Talk from the Top
TALK FROM THE TOP: YANN DELABRIERE
CEO Delabriere on status of Faurecia: 'We are in calmer waters now'12:01 am U.S. ET | April 29 |
TALK FROM THE TOP: EUGENIO RAZELLI
Marelli CEO Razelli predicts huge growth for stop-start and hybrids12:01 am U.S. ET | April 29 |
TALK FROM THE TOP: DOUG SPECK
Tough to-do list greets Volvo's new N.A. boss12:01 am U.S. ET | April 29 |
Executives
| Luxury car veteran named CEO of Maserati North America >> |
| Nissan names new head of communications >> |
Manufacturing
| A soar spot: Pump prices up 40 cents since April >> |
| Fiat eyes Mexico to serve North and South America >> |
| Metaldyne closes 2 factories and an office >> |
Design
| Some Chinese still follow the leaders >> |
Future Products
| Outside forces direct Europe's future car lines >> |
Green Cars
Technology
| Noble nearly doubles Q1 revenue, still has net loss >> |
| Manufacturing technology group names new president >> |
Cutaways
Marelli CEO Razelli predicts huge growth for stop-start and hybridsMagneti Marelli CEO Eugenio Razelli says that pending EU legislation on CO2 emissions will reshape the auto industry by giving a huge boost to fuel-saving systems such as stop-start and hybrids. Such a scenario would be good news for the Fiat group-owned partsmaker, which already supplies stop-start and is working on a hybrid system for Formula One racing. [SUB] April 28 06:01 CET |
Growth? Sure -- but Audi profits come firstJohan de Nysschen, executive vice president in charge of Audi of America Inc., is trying to strike a balance between growth and profitability. Audi's German parent has set an ambitious growth target of 200,000 sales in the United States by 2015 -- more than double last year's 93,506. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 28 |
BMW: New vehicles will attract new buyersThis year, BMW launches two vehicles in segments where it hasn't competed in the United States. The 1-series compact coupe and convertible went on sale last month. The X6 crossover with coupe styling debuted this month. Neither vehicle will be a high-volume seller for BMW in the United States. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 28 |
Tough to-do list greets Volvo's new N.A. bossDoug Speck takes the reins at Volvo Cars of North America at a difficult time. His to-do list isn't likely to win him many friends. But having assumed the president's chair this year, with the transfer of Anne Belec to Ford Motor Co.'s global marketing wing, Speck, 49, must make the best of a bad situation. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 28 |
Chief: Land Rover is 'on a roll'Land Rover sold a record 192,500 SUVs in 2006. After the best sales month in company history in September, the Ford Motor-owned brand is poised for an even better 2007. The records come as Ford is listening to bids for the SUV specialist and British luxury brand Jaguar. [SUB] Dec. 10, 2007 06:01 CET |
GM Europe President Forster predicts rebound for GermanyGM Europe President Carl-Peter Forster is having a tough time lately. Despite record third-quarter sales of about 524,000 units, the carmaker's European pre-tax loss widened to $90 million (about €60.7 million) from $39 million the year before. Forster blames the result on slow new-car sales in Germany, the weak dollar and yen and rapidly rising raw material costs. But there are some bright spots. [SUB] Dec. 10, 2007 06:01 CET |
Fiat can be green without hybridsLife is good for Fiat Group Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne. The group's European unit sales are up more than 7 percent through October. Helping boost volume was the arrival of the 500 minicar, which was named the 2008 European Car of the Year. Despite the success, Marchionne, 55, still has a lot he wants to accomplish. [SUB] Dec. 10, 2007 06:01 CET |
Russia's fast growth will help Toyota to another record year in EuropeOne year after moving into the driver's seat at Toyota Motor Europe in July 2006, Tadashi Arashima was handed an additional area of responsibility. This past July, the CEO added the African continent -- worth 300,000 sales a year -- to his duties. But Arashima's main focus will remain on Europe, where he aims to raise Toyota and Lexus sales to more than 1.35 million units by 2009. [SUB] Nov. 26, 2007 06:01 CET |
Suzuki upgrades brand imageSuzuki is growing in Europe despite overall flat sales in the market. The Japanese carmaker's European volume rose 7.8 percent in the first 10 months to 242,490, according to ACEA, the European car manufacturers association. The company's sales are even up in the weak German market. [SUB] Nov. 26, 2007 06:01 CET |
