Automotive News Europe back issues from August 2008:
News.(Briefs)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Bettina Mayer Mastretta MXT aims at Lotus, BMW, Porsche MEXICO * Daniel and Carlos Mastretta aim to challenge BMW and Porsche by launching the MXT sports car (left), in Europe. The brothers plan to begin UK sales of the Mexican-built sports car ...
Carmakers cut product plans; Toyota, Renault, Daimler, others brace themselves for weakening demand.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Bettina Mayer & Paul McVeigh Automotive News Europe Carmakers are canceling or postponing planned new cars because of the economic downturn. Renault, Opel and BMW are among car companies stopping or delaying planned new models due to difficult ...
Collin: Peugeot will see growth; CEO is confident brand will help PSA meet ambitious goals.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Lawrence J. Speer Automotive News Europe Jean-Philippe Collin is confident that Peugeot will help parent company PSA/Peugeot-Citroen meet its ambitious growth targets. In an interview, the head of the Peugeot brand, in office since the beginning of ...
Scaling new heights.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Challenges have brought out the best in the 2008 Automotive News Europe Eurostars. Ratan Tata (far left) surprised everyone with his daring acquisition of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands and with the introduction of the Tata Nano ultra-low-cost car. Tata and the other Eurostars excelled ...
China is poised to be Volkswagen's No. 1 market; German carmaker expects more than 1m Chinese sales.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Jason Stein Automotive News Europe BEIJING * Volkswagen group expects to sell more cars in China than Germany this year, making the country the carmaker's No. 1 market. Despite slowing growth in June, VW group is on track to sell more than 1.05 ...
New Golf is pride of VW; Europe's best-selling car keeps platform but 60% of components are new.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Bettina Mayer Automotive News Europe WOLFSBURG * Martin Winterkorn can't hide his pride when he talks about the new Golf. "Inside this car is all the love Volkswagen has," the VW group CEO said at a presentation here of the sixth generation of ...
Megadeal has key supporters; Top auto executives back a Conti-Schaeffler merger as long as it's done peacefully.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Douglas A. Bolduc & Bettina Mayer Automotive News Europe Top auto executives support a merger of Continental and Schaeffler Group, so does the head of Europe's partsmakers association - and even the target of the takeover says it is willing to negotiate. ...
Shrewd or rude?(News)(Brief article)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Continental objects to the tactics Schaeffler used to build up a potential 36% stake in Continental. The moves Schaeffler made to obtain the shares. February 28 Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler buys 2,500 Continental shares for [euro]67.20 a share ...
Timeline.(News)(Chronology)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Key events in the Continental-Schaeffler takeover battle July 12 The Financial Times reports that Schaeffler wants to buy Continental and is prepared to make a hostile bid July 14 Continental confirms it spoke with Schaeffler about a possible investment in the ...
Peugeot boss Collin puts his stamp on automaker; More direct control, leaner organization help speed up company's decision-making.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Lawrence J. Speer Automotive News Europe PARIS * Peugeot brand boss Jean-Philippe Collin has only been on the job since January 1, but he's already in the record books. Peugeot's global sales grew 8 percent in the first half of 2008 to 1.08 million ...
Tougher CO2 rules to help suppliers; Europe partsmakers could gain competitive advantage through new EU legislation.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Bettina Mayer Automotive News Europe A growing demand by carmakers for innovative systems to save fuel and cut CO2 emissions will strengthen suppliers, industry experts say. Carmakers will need to tighten their ties with the supplier industry ...
Ford sees strong 2nd half in Europe; New models, Russian demand will help compensate for weak auto sales in western Europe.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: John Revill Automotive News Europe Ford of Europe believes new products and strong sales in Russia will help it grow further in the second half of 2008. The European division of Ford Motor boosted first-half pre-tax profit to $1.3 billion ...
