http://www.autosinsight.com Automotives Insight RSS Feed from Business Monitor International en Copyright 2009, Business Monitor International Ltd Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30 GMT Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30 GMT AFP RSS Generator Juffali Automotive Company (JAC), exclusive dealer for Mercedes-Benz in Saudi Arabia, has continued its expansion programme with a new integrated facility in the Eastern Region. The centre incorporates a sales showroom, servicing workshops and a facility for spare parts, which is a growth area in the regional autos industry. Chairman Khalid Juffali told reporters that the continued expansion was a reflection of the company's strong performance so far and evidence that the economic slowdown has not adversely affected its operations. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/79026/Mercedes-Expands-In-Growth-Market.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT Japan's Nissan Motor has announced that it will continue with its plans to open a production plant in Vietnam, despite the current market slowdown. The company expects to have its first domestically produced model on the market in 2010, although details of the model and capacity are not yet available. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/79027/Nissan-Avoids-Tariffs-With-Local-Production.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT Toyota Motors has confirmed that it go ahead with plans for a small car plant in Sorocaba, south eastern Brazil. Toyota, which became the largest carmaker in the world in late 2008, has a small 2.2% share in the Brazilian market. BMI sees the new plant as a part of the company's strategy to strengthen its position in the country. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/79028/Toyota-Sticks-To-New-Plant-Plans.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT SKF Group, the world's largest ball bearing maker, has announced plans to cut production due to weak demand in nearly all of its segments. Around 900 jobs will be lost across the company's global operations. BMI believes that the cuts are a direct reflection of the impact of the ongoing economic crisis on automotive suppliers and on their financial position. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/79025/SKF-Begins-Worldwide-Job-Cutting.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT Arabian Automobiles, the exclusive dealer for Nissan Motor, Renault, and Infiniti in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, is looking to win over consumers with 'peace of mind' products such as extended warranties and asset insurance. In addition to becoming the first dealer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to extend its warranty to five years with unlimited mileage, the company has also teamed up with the Dubai Insurance Company (DIC) to offer Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP). http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78983/Arabian-Automobiles-And-DIC-Team-Up-For-Insurance.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT General Motors (GM) is to suspending production at its St. Petersburg plant for two months due to weak domestic demand. The US carmaker, which ranks as the second-largest operator in Russia after AvtoVaz, is following in the footsteps of other local operators downsizing in order to avoid inventory http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78984/Further-Cutbacks-At-GMs-St-Petersburg-Plant.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT South Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) plans to offer tax breaks on purchases of hybrid cars. So far, three models meet the criteria, which include employing technology that will 'drastically improve fuel economy', according to the head of the ministry's transportation systems division, Kim Chang-kyu. The models - the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-powered Hyundai Avante 1.6 LPI, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Lexus RX450h hybrid - are 50% more fuel efficient than their petrol-powered counterparts. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78985/Government-Announces-Hybrid-Tax-Breaks.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT German autos parts supplier Schaeffler is in talks with Chinese investors regarding the sale of stakes in the company, German newspaper Wirtschaftswoche has reported. The supplier, best known for making ball bearings, has debts of EUR11bn (US$15.1bn), mostly due to its drive to hold a majority stake in fellow parts supplier http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78982/Schaeffler-In-Talks-With-Chinese-Investors.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT A year after acquiring Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) from US parent Ford Motor, Indian carmaker Tata Motors has introduced the premium division to its home market. The mood at the June 28 launch was optimistic as JLR CEO, David Smith, called it an 'exciting time to be entering the Indian market', which he believes 'holds a significant growth potential'. Smith added that JLR would also be looking to source from Indian http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78943/JLR-Hopes-Indian-Launch-Will-Cut-Losses.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Although China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery was the winning bidder for General Motors (GM)'s Hummer brand, the divested company will retain its US base and production facilities. Hummer CEO, Jim Taylor, told the Detroit Free Press that it is 'very important for Hummer to be seen as an American brand'. Taylor also revealed his plan for an independent Hummer, which includes developing new models that were shelved under GM ownership. Improving the brand's fuel economy will play a major part in future strategies. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78944/Hummer-To-Remain-American.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT The sale of General Motors' (GM) Hummer brand to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery may be in jeopardy as it goes through government approval stages. Chinese state radio reports that the country's economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), is opposed to the sale on two counts. http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78898/Government-Agency-Opposed-To-Hummer-Sale.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Sources close to General Motors' (GM) plan to build a small car in the US have announced that the manufacturing plant is to be in Orion Township, Michigan. While an official announcement from GM is still to come, the Detroit News reports that the car maker is expected to retool a plant which currently produces the Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu models. As the Pontiac brand is phased out, the plant will be left with some spare capacity that can be used for the small car, which is to be based on the Chevrolet http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78899/GM-Chooses-Michigan-For-Small-Car-Plant.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Toyota is launching its first hybrid car on to the Peruvian market in July, executive chairman of the company's Peruvian subsidiary, Toyota del Peru, Hiroaki Fujiwara has announced. The Japanese car maker has been a major contributor to hybrid technology globally, manufacturing nearly 80% of the total 2mn hybrid vehicles currently on roads http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78865/Toyota-Chases-1mn-Hybrid-Target.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Fiat plans to shut down its farm equipment plant in Imola, northern Italy over the next two years, a company spokesperson has revealed. The news follows similar reports from the company earlier in June that it plans to end car production at its Termini Imerese plant in the island of Sicily in http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78862/Fiat-CHN-Faces-Cost-Cutting.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Race car manufacturer McLaren has revealed plans to launch its range of high-end sports cars in the Middle East, following the spin-off of the McLaren Automotive division from the McLaren Group. A regional branch of the company has already been established and the company is now looking for distribution partners in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to a Gulf News report, McLaren is looking for one partner in each market to increase their volume http://www.autosinsight.com/file/78863/McLaren-Gears-Up-For-Middle-East-Entry.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT