CHINA
Source: China's Dongfeng 2008 sales up 11%
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE Dongfeng Motor, China's third-largest automaker, sold 1.06 million vehicles in 2008, up 11.4 percent from a year earlier, an industry source said on Tuesday. Dongfeng's passenger vehicle sales increased 14.01 percent to 727,392 units during the period, while commercial vehicle sales were up 6.1 percent at 330,530 units. » Read Article [REG] |
GM China sales growth slows to 6.1% in 2008
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE
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Mercedes considers end to clone suit
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE
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Other Markets
| Toyota halts output in Japan for 11 days >> |
Western Europe
| UK December car sales plunge 21.2% >> |
Eastern Europe & Russia
| Report: Toyota to freeze Thailand, Russia factory plans >> |
Americas
| Detroit auto show to have test track for green vehicles >> |
| A123’s proposed battery plant hinges on loan from feds >> |
Bosch opens Inner Mongolia test site
Barren, wind-swept steppes. Deep blankets of snow stretching to the horizon. Bone-chilling, sub-zero temperatures. It's a inhospitable environment for Robert Bosch's latest proving ground. But the facility in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, near China's far northern border with Siberia, is the country's new hot spot for cold-weather testing. » Read Article
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Jan. 5, 2009 06:01 CET
China's BYD touts battery technology
BYD Co. is a small automaker in China but a major producer of lithium ion batteries for cell phones. The company wants to use its expertise in batteries to make practical plug-in hybrids. » Read Article [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 5, 2009
Blunders of the year
Using the corporate jets to go to Washington, running out of cash, going on vacation during a strike and crashing two supercars in a parking lot -- those are among the 10 blunders of 2008. » Read Article [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 29
The next big thing ... until it wasn't
Here are 10 ideas or business plans that looked to be a sure hit -- but then fizzled out. » Read Article [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 29
China plans spiffs for some hybrid buyers
The Chinese government in late January plans to unveil incentives for some buyers of hybrid vehicles, says Zhang Jinhua, an official promoting energy-saving vehicles. Buyers of the vehicles will be public agencies, such as public transportation companies, post offices and administration departments. » Read Article [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 29
GM sees no major change in Asia investment
General Motors expects no major changes in its investment plans for the Asia Pacific in the next few years although it is cutting back on non-essential projects, its Asia Pacific president said on Tuesday. GM and Chrysler have signed loan agreements with the U.S. government that will provide the struggling automakers with up to $17.4 billion in emergency loans. » Read Article [REG] Dec. 23 14:00 CET
Daimler recalls 3,108 vans in China due to faults
Germany's Daimler is recalling 3,108 of its Viano and Vito vans in China due to minor problems with air bags, brakes and spare wheels, state media said on Tuesday. No accidents had been caused by the faults, and Daimler would replace the parts in question for free, the official Xinhua news agency said. » Read Article [REG] Dec. 23 12:00 CET
SAIC will share platform among 3 brands
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) is developing a new range of small cars that will share resources, parts and platforms across its Ssangyong Motors, Roewe and MG brands. A new small sedan and a related crossover will be produced by Ssangyong Motors, which is 51 percent owned by SAIC. » Read Article [REG] Dec. 22 14:32 CET
American Axle: Low-cost China 'a very good fit'
Although production costs in China have jumped in the past few years, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. wants to source more parts here. "From the standpoint of driveline products, the Chinese are still very good at producing at low cost," says Steven Proctor, president of the company's Asia operations. » Read Article
[SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 22
China will help supplier shift to car parts
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, heavily dependent on the collapsing market for light-truck parts in North America, wants to use China as a place to diversify into car parts. » Read Article [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 22
GM and SAIC open new China car manufacturing plant
General Motors and its China partner SAIC Motor opened a new car manufacturing plant in northeast China on Wednesday with an annual production capacity of 150,000 units. The plant, where mass production of Chevrolet Cruze compact cars is scheduled to start in the second quarter next year, is the second facility owned jointly by GM and SAIC in the city of Shenyang, the U.S. auto maker said in a statement. » Read Article [REG] Dec. 17 11:00 CET | UPDATED: 12/17/08 12:00 CET
Quality dooms Chery in the U.S.
I have been surprised and puzzled to read that poor Chery is not in a position to export cars to the United States because it and Chrysler are no longer financially strong enough to do so (“China's dream to sell cars in U.S. and Europe fades” on www.autonews.com). Have you forgotten that Chery was extremely close in a deal with Malcolm Bricklin's Visionary Vehicles to make Lexus-like vehicles for Kia prices? » Read Article [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 15
American Axle creates joint venture in China
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said today that it is forming another joint venture in China. The business is a 50-50 partnership with Hefei Automobile Axle Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co. Ltd., of Hefei, China. It will be called Hefei AAM Automotive Driveline & Chassis System Ltd., and is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2009. » Read Article [REG] 1:28 pm U.S. ET | Dec. 11
Chrysler drops plans to create small car with China's Chery
Chrysler LLC, seeking U.S. government loans to stay solvent, said it has canceled plans to develop a small car with China's Chery Automobile Co. Executives from both companies announced yesterday they were ending the venture. They cited changes in strategy and external market conditions since the agreement was signed in July 2007, a month before Cerberus Capital Management LP bought 80.1 percent of Chrysler. » Read Article [REG] 11:38 am U.S. ET | Dec. 9
Audi sales drop in U.S, China and UK
Audi's global sales in November were down in its major markets in the U.S., UK and China. Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi's sales and marketing head, said unfavorable conditions in all sales regions "are presenting a great challenge." In the U.S, Audi sales fell 25.4 percent to 6,788 in November. In China, the company sales were down 5.9 percent to 8,173. In the UK, sales decreased by 16 percent to 5,866. » Read Article [REG] Dec. 9 16:12 CET
