Following the market launch of its heavy-duty trucks two weeks ago, Daimler Trucks subsidiary Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has now started production of medium-duty trucks (9 and 12 tons).
European new-car sales plunged the most in almost two years, with Renault and Fiat posting the steepest declines, as the region's sovereign-debt crisis led to reduced demand in Germany, its largest economy.
Driveline and aerospace supplier GKN said demand since it announced half year results in July has "remained broadly in line with expectations with more challenging European automotive and industrial markets being offset by strong automotive demand in the US and China and continued growth in civil aerospace".
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British partsmaker GKN said a sluggish European automotive market weighed on third quarter profit and that a continued slump could impact the group for the remainder of the year.
One might argue that France's automakers are the sick men of Europe. Beset with a stagnant home market, excess production capacity and costly payrolls, they are struggling to fend off opportunistic rivals such as Volkswagen and Hyundai-Kia.
Volkswagen plans to expand its lineup of SUVs with two new models in the coming years as part of a goal of overtaking GM and Toyota in deliveries. One of the new models will be bigger than the Tiguan SUV to appeal to U.S.
Fisker Automotive aims to start production of its second model in late 2014 or 2015, at least two years later than initially planned.
Last year was very successful for the biggest suppliers to automakers in Europe. Overall, 2011 sales in Europe by suppliers in the top 30 increased 19 percent to $180.6 billion from $151.
Renault and Nissan said they aim to double annual cost savings from their alliance within four years, while denying a Reuters report that they're reviewing their cross-shareholdings. "We have an internal goal of 4 billion euros ($5.
Battery maker A123 Systems for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Tuesday. A123 listed total assets of $459.8 million and liabilities of $376 million in its Chapter 11 petition.
BMW opened its first dealership in Beijing yesterday that is designated for its Mini brand as demand for luxury cars in the world's biggest auto market increases.
One might argue that France's automakers are the sick men of Europe. Beset with a stagnant home market, excess production capacity and costly payrolls, they are struggling to fend off opportunistic rivals such as Volkswagen and Hyundai-Kia.
Last year was very successful for the biggest suppliers to automakers in Europe. Overall, 2011 sales in Europe by suppliers in the top 30 increased 19 percent to $180.6 billion from $151.
From Pirelli press release
Formula 1's tire supplier Pirelli has announced the tire nominations for the final three Grands Prix of the 2012 F1 season.
In
Abu Dhabi, the teams will use the P Zero White medium tire and the P Zero Yellow soft tire.
The Abu Dhabi race is run in the late afternoon and evening, with falling temperatures. Although the lap takes in a wide variety of speeds and corners, the surface is quite smooth and degradation is not excessive, making medium and soft the perfect choice.
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| Photo: Circuit of the Americas |
For the all-new
United States Grand Prix, Pirelli will bring the Silver hard and White medium tire.
Austin will be raced on for the first time, and the simulation data established by Pirelli's engineers over the summer has indicated that the hard and medium tires will be best-suited to the varying demands of this track.
On a new circuit, a relatively conservative choice will make sure that all possibilities are covered. During a recent visit, Pirelli's engineers established that significant energy loads will be put through the tyres. High temperatures are also expected.
For the
Brazilian Grand Prix, the same types of the tires - hard and medium - will be used.
The Interlagos circuit, by contrast, is well known for being demanding on the tires, with big elevation changes, high-speed corners and significant energy loadings going through the structure. For these reasons, the hard and medium tires are also the best choice for the final race of the 2012 season.
From GMM
Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he cannot understand Ferrari's tactics during the Korean grand prix.
Fernando Alonso finished behind both Red Bulls at the Yeongam track, therefore losing his long-held championship lead to Sebastian Vettel.
Just behind the Spaniard was his resurgent Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, who was told on the radio to stay behind Alonso despite lapping faster.
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| The two Ferrari close in Korea. (Photo: WRi2) |
Red Bull's Marko said Ferrari's decision to hold Massa back is "incomprehensible".
"Why didn't Ferrari let him past Alonso and make Webber nervous?" the Austrian told
Blick, referring to Vettel's teammate Mark Webber, who finished second.
Indeed, if Felipe Massa had managed to pass Webber, Alonso might have followed him through and minimised the points loss to Vettel.
Dr Helmut Marko told
Blick newspaper: "And even if Massa had not managed to get Webber, it would have been easy for him to just pass the place back (to Alonso)."
The Scuderia Ferrari has confirmed Brazilian driver Felipe Massa for the 2013 season.
In a straight-to-the-point, 41-word press release, Ferrari said:
“Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has renewed its contract with the driver Felipe Massa to the end of the 2013 race season. The Scuderia's driver line-up for next year is therefore made up of Fernando Alonso and the aforementioned Felipe Massa”.
So now the quiz is: who will take his place at the end of the 2013 season?
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| Felipe Massa in Korea. (Photo: Ferrari) |
UPDATE
“I am very happy to have reached this agreement,” commented the Brazilian in a report posted on the official Ferrari web site.
“Ferrari is my racing family and throughout my entire time in Formula 1, I have always driven cars powered by engines built in Maranello: I can't see myself driving cars propelled by anything else! First and foremost, I want to thank President Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali, who had faith in me and who have always supported me, even at the most difficult moments. The team and also all the fans can rest assured that I will do all in my power to help the Scuderia reach the targets it sets itself each year.”
The satisfaction is also clear from the comments of Stefano Domenicali, who on Sunday at the Yeongam circuit already lets slip that things were heading towards a confirmation.
“We are pleased to have extended our relationship with Felipe for a further year,” declared the Team Principal. “He has been part of our family for over a decade and has shown, expecially in this recent part of the season, that he is once again competitive at the highest level, which is what is expected of every driver who gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari. We have always supported Felipe, even in the most difficult moments of his career and we are certain of his worth and are sure he will know how to repay the confidence this renewal proves we have in him.”
From GMM
A London grand prix is unlikely because the government is not willing to support it.
That is the admission of Bernie Ecclestone, who told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt that
he is prepared to make "a large contribution" towards organising a street race in the British capital.
But the F1 chief executive is quoted by
cityam.com: "I don't think the government would be prepared to put the required amount of money behind it."
That is despite the 81-year-old being apparently willing to "help the government and council with their costs".
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| Photo: Santander |
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