UK Automotive Industry News from just-auto.com

Wednesday 18th November 2009

• UK: Government aid key to GM European restructuring
  
• GM's acting head of European operations Nick Reilly has stressed the importance of aid commitments from European governments as GM assesses the restructuring of its European manufacturing footprint.
  
  
• US: Small Fiat engine to be made by Chrysler
  
• Chrysler plans to invest US$179m in the next five years at a Michigan (Dundee) factory to build the Italian company's 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre engines.
  
  
• EU: EU to host Opel/Vauxhall meeting
  
• The EU Commission has invited General Motors and economic ministers from EU countries with Opel/Vauxhall plants to meet in Brussels on Monday (November 23) to discuss the company's restructuring plans for Europe.
  
  
• US: Ford Fusion is Motor Trend CotY
  
• The Ford Fusion has beaten 22 other vehicles to win US auto consumer/enthusiast magazine Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the Year.
  
  
• RUSSIA: Vehicle output down 63% this year
  
• Russia's vehicle output fell 63% on the year to 578,093 units in the first ten months of this year according to data issued by an industry source.
  
  
• TAIWAN: Yulon adds 'Tobe' own brand
  
• Following the recent launch of its first own brand 'Luxgen', Yulon has unveiled a second brand, 'Tobe' - and the first car is a rebadged Geely.
  
  
• JAPAN: Toyota sales 'up for first time in 15 months'
  
• Toyota's global vehicle sales rose 5% in October to about 640,000 units marking the first year-on-year increase in 15 months.
  
  
• UK: BMW is London 2012 Olympics sponsor
  
• The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced that BMW has become the 'Automotive Partner' of London 2012.
  
  
• SWITZERLAND: 'GM Europe' disbanded in reorganisation
  
• Recent media reports in Germany may have muddied the waters a tad, but General Motors' European reorganisation is a constituent part of GM's broader international reorganisation this year.
  
  
• FRANCE: Faurecia lined up for Plastal's German plants
  
• Faurecia may rush to buy the German assets of bankrupt engineered plastics supplier Plastal, according to media reports.
  
  
• SWEDEN: Volvo truck shipments down 41%
  
• AB Volvo has said its overall truck shipments in October were down 41% on the same month last year.
  
  
• UK: Volvo tests new hybrid refuse truck
  
• Volvo Trucks says it is now launching an upgrade of the world's first hybrid refuse truck. The upgraded vehicle is now being released with new components and software to be tested by Veolia Environmental Services in central London.
  
  
• RUSSIA: Putin applauds Kamaz rescue
  
• Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said he believes the Russian government's bailout plan for truck maker Kamaz had been successful - especially the public procurement of Kamaz trucks.
  
  
• US: Intel sees EV microprocessor opportunities
  
• Intel Corp has said it sees big opportunities in wind forecasting for power generation and in information management for electric vehicles.
  
  
• FRANCE: Bosch to axe 435 jobs
  
• Robert Bosch is negotiating with French unions over plans to axe 435 jobs at two plants in France, reducing its total workforce in the country to 9,000.