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voda 20 november 2018 20:11

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Jaguar Land Rover gets green light to solve 150 year old problem

New Jaguar Land Rover technology using Vehicle-to-Infrastructure connects cars to traffic lights so drivers can avoid getting stuck at red and help free up traffic flow in cities. The world’s first traffic lights were installed exactly 150 years ago outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Since then drivers around the globe have spent billions of hours waiting for green. However with Jaguar Land Rover’s latest tech, their days could be numbered.

The Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory system allows cars to “talk” to traffic lights and inform the driver the speed they should drive as they approach junctions or signals.

Widespread adoption of the V2X technology will prevent drivers from racing to beat the lights and improve air quality by reducing harsh acceleration or braking near lights. The goal is for the V2X revolution to create free-flowing cities with fewer delays and less commuter stress.

The connected technology is currently being trialled on a Jaguar F-PACE, as part of a GBP 20 million collaborative research project. Like all Jaguar or Land Rover vehicles today, the F-PACE already boasts a wide range of sophisticated Advanced Driver Assistance features. The connected technology trials are enhancing existing ADAS features by increasing the line of sight of a vehicle when it is connected via the internet to other vehicles and infrastructure. GLOSA is being tested alongside a host of other measures to slash the time commuters spend in traffic.

For example, Intersection Collision Warning alerts drivers when it is unsafe to proceed at a junction. ICW informs drivers if other cars are approaching from another road and can suggest the order in which cars should proceed at a junction.

Jaguar Land Rover has also addressed time lost to searching for a parking space by providing real-time information of available spaces to drivers and developed an Emergency Vehicle Warning to alert motorists when a fire engine, police car or ambulance is approaching.

The advanced technology builds on the connected systems already available on the Jaguar F-PACE such as Adaptive Cruise Control.

Mr Oriol Quintana-Morales, Jaguar Land Rover Connected Technology Research Engineer, said that “This cutting-edge technology will radically reduce the time we waste at traffic lights. It has the potential to revolutionise driving by creating safe, free-flowing cities that take the stress out of commuting. Our research is motivated by the chance to make future journeys as comfortable and stress-free as possible for all our customers.”

The trials are part of the GBP 20 million government-funded project, UK Autodrive, which has helped accelerate the development of Jaguar Land Rover’s future self-driving and connected technology. As well as strengthening the Midlands’ position as a hub of mobility innovation. Britain’s biggest car maker, headquartered in Coventry, is working on connected technology as part of its pledge to deliver zero accidents, zero congestion and zero emissions. Connected technology will link the vehicle to everything around it, allowing seamless, free-flowing traffic that will pave the way for delivering self-driving vehicles

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 23 november 2018 16:57

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PSA deal with Opel to create win-win for Opel - French engineering firm

Automotive News reported that when PSA Group confirmed in September that it planned to transfer 2,000 engineering jobs at the Opel engineering center in Ruesselsheim, Germany, to Segula Technologies, the question on many people's minds was: Who?. Segula is a French engineering company that has been active only since 2000. The company's 12,000 employees work in the fields of automotive, aerospace, energy, naval, railways, and oil and gas, though automotive work makes up about 55 percent of Segula’s business.

The so-called "externalization" of PSA Group work to Segula would increase the size of Segula’s automotive division by 40 percent, said Laurent Germain, group managing director for Segula Technologies.

It's part of a pattern of sharp growth at the privately held company, which has increased its revenues to about 700 million euros this year from 345 million euros in 2013, and is hoping to add an additional 4,500 employees in the coming year.

Germain said in an interview at the Paris auto show that "The aim of Segula is to become the world leader in automotive engineering activities.”

Germain said that “The Ruesselsheim agreement, if ratified by German unions, would give Segula a strong presence in Europe’s largest automotive market, and one where spending on r&d tops 3 billion euros a year.” He noted that “That is about one-third of global automotive research and development spending, adding that it was likely to increase to as much as 6 billion euros by 2023. This is precisely why we want to increase our presence in Germany.”

Source : Automotive News

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voda 26 november 2018 20:47

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European car market continues to sink during October

The European car market continued to decline in October 2018, as 1.12 million vehicles were registered during the month, down 7.1% on the same time last year. The industry continued to suffer the consequences of September’s results, when the introduction of WLTP and the lack of availability of non-homologated model versions caused the market to drop. However, year to date figures remain unimpacted and indicate overall registrations are at the highest point of the past 10 years.

Commenting on October’s results, Mr Felipe Munoz, JATO’s global analyst, said that “We expected another drop in October, as the homologation process is taking its time. However, it is concerning to see that some of the industry’s key players are still quite behind in the process.” In early October 43% of the versions available on the market had not been homologated, with the percentage only falling to 37% one month later.

