30 Sept

  • GM has invented a new type of airbag – the front centre airbag. Situated between the driver and front passenger (and mounted on the driver’s seat), it is deployed in side impacts. Developed with Takata Corp over three years, the new front centre airbag will debut on the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. (DET)
  • The UK government reviewing the current 70mph speed limit: consultation will begin later this year with a new 80mph speed limit mooted for 2013.
  • ZF is to launch a 9-speed planetary automatic for front-wheel drive cars. It is targeting the premium compact market as car buyers downsize – models such as the VW Golf and Mercedes A-Class.DCTFacts says it has a 10:1 ratio spread (only a Porsche Panamera DCT has a wider spread of ratios) and can handle up to 480Nm.
  • Kia will sell 224k Rio this model transition year: next year it is targeting 260k sales. The Rio is Kia’s third best-selling car.
  • GM is now profitable across all its regions, confirmed CEO Dan Akerson. The EuropeanVauxhall/Opel division has lost $14.5bn since 1999, but Akerson said GM was right not to sell the companies to Magna. It would have been a ‘bad deal’ if it had’ve walked away. (AN)
  • Aston Martin Cygnet sales are split 70% existing and 30% new customers. (CarBuzz)

29 Sept

  • The global bus market is around 300k units a year… and 150k will be sold in China.Buses account for 1% of all vehicle sales there. (CCT)
  • BMW will start Chinese production of a long-wheelbase F30 3 Series in late 2012, in a new factory alongside the X1. It will compete with the Audi A4 L: Mercedes doesn’t produce a long-wheelbase C-Class. (CNC)
  • Chinese brand BYD has shrunk its business by 40% and reduced employee count from 17k to 10, after sales fell and profits plunged. (ANC)
  • Toyota vehicle production has risen for the first time since the March earthquake. In August, it was up 10%. (AN)
  • Buying and selling cars has been legalised in Cuba: restrictions will lift on Saturday October 1. Until now, the market has been limited to cars built before 1959, leading to Cuba’s unique automotive landscape (although the Cuban elite such as government ministers, doctors and athletes have been able to import cars they bought abroad. (CAdv)
  • Chevrolet is to introduce a seven-speed gearbox on the 2014 C7 Corvette. It will also use a revised version of the pushrod V8, with direct fuel injection and variable valve lift. (IL)
  • Spyker Cars has been sold to North Street Capital, a Connecticut-based private equity firm. An earlier deal with Coventry-based CPP fell through. (AN)
  • Fiat is boosting 500 awareness in the US with a series of commercials featuring J Lo. Overall consideration has jumped 31% as a result: it was boosted by 95% when Fiat aired the commercial during NFL telecasts. (AN)
  • Hyundai Motor Group is working on a 10-speed automatic gearbox for future luxury cars. It is scheduled for launch in 2014. (AN)

28 Sept

  • Chinese brand Chery will begin exports to Europe in 2012, as part of a €1.5bn joint venture with Israel’s Quantum LLC. Three compact models are reportedly being developed by Magna, to be built in a new factory near Shanghai. Initial capacity will be 150k, but it will eventually grow to 500k. The new cars will be sold under a new brand - Qoros. (CCT)
  • Vauxhall is planning to sell the Ampera through 23 specialist dealers. Each will be required to invest £30k in special equipment and training, to create a ‘franchise within a franchise’. (ARN)
  • Bentley may expand the number of variants of its current cars, new CEO Wolfgang Durheimer told Autocar. The Continental could develop as the Porsche 911 did, with lightweight a special models: a long-wheelbase Mulsanne is also likely, plus maybe coupe and convertible variants. (AC)

27 Sept

  • Peugeot has appointed Tim Zimmerman as UK managing director. 47 year old Zimmerman started at Peugeot Coventry in 1986 and moves to the role from general manager of Peugeot China.
  • Car Magazine reports the new 991 Porsche 911 will be with us for 14 years and two model cycles. Model rollouts will include: 2012 – 991 Cabriolet, Dec 2012 – 991 Carrera 4, 2012 – 991 Turbo, 2013/14 – 991 Targa/Speedster, date tbc – 991 Hybrid.
  • SEAT’s entry into China has been delayed until early 2012. The first cars will be imports, but local production is expected in time, using the new FAW/VW plant at Foshan. (CCT)
  • GM has appointed a new ‘VP of customer experience’.
  • BBC News reports a man was crushed to death at the Jaguar Land Rover Halewood plant.

