Volkswagen to produce more engines, transmissions in China

Volkswagen will produce more engines and transmissions in China as part of its global expansion strategy to meet rising demand for fuel efficient vehicles.

The company – China’s largest foreign car manufacturer – will manufacture its TSI engines and DSG gearboxes in an attempt to reduce the fuel consumption of its locally made cars by 20 [...]

Skoda begins production of new engine with Audi, Seat, VW

Skoda has commenced production of a new four-cylinder engine which will be shared between itself, Audi, Volkswagen and Seat.

The all-new 1.2-litre design is a supercharged, direct fuel injection unit capable of producing 77kW and will carry the TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) family name.
Skoda BOD chairman, Reinhard Jung, said the engine was designed specifically to minimise [...]

India’s small car market booming

The race in on among the world’s car manufacturers to crack India’s booming small car market, with a number of them announcing production plans over the past few days.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was in New Delhi last week to announce his company’s entry into the market by 2012.
“I don’t want Renault and Nissan to be [...]

Holden Caprice US police deal threatened by Ford’s new Taurus

Holden’s opportunity to export its Caprice model to police in the US is under threat as Ford’s American division plans a replacement for the popular Crown Victoria.

Chevrolet last month unveiled the Caprice PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) and announced that it would aim to sell the long wheel-base Australian as a police-only vehicle from early 2011.
But [...]

Kia posts October global sales increase of 34.6%

Kia has announced its global sales figures for passenger cars (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants), recreational vehicles (RVs), and commercial vehicles for October 2009, recording a total of 148,583 units sold. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 34.6 per cent.

By region, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in China (24,896 units [...]

Automotive sector lags behind in R&D spending

Five of the world’s top 20 research and development spenders in 2008 were from the automotive industry and, according to a report from consulting firm Booz and Co., Toyota retained its spot at the top.

Toyota invested AUD$9.62 billion in R&D last year, down 5.7 per cent from 2007, but still accounting for 4.4 per cent [...]

Ford’s EcoBoost engine sales exceed expectations in US

Ford’s four-cylinder EcoBoost engine is attracting younger and more affluent buyers to the brand, according to Ford US.

The 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged unit is currently available on the Taurus SHO and the Flex, as well as Lincoln’s MKS and MKT.
The 205kW/379Nm EcoBoost will make its way into the Falcon in early 2011, and Ford Australia President [...]

Ford Australia President optimisitic on 2010 sales figures

Ford Australia President Marin Burela is hopeful that the automotive industry will continue to fight back in 2010 with predictions of national sales up to 950,000.

The self-confessed “glass half-full” forecaster expects the sales to soften in the first quarter after a solid end to 2009 before a kick-up in the second quarter continuing through the [...]

Hyundai opens new R&D centre in India

Hyundai has opened a new research and development centre in India to facilitate the company’s expansion and to meet increasing global demand for sub-compact cars.

The AUD$27 million, 18,580m² plant in Hyderabad took over two years to build and will complement its existing manufacturing plant in Chennai.
The centre will support all back-end operations like computer-aided engineering [...]

Hyundai scores highest-ever October sales result

As the Australian new car market shows signs of recovery, Hyundai have secured another record for the brand selling 6,281 vehicles and achieving a market share of 7.8 per cent.

Sales for October 2009 were up 106 per cent over the same time last year – giving Hyundai its best ever October result.
In a total market [...]

Skoda to build new lost-cost sedan

Skoda is developing a new low-cost family sedan set to challenge the likes of the Logan (pictured below), a popular small sedan which is produced by Renault’s Dacia subsidiary.

Skoda CEO, Mr Reinhard Jung, said the new model would cost between 10,000 and 12,000 euros (AUD$16,000 – $20,000) and would launch in two to three years.
Mr [...]

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