PSA and Mitsubishi face EV pricing dilemma in Europe

Posted 10:45 am U.S. ET, March 15
Electric car partners PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi currently have a 13,000-euro price difference between their virtually identical electric cars.
Mitsubishi says that when it arrives in Europe late this year the i-MiEV's starting price in Germany will be about 48,000 euros including tax and destination charges.
PSA says the i-MiEV-based cars it gets late this year from Mitsubishi ̵ ...
     Continue reading "PSA and Mitsubishi face EV pricing dilemma in Europe" » Mar 15 10:45 am U.S. ET Post Comment  |  Permalink

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Don't be fooled by January's European production boost

Posted 1:00 am U.S. ET, March 12
There is an old saying that, “Nothing lies like statistics.”
It is true that without the right perspective numbers can be deceiving.
Take, for instance, news that European auto production rose 36.9 percent to 1,224,091 units in January, according to estimates from J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting.
Good news, right?
Not exactly. The rise comes from comparing January 2010 ...
     Continue reading "Don't be fooled by January's European production boost" » Mar 12 1:00 am U.S. ET Post Comment  |  Permalink

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Union idea for saving Opel's Belgian plant is ambitious, unrealistic

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 11
All my sympathy goes to workers who are trying to save their jobs and prevent Opel from closing its plant in Antwerp, Belgium.
Nevertheless, a union proposal to use the car plant to build small volumes for other automakers is in conflict with the reality in Europe today. Other automakers are in-sourcing as much production as possible to save their own plants and jobs.
Most European contract ...
     Continue reading "Union idea for saving Opel's Belgian plant is ambitious, unrealistic" » Mar 11 12:01 am U.S. ET Post Comment  |  Permalink

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Marchionne is right on Lancia, wrong on Alfa

Posted 11:00 am U.S. ET, Dec. 6
Sergio Marchionne says that Lancia models from 2011 could be badged Chryslers in most European markets, possibly even in Italy.
Marchionne, who heads both Fiat S.p.A. and Chrysler Group, also says he might freeze investments in money-losing Alfa Romeo after the launch of the Giulietta in 2010.
I think Marchionne is right on Lancia -- sadly -- but very wrong on Alfa. I say that having owned ...
     Continue reading "Marchionne is right on Lancia, wrong on Alfa " » Dec 6, 2009 11:00 am U.S. ET Post Comment  |  Permalink

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7 reasons why GM is considering keeping Opel

Posted 12:00 pm U.S. ET, Aug. 30
General Motors Co. is considering reversing course and hanging on to Opel and it is easy to figure out why. Keeping a foothold in Europe is vital for GM and the company may be able to afford it.
Six months after the “old” GM put Opel up for sale -- and three months after it agreed tentatively to sell the company to Magna International Inc. -- the “new” GM is rethinking the matter.
The German ...
     Continue reading "7 reasons why GM is considering keeping Opel" » Aug 30, 2009 12:00 pm U.S. ET Post Comment  |  Permalink

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