Western Europe

Opel/Vauxhall touts connectivity as OnStar rolls out in Europe

March 3, 2015 18:43 CET

Opel/Vauxhall believes its OnStar digital service will help it win new customers, boost sales and return to profit after it begins to roll out the service in 13 European markets including Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain.... Read More »

Germany joins France, Spain, Italy in posting sales gains

March 2, 2015 19:15 CET

New-car sales in Germany rose 6.6 percent in February and are heading for a modest increase this year compared with 2014 levels. Germany joined France, Italy and Spain in posting gains last month.... Read More »

VW Passat named European Car of the Year

March 2, 2015 17:28 CET

The Volkswagen Passat is Europe's 2015 Car of the Year, marking the third time in six years that VW has won the title. The Passat beat its nearest competitor, the Citroen C4 Cactus, by nearly 100 points. The Mercedes C class finished third in the voting.... Read More »

Toyota sees its EU sales growth this year, boosted by UK, southern Europe rebound

March 2, 2015 22:32 CET

Toyota expects its EU sales to grow by 2 percent to 2.5 percent in 2015, compared to 0.8 percent growth for the market in Western Europe. The rise will come from recovery in southern Europe, as well as continued strong sales in the UK, the automaker says.... Read More »

Foreign carmakers lead February sales growth in France

March 2, 2015 13:36 CET

French car registrations grew 4.1 percent in February compared with a year earlier, led by growth in sales of cars made by foreign-owned manufacturers.... Read More »

Spain new-car sales rise 26% in February

March 2, 2015 14:00 CET

New-car sales rose 26 percent in Spain last month, the 18th consecutive month of growth, a car manufacturers' group said. Registrations have been boosted by a government subsidy program.... Read More »

A shakeup in Germany’s top auto ranks

12:01 am U.S. ET | March 2, 2015

Germany's automotive ranks are undergoing a generational shift. When Harald Krueger rises to CEO at BMW Group and Herbert Diess takes over as chairman of the Volkswagen brand this year, four of the six heads of Germany's biggest automotive brands will be in their late 40s to mid-50s.... Read More »

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE

Check out the ANE e-magazine for March

March 2, 2015 06:01 CET

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine goes live on Monday, March 2. This month's edition looks why ultraluxury brands such as Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Maserati are poised to keep experiencing unprecedented success.... Read More »

Golden Age for ultraluxury brands

12:01 am U.S. ET | March 1, 2015

Strong demand for ultraluxury brands -- driven by new models, improved U.S. and European economic conditions and a rising number of superwealthy -- has led forecasters to predict that overall global sales in the segment will grow by nearly 40 percent in the next five years. The bullish prediction is good news for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Volkswagen Group and BMW Group.... Read More »

Yamaha plans 2-seat car for Europe, source says

Feb. 27, 2015 10:06 CET

Japanese motorcycle maker Yamaha aims to start making and selling two-seat cars in Europe as early as 2019, a person familiar with the plan told Reuters on Friday.... Read More »

ANE's March e-magazine goes live Monday

Feb. 27, 2015 06:01 CET

As election nears, automakers fear UK exit from EU

Feb. 26, 2015 12:32 CET

Automakers with production in the UK are increasingly worried about the prospects of the country leaving the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will offer an in-out referendum on EU membership if he wins a general election in May.... Read More »

Porsche hedge-fund lawsuit faces dismissal in Germany

Feb. 26, 2015 15:14 CET

Hedge funds seeking 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in damages from Porsche SE in Germany over its failed attempt to take over carmaker Volkswagen Group in 2008 will likely have their case dismissed, according to a German judge.... Read More »

Magna cuts sales forecast on weak Europe demand, approves stock split

7:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25, 2015

Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. cut its revenue forecast for 2015, hurt by weak demand from Europe.... Read More »

Union OKs 3% wage rise in Daimler, Porsche's heartland

Feb. 24, 2015 10:47 CET

Germany's biggest trade union, IG Metall, accepted a 3 percent wage increase for the country's southwest region, home to carmakers Daimler and Porsche. The union had called for a 5.5 percent increase. Deals agreed in the region traditionally serve as a template for agreements across Germany.... Read More »

Faurecia N.A. boss Heneka to retire March 1; Stidham named new president

3:12 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 24, 2015

Mike Heneka, who led an immense expansion effort in the US as president of Faurecia North America, will retire on March 1, the seating and emissions systems supplier said today.... Read More »

GKN sees more growth this year after 2014 profits rise 4%

Feb. 24, 2015 11:12 CET

UK supplier GKN reported a 4 percent rise in annual profit last year and said it expected to grow again in 2015, helped by the continued strong demand for car parts.... Read More »

VW Eos output will end on declining cabrio demand

Feb. 23, 2015 19:06 CET

VW plans to stop making its Eos cabriolet as customer tastes shift away from convertibles in general and retractable hardtops like the Eos in particular. European sales of convertibles from volume carmakers fell 20 percent last year.... Read More »

ZF offers EU concessions in $13.5 billion TRW deal

Feb. 20, 2015 13:36 CET

ZF Friedrichshafen has offered concessions in a bid to secure European Union approval for its $13.5 billion takeover of TRW Automotive Holdings.... Read More »

Jaguar Land Rover favors Austria or Turkey over U.S. for production boost, report says

Feb. 20, 2015 10:50 CET

Jaguar Land Rover may add production in Austria or Turkey instead of in the U.S. as the automaker seeks to boost its manufacturing capacity, a UK newspaper reported. JLR had been considering opening a factory in the U.S. South, reports said earlier this month.... Read More »

UK car production dips 1% in Jan. on new model, tech investment

Feb. 19, 2015 10:23 CET

The UK's car manufacturing sector reported a 1 percent decline in output last month as automakers invested in the production of new models and technologies.... Read More »

European recovery gains speed; Jan. sales up 6%

Feb. 17, 2015 09:01 CET

New-car sales in Europe rose 6 percent in January as price cuts and economic-growth prospects boosted demand for most brands. Registrations rose to 1.03 million vehicles last month, industry association ACEA said.... Read More »

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE

Incoming Bosch auto boss must boost margin, fend off rising Conti, ZF

Feb. 16, 2015 06:01 CET

When Rolf Bulander takes over as head of Bosch's car parts division in April he will face hurdles such as raising the unit's margin to 8 percent and maintaining its position as the world's largest supplier despite intensifying competition from Continental and ZF.... Read More »

RICHARD TRUETT

Has diesel peaked in Europe?

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 16, 2015

Pollution is one reason why the diesel engine has perhaps peaked at 50 percent of new-car sales in most of Europe. Driving into Paris a few years ago in a Peugeot diesel hatchback, I became lodged in a long line of traffic. I started coughing violently. It was so bad, I nearly couldn't drive. I blamed diesel fumes.... Read More »

Grupo Antolin shakes up management team

Feb. 16, 2015 06:01 CET

Grupo Antolin, the world's largest supplier of vehicle headliners, has shaken up the top tier of its management with an infusion of younger executives.... Read More »

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