Auto News 5

Opel's main union at its Bochum plant in north west Germany, says its members are "more than angry" at the automaker's announcement it intends to close the factory in 2016.

At the same event, Grupo SHC president Sérgio Habib both launched the JAC J2 subcompact and held the cornerstone laying ceremony for its manufacturing plant in Camaçari, Bahia state.

Jaguar Land Rover signed a letter of intent with Saudi Arabia's government to study the feasibility of setting up a factory to build its models locally.

Six crew members from the ship carrying more than 1,400 Mitsubishi vehicles, which sank last week in heavy seas off the Dutch coast, are still missing.

News 13 Dec, 2012

The next Land Rover Freelander has been spotted, disguised as a stretched version of the Evoque

Tata Motors' UK-based luxury vehicle unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) could soon be building vehicles in Saudi Arabia, possibly using locally-sourced aluminium components.

News 11 Dec, 2012

The new Skoda Octavia gets its tech from VW, but will be cheaper and more spacious than the Golf

VW said global sales of its core brand rose 11.5 percent in November to 504,800 vehicles as the automaker increased deliveries in most major markets except western Europe.

Today, Autoweek editors announced the Porsche Boxster S and

Today, Autoweek editors announced the Porsche Boxster S and

Today, Autoweek announced the winners of our yearly Best of the Best competition with the Porsche Boxster S and

Gabriel Voisin was that rarest of automotive figures, someone who comes along once in a lifetimeand#8212;the cars he built left an indelible mark on today's automobiles. The Mullin Automotive Museum's latest exhibit,

News 11 Dec, 2012

Jaguar has signed a letter of intent with the Saudi Government for a factory

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has signed a deal with Volvo to tap into technologies that the Swedish carmaker is planning to phase out over the next couple of years. Geely acquired Volvo in 2010.

News 11 Dec, 2012

The hybrid Jaguar supercar has been cancelled due to economic conditions, but working prototypes will be sold

Russian new-car sales rose just 0.4 percent to 240,322 in November as Russian consumers stayed away from showrooms following a slowdown in the country's economy.

Swedish supplier Autoliv will spend $13 million to build a plant in Promontory, Utah, to produce gas propellant for airbags.

Opel's decision to close its car plant in Bochum, Germany, has dealt a setback to restructuring talks with its German labor force, trade union IG Metall said.

How far would you take your loyalty for one particular brand?

We all do it: from clothing brands to household appliances, we get stuck on a brand. Be it for the look, the feel, the notoriety or (hopefully) the build quality, we as a society tend to stick to certain brands, often for life.

Why do you drive a Toyota Corolla? Because your grandafther owned one for 20+ years, then your father bought a new one, then your mother got a second one; it only makes sense that you'd get the same reliable vehicle that's been in your family for generations. Right?

I use the Corolla as an example because it's one of the most common brand loyalty “issues” I see in the automotive industry -- that and the Honda Civic. They both continue to “work” for families across the nation, so why change it up?

Then there's the kind of brand loyalty that my colleague, Matt St-Pierre, harbours for Volkswagen. He's loyal to the philosophy, the story behind the vehicles and the overall soul of the company; just as I am for MINI and Subaru.

All this loyalty got me thinking: Do carmakers take into consideration this brand loyalty and how much it truly influences car sales? As I watched yet another Corolla and Civic roll off the line (looking and feeling much like the past generations), I wonder if this is a strategy: If it ain't broke, don't fix it... right?


Then you've got companies like Subaru who continue to reinvent themselves with fascia updates, radical design changes and technological advances. And, like Jeep, Subaru loyalists are rabid fans dedicated to the brand through and through. Their constant changing doesn't affect the brand loyalty their owners and enthusiasts feel -- what a wonderful thing.

So, how do you get someone who's been wearing Levis their entire lives to switch it up and buy a pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans instead? You force them to try them on; you let them see how good their rear looks in a pair of jeans they've never tried on before. Sometimes, experiencing something new can be intimidating, but once it's done you'll wonder why you didn't do it ages before.

Carmakers are constantly trying to get consumers to “try something new” -- at least they should be. While some manufacturers sit back, resting on their laurels and relying on their brand loyalty to see them through, others are paving the way for new clients (read: Kia, Hyundai, Subaru, even VW with the redesigned and more “manly” Beetle).

I'm as loyal to my brands as the next (Subaru, Esprit, Second Cup, Coach... I'm a creature of habit), but I'm conscious of it and make an effort to change things up as often as I can. Luckily, I get to change my car every week without the financial burden. It's opened my eyes, as well as reminding me why I have such an affinity for the brands I do.

For those without the luxury of a new car every week, I implore you to explore all your options the next time you're in the market for a new car. Test drive outside your comfort zone (but not your price range) and explore brands you never thought you would. Your rear might look great, but you won't know till you give it a try.

From GMM

HRT is already in liquidation, an unpaid and angry supplier has claimed.

Formtech Composites, a carbon fibre manufacturer, said in a statement that the beleaguered Spanish team entered liquidation proceedings on November 12 -- well before the 2012 season ended.

The supplier said HRT is now only willing to pay 30 per cent of its debt.

And "It has come to our knowledge that (HRT) owe a substantial amount of money to other suppliers in the motor sports industry," Formtech added.

Formtech also accused HRT of giving "misleading information" about its situation.

Photo: HRT F1 Team