Mulally pushes to transform FordFourteen months after leaving Boeing for the top job at Ford Motor, Alan Mulally still has a lot of work to do. He has arranged a loan package worth $23.4 billion (about €16 billion), sold Aston Martin and put Jaguar and Land Rover up for sale. [SUB] Nov. 26, 2007 06:01 CET |
Peugeot promises more premium carsFrederic Saint-Geours has been head of Peugeot since 1998. Under Christian Streiff, the new CEO of PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Saint-Geours will play a key role in restoring the group to profitable growth. The Peugeot executive vice president expects to benefit from a broader model portfolio and hopes to get more out of his Europewide distribution network. [SUB] Nov. 12, 2007 06:01 CET |
Citroen chief's goal: Boost perceived qualityHaving held responsibility for PSA/Peugeot-Citroen's platform strategy, Gilles Michel was well placed to help new PSA CEO Christian Streiff boost efficiency and behind-the-scenes integration of the group's Citroen and Peugeot brands. He spoke about changes being implemented at the carmaker, the brand's global growth potential and more. [SUB] Nov. 12, 2007 06:01 CET |
Mitsubishi boss enjoys European revivalDaimlerChrysler disposed of its stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2005. Since then, the Japanese group has been busy rebuilding its operations as an independent automaker. Results have been improving. Last month Mitsubishi Motors even revised upward its profit outlook. Russia and Ukraine are among the group's fastest growing markets. President Osamu Masuko, 58, spoke about the brand's revival. [SUB] Nov. 12, 2007 06:01 CET |
Global growth gives GM's Wagoner a boostGeneral Motors is feeling positive because of its continued success outside of North America. The company's divisions in Europe and Asia-Pacific set third-quarter sales records. CEO Rick Wagoner recently discussed GM's future. [SUB] Nov. 12, 2007 06:01 CET |
Mulally pushes to transform FordFourteen months after leaving Boeing for the top job at Ford Motor Co., Alan Mulally still has a lot of work to do. He has arranged a loan package worth $23.4 billion, put Jaguar and Land Rover up for sale and Volvo up for review, and last month snatched marketing star Jim Farley from Toyota. But U.S. sales continue to fall, and Ford Motor expects more financial losses this year and in 2008. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 5, 2007 |
Nardelli tackles 'vertical learning curve'Cerberus Capital Management shocked the auto world when it brought in an outsider, former Home Depot and General Electric executive Bob Nardelli, to run Chrysler. But Nardelli has wasted no time during his first 31/2 months on the job. The hiring of prominent executives, including Toyota's former North American leader Jim Press, has made the early press clippings seem like distant history. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 5, 2007 |
GM wants global growth and U.S. profitsThis year might be a breakthrough for General Motors. Just two years after losing more than $10 billion, GM appears to be turning itself around. GM remains in the red, but it has been narrowing its losses. The automaker is peaking with new products and has signed a landmark contract with the UAW that is expected to save billions annually. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 5, 2007 |
Subaru chief puts brakes on shift upmarketIkuo Mori emerged from an unorthodox career path to take the helm of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. in June 2006. In a company long dominated by engineers and technophiles, Mori's last stop before the president's office was as head of overseas marketing. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 22, 2007 |
Chery's publicity-shy boss eyes China growthPhotographers rarely get a picture of Yin Tongyao, Chery Automobile Co.'s CEO. Reporters have even less luck persuading him to agree to an interview. But during a recent visit to Turin, Italy, to meet with Fiat and the local design houses, Yin agreed to speak with Automotive News Europe Chief Correspondent Luca Ciferri. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 22, 2007 |
Daimler, Chrysler to partner -- if it's good fitDieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG, says cooperation with Chrysler LLC will continue -- but only where it makes sense. Unleashed from Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz has set new cost and profit targets and displayed 19 alternative-fuel vehicles to be built in the coming years. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 8, 2007 |
