Plants, jobs, sales figures, regulation and the executives behind them. The business of building cars.
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General Motors has dismissed speculation that Opel’s Ruesselsheim plant will produce Peugeot and Citroën cars, stating manufacturing is not part of its alliance with PSA.
With six European refineries closed in 2012, jet fuel imports from Asia and the Middle East are set to hit 1.9 million tonnes, the highest since March 2011.
General Motors is ramping up production in St. Petersburg and launching 12 new models in Russia, even as it prepares to close its Bochum plant in Germany.
General Motors will introduce a third shift at its Arlington Assembly plant in Texas, creating 800 jobs to meet demand for full-size SUVs including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade.
Analysts expect China's passenger car market to accelerate sharply in 2014, reversing recent slowdowns as subsidies return and urbanisation drives new demand.
National Electric Vehicle Sweden will hire 200 engineers in Trollhättan as it prepares to relaunch Saab as an electric car manufacturer, focusing on a 2014 debut.
Exxon Mobil aims to ship liquefied natural gas from the United States, with CEO Rex Tillerson citing low domestic prices and increased shale production as key drivers.
Hyundai’s Alabama factory saw nearly 20,000 applications for 877 new production jobs after announcing a second shift, forcing a temporary halt to the process.
Audi is close to selecting Mexico as the site for its next North American factory, with the new plant expected to assemble the next-generation Q5 SUV.
Administrators overseeing Saab’s bankruptcy say the proceeds from selling the company and its assets will not be enough to clear the outstanding debt, with bids due by 10 April 2012.
Audi is negotiating to buy Ducati from Investindustrial, with a proposed deal valuing the Italian motorcycle maker at €850 million including debt.
Hero MotoCorp confirmed it is in talks with banks to raise funds for a possible bid for Ducati, as the Italian marque’s private equity owner seeks a sale.
Hyundai, together with KOICA and PLAN Korea, will establish a $700,000 technical training centre in Ghana to provide automotive repair skills for local youth.
Suzuki Motor Corporation and UK-based Intelligent Energy have established a 50-50 joint venture to manufacture fuel cell systems for next-generation vehicles.
Chinese firm Youngman has submitted a fresh offer for bankrupt Saab, aiming to revive the Swedish marque but faces obstacles over technology rights and asset sales.
Following Proton's sale to DRB-Hicom, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is searching for financial partners to secure the British sports car maker's future.
The Swedish Debt Office has repaid the European Investment Bank loan guaranteed for Saab, taking on SEK 2.2 billion in debt and shares in Saab’s parts and tools units as collateral.
Thai car production is forecast to rebound sharply in 2012, with the Federation of Thai Industries expecting output to hit two million vehicles after last year’s flood-induced slump.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa has pulled its December 2011 sales figures from NAAMSA reporting, following a Daimler AG directive linked to a European competition investigation.
Volvo has confirmed the recruitment of 40 ex-Saab employees and expects to hire more, as specialist engineering talent disperses following Saab’s bankruptcy.
Volvo's new US boss John Maloney expects stronger sales in 2012 as supply improves and Chinese ownership brings stability, despite a limited pipeline of new models.
Nissan and Dongfeng have agreed to assemble Renault models in Wuhan, marking Renault’s first local production in China and a shift from its previous import-only approach.
Spyker Cars NV will adopt the name Swedish Automobile NV following the sale of its sportscar division and ongoing uncertainty over the Saab brand rights.
Chinese manufacturer Youngman has secured rights to Saab’s Phoenix platform and is considering new vehicle production, potentially in Sweden, following Saab’s bankruptcy.