October’s decline was most evident in Germany and Italy, and in mid-size markets like Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria. Interestingly, Poland became Europe’s 6thlargest market during the month, despite recording a 1.5% drop in registrations.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

morgen1 27 november 2018 19:48

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Has the Auto Bubble Popped? GM Announces Plant Closures and Layoffs

NOVEMBER 27, 2018 BY SCHIFFGOLD 0 0
Last week, we reported that it looks like the air is coming out of housing bubble 2.0. Now it appears the auto bubble may have also popped.
Yesterday, GM announced plant closures and layoffs due to sluggish sales. The big automaker said it plans to shutter five North American factories and slash around 14,000 jobs.
The move follows on the heels of an announcement by Ford in October that it will cut an unspecified number of salaried employees. Morgan Stanley speculated Ford may pare more than 20,000 jobs from its global workforce.
According to the New York Times, slowing sales served as a prime driver in GM’s decision to slash its operations.
Part of the retrenchment is a response to a slowdown in new-car sales that has prompted automakers to slim their operations and shed jobs.”
The NYT also cited the impact of tariffs on the auto industry as a factor, particularly the increased cost of steel. And the auto industry faces another problem — the same problem confronting the housing industry.
Rising interest rates are also generating headwinds.”
Real estate and autos are the two sectors in the economy most sensitive to rising interest rates. Most Americans have to borrow money to buy a home or a vehicle. As the cost of borrowing rises, sales will naturally fall.
For nearly a decade, the Federal Reserve held interest rates artificially low. This helped blow up bubbles in both sectors. Easy money did exactly what was intended – it stimulated buying. Now that the Fed is attempting to reverse its policy and “normalize” interest rates, the air has started leaking out of these bubbles.
We saw this coming last spring when we reported that the air was already leaking out of the subprime auto loan bubble. In April, auto loan delinquency rates had already hit levels not seen since 2010 — the height of the Great Recession. At the time, we reported:
The common denominator here: rising interest rates. Easy money pumped up both the housing and auto loan bubble. When the Fed takes away the punchbowl, bubbles burst … In another bad sign for the auto market, subprime borrowers have gone missing from auto showrooms. According to Bloomberg, rising interest rates and rapidly increasing vehicle prices are squeezing consumers with shaky credit and tight budgets out of the market. Even the most creditworthy consumers aren’t showing up to dealerships”
It should come as no shock that seven months later, we’re seeing big auto manufacturers shuttering factories and laying off workers.
The housing and auto industries serve as the proverbial canaries in the coal mine for economies built on credit. The recent downturn in these sectors may well foreshadow an impending recession. We’re seeing rumblings in the stock markets as well. Peter Schiff has been saying we’ve already entered into a bear market. While most of the mainstream pundits continue to view what’s going on as a healthy correction. Peter said there is nothing healthy about what’s going on.
This is a bubble deflating. This is exactly how it started in 2008, only this is a bigger bubble and it’s going to produce a bigger crisis.”

voda 30 november 2018 16:53

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BMW chief considering second US manufacturing plant

Reuters reported that BMW is considering a second US manufacturing plant that could produce engines and transmissions, Chief Executive Harald Krueger said shortly after a report that US President Donald Trump would impose tariffs on imported cars from next week. Mr Krueger in an interview at the Los Angeles Auto Show also said he backed British Prime Minister Theresa May's current Brexit plan to divorce the United Kingdom from the European Union.

He said that "The compromise on the table is something I can clearly support.” May is drumming up support for the divorce deal with the European Union ahead of a December 11 vote in British parliament.

BMW is considering changes to US operations as sales in the region grow, Mr Krueger said. BMW has a US vehicle assembly plant, in South Carolina, is planning to open a Mexico factory next year, and is considering changes to its current scheme of importing engines and transmissions.

He said that "We're at the range where you could think about a second location" in the United States adding that such a factory would provide a natural currency hedge.

Source : Reuters

voda 30 november 2018 17:17

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BMW Group Thailand localizes high voltage battery production

BMW Group Thailand has set its sights on another milestone in Thailand’s journey towards a future of electro mobility with local high voltage battery production which comprises production of the battery modules and the battery itself – from 2019 onward at a new production facility located in WHA Chonburi Industrial Estate 2. In partnership with the Dräxlmaier Group, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers and a strong systems partner with BMW Group since 1966, BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand is now laying a solid foundation for local battery production through advanced training and qualification programs starting September 2018.