Porsche sounds ready to take the wheel at VWWendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche AG, is in an enviable position. The brand is profitable -- even the Cayenne SUV has proved the naysayers wrong -- and he's preparing to launch the new four-door Panamera sedan in 2009. Although Porsche is a small player, it's about to get bigger. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 8, 2007 |
Coping with low margins
Large European dealers have one thing in common: They hardly make any money on the sale of new cars. But they have adopted different strategies for growth. Three dealer group CEOs share their insights in our exclusive Talk from the Top interviews. [SUB] June 25, 2007 06:01 CET
European prospects for Chinese cars are good, says Pendragon CEOTrevor Finn, 49, has been the CEO of Pendragon since 1989. During his tenure the business has grown from 19 franchises to more than 400. Last year, the group's sales rose to £5.1 billion (about €7.5 billion) from £3.28 billion the year before. Pendragon, Europe's third-largest dealer group when measured by new cars sold, has grown mostly through acquisitions. [SUB] June 25, 2007 06:01 CET |
Italian dealer: owning real estate is crucialNearly 30 years ago, Nicola Loccisano was set to convert his Turin Citroen repair shop into a dealership for the French brand. But Loccisano's plans were drastically changed by a tragedy in 1974: His wife and child were killed in a car crash. Today, he controls IFAS Gruppo, Italy's largest dealer group. [SUB] June 25, 2007 06:01 CET |
AutoBinck dealer group focuses on central EuropeDutch distributor AutoBinck Holding is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The company imports Mazda and Hyundai vehicles into the Netherlands, and distributes Hyundai and Mitsubishi in central European markets.AutoBinck CEO Henny van Dijk says that a decentralized structure for his company is the best way to serve individual markets. [SUB] June 25, 2007 06:01 CET |
Autoliv CEO has his eye on Russia
When Autoliv needed a new CEO it decided to choose the man who had been leading the division that generates nearly 50 percent of the safety parts specialist's revenues. [SUB] May 28, 2007 06:01 CET
Marelli CEO Razelli says automakers seek better parts, not just price cutsCEO Eugenio Razelli says Magneti Marelli refuses automakers' demands to make abrupt price reductions, which partly explains why he characterizes relations between the two sides as “tense.” But he sees positive changes taking place, especially in Europe. [SUB] May 28, 2007 06:01 CET |
ZF CEO Härter wants to win more car business with Toyota
Hans-Georg Härter has seen a lot of changes at ZF Friedrichshafen since he joined the German supplier in 1973. Since January he has been the one deciding which direction the company will go next. [SUB] May 28, 2007 06:01 CET
Clarke: Higher sales, prices suggest GM progressTroy Clarke became president of General Motors North America on July 1, 2006, plunging into the troubled region's turnaround. But he's no stranger to GM's Detroit headquarters. Clarke was group vice president of manufacturing and labor relations from 2002 through 2004. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2007 |
Fields: Discipline will yield strong resultsMark Fields says the thick blue rubber band on his right wrist won't come off until Ford Motor Co. makes a profit. He has worn it almost from the day in October 2005 that he took over as president of the Americas. As Ford struggles to stop a swollen river of red ink, the pressure is on Fields and his Way Forward plan. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2007 |
Mercedes chief expects a bumpy ride in 2007Mercedes-Benz still has huge potential for growth in the United States, says Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. How much? Lieb isn't willing to say. The German-born executive says he prefers to get the facts first -- which is why he's talking with hundreds of Mercedes customers at informal dinners throughout the United States. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2007 |
Press: Toyota wants growth -- with honorJim Press has broken Toyota's glass ceiling. After nearly 40 years working for Toyota's U.S. operations, Press was nominated in April to become the first non-Japanese to sit on Toyota Motor Corp.'s board of directors. The formal election will take place in June. Press, 60, drove the company's rapid sales growth in the United States while in charge of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2007 |