26 Sept

  • Saab has unveiled Project Cheetah: its ‘cost structure project’ aimed at cutting costs and improving profitability. It will be controlled by a steering group overseeing four functional groups: manufacturing and purchasing, product development including engineering and powertrain, sales, marketing, aftersales and communications, and administration.
  • 48% of British 17-20 year olds held a driving licence in the early 1990s. Today, it is 35%.
  • Subaru is targeting a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency by 2015. A new ‘FB’ Boxer engine range will account for two-thirds of the improvement: the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre engines will be turbocharged and use direct fuel injection. They’ll also form the basis of Subaru’s 2013 hybrid model. (CAdv)
  • Toyota’s global design boss Dezi Nagaya wants the brand to be more dynamic, with more of the emotional appeal sought by president Akio Toyoda. ‘We have eliminated emotion. We need to pump that up’, Nagaya told Automotive News.
  • Honeywell is developing a turbo with 70% less inertia because downsized engines with more gear ratios need faster transient response, reports Automotive Engineer. The new turbo has higher flow capabilities for improved part-load running: apparently, when cruising, around 10-15hp is needed, so the turbo is not used – Honeywell’s development has reduced backpressure in this unused state to boost mpg.

25 Sept

  • PSA may cut up to 10k jobs according to reports in French newspapers, in response to the economic slowdown. The Aulnay-Sous-Bios plant near Paris, that builds the Citroen C3, is reportedly to be targeted. PSA CEO Phillipe Varin said the plant’s future is secure until 2014, but what happens after that is ‘something we still have to work on’. The Citroen C3 is due to be replaced in 2014. (AN)
  • Fiat’s L-zero mini MPV successor to the Fiat Idea may start production in May 2012 at the firm’s new Serbian plant. The factory has a 250k annual capacity and investment will total €850m by the end of 2011. The L-zero will be between 4.1-4.25m long and seat five people: an extended wheelbase seven-seater version is also planned. (4WN)
  • GM head of European operations Nick Reilly believes EVs could account for 15% of new car sales in China by 2020. China is leading the way, he says, followed by Europe: North America is some way behind. Reilly believes next-generation lithium ion batteries will be 50% cheaper than today’s batteries. (WA)
  • Opel Vauxhall CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke says that, by 2014, the firm will have spent €111bn to introduce 30 new models in five years. (WA)
  • There are 270m vehicles on the road in the US: just 11m are being replaced annually. This means there is huge potential in the US, reports Autocar – illustrated by the fact Ford is now making £billions selling 11.8m cars a year. It was losing money selling 17m a few years ago. (AC)
  • BMW says its X5 xDrive35d accounts for 25% of sales in the US: the firm may consider importing four-cylinder diesels. Overall, diesel accounts for 3% of US new car sales, compared to 50% in Europe. Bosch, however, forecasts diesel could make up 10% of the US new car market by 2015. (WA)
  • Saab has admitted it may reduce headcount as part of its cost-cutting voluntary restructuring plans. It will meet with creditors on 31 October and aims to have all cost-cutting plans in place by the end of the year. Its chances of securing a deal with Chinese firms Youngman and Pang Da have increased dramatically now it has been granted more time, report analysts: a decision is expected in November. Saab has also secured a €70m bridge loan from Deutsche Bank, after Youngman offered collateral to back it – because Saab has sold it the rights to use its new vehicle platform in China. (AN)