Mr Christian Wiedmann, President, BMW Group Thailand said that “We are very excited to be taking another big step forward in our electro-mobility strategy. The start of local battery production will enable us to better respond to growing demands for electrified vehicles across ASEAN markets. Furthermore, this new capability adds to the strengths of Plant Rayong, which has already been serving as an automotive production hub in the region. With four BMW plug-in hybrid models already rolling out from our assembly lines at Plant Rayong, local battery production will certainly complement our production of plug in-hybrids.”

Alongside the electric motor, the high-voltage battery is a central element of partially and fully-electrified vehicles and a highly sophisticated component that requires specialized skills to produce. To strengthen the foundations for high-tech assembly work, BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand and Dräxlmaier Group are engaging in an intensive cooperation to bring this advanced expertise to Thailand.

Mr Gerhard Irnesberger, Plant Manager Dräxlmaier Group Thailand, said that “It is a very big honor, to produce the high voltage storage local for BMW Thailand. Currently, there are two DRÄXLMAIER teams working hand in hand from Germany and Thailand to lead the project to a successful start of production.”

Since September 2018, staff from the Dräxlmaier Group have been taking part in the battery production training program at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing and the pilot plant for e-drivetrains to share their expertise in cutting-edge production technologies such as laser welding, plasma activation, robotics, gluing, automated optical and electrical inline quality inspection along with end-of-line testing. The training is also focused on supporting a highly-automated process, which is an important part of battery module production, as well as comprehensive quality assurance, product methodology and technology, rework, and analysis.

With a strong grasp of battery production skills, the staff will work on battery cells provided by suppliers in the Asian region along with other imported parts such as aluminum housing, electronics, and cables to roll out the high-voltage batteries that meet BMW Group world-class standard and to meet Thailand’s local content requirement regulation. Final batteries will then be transported to Plant Rayong for the production of the PHEVs based on the BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, and BMW X5 in the first phase from 2019 onward.

Mr Wiedmann added that “To ensure that the production process is in line with the BMW Group’s exceptional standards of quality, experts from BMW Group Munich are involved. Together, BMW Group and Dräxlmaier plan to invest over 400 million baht to establish a new beacon for e-mobility innovations in Thailand and the region. For BMW Group Thailand, we have already planned and approved for government’s incentives by Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) to further invest over 700 million baht for more BMW Plug-in Hybrid models to come.”

Source : Strategic research Institute

voda 3 december 2018 17:16

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BMW verwacht tegenvallers van 1 miljard euro

Gepubliceerd op 3 dec 2018 om 17:10 | Views: 0

MÜNCHEN (AFN/BLOOMBERG) - BMW verwacht dat handelsspanningen volgend jaar aardig in de papieren gaan lopen. De Duitse automaker houdt rekening met honderden miljoenen euro's aan extra kosten door importtarieven in de Verenigde Staten en China. Dat liet financieel topman Nicolas Peter weten in een presentatie voor beleggers.

Naast invoerheffingen verwacht BMW druk op de resultaten door ongunstige wisselkoersen en stijgende grondstofprijzen. Daar komen strengere milieu-eisen bovenop. Die dwingen de automaker duurdere technologie te gebruiken, maar die hogere kosten kunnen niet altijd aan klanten worden doorberekend. Alle tegenvallers bij elkaar kunnen in 2019 oplopen tot zeker 1 miljard euro.

BMW waarschuwde vorige maand bij de presentatie van zijn kwartaalcijfers al voor een rem op de winst in de komende kwartalen. Het bedrijf zag de nettowinst in het derde kwartaal met bijna een kwart dalen. Het resultaat uit autoverkopen halveerde zelfs.

voda 3 december 2018 19:22

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BMW, BASF and Samsung launch initiative for sustainable cobalt mining

Driving cars emissions free seems like an amazing prospect but few people stop to think about what that implies. The sudden rise in demand for batteries led to a similarly abrupt increase in demand for the metals they are made of and that raised questions about how they are sourced. Various news reports claim that the methods used are not exactly ‘pretty’ or ethical and it’s the companies’ responsibility to make sure that they are sourced in a sustainable manner. That’s why BMW, BASF and Samsung launched a new initiative this week.

Their aim is to enhance sustainable cobalt mining, an essential part of the entire, complex process that leads to battery manufacturing. This will be a cross-industry project, as the companies excel in different fields. The main focus of their combined efforts will be located in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a contract has been signed already which will aim to improve artisanal mining working conditions, as well as living conditions for surrounding communities.

