The UK market looked strong in May while Toyota’s UK plant, clobbered by the 2008 recession, is now claimed to be back at capacity, following the start of production of the Auris Touring Sports or, to you, ‘Corolla wagon’.
While I normally don’t associate either ‘Sports’ or ‘Touring’ with ‘estate car’ or ‘station wagon’, the new Auris is a nifty looking bit of C-segment load hauler kit well able to hold its own in a styling class wherein lurks the Focus, Astra and a pair of Hyundai/Kia models. Gone is the utilitarian look of old.
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Meanwhile, a senior EU official has told us he wants ‘more balanced’ free trade agreements and water got in the way of some trains carting bits to Porsche in Leipzig.
Speaking of German manufacturing, Rolls-Royce has a new manufacturing director,with Mini form, named Ludwig.
A few recalls in the news this week – these included Chrysler refusing to do one at the NHTSA’s invitation, doing another unrelated one anyway, and another hybrid call-back by Toyota, without any great fuss. What will be interesting is how the current row between owners and VW in Australia plays out – so far head office says “nein”.
A couple of interviews of note – with Russian Machines and also the chief at Bosch UK.
Non-auto factoid: apprently we in Britain buy more central heating boilers than any other European country. That’s because many of them are way closer to the Med and a lot [beep] warmer to start with, I’d suggest…
Have a nice weekend.
Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, just-auto.com