24 Sept

  • Cadillac has released a teaser image of its new BMW 3 Series rival, the ATS. It will be launched in July 2012 and sold as a saloon, estate, coupe and convertible. It’s to be based on a new GM RWD/AWD platform called Alpha (which may also be used for the next-gen Chevrolet Camaro) and is reportedly to use a 270hp version of GM’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. (LLN)
  • Volkswagen is reportedly planning a Polo R. It will use the 1.6-litre TSI engine that replaces the 1.8 TSI: suggestions are it could produce 210hp and, in line with R brand definitions, use four-wheel drive. Targets are 150mph, 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds and a £24k list price. The 1.6 TSI made its debut in the 2013 VW Polo WRC car, where it produces 300hp. (4WN)
  • Fiat EU sales were down 7.6% in August: its market share has fallen from 6.8% to 5.8%.
  • Former Volvo design boss Steve Mattin has moved to AutoVAZ, to lead the design of a new Ladarange. He left Volvo in 2009 and has since worked as an independent design consultant. The formerMercedes designer has the Volvo XC60 and S60 concept to his credit. (4WN)
  • Moody’s has cut Fiat’s credit rating: it mainly blamed Fiat’s closer links with Chrysler, plus increased risk from market share loss in the EU and greater competition in Brazil (its most profitable market). Fiat’s relatively infrequent model replacement cycles were also noted.
  • Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is targeting combined revenues from Fiat and Chrysler of €100m by 2014, up from €58m this year. He also expects to reach his golden target of 6m sales – his oft-quoted minimum for a car firm to remain independent.
  • Lada’s plans are ambitious. With Renault’s help, it will launch 20 new cars by 2017, including a Megane-derived compact in 2016 and a replacement for the Niva in 2015. (4WN)
  • Jaguar Land Rover plans to boost its Chinese dealer count from 60 to 100 by the end of the year. So far in 2011, it has sold 27k cars in China.
  • Hyundai is Europe’s third best-selling Asian brand; Kia is fourth-best. Combined, the two brands have raised sales targets by 12.5%: Kia is up to 293k from 285k, and Hyundai is up to 405k from 400k. (4WN)
  • Brazil is the second-largest emerging market after China, and the fifth largest in the world. Chinese brands are making rapid inroads there: in April sales were close to zero, but in August, they rose to 3.3% of the market.

23 Sept

  • Kia says the city car sector is Europe’s third-largest, behind superminis and family hatchbacks. It’s worth 1.4 million units a year.
  • Kia wants to grow 2010 sales of 262k by 70% in 2013, to 450k. (4WN)
  • In 10 years, F1 will make up just 10% of McLaren’s business, Ron Dennis told James Allen. Turnover will be in the $billions, with the US taking 42% of cars, Europe buying 35% and the Middle East and Asia taking the rest. McLaren expects to issue an IPO within five years.
  • The high end sportscar market was worth 140k sales a year before the 2009 slowdown, Dennis told Allen. It fell to 80k: today, it’s worth 100k (and dominated by Ferrari). McLaren is targeting a 4% market share.
  • A leaked spec sheet suggests the mooted Lexus LS F will hit 198mph and reach 60mph from rest in 4.2 seconds, courtesy of a 5.0-litre V8 that will rev to 9000rpm.
  • UK car production rose 10.7% in August, and is up 4.4% year to date. Engine production rose 14.4% and is up 4.8% year to date. 86k cars and 92k engines were built in the UK in August.
  • Nissan launched the Juke in the UK on 24 September 2010. In a year, more than 22,000 have been sold.

22 Sept

  • Gordon Murray has told Autocar he has ‘one more supercar left in me’. (AC)
  • BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has reportedly confirmed a new X4 SAV. It will be based on the X3 but have styling similar in principal to the X6.
  • Pang Da is warning shareholders its €45m advance payment to Saab may have to be written off as a bad debt.
  • Trend Tracker has revealed 46% of people buy the same brand of car again. BMW buyers are the most loyal, with retention rates of 68%, followed by Audi at 65%. Ford is third, on 58%.
  • 837 EVs have been sold in the UK in the first eight months of 2011, including 499 Nissan LEAF. In the first year of UK Toyota Prius sales, 424 cars were sold in the same time period. Today, 50k Toyota Prius have been sold in the UK. (AC)
  • The US District Court of New Jersey is reportedly preparing a class action lawsuit against Mercedesfor alleged defects with the M156 V8 engine – fitted to the Mercedes C 63 AMG, E 63 AMG and various others. It is alleged the engine suffers premature wear and that Mercedes has been aware of the issue since 2007. (AB)
  • Mitsubishi is to sell a rebadged version of the car UK drivers know as the Infiniti M. Also sold as the Nissan Figo in Japan, it is the latest fruits of a deal between Mitsubishi and Nissan signed in December 2010. Mitsubishi is also to get access to Nissan’s NV200 van. (AN)