Argentum Motors takes control of Heuliez.(News)(Brief article)
Aug 18, 2008; ... Byline: Paul McVeigh Automotive News Europe India's Argentum Motors has been cleared to acquire a controlling stake in Heuliez. Argentum will pay [euro]25 million for an initial 60 percent stake in the French coachbuilder and convertible roof specialist, ...
OEMs cut weight, emissions with plastic parts; Plastics are set to grow faster than auto industry.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Bettina Mayer Automotive News Europe MUNICH * Leading plastics suppliers expect to benefit as automakers accelerate efforts to make their new-generation cars lighter. Plastics account for about 14 percent of a car by weight today. At ...
CEO's death shakes struggling Pininfarina.(News)(Andrea Pininfarina)(Pininfarina Industrie S.p.A.)
Aug 18, 2008; ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe TURIN * The future of Pininfarina has been cast into doubt after the death of its CEO in a traffic accident. Andrea Pininfarina, 51, died August 7 after a car collided with the Vespa scooter he was riding to the ...
Opel aims Insignia at Omega buyers.(Latest Launches)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink With its new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, General Motors Europe aims to win back buyers of its former range-topping Omega executive car. Opel sold the Omega between 1983 and 2003, but it pulled out of the niche for luxury executive cars - like ...
The Basics.(Latest Launches)
Aug 18, 2008 ... How will the Insignia be marketed? The Insignia's design will play a key role in marketing for the car. The car's bold, dynamic styling shows design elements that will be seen in future models. What new technology does the car have? The Insignia can be ...
Audi touts Q5 as green.(Latest Launches)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink Audi hopes its new Q5 will win over green campaigners who claim that SUVs cause too much damage to the environment. Oliver Scholl, the Q5's technical project leader, believes the medium-sized SUV will be seen as more socially responsible than ...
The basics.(Latest Launches)(Audi AG)(Brief article)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Why is Audi launching the Q5? To add a premium SUV smaller than the Q7 to its model range What is the target group? Young men and women about 30 years of age are the prime target. What new technology does the car have? The Q5 is the ...
New models are key to troubled carmakers' future.(Opinion)
Aug 18, 2008 ... One thing is clear: For most automakers 2008 is not going to be a good year. Declining consumer spending in core markets, currency uncertainty in the US, high commodities costs; these are all factors that make life difficult for carbuilders. Several carmakers are acknowledging ...
A magic wand doesn't exist for US industry.(Opinion)(Industry overview)
Aug 18, 2008; ... Byline: Keith Crain Barack Obama thinks that if Americans check the air pressure in their tires they'll be doing a lot to solve the energy crisis. John McCain thinks that some offshore drilling will provide energy independence. It's sad that neither US ...
Listen to Confucius and worry about China.(Opinion)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Jason Stein BEIJING * The warning signs were hard to find earlier this month in a steamy, sweaty and very Olympic-minded China. The cars nearly outnumbered the people near the Forbidden City. Traffic jams (even with the tight restrictions on driving) were the ...
Jamal Naim El-Hout; GM Europe VP of product planning and commercial vehicle operations.(Questionnaire)
Aug 18, 2008 ... During his 31 years with General Motors, Jamal Naim El-Hout's career has taken plenty of interesting twists and turns. He joined General Motors in 1977 and held positions in engineering, quality and vehicle development and planning. In November 1997 he was appointed engineering director, ...
Confidential.(automobile industry's promotional methods)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Named and shamed Some contests you desperately want, but this isn't one of them. The Austin Allegro has just been named the worst British car of all time. The car received 24 percent of the vote in a poll by digital motoring magazine iMotormag.co.uk. Second was the Morris Ital, ...
French farm is a global benchmarking hotspot; VW, PSA, Renault among carmakers that use A2mac1 to check what rivals are doing.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Lawrence J. Speer Automotive News Europe HARY, France * In 1997, Jean-Marie Mouliere took photographs of some of the star cars at the IAA in Frankfurt. He hoped that Peugeot executives might be interested in seeing what their competition was up to. ...
