Like any year in the auto industry, 2011 saw its fair share of company ups and downs, industrial comings and goings, and a fair old sprinkling of corporate drama. Added to the mix this year were devastating natural disasters. We covered it all on just-auto. Editor Dave Leggett sifts through the lot and picks out a few highlights from the year just gone, month by month. Part two covers the second half of the year.
December 2011 management briefing: Review of 2011 (part 1) (January-June)
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July
The first production Range Rover Evoque comes off the line at Halewood and the first one is off to the museum at Gaydon.
It’s one of the year’s big general news stories here in Britain – tabloid newspapers secretly hacking in to cell phones’ voicemail in order to get material. The story touches the auto sector when auto companies say they will pull advertising from one of the newspapers that has been found to have widely indulged in the clandestine and highly dubious practice. Later on, the News of the World newspaper (part of the Rupert Murdoch media empire) will be axed by the publisher amid rising public anger.
UK: Automakers pull advertising as paper phone hacking scandal widens
Nexteer was formed in 2010 when Chinese investor Pacific Century Motors (PCM) purchased steering operations from GM (it was once Saginaw Steering Gear). We have this interview which says something about where the firm is heading.
INTERVIEW: Nexteer’s European chief Laurent Bresson
Still on the suppliers, Simon Warburton interviewed the irrepressibly upbeat Federal-Mogul CEO José Maria Alapont.
INTERVIEW: Federal-Mogul CEO José Maria Alapont
The summer sees rumours swirling that GM would consider selling Opel. Insiders view it as pretty baseless, but GM’s senior execs in the US don’t seem to be in a hurry to clarify the situation…
GERMANY: Opel Works Council asks Detroit for sale rumour clarification
Nick Reilly provides a justification for the silence…
GERMANY: “Look at facts” urges Opel chairman on sale rumours
Another piece of VW’s growth strategy falls into place.
GERMANY: VW takes majority stake in MAN
In July I interviewed Nissan’s Andy Palmer in London and heard his first-hand account of the March 11 earthquake and the shaking Nissan building he was in. Terrifying. And the examples of subsequent unselfish actions and stoicism from the workforce – typical in Japan – are moving. “There were lots of examples of mini-heroics,” he says.
INTERVIEW: Nissan’s Executive VP, Andy Palmer
The Saab saga continues to run. A potential – but controversial – Russian investor hits out at the EIB…
SWEDEN: Antonov aide slams “disgraceful” EIB and government Saab development
That CD player in your car is on the way out…
GERMANY: Ford sees all-digital car audio future
Matthew Beecham talked to Prodrive about developments in transmissions…
Q&A with Prodrive: transmission trends
And Graeme Roberts displayed a commendable eye for detail with his observations on Jaguar’s dimming DLRs.
COMMENT: Jaguar’s dimming daylight runners
August
There’s storm in a Top Gear tea-cup in the UK over an item the hugely popular TV programme does on the Nissan Leaf. Was such ‘broadcaster license’ justifiable to make the point about range? Clarkson is certainly right that such things happen all the time. “That’s how TV works,” he puts it bluntly. You can imagine him telling his kids that Santa doesn’t actually exist a little earlier than most parents would.
UK: TV presenter in Nissan Leaf range row
We don’t often carry news stories about Kenya, so here’s a rare one. Collectors’ item.
KENYA: Chery picks east Africa as growth target
I interviewed the one-off straight talking car guy that is Bob Lutz. He’s on good form and also has a book to plug (he made sure I got a reference to that in).
August also sees international financial markets wobbling. The wobble is going to persist.
ANALYSIS: What does turmoil in the markets mean for the auto industry?
Loved this headline. Saab suppliers are clearly getting exasperated.
NORWAY: “We are not going to give money away for free”: Kongsberg Automotive
A strong theme in 2011 is that of OEMs coming together is selective strategic partnerships. A couple of these are announced in August.
US: Ford and Toyota announce hybrid collaboration
US: GM and LG to jointly develop ‘future electric vehicles’
Life after Heuliez.
UK: mia Microbus EV confirmed for 2012 launch
An interesting technical development. Well, I thought so.
US: GM to introduce flame treatment technology to eliminate primer
Did you know that the 1963 Dodge Dart (a model name that will be reprised) was assembled in Rotterdam?
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Dutch automaker Fiat-Chrysler?
And Graeme Roberts also points to an audacious move by Peugeot in India.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Peugeot heading back into India
Land Rover shows a replacement for the Defender. Yes, really. It’s not actually an offence to mess with the direct descendent of the original Land Rover. But the ‘Defender Classic’ can perhaps continue to be made in India?
FRANKFURT PREVIEW: Land Rover DC100 heralds new Defender
VW reveals some details of its up! ahead of IAA. It’s a small car that comes with big expectations.
FRANKFURT PREVIEW: VW to reveal up!