21 Sept

  • The Chinese equivalent of Euro NCAP – C-NCAP – is being revised, brining it closer to European standards. The new test regimen is implemented in July 2012. (ANC)
  • Part of VW’s 2018 global sales leadership strategy (target: 10m sales) is to boost sales margin to 8%. It currently stands at 5.5%. Capital investments will not exceed 6%, and R&D will not exceed 4%. (AN)
  • Car makers are ‘no longer competitive in the automotive industry without a modular strategy’, VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn told Automotive News. VW’s modular transverse platform reduces one-time and unit costs by 20% and production time per car by 30%.
  • If Fiat can help Chrysler develop a 40mpg car (48mpg UK) by the end of the year, it will get to increase its share of the company to 58.5%. (AN)
  • Honda says German roads are the most challenging in Europe, because of their high speeds, but UK roads are the worst. That’s why it is to replicate a stretch of UK road at its test track in Japan. (AC)
  • A third union has filed to have Saab declared bankrupt (the IF Metall union represents 1500 of Saab’s 3600 workers). The auto maker insists it is not bankrupt, but suffering ‘temporary liquidity problems’. (ABG)
  • Saab is close to finalising a €70m bridging loan to carry it over to when the deals with Youngmanand Pang Da are approved. Saab currently has debts of €150m. (ABG)
  • Saab has today won its appeal to apply for voluntary reorganisation after the Court of Appeal overturned an earlier decision by a Swedish District Court. Part of the voluntary reorganisation process is bankruptcy protection.
  • Aston Martin will build an electric Cygnet, following Toyota’s introduction of the EV iQ in late 2012.
  • Vauxhall/Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke has praised Vauxhall’s UK plants in Autocar. Absenteeism at Ellesmere port is among the lowest of any GM Europe plant, and Luton has ‘fantastic’ efficiency rates despite almost no robotisation. (AC)
  • Renault designer Lauren van den Acker’s new design theory? ‘Cycle of life’. It’s represented by concept cars: fall in love (Dezir), head off on a journey (Captur), start a family (R-Space), work (Frendzy), play and reach wisdom. The final two are yet to be seen: expect more concept cars at motor shows some time soon…

20 Sept

  • Rolls-Royce expects to post record sales in 2011. Last year, they increased 171%, to 2711 cars. (AN)
  • The VP of Hyundai-Kia automotive group, Yong Woong-Chul, has outlined its future fuel development strategy for itself and Kia. Hyundai will lead on plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell cars, while Kia will focus on EVs. Kia will roll out the group’s first high-performance EV (called ‘TAM’) by the end of the year, and also retail its first electric vehicle (the ‘BlueOn’ – which was originally to have been a Hyundai). Hyundai will use its fuel cell expertise in developing previous Tucson trial models. (GCC)
  • Saab has received right of appeal in its application for voluntary reorganisation. The next step will see the appeal go in front of a panel of judges. It is expected to be heard before the bankruptcy hearing on 26 September. The Saab application is Sweden’s biggest voluntary reorganisation case to date.
  • German daily Der Spiegel reports VW is considering a hostile bid to take over Suzuki.
  • CPP Global Holdings is to design, engineer and build a new Jensen Interceptor. It will be shown next year, prior to going on sale in early 2014.
  • Just-Auto reports the SEAT IBL previews the 2013 Exeo replacement – which will be based on the current VW Passat platform (revealed by its 2.71 metre wheelbase!). VW’s D-sector saloon is due for replacement in late 2012.
  • Midlands Business Insider has reported the new JLR engine plant near Wolverhampton could create jobs for 150 more West Midlands businesses.
  • SAIC and GM have signed an agreement to co-develop a new electric vehicle architecture. The move will help accelerate the rollout of EV technologies: it will be sold globally under both GM and SAIC brands.
  • Infiniti is seeking 10% of the luxury car market by 2016. It also wants to boost sales from 170k to 500k: the new platform-share collaboration with Mercedes is key to this growth.
  • Total loss from the ill-fated merger of Daimler and Chrysler, by the time the partnership dissolved in 2007? $30bn. (AN)
  • GM is holding its first monthly board meeting in China this month. (ANC)
  • There are 219m vehicles on China’s roads: 119m motorcycles and, for the first time, 100m cars. (There are 31m cars on UK roads.) (ANC)
  • Lamborghini expects China to become its largest market by 2012: it will thus become the first supercar maker to claim this. 300 Lamborghini will be sold in China this year: Ferrari expects 600 sales (a 100% increase on 2010) and Porsche expects 20k sales (a 40% increase). In 2007, 28 Lamborghini were sold in China. (CNC)

