Auto News 5

Cars are become safer, more reliable and people are actually driving less - all of which are giving carmakers a headache because they are experiencing a squeeze on one of their most lucrative profit centres - aftersales.

Ferrari will debut the 812 Superfast, its most powerful series production car to date.

Kia's redesigned Picanto city car has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the Geneva show in March. The new, entry level tiddler will go on sale across Europe from 1 April. It made its domestic debut, as the Morning, in January.

GKN Driveline's Chinese joint venture partner SDS has commenced production of its complete all-wheel drive (AWD) Disconnect system for small to medium-sized vehicles in China.

VW has been forced to reduce production of Passat cars at its Emden plant in Germany because of a shortage of components caused by a fire at one of its suppliers, a report said.

News 7 Mar, 2017

New front-engined Ferrari flagship gets 20bhp more than F12tdf, and a top speed over 211mph

PSA has bought the rights to the Ambassador nameplate as part of its plan to return to India after a 20-year absence and win over local car buyers who are unfamiliar with the Peugeot marque.

Since before the bailouts of 2009, industry and financial mavens have been calling for the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors or, failing that, the acquisition of FCA by GM.

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer expects a return to profitability in 2018 as the money-losing automaker invests heavily to update existing models and develop several new vehicles through 2019.

Opel and PSA posted weaker European sales in January than their rivals amid discussions of a possible purchase of the GM unit by the French automaker.

PSA Group CEO Carlos Tavares intends to keep Opel as a German company if the French automaker acquires the brand from GM, reports said. Tavares also is open to maintaining Opel's current management structure, the reports said.

Hyundai and Kia plan to support their new-car sales in Europe by launching a captive financial services business, breaking away from partner Santander and starting with the foundation of a bank in Germany.

Ahead of the 1 March on sale date, Toyota has chopped the UK prices of its Prius PHV from GBP34,895 for the 'entry level' Business Edition Plus to GBP31,695 with a clever optional (and extra GBP1,500) solar panel sunroof available only for that version.

News 15 Feb, 2017

Drivers will be able to buy fuel directly from their infotainment systems at Shell stations, with more e-commerce apps hinted at

News 15 Feb, 2017

New traffic lights on trial in Holland illuminate the pavement to stop smartphone users walking out into traffic

Opinion 15 Feb, 2017

Kia has wooed buyers with its warranty and quality improvements but a couple of recent new cars don't quite hit the mark, says Graham Hope

Toyota Motor chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who led the development of the Prius, expects the latest plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) will catch on with consumers far more rapidly than the original Prius did.

Opel's board was completely surprised by news of negotiations with PSA Groupe, according to Germany's Manager Magazin, learning only from a phone call on Tuesday morning, though CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann had been informed a little earlier.

Following his meeting with Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business and industrial strategy, the leader of the UK union, Unite said General Motors had a moral duty to stand by the UK workforce - and repeated his call for the backing given by government to Nissan, to ensure that it maintains its UK car production when the UK leaves the European Union, is offered to the rest of the UK car industry.