Robotics company Kuka acquires assembly and welding supplier 3:59 pm U.S. ET | April 19, 2013 Kuka AG has acquired the welding equipment and assembly supplier Utica Enterprises in suburban Detroit. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.... Read More »
BMW plans perks to win EV customersApril 18, 2013 08:34 CET  BMW will offer extra services to attract drivers to its "i" electric-car lineup, including occasional use of fuel-powered models.... Read More »
BMW, VW supplier SGL issues profit warningApril 18, 2013 12:34 CET SGL Carbon, which is partly owned by the BMW and VW groups, reduced its profit outlook because of a "slow start" to the year, particularly for its graphite-materials and carbon-fiber units.... Read More »
Opel names new human resources bossApril 17, 2013 14:47 CET  Opel has named Ulrich Schumacher its new human resources and labor relations boss. The 55-year-old German, who has worked at Ford and Magna International, also will serve as vice president of human resources for General Motors Europe.... Read More »
Opel confirms Bochum plant to close in late 2014April 17, 2013 17:13 CET  GM's Opel unit solidified plans to close its car plant in Bochum, Germany, at the end of 2014 after workers rejected a wage freeze, the first shutdown of an auto factory in the country since World War II.... Read More »
Opel board meets to seal fate of Bochum plantApril 17, 2013 13:30 CET  Opel's supervisory board is meeting today to approve the first closure of a German auto plant in the country since World War II. The carmaker is shutting the Bochum plant, which builds the Zafira minivan, as part of a wider restructuring plan in Europe.... Read More »
Porsche's criminal probes may help investors' German lawsuitsApril 16, 2013 13:34 CET  German lawsuits from investors seeking 4 billion euros ($5.2 billion) from Porsche SE over its failed takeover of Volkswagen may be helped by details from ongoing criminal probes into senior company executives.... Read More »
Schaeffler to cut up to 750 jobs in Germany, union saysApril 14, 2013 14:31 CET  IG Metall said supplier Schaeffler plans to cut up to half of its 1,500 jobs at a facility in western Germany.... Read More »
Continental CFO says Europe slump hit Q1 salesApril 14, 2013 12:16 CET  Continental posted a sharper-than-expected drop in first-quarter sales as the slump in core European auto markets was exacerbated by bad weather and fewer working days.... Read More »
GM's Akerson meets Merkel as two sides bury past differences over OpelApril 11, 2013 18:04 CET  General Motors CEO Dan Akerson met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the automaker's Opel unit as the two sides worked to move past a dispute over a failed effort to sell the division.... Read More »
BMW says production systems helping to counter Europe slumpApril 11, 2013 18:19 CET  BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said the automaker's success amid Europe's auto-market contraction shows the importance of setting up production and sales that can weather an economic crisis.... Read More »
BMW expands 4-series lineup 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013  The BMW X4 concept crossover with coupe styling debuts this month at the Shanghai auto show and will be built in Spartanburg, S.C.... Read More »
GM, Opel CEOs to meet Germany's MerkelApril 5, 2013 12:46 CET 
SALES Fiat turns to Germany as Italy sales seen as worst since 1966April 5, 2013 06:01 CET  Fiat, faced with Italy sales that could fall to their lowest level for 47 years, is seeking to boost sales in Germany by offering steeper discounts than any other automaker there. Plummeting deliveries, hit by political turmoil, are upending Italy's auto industry and will hit Fiat, which makes 56 percent of its sales in the country, especially hard. As a result, hundreds of Italian dealerships are closing and factories are running at half capacity.... Read More »
GM board will meet in Germany to review Opel's progressApril 4, 2013 13:19 CET  General Motors' board will hold its quarterly meeting in Germany next week as the U.S. carmaker examines the efforts of its Opel/Vauxhall unit to become profitable. GM's European operations have lost $18 billion since 1999, but the U.S. carmaker is expecting the division to break even by 2015.... Read More »
LUCA CIFERRI Germany stumbles in global sales race 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 4, 2013  Germany knows just how powerful the BRIC nations have become. Once the world’s third-largest vehicle-sales market, Germany is at risk of falling to seventh in the global ranking this year because of the rise of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China).... Read More »
SALES Weak March dashes recovery hopes for European carmakersApril 3, 2013 08:37 CET European car sales shrank again in March, threatening more losses for carmakers in the region after a dismal 2012, according to figures and forecasts. With euro-zone unemployment at a record high, forecaster LMC Automotive sees this year's sales dropping 3.1 percent in western Europe to 11.4 million vehicles.... Read More »
SALES Better Q2 foreseen despite 17% fall in Germany's March registrationsApril 3, 2013 14:42 CET  Germany's new car market is expected to stabilize in the second quarter, the country's main auto association said, despite another double-digit sales decline in March.... Read More »
Luxury big 3 fight for sales, prestige, profits 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 1, 2013  The race to become the world's No. 1 luxury brand is heating up as Audi and Mercedes-Benz step up efforts to topple BMW.... Read More »
AUTOMAKERS BMW may get rid of its retire-at-60 ruleMarch 27, 2013 06:01 CET  Age 62 soon may be the new 60 for BMW's top executives, including CEO Norbert Reithofer.... Read More »
RESTRUCTURING GM's Girsky slashes at Opel's cultureMarch 26, 2013 08:34 CET  General Motors Vice Chairman Steve Girsky took inspiration from a historical figure to try and stem chronic losses at Opel. GM is the leader in China and the United States but turning around its Europe operations remains spectacularly challenging.... Read More »
SUPPLIERS Bosch will sell or close its money-losing solar energy unitMarch 25, 2013 12:54 CET  Bosch said it will sell or shut down its money-losing solar energy operations. The supplier has lost 2.4 billion euros ($3.10 billion) since it created the solar energy unit in 2008.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY BMW may get rid of its retire-at-60 rule 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 25, 2013  Age 62 soon may be the new 60 for BMW's top executives, including CEO Norbert Reithofer.... Read More »
RESTRUCTURING Opel unions' failed gambit plays into GM's handsMarch 23, 2013 12:50 CET  Opel workers in Bochum, Germany, appear to have lost a high-stakes gamble to save their factory after an attempt to put pressure on Opel parent General Motors backfired and GM opted to close the plant ahead of schedule.... Read More »
PRODUCTION Audi plans extra shifts as A6, A7 orders riseMarch 22, 2013 09:52 CET  Audi added 12 extra shifts in the first quarter at its plant in Neckarsulm and is planning more in April due to strong demand for the A6 and A7 models.... Read More »
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