19 Sept

  • Jaguar Land Rover will build a new engine facility in Wolverhampton, to supply next-generation four-cylinder ‘low emission’ engines.
  • Ford designer J Mays says the styling for the next-generation Mustang is currently being locked down. It will not be an evolution of the current car’s retro look but will include key Mustang styling features. It will arrive in 2014, for the 50th anniversary of the Mustang. (4WN)
  • Daimler CEO Dieter Zetche is likely to win a third term heading the German firm. He was made CEO in 2006 and his current contract runs until 2013. (AN)
  • Fewer than 50% of new car buyers intend to choose the same brand next time. The Trend Tracker analysis also shows 21% intend to buy a new car in the next three to five years, down from 36% in May 2010.
  • Nissan Europe sales were up 25% in August 2010. 2011 figures have beaten 2010 numbers every month so far this year.
  • Kia is to produce the GT Concept from 2013, after its six core mass-market cars have been replaced. (4WN)
  • Vauxhall has built 500k Vivaro at Luton in 10 years. The van has a 10% EU market share and 18% UK market share: production of a new model has been confirmed, starting 2014.
  • VW paid $2.9bn for its 19.9% stake in Suzuki. The value of this stake has fallen to $2.24bn.
  • Vauxhall/Opel CEO Nick Reilly has defined what he means by the ‘one Euro car’ (used to launch the RAK e concept). It means it costs €1 to travel 100km.

18 Sept

  • Jaguar Land Rover will announce tomorrow it is to build a new engine plant in the West Midlands, according to reports.

16 Sept

  • Jaguar Land Rover revealed its new corporate ID at the Frankfurt Motor Show – including a stylish ‘JLR’ logo. (AC)
  • Honda has fitted tiny aero flaps to the rear bodywork of the Civic diesel, to ensure it meets a 110g/km CO2 target. The flaps reduce CO2 emissions by 1g/km. It is a significant move by Honda, whichreceived lots of criticism for its 104g/km CO2 Jazz Hybrid and 101g/km Insight Hybrid: another UK benchmark is 100g/km CO2…
  • Renault is to position its brand more upmarket, giving room for the Dacia brand to enter. Renault says Dacia will undercut Korean brands Hyundai and Kia. (JA)
  • Mitsubishi will launch a new 1.2-litre engine in next year’s Colt – but the Evo is to be canned.
  • Volkswagen Group has committed €62.4bn investment in new models, production plans plus R&D between 2012-2016. The 20-member VW board today approved the investment, which will start in 2012. (AN)
  • Volkswagen Group has 62 plants globally, including 11 in China. (AN)

15 Sept

  • Alfa Romeo has put back the launch of the Giulia saloon 159 replacement to 2014, two years later than planned. It has cancelled plans to make a large SUV, postponed the launch of the 4C GTA in the US (which heralds Alfa’s US return) to 2012, and won’t launch its mid-size SUV JV with Chrysler until mid-2013. (WSJ)
  • Sergio Marchionne has rejected three rounds of styling proposals for the Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon and wagon – but has given the go-ahead for a new large Alfa Romeo rear-drive saloon based on the next-generation Maserati Quattroporte. (AN)
  • Alfa Romeo has been trying to relaunch in the US since 2000, when it signed an alliance with GM. It left the market in 1995. (AN)
  • Alfa Romeo will sell 155k cars in 2011, compared to 115k in 2009 and 2010. The 500k target for 2014 has been cut back to 400k, though. (AN)
  • Fiat’s 130-strong US dealer network will be fully open by the end of the year. (AN)
  • Ford is to cut production at its German Saarlouis plant, citing weak demand from south Europe. The facility builds the Ford Focus and Ford Kuga. (AN)
  • Dacia will launch in the UK at the start of 2013. Right-hand production has been secured from the firm’s Indian production facility.
FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW 2011

12 Sept

  • Volkswagen says Suzuki has broken the terms of their agreement, by sourcing diesel engines for the SX4 from Fiat. It is now seeking answers from its Japanese partner.
  • BREAKING NEWS: Suzuki has announced it is ENDING the capital and business alliance withVolkswagen. (AN)
  • Chinese brand Chery set an export record last month. 19k exports was na 83% increase: more than half of its cars are now exported. (CCT)
  • Two Saab unions have applied to a court for the bankruptcy of Saab Automobile. The decision could take a few weeks.

11 Sept

  • A Swedish news paper reports a Youngman spokesman saying the company is getting ‘positive signs’ from Beijing authorities for its €245m investment (with Pang Da) in Saab. The approval process is multi-level: local authority approval has been granted, with the provincial decision on approval due Wednesday. Then, final approval will be sought from the NDRC in Beijing. (AN)
  • Saab employee unions are pushing for bankruptcy as this would see wage guarantee payments kick in. Saab has not yet paid August wages. (AN)
  • Jeremy Hicks, former Audi UK director, is to become Jaguar Land Rover managing director. He will join in November after three months’ gardening leave from Audi, from which he resigned in August. It will result in new roles for Jaguar MD Geoff Cousins and Land Rover MD Colin Green. (ARN)
  • The appointment of Hicks at JLR is the 11th chance amongst leaders of UK car companies, reports Auto Retail Network. The others are Subaru, VW Group, Audi, Ford, Peugeot, Volvo, Lexus,Infiniti, Porsche and Nissan.