September
It’s September and an odd year (numerically, that is) – that means the IAA Frankfurt Show (which alternates annually with Paris as Europe’s big autumn show) is on. Yay! It’s opened on 15 September by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. This year’s show theme: “Future comes as standard”. Glad it’s not an optional extra.
TEN THINGS: Some facts, figures and tips for the IAA Frankfurt show 2011
This announcement builds on other cooperations between the two (eg Daimler diesels for Infiniti).
FRANKFURT SHOW: Infiniti to share Mercedes platform
But these two are most definitely falling out.
FRANKFURT SHOW: VW wants talks with Suzuki
An industry big hitter suddenly leaves his job. I hope he returns.
INDIA: Forster quits top Tata posts due to “unavoidable personal circumstances”
I took a look at a supercharged supermini. Interesting small car strategy from Nissan.
PRODUCT EYE: Nissan’s supercharged Micra
Ford is sounding pretty upbeat in the US.
US: Ford to create 7,000 new jobs
Er, mind-boggling.
SWITZERLAND: Nissan R&D investigates brain wave analysis for future vehicle safety
Glenn Brooks gives us his take on Frankfurt’s new models.
September 2011 management briefing: IAA Frankfurt Motor Show retrospective
Fitch points out that the auto industry in Europe is in a better state to withstand lower demand now than it was in 2008. Reassuring, eh? Well, a bit maybe.
EUROPE: Ratings agency says recession scenario ‘unlikely’ for automakers
October
Coconut husks could be used in plastic.
US: Ford researching coconut fibre use in vehicles
A historic and unexpected announcement comes out of Hiroshima. A sacred cow not so sacred after all.
JAPAN: Mazda to halt rotary engine production
News emerges of serious flooding in Thailand.
THAILAND: Flooding hits auto and partsmakers
COMMENT: Another natural disaster the autobiz does not need
Making more cars in the US helps to counteract the long-run financial damage done by the weak dollar.
US: Mercedes to add fifth model at Alabama
Yet more Saab saga intrigue.
SWEDEN: ‘Foul play’ and ‘plot’ speculation add to Saab saga
There’s a sudden departure at Mercedes in the US that causes quite a lot of surprise. Some reports have suggested that he was sacked because of misuse of company funds.
US: Mercedes CEO fired in shock move
November
Rumours of restructuring at Visteon. Old guard and new guard tensions, we suspect – a feature at a number of post-bankruptcy suppliers who now have financial guys on the board.
US: Visteon quiet on lighting and interior divestment speculation
The rumours have some credence.
CHINA: Visteon interiors sale to Chinese JV creates US$4bn company
The high price of the black stuff is encouraging greater efficiency in the ICE, we know that. This study suggests the impact may be bigger than we thought.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Global oil demand to peak before 2020 – study
Suzuki well and truly throws its toys out of the pram.
JAPAN: Suzuki breaks off alliance with VW
This story produces a few smiles around the just-auto office. Cool dude. When you have a look that works and saves valuable time in the morning, stick with it.
CANADA: Sergio Marchionne – the just-in-time dresser
Another significant collaboration is announced.
GERMANY/JAPAN: BMW, Toyota, collaborating on batteries, diesels
Delphi does its IPO, even though investors aren’t exactly beating the door down.
It also signs an interesting sounding strategic agreement with Great Wall.
CHINA: Great Wall and Delphi sign strategic cooperation
Loved the double thumbs up in the rather fine looking 86 pic.
TOKYO SHOW: Toyota chief promises more fun
Plans by some Western OEMs to increase exports from China could be a growing political hot potato generally in 2012.
CHINA: BMW to export Shenyang-built 5 Series
Tokyo sees complaints from some over the high value of the yen.
TOKYO SHOW: Yen hampers Renault-Nissan production – Ghosn
December
Ford announces that it is reinstating its quarterly share dividend for the first time since 2006.
US: Ford reinstates quarterly share dividend
And the Mulally succession question is raised.
US: Ford denies external hunt for Mulally heir
Here comes Geely.
UK: Geely does distribution deal to enter UK market
LMC’s Arthur Maher points out that although the European car market faces a downturn in 2012, we won’t, under current economic assumptions, be facing anything like the same degree of excess stocks crunch that hit the industry in 08/09. Yes, folks, it could be worse.
UK: European light vehicle output to fall 6.5% in 2012 – LMC
The curtain finally comes down on Saab, or appears to. This could really be the end of what has resembled a soap opera at times this year. It is looking like a sad end for a venerable car brand. However, the real damage to the brand and the company’s survival prospects was done way before Victor Muller came in.
SWEDEN: Saab files for bankruptcy as Youngman pulls funding
COMMENT: Saab demise provides government with major headache
Thanks for reading this article and just-auto.
Best wishes and see you in 2012!
Dave Leggett and all the just-auto team
