Auto News 5

IHS Automotive analyst Paul Newton has offered his take on the fast-moving situation that has seen component and power supply shortages across Japan as the effects of last week's earthquake continue to be felt.

As reported by Automotive News recently, Ford has no intentions on forcing this technology on US customers. Sad. Not that anyone should have anything stuffed down their throat but diesel is one of the most viable alternatives of the moment. Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for global product development, made it very clear that Ford will continue to rely on their EcoBoost and hybrid technologies. Both very good. They will relegate the idea of importing diesel powertrains, although, as he said, it would be easy to do so. Then why say-so?

If you thought single-seat cars were exclusive to motorsports, you were wrong! Briggs Automotive Company (BAC), a new car manufacturer from the U.K., recently launched the Mono as a road-legal, track-oriented racer.

In this month's three-part management briefing, Mark Bursa takes a close look at the development and changing structure of China's automotive industry. Part 2 looks at JV strategies as well as new brands for the Chinese market.

Dave Wilson spent 26 years building Preston Automotive Group into an 11-brand, 10-store group. But in 2007, his son, then a 20-year-old college sophomore, came to him with an audacious suggestion: Dump Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and GMC.

BMW has reached its goal of reducing spending on components by 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) well ahead of its 2012 deadline, purchasing boss Herbert Diess told Automotive News Europe.

Cooper Standard Automotive has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nishikawa Rubber providing for the expansion of the existing joint venture relationship between the companies. Cooper Standard and Nishikawa are currently partners in automotive sealing product manufacturing joint ventures in the United States and Mexico. They intend to broaden their relationship into a more global alliance that will enhance the capabilities of both companies to serve their global customers.

In this Q&A, just-auto talked with Dr Rainer Neumann, director of global lighting business development, Visteon, about the company's light system innovations.

New vehicle sales in Vietnam increased by 56% to 7,889 units in February, compared with 5,070 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers' Association (VAMA).

Vincent Besson, Products and Markets Manager at Peugeot-Citroën, confirmed that the French automaker is currently working to resurrect the 2CV, a true automotive icon in the same league as the Ford Model T.

At the beginning of the year, the word on everyone's lips was Huayra, its 700 ponies, its 738 ft-lb of torque and its ultra-light architecture putting many a supercar to shame. Unfortunately for them, the Ferrari FF and Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 have taken up the spotlight in recent automotive news.

Amid government bailouts, supplier loan programs and technology funding from the federal government, political clout has been moving farther down the supply chain as automotive suppliers have stepped up efforts to sway opinion in Washington, D.C.

Magna International has begun work on repairing a dashboard and automotive interiors plant in Michigan 40% damaged in a fire that started last Wednesday while scrambling to move production to other facilities to avoid a widespread customer shutdown.

In this month's three-part management briefing, Mark Bursa takes a close look at the development and changing structure of China's automotive industry. Part 1 considers the current state of China's auto industry and the outlook.

Spanish autoparts maker Cie Automotive has confirmed the sale of Mexican steel tyre unit Iochpe for EUR2.6m. The move came as the Basque Country-based firm reported 2010 operating profits soared 66% to EUR193.3m.

Automotive News Europe is looking identify and honor the Rising Stars of the European automotive industry. These people are the trend-spotters, entrepreneurs and forward-thinkers who stand to reap the biggest rewards over the next decade.

We certainly can't accuse Fisker Automotive of lacking ambition! The firm behind the sporty and luxurious Karma says it will be able to sell 7,000 units this year and 15,000 in 2012.

Fisker Automotive this year expects to sell 'at least 7,000 units' of its first car, the $87,900 Karma hybrid sports car, Chief Operating Officer Bernhard Koehler said.

Job cuts at Opel will be less severe than expected, the automaker's union boss said. "We will cut fewer jobs than planned," Klaus Franz, who is also an Opel supervisory board member, told Automotive News Europe.

The Thai government is laying the groundwork for the introduction of new automotive taxes based on fuel efficiency, as part of its efforts to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels.