wap ane breakingVW brand sales rise 5.4% in April as China demand offsets Europe dropMay 14, 2013 14:41 CET Volkswagen Group said sales of its core VW brand rose 5.4 percent in April, powered by gains in China which helped offset weaker global markets including the U.S. and Europe.... Read More »
Volkswagen said to favor China's FAW for budget brandMay 14, 2013 15:34 CET  Volkswagen favors launching a planned budget brand in China with local joint-venture partner FAW, sources said. VW aims to introduce the low-cost marque in about three years and may eventually expand it to more than one model.... Read More »
Audi sales in China exceed BMW, Mercedes on demand for SUVsMay 14, 2013 11:04 CET  Audi saw the fastest sales growth among German premium marques in China last month after deliveries rose 13 percent to 38,710 vehicles in China and Hong Kong, the company said today. BMW, the world's largest premium automaker, reported an 11 percent gain in core-brand sales to 30,311 units, while Mercedes-Benz said brand sales increased 11 percent to 16,241 units.... Read More »
BMW CEO raps EU calls for stiffer car emissions goalsMay 14, 2013 13:25 CET  BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer criticized calls by European Union lawmakers for tougher fuel efficiency goals by 2025, warning their demands would hurt the European industry in competition with the United States and China.... Read More »
BMW seeks third straight sales record as new models offset weak EuropeMay 14, 2013 10:49 CET  BMW stuck to its goal of setting a sales record for the third consecutive year as new models help offset a slump in Europe.... Read More »
Porsche SE to seek dismissal of legal claims filed in GermanyMay 14, 2013 12:04 CET  Porsche SE says legal claims by plaintiffs in Germany seeking more than 1.36 billion euros ($1.77 billion) in connection with its failed attempt to takeover Volkswagen in 2008 are unfounded. The family-controlled holding company that owns a majority of VW, says it will file a motion to dismiss the claims.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Nissan plans potentially polarizing changes to top-selling QashqaiMay 14, 2013 06:01 CET  Nissan promises an innovative new look for the next Qashqai – the automaker's top-selling model in Europe – when the replacement debuts early next year.... Read More »
BMW invests 3 billion euros in EVs, report saysMay 13, 2013 12:00 CET  BMW will invest 3 billion euros through the end of this year on the development of its lineup of electric vehicles, funding the "i" subbrand with earnings from its booming business in China, a German business newspaper reported.... Read More »
Schaeffler to end Continental accord as merger project wanesMay 13, 2013 21:46 CET  Schaeffler, the largest investor in tire and components supplier Continental, plans to end an agreement between the two German companies as it continues to dismantle a plan for a gradual merger.... Read More »
BMW global sales rise 7% in AprilMay 13, 2013 13:43 CET  BMW Group said today that sales of its BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands rose by 7 percent to 155,419 vehicles in April, an record high for the month.... Read More »
Renault-Nissan unlikely to hit 2016 EV targetMay 13, 2013 06:01 CET  Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Nissan, said the companies are unlikely to reach their goal of selling a combined 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2016. Nissan has sold just 62,000 Leafs since the EV's debut in late 2010, he said.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Ford makes fresh start in EuropeMay 13, 2013 06:01 CET  Ford will use this month's UEFA Champions League soccer final to launch a new pan-European advertising campaign that focuses on its affordable, user-friendly technologies. It is just one aspect of a multi-faceted marketing overhaul the automaker hopes will help to stem its sales and profitability slump in Europe.... Read More »
First Saab-based model released by Beijing AutoMay 11, 2013 16:04 CET Beijing Automotive Group, which makes vehicles with Daimler and Hyundai, started selling its first sedan based on Saab technology as it prepares to list its BAIC Motor Corp. unit in Hong Kong.... Read More »
VW confirms report it will build factory in Changsa, ChinaMay 11, 2013 18:46 CET  VW Group has confirmed a German newspaper report that said it will build a factory with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles in Changsa, Hunan province, China.... Read More »
Ghosn sees more tough times in Europe; record global sales for NissanMay 10, 2013 13:35 CET  Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said that while he expects Nissan's global retail sales to reach a record this year, he doesn't see any growth in Europe before 2016.... Read More »
Porsche unit names Joe Lawrence as new COO for U.S.May 10, 2013 21:02 CET  Porsche Cars North America is bringing in Joe Lawrence, CEO of Canadian operations, to take over as chief operating officer in the United States, the company's largest market.... Read More »
Airbag supplier Takata names first foreign presidentMay 10, 2013 19:25 CET  Japan's Takata, reeling from its role in a global airbag recall, said today it will replace its president with Swiss national Stefan Stocker, the first foreigner in the post.... Read More »
Renault-Nissan parts warehouse in India nearly destroyed by fireMay 10, 2013 06:01 CET A major warehouse supplying parts to a Renault-Nissan plant in India was almost destroyed by fire early on Thursday, but the incident is unlikely to affect alliance operations in the country, Nissan said today.... Read More »
Audi's tight U.S. supply, fast turn rate lift dealer profitabilityMay 10, 2013 06:01 CET  Audi of America President Scott Keogh is presiding over a brand with momentum, with U.S. sales up 16 percent through April and a batch of new vehicles launched or on tap. Keogh, 44, became president of Audi of America in June, a promotion from chief marketing officer.... Read More »
Volkswagen recalls 91,000 cars in Japan on transmission problemsMay 9, 2013 12:02 CET  Volkswagen said today that it is recalling around 91,000 cars in Japan, citing potential transmission problems that have already led to the recall of 384,181 vehicles in China.... Read More »
Mazda names production chief Kogai next CEOMay 9, 2013 06:01 CET  Mazda has appointed Masamichi Kogai its next CEO. The production and purchasing specialist replaces Takashi Yamanouchi, who led the carmaker to its first annual profit in five years. The promotion takes effect pending approval at the Japanese company's June 25 annual shareholders' meeting, Mazda said in a statement.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Kia Europe boss sees growth despite tough marketMay 9, 2013 06:01 CET  Kia Europe President Brandon Yea believes the brand will continue its growth in the region this year despite tough economic conditions. Kia is sticking to its target of boosting annual sales to 420,000 by 2016 in the EU and EFTA markets from 338,000 last year. The brand's vehicle sales were up 3.5 percent in the first quarter in a market down nearly 10 percent.... Read More »
Daimler says it's in talks with Aston Martin on supply agreementMay 8, 2013 17:49 CET  Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler is in early talks with Aston Martin on supply and technical-cooperation agreements as the sports-car maker seeks to reduce spending on developing models.... Read More »
Ferrari will reduce supercar sales to maintain brand exclusivityMay 8, 2013 15:49 CET  Ferrari plans to reduce sales to fewer than 7,000 vehicles this year to maintain the exclusivity of the brand. Ferrari plans to boost profitability with high-end, customized version of its vehicles while holding back on their availability.... Read More »
Speed limit for new vans backed by EU Parliament committeeMay 8, 2013 06:01 CET The top speed of vans in the EU should be electronically limited to 120kph (75 mph), according to a proposal backed by the European Parliament's environment committee.... Read More »
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