Steep vehicle sales drops in China and India over recent months are serving as a painful reminder that the two world's most populous markets are not living up to earlier heady expectations, a media report said.
The stronger yen currency has resulted in Toyota trimming its annual operating profit forecast despite posting a good set of quarterly results.
ZF has posted first-half sales down 1.7% to EUR18.4bn (US$20.4bn), while adjusted EBIT stood at EUR650m.
Fewer new vehicles were sold in New Zealand in July compared to the same month last year continuing the local Motor Industry Association's (MIA) expectation the overall market for the year will be down on 2018.
Opinion
3 Aug, 2019
New PM Boris Johnson could be the man to put cars, motorists and the road network back on the political agenda, says Mike Rutherford
Dana has recorded second-quarter net income down 45% to US$68m due to a pension settlement, although sales increased by US$253m to US$2.3bn.
BMW doesn't have nearly as broad a range of M models as Mercedes-AMG. What it lacks in line-up, Motorsport division makes up via powertrain choices, with super-torquey diesels offered in relevant countries in addition to the high-power petrol alternatives. Why Daimler hasn't aped this strategy - as Audi has with its S and RS TDI cars and SUVs - is a mystery.
The outlook for auto manufacturing remains negative as global sales of light vehicles are set to keep falling amid geopolitical dangers including the US-China trade conflict and Brexit, Moody's Investors Service said.
It would be fair to summise that BMW AG makes the majority of its profts from sales of SUVs. Former gaps in the numbers line-up have been filled by the X2 and X4 and the range extended at the top end by the X7. The company has also become especially good at bringing down life cycles, as the imminent arrival of the G06 X6 shows, just five years after the launch of the outgoing F16 second generation model.
Profits might be down but there is no doubting the sales success of BMW AG. Cars, not so important in the US market, remain a major part of BMW's growth in Europe and China. The G20 3 Series is this year's stand-out product, particularly in Germany. With the G21 3 Series Touring plus a steady flow of many other new models imminent, Mercedes and Audi have much to worry about.
The European market's C segment has been good to SEAT and Audi, while in the class betwixt this one and the traditional D-sized models, Skoda slays all comers with the Octavia. Now, Volkswagen's high achieving Czech division has a new 4.4m long hatchback. Might the affordable Scala even do damage to Golf sales?
General Motors booked a solid 1.6% rise in second quarter 2019 operating income to US$2.4bn as redesigned light duty pickup trucks found success in North America.
BMW has posted second quarter results that show earnings down by around a fifth. BMW Group posted profit before financial result (EBIT) amounting to EUR2,201m (versus EUR2,739m in the same quarter of 2018; down 19.6%).
FCA Italy and LexisNexis Risk Solutions are teaming up to offer European customers the possibility of accessing a range of new, customised and "advantageous" car insurance services based on driving style and vehicle safety systems.
ZF start-up, Car eWallet has established 'smart fuelling' as an initial use case as it looks to capitalise on its spin-off from the German supplier.
Delphi Technologies reported second quarter 2019 earnings of $0.31 per share compared to $0.97 per share in Q2 2018.
Hitachi Automotive Systems has announced a partnership for collaboration with Plug and Play, a global innovation platform that brings together the best start-ups with the world's largest corporations.
News
1 Aug, 2019
Exclusive investigation reveals the big price differences – and sheer cost – you could face when buying a new car battery
Britain's Road Haulage Association (RHA) says the government still faces a "huge challenge" to prepare business in time for a no-deal Brexit.
Features
1 Aug, 2019
From large scale Lego Technic models to smaller Lego car sets for kids, we’ve put together the best Lego cars on sale for 2019
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