For the moment, this is just a pilot though, as the interested parties will want to see the effects their efforts have on the first mine to receive this treatment. In this pilot phase, over the course of the next three years the partners will not operate the mine but will undergo a series of auxiliary projects to see how things shape up, watching closely as they develop. As it is limited to one pilot mine site and the surrounding community, the project seeks to contribute to identifying workable solutions that lead to better working conditions at the mine site. If proven effective, these measures could then be scaled up to other legal artisanal mine sites and enhance systemic challenges in the longer run.

Cobalt is a key component in the production of batteries for the automotive and electronics industries. The world’s largest known reserves of this raw material are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Industrial mining accounts for approximately 80-85% of Congolese cobalt production, with artisanal mining operations producing the remaining 15-20%. Currently, companies are facing challenges in the areas of environment, health and safety, and human rights when cobalt is extracted through artisanal mining.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 18 december 2018 19:55

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Jaguar Land Rover plans to cut 5,000 jobs – Report

Jaguar Land Rover plans to cut 5,000 of its 40,000 workforce in the UK, the Financial Times reported. The UK luxury automaker, owned by India’s Tata Motors will outline the measures in January as part of a three-year cost-cutting program, the paper said, citing several unidentified people close to the company.

JLR has been hit hard due to trade tensions between China and the US, both key markets for the automaker, low demand for diesel cars in Europe and costs associated with Britain’s departure from the EU.

Tata Motors said in October that it plans to cut costs and improve cash flows at JLR by 2.5 billion pounds (USD 3.2 billion) over 18 months in a turnaround plan. Tata did not say how many jobs would be lost. JLR will first focus on cash saving "quick wins" such as reducing nonproduct investments and speeding asset sales, Tata said in an investor presentation.

Jaguar Land Rover declined to comment on the Financial Times report. "The company does not comment on rumors concerning any part of these plans," a spokesman for the company said by email on Sunday.

S&P Global Ratings cut Tata Motors’ long-term rating deeper into junk on Tuesday, the second downgrade in five months, citing headwinds for JLR in some key markets, including China. JLR’s euro-denominated bonds due in 2026 have fallen to about 84 cents on the euro since they were sold at par in September, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

JLR is also bracing for the possibility of the UK exiting the European Union next year without a deal, threatening to disrupt auto-industry supply chains.

CEO Ralf Speth warned British Prime Minister Theresa May in September that a bad Brexit deal could put tens of thousands of jobs at risk and cost the company more than 1.2 billion pounds a year.

Investment advisers Evercore ISI said JLR needs to do more than cut costs, reduce capital expenditure and turn around its China business. It said that "The company needs to consider whether it’s spreading itself too wide and whether competing with the Germans in the tough premium sedan segment is a viable strategy.”

Source : Auto News

voda 18 december 2018 19:57

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US auto sales expected to dip in 2019 - NADA

The National Automobile Dealers Association, a trade group representing US franchised new-car dealerships, released its annual sales forecast for new light vehicles in 2019. Mr Patrick Manzi, NADA senior economist, at an industry briefing said that “We’re forecasting sales of 16.8 million new cars and light trucks in 2019. This would represent a falloff in sales of about 1.1 percent compared to 2018.”

Based on a strong November, new-vehicle sales are expected to reach 17 million units in 2018, which would mark the fourth straight year of U.S. auto sales above 17 million units.

Mr Manzi added that “This was unexpected. We were expecting sales to fall off a little more than they have this year, but then the new tax law was passed which put more money in the pockets of consumers and they certainly purchased new vehicles at dealer showrooms. The majority of these sales, following the trend of past years, have been light trucks, such as crossovers, pickups and SUVs.”

NADA Chairman Mr Wes Lutz, president of Extreme Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram in Jackson, Mich., who provided a dealer perspective on the state of auto retailing during the briefing, added that sales of 16.8 million new vehicles would still be a robust year in 2019 but was concerned about “price creeping” that could take some consumers out the market.

Mr Lutz added that “If incentives continue to go down and interest rates go up, it will put tremendous pressure on consumers with rising monthly payments. The level of interest rates moving forward will be a wildcard.”

In 2018, consumers continued to abandon car segments. Light trucks are on track to account for about 70 percent of sales, while cars will account for nearly 30 percent of sales. In 2017, the ratio was 64.5 percent light trucks and 35.5 percent cars. About 10 years ago, the sales mix consisted of 48 percent light trucks and 52 percent cars.

Mr Manzi said that “One of the main factors for this shift has been continued low oil and gasoline prices and the fact that crossover utility vehicles are nearly as fuel efficient as their sedan counterparts. And we’ve seen fuel economy increases across the board, not just on crossovers but also traditional SUVs and pickups. We also expect gasoline prices to remain relatively low in 2019, not as low as present but still low enough not to cause a panic and a consumer shift back to the car market.”