Purves: U.S. may be flat, but BMW still risingBMW sales are expected to increase again this year despite what BMW of North America CEO Tom Purves calls a lack of "frothiness" in the U.S. auto market. Purves, 58, has been CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. since May 1999. During his tenure, sales have grown from 155,000 vehicles to 313,000 last year. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2007 |
Bosch auto boss says cost pressures reduce suppliers' cash for innovationSales of Robert Bosch's auto division rose slightly in 2006, but operating profit slipped to around €1.1 billion from about €1.5 billion in 2005. The world's largest supplier was hurt by production cuts in North America, higher raw-materials costs and strong downward pressure on prices. [SUB] May 14, 2007 06:01 CET |
TRW's Lunn wants to source 50% of parts from low-cost countriesFive years from now TRW Automotive will have significantly fewer suppliers and will source at least half its parts from low-cost countries, says Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Lunn. Both goals are part of the US safety systems supplier's efforts to cut costs and streamline its business. [SUB] May 14, 2007 06:01 CET |
Manfred Wennemer: Continental CEO predicts big things for telematicsLast year, Continental spent $1 billion (about €730 million) on a Motorola division that specializes in telematics. Now, Continental CEO Manfred Wennemer has high hopes that the life-saving, infotainment-enhancing technology will become a hit. [SUB] April 30, 2007 06:01 CET |
Thierry Morin: Valeo CEO says his company can help automakers nearly halve emissionsValeo's future is the subject of much debate right now. Private-equity fund Pardus, the supplier's largest shareholder, is trying to exert influence on the way CEO Thierry Morin is running France's second-largest partsmaker. Morin is confident that his strategy is working and believes the stock market does not properly differentiate between good and bad companies. [SUB] April 30, 2007 06:01 CET |
New products help Nissan trim incentivesEXTENDED WEB VERSION: Brad Bradshaw, 52, became Nissan Motor Co.'s top North American sales and marketing executive last year. He now oversees a stream of new products for both the Nissan Division and the luxury Infiniti Division. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 30, 2007 |
Hallmark: VW aims for 400,000 sales a yearAdrian Hallmark, 44, says Volkswagen can increase its annual U.S. sales to 400,000 units within five years. That's a sharp rise from the 235,140 units sold in 2006. But first VW needs to get through a flat 2007. Next year the automaker enters two new segments - compact SUVs and minivans - and brings back diesel engines. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 30, 2007 |
COO Wilhite's on the muscle at HyundaiSteve Wilhite has put his stamp on Hyundai Motor America, just eight months after taking over as COO. First he surprised dealers by reorganizing their ad associations. Then he added insurance and certified used-vehicle programs to enhance their profits. And he recently sent letters to 50 dealers demanding that they improve operations or risk losing their stores. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 30, 2007 |
Fukui won't let Honda's growth engine idleEXTENDED WEB VERSION: Riding the sales success of the redesigned Civic and new-to-America Fit isn't enough for Taeko Fukui, CEO of Honda Motor Co. He has set several new goals for Honda: Expanding manufacturing capacity, further separating and distinguishing the Honda and Acura brands, and developing a diesel engine that will meet stringent new U.S. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 18, 2006 |
Toyota wrestles with a good problem: growthEXTENDED WEB VERSION: Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe heads a company that believes in solving little problems before they become big ones. And Watanabe sees plenty to worry about. Sales are strong, but that means North American production and exports from Japan have trouble keeping up. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 18, 2006 | UPDATED: 12/28/2006 8:24 A.M. |
Forster: GM Europe sees 'rewards' after years of hard workAfter six years of restructuring – and financial losses – all signs indicate General Motors Europe will make a profit in 2006. GM Europe's better model mix and its strong presence in emerging markets have led to improved sales. [SUB] Dec. 11, 2006 06:01 CET |