Keeping an eye on the competition.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Lawrence J. Speer Automotive News Europe PARIS * The "gentlemen's agreement" that underpins French firm A2mac1's business plan exists in various forms across the automotive industry. European carmakers share a wide range of information, including ...
Mouliere brothers plan to expand in the US and China.(News)
Aug 18, 2008; ... Byline: Lawrence J. Speer Automotive News Europe The Mouliere brothers want to expand their company beyond France. A2mac1 plans to grow in the US and China, and possibly in Germany. In the US, it has been tearing down seats at a research center ...
More acquisitions could be in BASF's future; German firm wants to boost position as industry's leading supplier of chemicals.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... BASF is looking for new acquisitions to strengthen its position as the No. 1 chemical supplier in the automotive industry, says Raimar Jahn, head of the company's automotive business. In 2006, the supplier of automotive coatings, plastics and interior parts, boosted its ...
SUPPLEMENT - Eurostars 2008: Success in hard times.(Supplement)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Difficult times in the auto industry mean that executives need to be particularly resourceful. This year's Eurostars have beaten tough market conditions. They have introduced shining new models, successfully changed strategies, and jumped on opportunities in new markets or new segments ....
Fiat plans two new models for Brazilian market.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe TURIN * Fiat is working on two new cars specific to Brazil, which is set to replace Italy as its largest market this year. Codenamed Project 326 and Project 327, the new models will replace the Palio and Uno ...
Fiat boosts 500 production to meet high demand.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe TURIN * Fiat has boosted production of its popular 500 minicar to more than 200,000 units annually in response to increasing European demand for fuel-efficient minicars. "Capacity for the 500 is now over 200,000 ...
MG TF production restarts in the UK.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Richard Truett Automotive News Europe MG sports cars are again rolling off the production line in England. The latest MG TF roadster looks much the same as it did three years ago when MG Rover collapsed, but things have changed dramatically since. ...
Ford engine plant threatened with closure; Carmaker's Cologne factory will lose 6-cylinder production, hopes for 3-cylinder orders.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Michael Knauer Automotive News Europe COLOGNE, Germany * The 1,200 workers at Ford's engine factory here are worried that their jobs will be eliminated in 2010 unless the plant gets a new production contract. Production of six-cylinder engines for ...
Ford's biggest UK dealer will be green.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Tony Lewin Automotive News Europe LONDON * Ford's biggest UK dealer also will be its greenest. The US carmaker opened a [pounds sterling]5.3 million ([euro]6.75 million) environmentally friendly dealer here last month. The dealership in ...
Toyota sticks it to rivals with iQ campaign.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe TURIN * Toyota carried out a month-long guerrilla marketing campaign in Italy to publicize its new iQ minicar. During the campaign, Toyota Italy sent people onto the streets to attach magnets to the sides of any ...
Family business was Andrea Pininfarina's life; Third-generation CEO was trying to fix firm and build bright future.(Briefs)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe TURIN * Seven years ago, Andrea Pininfarina won a family battle to secure his vision for the future of Italy's best-known design house and contract manufacturer. Sadly, Andrea did not have enough time to complete ...
BMW wants more cost cuts.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Byline: Pia Krix Automobilwoche MUNICH * BMW is expanding its already rigorous cost-cutting program in response to falling profits. The company's profit this year is projected to be down about 40 percent from the [euro]3.1 billion it made in 2007. Analysts ...
Fiat's Wester takes on Maserati challenge.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Harald Wester is the new CEO of Maserati. The veteran Fiat executive replaces Roberto Ronchi, who quit as head of the Italian luxury sports car maker at his own request. Wester, 49, is the fourth head of Maserati in the past three years. Since 2005, former Ford of ...
Q&A: Herbert Kohler; Daimler powertrain chief sees diesel cost falling.(News)
Aug 18, 2008 ... Diesel engines will continue to play a key role at Daimler, says Herbert Kohler, the carmaker's head of group research and advanced engineering vehicle and powertrain. Kohler, who is also Daimler's chief environmental officer, says the company's planned Diesotto engine, and ...