Incentive spending, on average, per unit was down in November 2018 compared to the same month a year ago, according to industry sources.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 18 december 2018 19:59

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BMW Group increases worldwide sales in November

The BMW Group has achieved sales growth both in November and the year to date, despite the current very volatile market situation. In November, the company delivered 222,462 vehicles to customers around the world, an increase of 0.8% compared with the same month last year. That result brings the company’s year-to-date sales total to 2,258,159, up 1.3% compared with the same period last year.

Mr Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Brand BMW said that “As this challenging year draws to a close, we have sold more cars than ever before in November and the first eleven months of the year. Our clear priority in a volatile market is profitable growth. November saw the launch of the new BMW X5, which has achieved significant sales in the few weeks it’s been available. In the USA, for example, over 5,000 X5 vehicles were delivered to customers last month. Meanwhile, November was also the best-ever single month for sales of our electrified vehicles, with almost 15,000 delivered worldwide.”

November deliveries of BMW i, BMW iPerformance and MINI Electric vehicles totaled 14,767 units worldwide, an increase of 26.1% on the same month last year. Sales of BMW Group electrified vehicles in the year to date total 125,365 (+39.6%). Exactly five years after it was initially launched, the BMW i3 continues to achieve increased sales. In November, 3,468 (+17.0%) fully-electric i3 cars were sold worldwide – a monthly result almost equal to the car’s best-ever month, which was in March this year (3,490 units). Sales of the company’s plug-in hybrid vehicles continue to increase significantly, with the plug-in versions of the MINI Countryman, the 2 Series Active Tourer, and the BMW X1 (Mainland China only) accounting for well over 10% of those models’ overall sales. Meanwhile, every fifth BMW 5 Series sedan sold worldwide in November was a plug-in hybrid. The BMW Group is well on track to achieve its target of delivering 140,000 electrified vehicles in 2018; by the end of next year, an overall total of over half a million electrified BMW Group vehicles will have been sold around the world.

Despite the current volatile market situation in a number of key countries, sales of BMWbrand vehicles increased both in November and in the year-to-date. A total of 189,281 BMW vehicles were delivered to customers in November, an increase of 1.6%. In the first eleven months of the year, 1,926,631 (+1.8%) customers took delivery of a new BMW. The Year of X continues apace with over 59,000 units of the all-new BMW X2 sold since it was launched in the spring, while the now fully-available BMW X3 almost doubled its sales compared with the same month last year (22,547 / +96.9). In November, its launch month, the BMW X5 joined the X3 at the top of the BMW sales chart in its home market USA, with a total of 5,191 units delivered. Globally, over 13,000 BMW X5 were sold in November. At the end of the month, the all-new BMW X7 attracted huge attention as it celebrated its world premiere at the LA Auto Show; pre-orders of the X7 are already beating expectations.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 18 december 2018 20:00

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SKODA delivers 110,100 vehicles worldwide in November

The car manufacturer delivered 1,148,600 vehicles between January and November – an increase of 5.1% over the same period last year. In November, the company recorded 110,100 deliveries worldwide, a decline of 3.9% compared to the same month last year (November 2017: 114,600 vehicles). One reason for this sales development is the declining car market in China. ŠKODA achieved strong growth in Russia in November: delivering 8,200 vehicles represents an increase of 42.9% over the same month last year. The ŠKODA OCTAVIA remains the brand’s bestseller, and demand for the compact SUV ŠKODA KAROQ continues to rise.

ŠKODA has continued to grow globally in the first eleven months of the year. Between January and November, the car manufacturer’s sales have risen in Russia (+30.2%), China (+7.7%), Europe (+4.7%) and India (+1.8%). In November, the company increased its deliveries, particularly in Western Europe (43,300 vehicles, + 7.9%), Russia (8,200 vehicles, + 42.9%) and Eastern Europe excluding Russia (4,400 vehicles, + 15.8%).

Mr Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, emphasizes that “In the first eleven months of the year, we increased our deliveries by 5.1% compared to the previous year. An encouraging performance, especially in light of the introduction of the new WLTP test cycle and the currently declining car market in China. With our product campaign, we are providing the right impetus and winning over new customer groups to the ŠKODA brand. With the new ŠKODA SCALA, we are now taking the next step in successfully continuing our dynamic development in the important compact class.“

In Western Europe, ŠKODA delivered 43,300 vehicles in November, an increase of 7.9% over the same period last year (November 2017: 40,100 vehicles). In the strongest single European
market – Germany – ŠKODA increased its deliveries to 17,300 vehicles (November 2017: 16,100 vehicles, +7.1%). The car manufacturer posted double-digit growth in France (2,900 vehicles, +27.1%), the United Kingdom (6,300 vehicles, +20.6%), Spain (2,200 vehicles, +16.9%), Belgium (1,700 vehicles, +12.0%) and the Netherlands (2,000 vehicles, +11.0%).

