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Volkswagen to produce more engines, transmissions in China

Matt Brogan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:30:44 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Volkswagen to produce more engines, transmissions in China

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

Matt Brogan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:55:07 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

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

India’s small car market booming

Matt Brogan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:33:00 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

India’s small car market booming

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

Matt Brogan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:23:23 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

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

Kia posts October global sales increase of 34.6%

Matt Brogan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:34:13 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Kia posts October global sales increase of 34.6%

Automotive sector lags behind in R&D spending

Matt Brogan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:47:00 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Automotive sector lags behind in R&D spending

Ford’s EcoBoost engine sales exceed expectations in US

Matt Brogan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:40:24 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Ford’s EcoBoost engine sales exceed expectations in US

Ford Australia President optimisitic on 2010 sales figures

Matt Brogan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:50:55 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Ford Australia President optimisitic on 2010 sales figures

Hyundai opens new R&D centre in India

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:02:53 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Hyundai opens new R&D centre in India

Hyundai scores highest-ever October sales result

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:57:01 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Hyundai scores highest-ever October sales result

Skoda to build new lost-cost sedan

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:51:37 +0000

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 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Skoda to build new lost-cost sedan

GM backflips on Opel sale

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:36:35 +0000

General Motors (GM) has cancelled plans to sell a majority stake in its European car business Opel, including its UK brand Vauxhall. GM said in a statement that its board had made the decision because of “an improving business environment for GM over the past few months”. GM had agreed to sell Opel and Vauxhall to Canadian [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

GM backflips on Opel sale

Nissan contributes €134 million to Renault’s earnings

Matt Brogan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:48:29 +0000

Nissan released the results for the first half of its fiscal year 2009/2010 (April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010) today. After restatement, the profit reported by Nissan for the second quarter of fiscal 2009/2010 (July 1, to September 30, 2009) will result in a positive contribution to Renault’s second half net income estimated at €134 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Nissan contributes €134 million to Renault’s earnings

Ford financial woes ease as profits boost Wall Street

Matt Brogan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:36:46 +0000

It seems the pressure of the Global Financial Crisis may be easing, at least where Ford Motor Company is concerned. The New York Times have reported yesterday that Wall Street stocks rose in hesitant trade the night prior after a surprise profit reported by Ford boosted market sentiment. Ford’s third-quarter profit of US$997 million (AUD$1,103 million), and [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Ford financial woes ease as profits boost Wall Street

Transmission sharing in US exposes Ford, GM to Indian parts shortage

Matt Brogan — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:37:39 +0000

A parts shortage from an Indian supplier has affected both General Motors and Ford in the US because both manufacturers use the same six-speed gear box. The transmission sharing was a money saving move made by both companies who, instead of developing their own fuel saving technology, decided to share the costs of US$720 million in [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Transmission sharing in US exposes Ford, GM to Indian parts shortage

Toyota’s Tsutsumi Plant – tour a green role model

Matt Brogan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:36:00 +0000

By Matt Brogan. Aichi, Japan. Every fifty-seven seconds a new Prius rolls off the line here at Toyota’s Tsutsumi production plant in Aichi, Toyota City. But this plant is more than a highly-automated car building machine, Tsutsumi is a prototypical plant of the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) used for promoting some of the company’s many sustainable initiatives. Tsutsumi, [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Toyota’s Tsutsumi Plant – tour a green role model

Honda Jazz begins UK production

Matt Brogan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:59:32 +0000

The first European built Jazz has been driven off the production line at Honda’s factory in Swindon (UK), providing a boost to production volume and underlining the company’s long term commitment to its European operation. The five-door Jazz is one of Honda’s most successful cars in Europe, with over 70,000 sold in the region every year. [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Honda Jazz begins UK production

Silver is the new white

Matt Brogan — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:51:14 +0000

Confirming what even the most colour blind car spotter could tell you, silver is the new white. Silver has taken the title of world’s most popular automotive colour for the ninth consecutive year. According to PPG, a leader in automotive paints, 25 per cent of new cars purchased in North America over the last year were some [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Silver is the new white

Hyundai opens plant in Czech Republic

Matt Brogan — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:24:42 +0000

Hyundai, South Korea’s largest automaker, officially opened its AUD$1.7 billion manufacturing plant in Nošovice, Czech Republic, this week. With mass production started in November last year, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC), a fully-owned subsidiary of Seoul-based Hyundai Motor Company, has a current capacity to build 200,000 vehicles annually, which will be increased by 100,000 to 300,000 [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Hyundai opens plant in Czech Republic

GM and Reva announce Indian EV partnership

Matt Brogan — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:33:13 +0000

General Motors India and Reva Electric Car Company announced today in New Delhi the signing of an agreement to cooperate in the development of electric vehicles for the Indian market. The two manufacturers will jointly develop car platforms, electric vehicle technology and advanced vehicle control systems. Their goal is to create and launch an [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

GM and Reva announce Indian EV partnership