Opinion
10 Apr, 2019
Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler thinks some car companies might not survive if they don’t adapt to the new world of mobility services
Guangzhou Auto is enduring a tough 2019. While its JVs with Honda, Toyota, FCA and Mitsubishi are strong, the performance of the GAC Trumpchi brand isn't what it could be. Not that that has deterred the company from investing in future models.
Last year was a trying one for Qoros with only 64,200 cars delivered to buyers in China, the brand's largest market. The first quarter has been far, far worse, with wholesale deliveries amounting to a mere 824 vehicles. There has been a cash infusion from the new owner but clearly, new models are an urgent requirement.
Few are noticing the progress being made by Vauxhall - Groupe PSA's ex-GM unit that is UK market only sister brand to Opel. In March it moved closer to Volkswagen and pulled away from fourth place Mercedes with the strongest growth of any top-ten brand. The main reason is a renaissance for the Corsa, yet the Insignia is also doing surprisingly, sales pushing past the 5,000 units mark in Q1.
BYD only just scrapes into the top 20 makes list of the Chinese market but it remains the number one in New Energy passenger vehicles. The brand offers a broad line-up of EVs and PHEVs and with more to be added this year, may remain in the lead even as rivals add ever more electrified models.
Volkswagen brand March sales fell 7.2% to 542,700 vehicles worldwide in March as a 14% rise in the US could not offset falls of 10% in Asia, 3.5% in Europe and 12.7% in South America.
West European car registrations fell 3.7% year-on-year (YoY) in March according to data released by LMC Automotive.
Fastned, a charging company which is building a European network of fast charging stations, said it continued its rapid growth in the first quarter of 2019.
South Korea's LG Chem said it has raised close to US$1.56bn in overseas bonds to finance expansion of its electric vehicle (EV) battery production capacity, according to a report by the local Yonhap news agency.
News
9 Apr, 2019
A test mule for the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan R has been spotted by our spies ahead of its release later this year
Don't expect self-driving cars to become ubiquitous for a long time, a key Uber executive has said.
Porsche first quarter 2019 sales fell 12% year on year to 55,700 vehicles.
News
9 Apr, 2019
Six-new Jeep concepts showcase range of Mopar tuning parts, with a 700bhp resto-mod from 1968 the star of the show
Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), described as a collaborative cross-industry effort developing an open source platform for connected car technologies, has announced that Volkswagen has joined it and the Linux Foundation, a non-profit organisation 'enabling mass innovation through open source'.
Ousted Nissan Motor (and Renault) chief Carlos Ghosn has reiterated he is "innocent" in a video released by his lawyer.
Volvo Car UK is adding a front-wheel-drive diesel version of to its mid-size XC60 SUV range.
Quanergy Systems has appointed Kevin Kennedy to its board of directors to help identify new business development opportunities.
PPG has appointed Devashish Saxena as vice president and chief digital officer.