In Central Europe, ŠKODA delivered 18,500 vehicles – a slight decline of 3.0% (November 2017: 19,100 vehicles). ŠKODA delivered 7,700 vehicles on its domestic market, the Czech Republic, 7.6% less than in the same period last year (November 2017: 8,300 vehicles). On the other hand, the company grew in Poland (6,700 vehicles, 4.3%) and Slovakia (2,200 vehicles, 16.5%).

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, the company increased its deliveries significantly: 4,400 vehicles represent an increase of 15.8% compared to the same month last year (November 2017: 3,800 vehicles). ŠKODA also recorded strong growth in Serbia (800 vehicles, +47.3%) and the Baltic States (700 vehicles, +24.0%).
In Russia, ŠKODA recorded strong double-digit growth in November compared to the same month last year: Delivering 8,200 vehicles represents an increase of 42.9% compared to the same month of the previous year (November 2017: 5,700 vehicles).

In China, its largest sales market, ŠKODA delivered 28,000 vehicles in November – a year-on-year decrease of 24.3% (November 2017: 37,000 vehicles). Thus, the company’s current sales figures in China reflect the general trend in the currently declining Chinese car market. However, between January and November, ŠKODA delivered 304,300 vehicles in China, which is 7.7% more than the same period last year (January to November 2017: 282,600 vehicles).

In India, ŠKODA delivered 1,400 vehicles in November, a decrease of 4.1% compared to the same period last year (November 2017: 1,400 vehicles).

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 18 december 2018 20:01

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Volkswagen Group boost worldwide deliveries in 11 months

From January to November, the Volkswagen Group boosted worldwide deliveries by 1.8 percent to 9.92 million vehicles. Despite a tense market environment with stagnating overall markets, a deliveries record for 2018 as a whole is therefore within reach. In November, the Volkswagen Group delivered a total of 940,900 vehicles throughout the world, corresponding to a fall of 5.4 percent compared with the prior-year month. Thanks to further progress with the WLTP changeover of the model range, deliveries in Europe were affected less severely in November. At 3.0 percent, the fall compared with the prior-year month was considerably lower than in the two preceding months.

Dr Christian Dahlheim, Head of Group Sales said that “The rise in worldwide deliveries in the course of the year is a very respectable result. Although the volume target is no longer our top priority, high volumes allow us to achieve economies of scale. In November, there was a reduction in the effect of WLTP in Europe. We are confident that we will be able to close 2018 with a figure slightly above the previous record level of 2017 despite the challenging market environment.“

The Volkswagen Group brands made further progress with the changeover of their model range to the new WLTP test cycle. In Europe, where the fall in deliveries compared with the prior-year month was lower in November, at 3.0 percent, than in the two preceding months, 353,000 vehi- cles were handed over to customers. Both in Western Europe and in the home market of Ger- many, WLTP effects were less pronounced in November. In Western Europe, 283,100 vehicles were handed over to customers, 3.9 percent fewer than in November 2017. In Germany, 106,800 vehi- cles were delivered to customers (-4.9 percent). There were positive developments in the region of Central and Eastern Europe in November. Deliveries reached 70,000 vehicles, a rise of 0.9 percent compared with the previous year. This development was especially driven by the Russian market, with 22,900 deliveries (+22.8 percent). In Europe, the Volkswagen Group delivered 4.1 million vehicles from January to November, 1.8 percent more than in the comparable prior-year period.

In North America, the Volkswagen Group delivered 79,300 vehicles to customers in November, representing a fall of 6.2 percent compared with the previous year. While the markets of the USA (-8.1 percent) and Mexico (-5.4 percent) recorded falls compared with the previous year, a rise of 3.1 percent was achieved in Canada.

The region of South America developed positively in November compared with the previous year. 50,400 vehicles were handed over to customers, a rise of 5.4 percent. In the month under review, Brazil remained the main driver of growth in the region with 38,200 vehicles delivered (+22.3 per- cent). It was possible to compensate for the significant fall of 47.9 percent to 5,800 vehicles in Argentina as a result of the difficult economic environment.