10 Sept

  • Porsche stocks plunged 14% following the announcement to delay the merger with Volkswagen. (WSJ)
  • More details on the Porsche-VW merger delay: it’s because of ongoing legal action surrounding the attempted 2008 Porsche takeover of VW. It is being accused of market manipulation and misinformation: the action could cost it at least €4.9bn, says the Wall St Journal – a significant chunk of Porsche’s €7bn market capitalisation… (WSJ)
  • UK new car sales rose in August for the first time in 13 months, by 7.3% to 59k. August is the weakest month of the year for new car sales though: the litmus test will be September 2011 figures.
  • UK private new car sales rose 10.7% in August – the first increase since June 2010. Supermini sales also shot up by 17.6%: they now make up 37.3% of the new car market.
  • Chrysler expects to post a $3bn profit next year, after cutting costs and selling 2.4 million cars. This year, it will sell around 2 million: CEO Sergio Marchionne reckons Chrysler’s breakeven point is 1.5 million. (AN)
  • By 2014, Marcionne aims to have fully merged Fiat with Chrysler, to further cut costs and achieve annual revenue of $136bn. It gained majority control in July. (AN)
  • Toyota will recommence three-shift production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France. It started production in 2001 and has made 2 million Yaris since then. The third shift will run for 18 months (and create 800 temporary jobs) to meet high initial demand for the new Yaris. Toyota is aiming for 200k annual Yaris sales in Europe. (AN)
  • Ford’s China line-up consists largely of its European cars – Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, S-Max and, soon, the Kuga. Now, Ford is planning to launch the US Explorer in China, in response to strong sales of the Toyota Highlander. (CCT)
  • Nissan Sunderland is the UL’s biggest car maker, its biggest export and an ‘exemplar of manufacturing productivity’. It was the saviour of British car making that has enabled the UK to boast ’a motor industry with the biggest export percentage of any in the world’. (FT)

9 Sept

  • Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche wants the firm to be top German premium brand in terms of profitability and sales. Last year, it sold 1.17m cars, but this is expected to increase to 1.35m in 2011. Zetsche aims for 1.5m sales in 2015. One big driver will be the new B-Class, part of a four-strong small car range into which Mercedes has invested €1.4bn. There is even a new Hungarian factory for the small cars. (AN)
  • Audi and BMW sales have grown by more than five times compared to Mercedes in the last decade. Between 2000-2010, Mercedes added 64k sales: BMW added 343k sales and Audi added 368k. Q2 profit margin for Mercedes was 10.7%; for Audi, it was 11.8% and for BMW, 14.4%. (AN)
  • BMW has patented a turbo V6 engine. The 3.0-litre engine has twin-turbos mounted within the vee: the patent apparently shows exhaust gases leaving the first turbo and then either routing into the exhaust or into a second turbo. The first turbo may be a twin-scroll, with a larger second turbo providing extra power. (BimmerPost)
  • BMW is said to have considered four engine options for the F80 M3: two V8 alternatives, the patented V6, and a 3.2-litre in-line six-cylinder with three turbos – the latter is rumoured to have been chosen. (BimmerPost)
  • The Renault-Nissan Alliance has committed up to $7bn to battery-electric cars, with bold forecasts that they will account for 10% of global car sales by 2020. The next-highest estimate is around 5%, with many others predicting far lower shares. China is key to a battery-electric future, but hopes have been hit recently: its previous target for 1m electric cars by 2015, and 5m by 2020, has been diluted with the inclusion of hybrids in the total. (Det)
  • Saab will reapply for voluntary reorganisation on Monday 12 September.
  • The engineering director of British startup car firm Eterniti Motors is Alastair Macqueen: he was behind Jaguar’s 1988 and 1990 Le Mans victories, and the Bentley win of 2003. Brand ambassador is 1991 Le Mans winner (in a Mazda) Johnny Herbert.
  • VW Aktiengesellschaft (VW AG) has announced it will not meet its year-end deadline to merge with Porsche Automobil Holding SE. The delay is due to ongoing investigations into allegations of market manipulation by Porsche: VW says until they’re cleared up, it can’t accurately assess the economic risks of the merger. Both parties remain committed to it in the longer term, though.
  • Tata Motors CEO Carl-Peter Forster has stepped down with immediate effect, due to ‘unavoidable personal circumstances’. He said in a statement they ‘make it difficult for me to continue to perform the challenging duties of managing the thriving activities of Tata Motors Group’.
  • 92% of Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer built at Ellesemere Port are exported. 65% of the Vivaro van built at Luton are exported. Ellesmere Port currently builds 47 cars an hour: Luton, 23  vans an hour. Vauxhall has also recently upped its UK sourcing by 15%, bringing an extra €40m a year into the UK economy.
  • Peugeot is looking to reduce the weight of its cars by 100kg per generation in the next two generations of car. Aluminium could potentially save 150kg: it currently makes up 100kg of Peugeot cars’ overall weight, but the firm is looking to increase this IF it can reduce sourcing costs. (AN)
  • 35 years ago, the average Peugeot car weighed 850kg. Today, it weighs 1250kg. (AN)

