts
I'm not usually one for blowing me own hooter but this week's most-read item on just-auto was last week's week, if you get my drift, mostly musing on the former GM Europe brands Opel and Vauxhall, now in the steady hands of PSA. Worth a read - especially the underlying articles - if you missed it.
PSA makes the first big Opel move - the week
7 Sep 2018 | Graeme Roberts
"We don't plan any job losses." How often have you heard that as Company A gobbles up Company B and nervous workers await the almost inevitable axe or, at best, substantial changes to their conditions (and sometimes locations) of employment?
Taking care of the workers - the week
31 Aug 2018 | Dave Leggett
Just occasionally, it's the unexpected light shone into less headline grabbing aspects of company operations that can really impress. As was the case this week when we learnt about the medical services provision for the workers at SEAT's Martorell plant. I do not know the ins and outs of this provision in Spain or the history, but in these hard pressed times for health provision generally, it's good to see something like that in place. Good for the workers and the company.
Ford's Brexit frustration - the week
24 Aug 2018 | Graeme Roberts
Ford reportedly telling British politicians it would take "whatever action is needed" to protect its business over Brexit was the most-read story on just-auto this week, as the UK government, six months from the off, finally decided to issue some position papers to various industries outlining what is most likely to happen following an increasingly-likely 'no deal' departure from the EU.
Wolfsburg gets a lift - the week
17 Aug 2018 | Dave Leggett
There was some good news for Wolfsburg this week when Volkswagen Group said it planned to lift annual output at the plant to 1m units a year by 2020.
Building another Lexus in the US - the week
10 Aug 2018 | Graeme Roberts
News Toyota's longest-standing 'transplant' facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, had started production of a new Lexus was the top story on just-auto this week.
Potential disruption in the EV market - the week
3 Aug 2018 | Graeme Roberts
'Could this 'breakthrough' in energy storage disrupt the EV market?' was the most-read story on just-auto this week and little wonder.
A sad changing of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles guard - the week
27 Jul 2018 | Graeme Roberts
A sad changing of the guard - vale Sergio Marchionne - was the most popular story here on just-auto this week. In what could be seen as a prescient move, we had only recently published Ray Hutton's insightful look at the likely future of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles after CEO Sergio Marchionne 'leaves' and this column last week was titled Life after Sergio - the week - I certainly did not mean that as literally as it turned out.
Leadership succession and the Renault-Nissan Alliance - COMMENT
26 Jul 2018 | Dave Leggett
The Renault-Nissan Alliance (Mitsubishi Motors was added in 2016) has been quite a success story. In an industry driven by the manufacturing economics of scale, companies coming together have shown mixed results.
20 Jul 2018 | Graeme Roberts
Ray Hutton's insightful look at the likely future of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles after CEO Sergio Marchionne 'leaves' (it's complicated, as you shall see) was one of the most-read articles on just-auto.com this week and, if you haven't already pulled up a coffee and paused from the work of the day for a look, I recommend you do.
COMMENT - Reflections on Marchionne's achievements
18 Jul 2018 | Ray Hutton
In less than six months’ time, Sergio Marchionne’s 14-year reign over the Fiat car business will come to an end. [Please note this article was written prior to Sergio Marchionne's death and also prior to June 21 when his health seriously deteriorated and he was replaced as FCA's CEO - ed]
Future model analysis always goes down a treat - the week
13 Jul 2018 | Graeme Roberts
Geely's Volvo Cars has attracted a lot of coverage and attention recently - future electrification plan, acclaimed new models, new assembly plant in the US, etc - so it's no surprise our analysis of its future model plans attracted the largest number of eyeballs on just-auto this week. Not unrelated, our new model debut lists for motor shows and other launch event venues always go down a treat and we covered both the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Monterey.
Autobiz frets over Trump's tariffs - the week
6 Jul 2018 | Graeme Roberts
If there is one thing the autobiz - from suppliers to OEMs - likes, it's a bit of certainty. Helps with the planning. As this (very hot in the UK and US) week draws to a close, there's very little certainty as to what US president Trump's tariff war is going to achieve or how trade between the UK and Europe will pan out post-Brexit.
COMMENT - Be ready for no-deal Brexit scenarios
4 Jul 2018 | Dave Leggett
In the global scheme of things, Brexit may look like something of a local issue for Europe.
So what will BMW do, post-Brexit? - the week
29 Jun 2018 | Graeme Roberts
Brexit was in the news - as usual - this week and this comment piece by our in-house analyst Calum Macrae (he runs our QUBE and PLDB databases BTW) attracted a lot of eyeballs, suggesting sub-contracted complete vehicle assembly is enjoying something of a renaissance - not quite in the number of firms carrying out odd jobs but in the number and variety of models being built.
Brexit - that’ll be the Daewoo
25 Jun 2018 | Calum MacRae
The automotive industry used to be awash with sub-contract manufacturers. Some will argue it still is - lots of Japanese vehicle assembly is carried out by affiliates for example, while kit operations in far flung countries are often managed by sub-contractors. However, they could also be categorised more as joint ventures with the OEM holding a minority share.
Not a very good Monday for one - the week
22 Jun 2018 | Graeme Roberts
Not a good week for Audi CEO Rupert Stadler whose plans for this week were interrupted somewhat in the early hours of Monday with a knock on his Ingolstadt door followed swiftly by arrest. With top ranking VW Group executives seemingly untouchable since the diesel emissions cheating scandal broke almost three years ago, Stadler's arrest was a bit of a surprise.
Ford eyes transmission plant sale or closure - the week
15 Jun 2018 | Graeme Roberts
It was not, to put it mildly, the best week for autoworkers, at least this side of the pond. A sharpened American axe appeared over the automatic transmissions factory in Bordeaux, France, (see, they make more than fine wine there). Should the automaker not secure a buyer for its Ford Aquitaine Industries (FAI) site at Blanquefort in south west France, the factory will close, although no forced redundancies would be implemented before September 2019. Not good news.
COMMENT - OEMs explore bundled services and cars on subscription
12 Jun 2018 | Dave Leggett
There is more than one way to skin a cat. As proverbs go I feel it's a slightly brutal one. Maybe 'more than one way to prepare a meal using eggs' is kinder to cats, if a little less catchy. Anyway, you get the drift. That old maxim springs to mind when looking at some of the latest schemes automakers are devising to get you behind the wheel of their vehicles and paying for the privilege.
Is Infiniti toast in Europe? The week
8 Jun 2018 | Graeme Roberts
Is Nissan about to pull Infiniti out of Europe? It's a good question, asked, reflectively and of the automaker, this week by our new and future products editor Glenn Brooks. As he said: "December will be Infiniti Europe's 10th birthday - will there be much to celebrate? As sales plunge at a dizzying rate across Europe and new model launches are pushed back, the question has to be asked: is Nissan planning to pull the plug on its luxury brand in the world's toughest market?"