In the Asia-Pacific region, deliveries in November declined by 6.8 percent to 426,800 vehicles. As in previous months, the tariff dispute with the USA had a marked impact on the overall market. The resulting reluctance of Chinese consumers to purchase vehicles led to a fall in deliveries in November to 399,500 vehicles, 7.3 percent fewer than in the prior-year month. During the year to date, the Group has delivered 3.8 million vehicles to customers in China, which represents growth of 2.2 percent over the comparable prior-year period.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 18 december 2018 20:06

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Statement on China auto tariffs announcement

In response to China’s announcement that it will reduce tariffs on US produced vehicles to 15 percent, Ford Motor Company released the following statement, attributable to Mr Joe Hinrichs, executive vice president and president of Global Operations that “As a leading exporter of vehicles from the US, we are very encouraged by China’s announcement today to reduce tariffs on US produced vehicles to 15 percent. We applaud both governments for working together constructively to reduce trade barriers and open markets. Last year, Ford exported nearly 50,000 US built vehicles to support the growing auto market in China.”

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 18 december 2018 20:09

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General Motors to begin US layoff

Reuters reported that General Motors Co is beginning to send formal notices to US government agencies of its plan to close auto plants and cut thousands of jobs as it shrinks passenger car production in North America.The largest US automaker said 2,800 hourly active US workers at four US plants that will end production next year are eligible for new jobs at other plants.

GM said it currently has 2,700 current open positions at seven plants in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas.

GM said more than 1,100 US employees at plants losing production have already volunteered to transfer to other GM US plants, while 1,200 are eligible to retire.

With normal attrition rates, a GM spokesman said the company is confident that all impacted hourly workers will be eligible for another job if willing to move to another plant.

GM said many salaried employees at plants losing production "will have opportunities at other GM locations."

The formal layoff and plant closing notices will begin going to government agencies Friday and will continue into 2019, GM said.

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Ms Mary Barra, who came under fire from lawmakers for how the automaker disclosed the job cuts last month, said in a statement Friday that GM's "focus remains on providing interested employees options to transition including job opportunities at other GM plants."

Source : Reuters

voda 27 december 2018 19:39

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BMW faces criminal investigation in South Korea over engine fires - Report

Auto News reported that BMW is facing a criminal probe in South Korea after investigators concluded the company concealed fire hazards and delayed recalls. South Korea’s transport ministry plans to ask prosecutors to investigate the German automaker, the ministry said in a statement on Monday. Korea also fined BMW KWR 11.2 billion (USD 10 million) for belatedly recalling 22,670 vehicles. The team that has been investigating the company since August found defects that could cause coolant to leak and set the engine on fire.

BMW’s Korea branch apologized in a statement released after the announcement and said it will cooperate with ongoing investigations.

The government said an investigation showed that a faulty design in BMW's Exhaust Gas Recirculation unit sparked the fires, adding it will decide whether to order more recalls. BMW denied design defects and said it recalled models in a timely manner. BMW's Korean unit said that "We embarked on recall measures without hesitation at the time when the root cause of fires was confirmed."

The move threatens to prolong BMW's woes in a country where there have been nearly 40 cases of BMW fires reported this year. The carmaker, which has recalled 1.6 million vehicles worldwide over the issue, has seen its sales in Korea fall about 10 percent during the first 11 months as videos went viral of the cars being engulfed in flames.

Source : Auto news

voda 2 januari 2019 21:31

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Germany backs retrofits as a way to avert diesel bans

Automotive News reported that Germany cleared away legal hurdles for automakers to upgrade exhaust emissions filtering systems on older diesel cars as a way to avoid vehicle bans, but failed to quell doubts among car companies and suppliers over the effectiveness of retrofits. Automakers have been forced to consider upgrading exhaust treatment systems on older cars after German cities started banning heavily polluting diesel vehicles to cut pollution from fine particulate matter and toxic nitrogen oxides.

The fight over refits is the latest fallout from an emissions cheating scandal triggered by Volkswagen in 2015 after it admitted systematically hiding illegal pollution levels from regulators.

An environmental and regulatory backlash ensued and lawmakers and the auto industry are now at odds over how to clean up dirty air in inner cities.

Automakers want customers to buy new cars with cleaner engines, while environmentalists and consumer groups argue that retrofitting older vehicles may be more cost-effective.

Germany's transport ministry released a 30-page document setting out guidelines for getting regulatory approval to install upgraded exhaust filtering systems on older cars.

Transport minister Andreas Scheuer said in a statement that "Now it is the turn of the retrofit industry to develop effective systems to meet all limits and regulations.” He added that Federal Motor Transport Authority would grant approval quickly so that the retrofit systems could be offered on the market as soon as possible.

Baumot Group, which makes exhaust filtering upgrade kits, welcomed the guidelines.CEO Marcus Hausser said that "Under a normal vehicle certification process, we believe we can deliver our system in 2019 in a timely fashion.”