8 Sept

  • Shanghai Volkswagen now has 500 dealers in China. (ANC)
  • Volvo’s new ‘VEA’ (Volvo Environmental Architecture) strategy will reduce unique engine parts by 60%, and lower fuel consumption by 35%. They are also up to 90kg lighter than today’s engines. The firm is planning a new Scaleable Platform Architecture to save costs and increase flexibility too. Most Volvos will be built on the same production line, no matter what their size or complexity.
  • Saab’s application for bankruptcy protection has today been rejected. Chairman Victor Muller plans to appeal. It today emerged Saab owes its suppliers €150m. (Saab/AN)
  • The BBC reports Saab trades unions say the firm could be declared bankrupt ‘within days’.
  • Nissan is celebrating 25 years since its Sunderland plant opened for business. PM Margaret (now Lady) Thatcher was present at the opening ceremony on 8 September 1986.
  • Saab employs 3700 people. Cash is owed to 800 suppliers. The Chinese deal with Pang Da and Youngman hasn’t come to fruition because the Chinese government is fearful of automotive industry fragmentation – it wants fewer, larger firms to help it be competitive on a global level. (MT)

7 Sept

  • Ford has launched Econetic Technology branding: this will feature on the most economical car in each range… but, confusingly, Ford also says ‘Econetic Technology’ branding will also come to half its car range by the end of 2013, and two-thirds by the end of 2013.
  • Ford will launch an 89g/km CO2 Focus Econetic Technology and an 87g/km CO2 Fiesta Econetic technology at the Frankfurt Motor Show (the Fiesta’s economy has been boosted over today’s Econetic model by a longer final drive ratio). It will also reveal a three-cylinder 1.0-litre Ecoboost Focus.
  • Ford wants to reduce its range CO2 by 30% between 2006-2010. So far, it is on for an 11% improvement. It will knock a further 10g/km CO2 off the average figure over the next two years.
  • Saab has filed for voluntary reorgnisation.
  • Ford has committed $1bn to revive Lincoln: seven new models will arrive before 2014. 120 designers, engineers and marketing execs are now dedicated to the brand. Sales hit 231k in 1990: to date in 2011, they number less than 58k. (AN)
  • Audi is apparently targeting 1.6m sales in 2012, and 1.7m sales in 2013. This year, it is on track to sell 1.2m cars. (AN)

6 Sept

  • GM has confirmed it plans to keep Opel/Vauxhall for at least 10 years. (AN)
  • Toyota will show a facelifted Avensis at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which represents the ‘largest mid-life investment Toyota has made for any model’. The D-sector saloon and estate is exclusively built in the UK and is now exported to Japan.
  • Japanese manufacturers are struggling with exports because the Yen has nearly reached a post-war high against the dollar. Investors are turning to it as a safe haven. (AN)
  • VW and Suzuki are not talking to each other. Automotive News reports the feud started in March, when VW stated in its annual report it could ‘significantly influence financial and operating policy decisions’ at Suzuki, which it called an ‘associate’. VW is apparently confused by Suzuki’s desire to seek alliances with other makers. Suzuki reports VW has not offered any technologies it is interested in sharing. (AN)
  • Volkswagen’s plan to become the world’s biggest car maker by volume depends on simplifying its engineering and production. Key to this are the new MQB and MLB processes, said head of R&D Ulrich Hackenberg. This will reduce costs by 20-30% not just horizontally across brand, but vertically through different vehicle sectors. (AN)
  • The first MQB platform will be the 2012 Audi A3: Ingolstadt is to undergo development to accommodate it towards the end of 2011. Wolfsburg will follow in 2012. MQB will account for 3.5 million annual vehicles when fully on stream: VW Group’s current-largest platform, the PQ35 Golf series, numbers 1 million units a year. (AN)

