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GM Takes U-Turn On Opel Sale (Western Europe Automotives Insight)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00 GMT

General Motors Company (GM) has abandoned the sale of its European division Opel to Canadian parts supplier Magna International and Russian lender Sberbank, citing improved 'financial health and stability'. BMI believes the pull-out reflects renewed optimism in the global autos industry and underlines the importance of European markets in GM's overall strategy.

BPE Calls For New Vehicle Import Tariff Structure (Middle East & Africa Automotives Insight)

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

Nigeria's Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) has identified the differential between import tariffs on completely built units (CBUs) and completely knocked down (CKD) kits as a key factor in the declining sales of domestically built vehicles. According to a paper by BPE Director General Dr Christopher Anyanwu, Nigerian-built cars are 25% more expensive than their imported counterparts. He added that in order to protect the domestic industry, which BMI notes is currently running at a capacity utilisation rate of just 19% according to Business Day, a more favourable tariff structure should be

Parts Suppliers Eye German Export Opportunities (Asia Pacific Automotives Insight)

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

A group of Malaysian automotive parts suppliers is visiting Germany with a view to securing new export deals. With a reputation for quality components, Malaysia built up a parts export industry worth US$4.35mn in 2008, compared to US$4.09mn in 2007. Germany is seen as a good fit for the sector, with carmakers looking for overseas Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce

Bolivia To Begin Lithium Car Battery Production (Americas Automotives Insight)

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

The Bolivian government has announced plans to begin manufacturing lithium car batteries for electric vehicles in 2018. Battery production has been identified as a way for the country to effectively harness the extensive lithium deposits in the Uyuni Salt flats, according to the Latin American Tribune.

European Auto Sector Recovery Yet To Stick (Western Europe Automotives Insight)

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

Optimism that European manufacturing is entering a recovery phase was dealt a serious blow when three major German automotive companies reported that their Q309 results remain poor. According to the New York Times, Volkswagen, the continent's largest carmaker, and Continental and MAN Group, producers of car parts and heavy vehicles respectively, all warned against early projections that the worst of the economic slump was over.

Michelin Expands By Setting Up New Unit (Emerging Europe Automotives Insight)

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: According to just-auto.com, French tyremaker Michelin has opened a new unit in Russia as part of its expansion plans in the country and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The new unit will be responsible for operations in an additional six countries taking the total number of countries covered by the division to 12, including Russia.

Sabanc Sells Its Toyotasa Stake To ALJ (Middle East & Africa Automotives Insight)

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: According to The Saudi Gazette, Turkish industrial and financial conglomerate Sabanc Holding has sold its 64.99% stake in Turkish dealer Toyotasa to Saudi Arabian dealer Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ). Japanese automaker Toyota Motor's Saudi Arabian dealer ALJ has acquired the stake for US$84.9mn. ALJ is planning to sell around 50,000 vehicles in the Turkish market in five years.

Nissan's Bluebird Sylphy To Be Assembled By AvtoVAZ (Emerging Europe Automotives Insight)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ will assemble Japanese automaker Nissan Motor's Bluebird Sylphy small sedan car at its facility in Tolyatti. Nissan will invest EUR240mn (US$359mn) in AvtoVAZ for the launch of production at the Russian facility. Vice President of AutoVAZ, Grigory Khvorostyanov, stated that 70,000 units of the Bluebird Sylphy will be produced annually. Production is expected to start late in 2012.

Fast Rent A Car Invests AED45mn In Bus Division (Middle East & Africa Automotives Insight)

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: UAE-based car rental company Fast Rent A Car has announced that it will invest AED45mn (US$12.25mn) in its specialised bus leasing division in 2009. Growing demand for its buses has prompted the rental company to invest in the division to more than double its fleet size. The company has invested AED15mn (US$4.08mn) to add 44 buses to its 120-strong fleet. Another AED30mn (US$8.17mn) will be invested in around 100 more buses.

RTA Registers 85,066 Vehicles In H109 (Middle East & Africa Automotives Insight)

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: The total number of vehicles registered by the Licensing Agency of the UAE's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has reached 1,005,877 units, after 85,066 new vehicles were registered in Dubai in H109, 42% down compared with 147,033 registrations in H108. Mohammed Abdul Kareem Nimaat, the director of the Vehicles Licensing Department at the RTA Licensing Agency, has stated that June witnessed the highest number of vehicle registrations with 15,395 units, followed by January, during which 14,386 vehicles were registered.

Bus Assembly Line Begins Production (Middle East & Africa Automotives Insight)

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: Chinese automaker Xiamen Kinglong United Automotive Industry initiated production at its mid-size bus assembly line in Thies, Senegal on October 13. Chinese President Hu Jintao signed an agreement to build the plant in February 2009, as part of the country's efforts to support West African countries in the development of their traffic and transportation industries.

Tatra To Layoff 530 Employees (Emerging Europe Automotives Insight)

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: A spokesperson for Czech truckmaker Tatra has stated that around 530 employees will be laid off in October 2009. The truckmaker will also reduce its working week starting November. The layoffs and reduction in working hours have been attributed to the declining demand driven by the global economic crisis. Losses in 2008 forced Tatra to cut 1,000 jobs previously in June.

Peugeot Expects Slovakia Output To Top 200,000 (Emerging Europe Automotives Insight)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: According to Reuters, the outgoing CEO of French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroën's Slovakian unit , Jean Mouro, has stated that output at the PSA facility is likely to exceed 200,000 vehicles in 2009. In addition, the facility expects to maintain production at similar levels in 2010. Output at the plant, which produces the C3 Picasso and 207 models reached 190,000 units in 2008.

Fake Mercedes-Benz Parts Seized And Destroyed (Middle East & Africa Automotives Insight)

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

News: Law enforcement authorities, a law firm and German premium carmaker Mercedes-Benz's Middle East division Mercede-Benz Middle East and Levant have seized more than 65,000 fake Mercedes-Benz auto-parts in a joint operation in Sharjah, UAE. The counterfeit spare parts, worth over EUR1.5mn (US$2.18mn), were seized and destroyed after the raid. The fake commercial vehicle parts destroyed included brake pads, turbochargers, alternators, oil coolers, piston rings, gasket kits and belt tightners.

EU Warns Against Inefficient Vehicles, Threatens Fines (Western Europe Automotives Insight)

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT

The European Union (EU) has instructed carmakers to stop selling their most inefficient vehicles by 2016, or else face heavy penalties. According to Deutsche Welle, the auto industry has reacted strongly to the European Commission's threat, asking for space to recover from the effects of the economic crisis before focusing on carbon emissions.