German auto lobby group VDA, however, said that customers should buy new cars rather than spend money on installing new exhaust filtering mechanisms on older vehicles.

Source : Automotive News

voda 7 januari 2019 21:49

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VW, Peugeot, Ford take big hits as German sales fall 7pct in December

Automotive News reported that new car sales fell 6.7 percent in Germany in December with Peugeot, Nissan, Renault, Ford and Volkswagen Group brands among losers. Registrations were 237,058, the KBA motor vehicle authority said.

The German market is still recovering from the introduction of the Sept. 1 introduction of the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicle Test Procedure that resulted in bottlenecks of cars getting type approval. Mr Peter Fuss, a partner at EY said that "The range of models remains limited because not all vehicles have been certified for delivery.”

Volkswagen Group brand were affected. Sales of Seat and Porsche vehicles both fell 15 percent, Skoda sales were down by 12 percent and VW brand's volume was down 11 percent. Audi sales dropped 5.7 percent.

It was a bad sales month for Peugeot, whose registrations plunged 43 percent and Nissan, whose sales fell 39 percent. Renault sales were down 21 percent, while Ford dropped 12 percent. Land Rover's volume declined by 15 percent. Toyota sales were down 9.7 percent and Opel registrations fell 9.1 percent.

Brands that gained sales were Volvo (up 27 percent); Mitsubishi (up 24 percent); Mercedes-Benz (up 22 percent); Fiat (up 20 percent); and Jaguar (up 16 percent).

Sales of diesel cars continued to fall as cities ban such vehicles from city centers to reduce NOx pollution.

Diesel's market share fell to 32.3 percent last year from 38.8 percent in 2017. Gasoline cars' share increased to 62.4 percent from 57.7 percent. Demand for hybrid cars rose by 53.8 percent and electric car sales were up 43.9 percent. However electric vehicles made up only 1 percent of new-car registrations.

Source : Automotive News

voda 7 januari 2019 21:50

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Volvo Cars global sales record in 2018

Volvo Cars set a new global sales record in 2018, breaking the 600,000 sales milestone for the first time ever since the company was founded in 1927. The company’s sales rose 12.4 per cent to 642,253 cars in 2018, compared with the same period the year before. This is the fifth consecutive year of global sales record for Volvo Cars. In 2017, the company sold 571,577 cars.

The new sales record in 2018 underscores strong demand for Volvo’s renewed product portfolio, led by its award winning SUV line-up, across the core regions of US, China and Europe. In December the company sold 60,157 cars, up 2.8 per cent compared with the same period last year.

In the January to December period, US sales grew by 20.6 per cent to 98,263 cars compared with the same period the year before. The strong performance came on the back of growing demand for its SUV line-up, led by the XC60. The made-in-the-US S60 cars have also started reaching dealerships and should contribute to volumes in 2019. In December, Volvo Cars sold 8,826 cars in the US market.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 7 januari 2019 21:55

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Volvo to take USD 778 million emissions hit

Reuters reported that Sweden's Volvo is setting aside 7 billion Swedish crowns (USD 778 million) to cover costs related to its admission in October that its truck and bus engines could be exceeding limits for nitrogen oxide emissions. The company, which makes trucks, construction equipment and buses, said on Thursday the estimated costs were based on factors including vehicle testing and statistical analysis, and were made in dialogue with relevant authorities.

Volvo said in October its truck and bus engines might be exceeding limits for toxic nitrogen oxides because an emissions control component it uses was degrading. Volvo said in a statement that "The Volvo Group will continuously assess the size of the provision as the matter develops.”

Volvo said the provision would impact operating income in the fourth quarter of 2018, while the negative cash flow effect would start in 2019 and gradually ramp up in the coming years.

Source : Reuters

AEX 860,01 -5,35 -0,62% 19 apr


Germany40^	17.714,20	-0,69%
BEL 20	3.827,75	+0,03%
Europe50^	4.904,14	-0,28%
US30^	37.851,00	0,00%
Nasd100^	17.004,48	0,00%
US500^	4.960,72	0,00%
Japan225^	37.028,48	0,00%
Gold spot	2.392,50	0,00%
EUR/USD	1,0655	+0,11%
WTI	82,10	0,00%

WDP	+3,12%
Kendrion	+2,92%
EBUSCO HOLDING	+2,67%
Vopak	+2,61%
NX FILTRATION	+2,17%

JUST EAT TAKE...	-5,11%
TomTom	-4,68%
Fugro	-4,30%
ASMI	-4,00%
BESI	-3,64%

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