5 Sept

  • VW’s Slovakia will produce 400k cars in 2012 as the up! comes on stream. (JA)
  • GM US sales were up 18% in August, led by the Chevrolet Cruze. Nissan sales rose 22% to 82k,Ford was up 11% to 174k (and Ford is to ramp up production as August sales were supply-constrained). (AN)
  • Honda US sales were down 24% in August, to 82k. It is the fourth consecutive month of declines in excess of 20%, and is due to supply shortages. (AN)
  • MINI will hit an all-time sales record this year, said BMW board member Ian Robertson. (AN)

4 Sept

  • The Infiniti FX50 Sebastian Vettel edition will have a reprogrammed ECU to give it a 25hp boost, a 186mph top speed and a faster 5.5-second 0-60mph time. The big rear wing, it’s been confirmed, will generate rear downforce. (Autocar)
  • Infiniti designer Shiro Nakamura was sent a Red Bull F1 show car during the creation of the Vettel edition FX for inspiration. (Autocar)

3 Sept

  • Bob Lutz is back at GM. The Car Guy is rejoining the payroll as a part-time adviser, adding to responsibilities that also include advising Lotus.
  • Peugeot will start building and exporting right-hand drive 508 from India in 2014. It will adapt the export cars for quality, comfort and handling. Could all RHD Peugeot production in time thus move to India? (JA)
  • Just-Auto is reporting a surge in car sales in France and Germany during August.
  • Car ownership in the West numbers 750 vehicles per 1000 people. In China, it is 25-30 cars per 1000. If China adopted Western levels of vehicle ownership, the number of cars in the world would double. (CAdv)
  • Just one Toyota Prius was sold in China last year.
  • Fiat may shift planned production of Jeep and Alfa Romeo SUVs from its Miafiori plant to the US, because the strength of the Euro against the US dollar makes exports to the US less competitive. Fiat may build a new small car at Miafiori instead. (AN)

2 Sept

  • Pang Da and Youngman will submit the application to China’s NDRC regarding the Saab takeover in the next two weeks. The firms are confident of getting approva from the top Chinese economic agency. (Det)
  • Saab is expected to imminently announce a $158m loan to pay overdue wages and avert bankruptcy. The loan is rumoured to come from one of Europe’s top five banks. (Det)
  • Honda Swindon will produce 100k fewer cars this year, following two-day working imposed after the Japanese earthquake. Yesterday, the plant returned to normal production levels and is now on catchup to replenish dealer stocks. (BBC)
  • Toyota still plans to sell 900k cars in China this year, despite the effects of the earthquake. (ANC)
  • Chinese SAIC dealers are to start offering a ‘UK edition’ of the MG6 - marked out by faulx air vents on the front wings and different alloy wheels. These cars should also thus get the UK-specific changes to the chassis and interior. (CCT)
  • Fisker will, from the 2012/13 model year, receive 100k turbo petrol engines from BMW, to install in its ‘Project Nina’ extended-range electric vehicle that will rival, yes, the BMW 3 Series. As they are four-cylinder petrol units, does this mean they’ll be built at Hams Hall in the UK? (Autocar)

1 Sept

  • Forgotten news: the sale of Spyker to British automotive specialist CPP Global Holdings remains in flux. In June, four months after the Memorandum of Understanding with Swedish Automobilewas signed, CPP suspended negotiations until the Swedish firm had implemented its refinancing arrangements. This remains the case, we were today reminded: the $46m deal remains suspended.
  • Ford is this week showing the European version of its Sync in-car connectivity, prior to its EU launch this year. Since 2007, 3m North America cars have been fitted with it: by 2015, Ford estimates 2m European cars will have it. (AN)
  • Ford has had to adapt Sync for European sale: on German autobahns, for example, it was not giving out navigation instructions quickly enough, due to the higher speeds. It has thus been recalibrated… (AN)
  • Ford has developed a more capable speech engine for the European launch of Sync. CEO Alan Mulally siad it can recognise more than 10,000 commands in 19 languages. (AN)
  • The Nissan LEAF is outselling the Chevrolet Volt two to one in the US, reports Jalopnik. Since December 2010, 3498 Volt have been sold, compared to 6187 LEAF. (Jal)