Daimler Investor Li Says Carmakers Must Talk or Face Oblivion

The guessing game on Li Shufu’s intentions after buying the biggest stake in Daimler is up: Automakers must cooperate, or risk being swallowed up. That’s the takeaway from an editorial written by the owner of China’s biggest non-state carmaker in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Sunday. Li, who in February bought a 9.7 percent stake in… Continue reading Daimler Investor Li Says Carmakers Must Talk or Face Oblivion

Ford And Chevrolet to Discontinue Fiesta, Taurus, Sonic, Impala In The U.S.

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Ford And Chevrolet to Discontinue Fiesta, Taurus, Sonic, Impala In The U.S.

5 Apr 2018, 9:39 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

Despite the cool-sounding name, the Sonic is one of the most outdated subcompact cars in the segment. And in a similar fashion, the Impala is one of the least interesting options in the full-size sedan segment. Ford also finds itself between a rock and a hard place because U.S. sales of the Fiesta and Taurus are plummeting.
32 photosIn the case of the Sonic and Fiesta, the Wall Street Journal argues that Japanese rivals are more popular with “budget-minded or young customers.” But not even the like of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan can throttle back the demand for crossovers and SUVs, two vehicle segments that happen to be more lucrative than passenger cars.
The Fiesta, as you know from a previous story, has been canceled in the United States with the introduction of the latest generation. To this effect, the EcoSport crossover and Focus will have to suffice as indirect replacements. General Motors, on the other hand, could replace the antiquated Sonic with an all-electric vehicle.
Moving on to the Taurus, the end is nigh as Ford prepares to introduce the CD6 platform on the 2020 Explorer. Developed for front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive applications, the vehicle architecture will also serve as the basis for the Lincoln Aviator. General Motors, meanwhile, plans to discontinue the Impala “in the next few years.” Not much is known about the successor, but the writing is on the wall.
Here’s Steve Majoros, marketing director for Chevrolet cars and crossovers: “Every car we have in our portfolio plays a role, every car's important and you know the only way we're going to stay the fastest-growing brand is to keep providing the vehicles that people want.” So to speak, make that more crossovers and fewer cars.
Even though we’re scratching the surface here, there’s no denying the Big Three in Detroit could use some consistency in product development and brand recognition. But bear in mind that Toyota, Honda, and Nissan aren’t giving up on sedans and other conventional body styles. With this point made, where will the American automakers find themselves when the crossover and SUV craze will bite the dust?

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Jaguar Land Rover U.S. Assembly Plant Considered, Not Viable Right Now

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Jaguar Land Rover U.S. Assembly Plant Considered, Not Viable Right Now

5 Apr 2018, 6:37 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

Jaguar, Land Rover, Range Rover. All three are premium brands, and Jaguar Land Rover knows that the vehicles it manufactures are more than aspirational. Be that as it may, the British automaker continues to play second fiddle to the German triad.
21 photosIn the U.S., for example, Jaguar Land Rover managed to sell 114,333 passenger cars, crossovers, and SUVs in 2017. That’s 8.8 percent more than in 2016, but still not enough compared to the German rivals. As highlighted by Wards Auto, “none of Jaguar or Land Rover’s 13 nameplates sold more than 20,000 units in the U.S.”

Alas, the chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Rover can’t make a case for a stateside assembly plant. The volume first has to grow, but that’s not all according to Ralf Speth. “If we have to export out of the U.S. 90% or 95% [of what we build here], then you will recognize it never will work from a financial point of view.”
For reference, the best-selling Jaguar Land Rover nameplate in the United States of America is the Range Rover Sport, racking up 19,153 deliveries in 2017. Volvo, on the other hand, sold 30,996 units of the mid-size XC90 in this SUV-driven market.
Speaking of Volvo, the Swedish manufacturer will open an assembly plant in South Carolina this summer. Here, the all-new S60 will be produced. What this means in the long run is that other SPA-based models can be assembled in the United States.
For the time being, the U.S. plant isn’t on the cards for Jaguar Land Rover, but it’s under consideration for when demand makes the investment feasible. As business stands at the present moment, the British conglomerate has manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom, China, India, and Brazil.
An all-new facility will open by the end of the year in Nitra, Slovakia. In addition to these locations, the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria is where the E-Pace compact SUV and I-Pace electric SUV are assembled.

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Peter Horbury: the British designer behind fast-growing Geely

Peter Horbury, Geely’s global head of design since 2011, reckons few things about the car business surprise him these days. We’re chatting comfortably on Ford’s Geneva motor show stand, surrounded by Blue Oval-badged cars Horbury didn’t design, yet some of the Alnwick-born master-designer’s comfort with life undoubtedly flows from the fact that over a 45-year… Continue reading Peter Horbury: the British designer behind fast-growing Geely

Daimler Says Future Deals With Geely Hinge on China Partner BAIC

Daimler AG’s largest shareholder, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., discussed plans for its stake purchase with the German carmaker’s Chinese partner before buying the stock, setting the stage for future cooperation with the new investor, Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche said. Geely’s move may revive Beijing-based BAIC Motor Corp.’s earlier interest in acquiring a holding… Continue reading Daimler Says Future Deals With Geely Hinge on China Partner BAIC

28 Feb 2018 Driveline GKN Driveline begins testing revolutionary ‘All Twinster’ plug-in hybrid SUV

Re-engineered ‘technology demonstrator’ SUV features GKN’s unique Twinster torque vectoring on all four wheels Modified Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 has mechanical Twinster on front axle and eTwinsterX at the rear Demonstrator showcases the company’s leadership in eDrive, All-Wheel Drive and systems integration Plug-in hybrid has ‘sailing’ capability to lower CO2 emissions and also features a pure… Continue reading 28 Feb 2018
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GKN Driveline begins testing revolutionary ‘All Twinster’ plug-in hybrid SUV

CEO of Geely-owned Volvo Cars loses board seat at truck maker after Li Shufu buys Daimler stake

Swedish truck maker AB Volvo dropped the chief executive of Volvo Cars from its board after Chinese billionaire Li Shufu, founder and chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, bought a 9.7 per cent stake in German car manufacturer Daimler. The move is the latest sign that the global auto industry is ratcheting up pressure on… Continue reading CEO of Geely-owned Volvo Cars loses board seat at truck maker after Li Shufu buys Daimler stake

Aston Martin is looking for a shoulder to lean on

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Aston Martin Posts First Profit in Eight Years

Aston Martin Holdings Ltd. is looking for a “big brother” partner in order to survive as a low-volume, luxury carmaker, even after it posted its first profit in eight years and prepares for a potential initial public offering. The manufacturer famous for making film spy James Bond’s favorite car could use a combination of capital… Continue reading Aston Martin Posts First Profit in Eight Years

China’s Geely Buys $9 Billion Daimler Stake

The billionaire founder of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. has accumulated a stake worth about 7.3 billion euros ($9 billion) in Daimler AG, marking the biggest investment in a global automobile manufacturer by a Chinese company. Li Shufu acquired the 9.7 percent holding through Geely Group, a company owned by the 54-year-old and managed by… Continue reading China’s Geely Buys $9 Billion Daimler Stake