Marchionne: Fiat will push its rivalsSergio Marchionne expects Fiat Auto to win more than 570,000 sales from its European competitors between now and 2010. In the past, a bold statement like that from a Fiat Auto CEO would have caused the industry to collectively roll its eyes. Not anymore. [SUB] Dec. 11, 2006 06:01 CET |
Success in East, Russia drives ToyotaTadashi Arashima has been part of some huge Toyota victories for the past two decades. He helped lead the US introduction of Toyota luxury brand Lexus, now the top-selling premium marque in the world's largest market. [SUB] Dec. 11, 2006 06:01 CET |
Honda plans expansion in TurkeyHonda wants to be more self sufficient in Europe. The first step was the carmaker's September announcement that it would increase production at its plant in Swindon, England, by more than 30 percent to 250,000 units a year in 2007. [SUB] Dec. 11, 2006 06:01 CET |
Hyundai Europe will change imageFew considered Hyundai a major threat in Europe 10 years ago when it sold less than 130,000 units. But that has changed. The brand now consistently sells more than 300,000 cars a year in Europe. And Hyundai is not done growing. [SUB] Dec. 11, 2006 06:01 CET |
Wagoner moves beyond survival modeGeneral Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is a survivor. Wagoner hung on to his job after GM lost $10.6 billion last year. He has battled and beaten back one of the most powerful -- some would say ruthless -- investors, Kirk Kerkorian. While GM's turnaround is still far from complete and GM's earnings results have been mixed, the automaker is a far cry from where it was at this time last year. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 4, 2006 |
Mulally wants better teamworkFord Motor's different divisions and departments around the world have to work closer together to improve the automaker's development of fuel-efficient vehicles, which will be built on fewer, more global platforms, new CEO Alan Mulally says. [SUB] Nov. 27, 2006 06:01 CET |
Saint-Geours expects sales boostPeugeot's production has soared and its model range has grown since Frederic Saint-Geours, 56, took over as managing director in 1998. The division of French carmaker PSA/Peugeot-Citroen boosted output to 2 million last year from 1.3 million in 1998. [SUB] Nov. 27, 2006 06:01 CET |
Crossovers, weak dollar challenge BMW CEONorbert Reithofer, BMW's new CEO, took the reins of one of the world's most successful auto companies Sept. 1 after Helmut Panke retired. Despite BMW's track record, Reithofer must deal with difficult issues such as the weak dollar, which eats into profits. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 20, 2006 |
Mulally wants fewer platforms, fewer dealersFord Motor Co. needs to improve its development of fuel-efficient vehicles and build them on fewer, more global platforms, new CEO Alan Mulally says. The former Boeing Co. executive spoke with Automotive News Publisher Keith Crain and other editorial staffers. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 20, 2006 |
Reithofer says BMW won't follow rivals
Norbert Reithofer, BMW's new CEO, took over one of the world's most successful automotive companies in September after the retirement of Helmut Panke. Despite BMW's past success, Reithofer must deal with difficult issues such as the weak US dollar, which eats into profits. [SUB] Nov. 13, 2006 06:01 CET
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE TALK FROM THE TOP: ULRICH WALKER
Ulrich Walker restarts Smart
As president of the Smart minicar brand, Ulrich Walker has the tough challenge of making the money-losing DaimlerChrysler unit break even next year. Smart has dropped three model lines and is combining many functions with its sister brand Mercedes-Benz. [SUB] Nov. 13, 2006 06:01 CET
TALK FROM THE TOP: SIEGFRIED GOLL
ZF sets aside millions to expand
EXTENDED WEB VERSION: Chassis and driveline specialist ZF Friedrichshafen's sales rose 7.9 percent to E10.83 billion in 2005 compared with 2004. Operating profit at Germany's third-largest auto supplier grew 16.3 percent to E512 million last year. The positive numbers came despite some financial hits. [SUB] June 12, 2006 06:01 CET
TALK FROM THE TOP: DIETER SEIPLER
Mann+Hummel will shift production
EXTENDED WEB VERSION: Already a leader in Europe, Mann+Hummel recently expanded its global business further through a joint US acquisition with Robert Bosch. Mann+Hummel, which had 2005 sales of E1.38 billion, believes it now has 10 percent to 12 percent of the global automotive filter market. [SUB] June 12, 2006 06:01 CET
