Ford aid from Spain probed by EU antitrust regulatorsMay 15, 2013 12:19 CET  European Union antitrust regulators will investigate whether a 25.2 million euro ($32.71 million) grant given by Spanish authorities to Ford's factory in Valencia breached EU state aid rules.... Read More »
Fiat mulls U.S. headquarters after Chrysler merger, report says 10:04 am U.S. ET | May 15, 2013  Fiat is considering moving its corporate headquarters to the United States following a planned merger with Chrysler Group, three people familiar with the matter said. CEO Sergio Marchionne is evaluating the switch from Turin, where Fiat was founded in 1899, to the United States as the carmaker's revenue and profit center shifts to North America, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing the internal deliberations.... Read More »
GM will move Opel Zafira production to German plantMay 15, 2013 11:58 CET  General Motors will move production of the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira minivan to Ruesselsheim in Germany from its Bochum factory. Ruesselsheim and Vauxhall's plant in Ellesmere Port, England, had been in the running to gain Zafira production after Bochum closes.... Read More »
Peugeot pushes 308 upscale to catch VW GolfMay 15, 2013 10:15 CET  Peugeot hopes more upscale features and an innovative design will help the new 308 gain market share in Europe's overcrowded compact segment against competitors including the Volkswagen Golf.... Read More »
Ford will build EcoSport in Russia for local marketMay 15, 2013 08:57 CET  Ford's Russian joint venture will begin building the EcoSport compact SUV in Russia next year for the local market, at a time when the demand for small SUVs is gaining traction in the country..... Read More »
Ford's Russian joint venture will build engine plantMay 14, 2013 14:13 CET  Ford's Russian joint venture will invest $274 million to build a new powertrain plant in Tatarstan. The plant will manufacture three different versions of 1.6-liter Duratec engines starting in December 2015.... 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 »
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 »
Schaeffler to end Continental accord as merger project wanes 3:46 pm U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  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 »
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 »
CARS & CONCEPTS Audi Q7 will shed weight 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  The redesigned Audi Q7 that debuts next summer in Europe will weigh about 800 pounds less than the current model, company insiders tell German sibling publication Automobilwoche.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Tariff played a role in Mexico winning Audi plant 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  At the groundbreaking for the Q5 plant in San Jose Chiapa, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler offered another explanation for deciding not to locate in the United States: The European Union slaps a 10 percent tariff on U.S.-built vehicles.... 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 »
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 »
LUCA CIFERRI Europe will end 18-month sales slump with positive April 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 10, 2013  Strong April UK car sales and a solid rebound in Germany last month will help western Europe end 18 consecutive months of year-on-year declines, analysts predict. Despite this, market watchers have stopped short of saying Europe is on the verge of an extended turnaround.... Read More »
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Former Chrysler exec Hausch joins Nissan EuropeMay 9, 2013 06:01 CET  Chrysler's former Europe chief, Thomas Hausch, will head Nissan's operations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Hausch started the role with the Japanese automaker on May 1. A German national, Hausch, 47, brings more than 20 years of executive-level experience in the automotive industry to the job. He replaces Vincent Wijnen, who becomes Nissan Europe's head of aftersales.... 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 »
Jaguar's U.S. boss leads drive to boost brand's image, awarenessMay 8, 2013 06:01 CET  When the topic is luxury brands, Jaguar Land Rover North America CEO Andy Goss wants Jaguar to be mentioned in the same sentence as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Montezemolo says keeping Ferrari's high profits will be challengingMay 7, 2013 06:01 CET  Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has lived through many highs and lows, both on the racetrack and at the office. Times are good now. Last year, the automaker had record sales of 7,318 supercars and an operating margin of 14.4 percent. Montezemolo expects the automaker's finances to keep improving.... Read More »
GM to discuss labor woes with S. Korea president, union rep saysMay 7, 2013 14:29 CET  GM will discuss labor woes in South Korea with the country's president, the automaker's CEO was quoted as saying by its Korean union, a move that could complicate already troubled relations with its work force in the country. GM makes most of the Chevrolet vehicles it sells in Europe in Korea.... Read More »
Growing Audi demand prompts TRW to boost output at new Romania plantMay 7, 2013 11:09 CET  TRW will boost production at a new eastern European factory on growing demand from Audi and other automakers. The U.S. supplier plans a fivefold output boost at a steering wheel leather wrapping plant in Baia Mare, Romania, that opened in January.... Read More »
Audi April sales up 7% on China, U.S.May 7, 2013 13:42 CET  Audi sales rose 7 percent in April to 133,500 vehicles on strong demand in China and the United States, pushing four-month sales to 503,000. It is the first time that Audi has topped a half million deliveries in just four months, the automaker said Tuesday.... Read More »
UK has best April car sales since 2008May 7, 2013 11:16 CET  UK new-car sales were nearly 15 percent higher in April than a year ago, according to the SMMT, which said 2013 sales would be stronger than it previously forecast.... Read More »
Mercedes brand sales rise 12% in April on Asia, EuropeMay 6, 2013 13:17 CET  Daimler said vehicle sales of its Mercedes brand rose 11.7 percent last month, powered by double-digit gains in Asia and Europe.... Read More »
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