Category Archives: news analysis

General Motors Sells Opel/Vauxhall to PSA Group for €2.2B

The deal includes all of Opel/Vauxhall’s automotive operations, comprising Opel and Vauxhall brands, six assembly and five component manufacturing facilities, one engineering center (Rüsselsheim, Deutschland) and approximately 40,000 employees. GM will retain the engineering center in Torino, Italy. Continue reading

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GM to Announce Sale of Opel/Vauxhall this Monday with Investors’ Call and a Press Conference

If the deal goes through, it would mean GM’s presence in Europe would be limited to niche sales of Cadillac, and Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette models – all of them exports. PSA is the third largest automaker in Europe behind Renault. Volkswagen Group leads in Europe PSA Group’s sales were 1,930,000 vehicles and increased by 3.6% in 2016. In 2016, global sales increased by 5.8%, to 3,146,000 units. Continue reading

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China Light Vehicle Sales Slow in January

Local brands have kept pace by adjusting their SUV product lines to meet this push up market. Examples within the Midsize SUV segment were seen with the Trumpchi GS8 and Changan CS95, both of which offer performance levels and visual appeal that have exceeded consumer expectations by industry observers. In terms of powertrain and comfort levels. Continue reading

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February 2017 U.S. Sales Dip Slightly as Cars Tank

There was a rout in car sales with an overall decline of -12.1%. The Detroit Three lead the car sales decline: at GM -21.9% Ford Motor -21.2%, FCA -30.8%. Other that fared badly in the dwindling market included: Honda -8%, Nissan -10.7%, Hyundai -5.5%Kia -8.5%, Porsche -18.9%. Continue reading

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Australian Union Calls for Action on Chinese Steel

The Commission has the power to impose tariffs to address dumping. However, in 2004, Australia became one of only two major developed economies to grant market economy status to China (after New Zealand), severely hampering its policy options for addressing Chinese steel dumping. Continue reading

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FAA Proposes Talking About Regulations for Drones

With an airspeed less than that of the Wright Flyer, the FAA has set up work groups to finally provide specific regulations covering UAS – unmanned aircraft systems – or drones in the national airspace it solely controls. Well, fasten your safety belt, this going to be a long flight on bureaucratic airlines with the need to see and avoid political and commercial storms. Continue reading

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Light Vehicle Sales Strong in February But Down YoY

Utility segments should top the industry again, with projected growth for the compact and mid-size SUV segments in the 2 to 5% range. The market for SUVs remains strong. Light trucks are expected to make up 63% of sales in February 2017, up from 59% one year ago. Continue reading

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Drones – FAA Releases Updated Sighting Reports

After heavy criticism by Congress about ignoring the threat to public safety and the lack of oversight by the agency responsible for airspace, as well as missed deadlines to do its regulatory job, the so-called Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on November 2015. The thorniest details other than registration – the actual regulations -have yet to be worked out. Continue reading

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Trumped? Hyundai Motor Names David S. Kim as Lobbyist

Kim also served as Deputy Assistant for Congressional Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Hyundai of course has a lot to lose if Trump can get a border tax through Congress even though it has a manufacturing presence in the U.S. Continue reading

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Meeting: IG Metall, Opel Works Council, PSA Group on GM Selling Opel/Vauxhall

There is, of course, a large amount of ceremonial ritual about takeovers. The acquired are treated differently once they are in the harem. Remember the merger of equals between Chrysler and Daimler, when Daimler basically took over the company and stripping assets on the way. Beijing Jeep in the world’s largest car market is now building Mercedes-Benz models. Continue reading

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Jaguar Land Rover Largest Automaker in Britain

How this works out under Brexit rains to be seen. The importance of the UK market varies substantially for different automakers. Jaguar Land Rover, Honda and Ford have “strong exposure to risks,” says LMC. Continue reading

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Is Automotive Brand Loyalty Real?

The latest study about auto brand loyalty in the UK says that consumers are habitual buyers, except when it comes to the make of car. The survey of 1,000 UK consumers, revealed that for their next purchase an overwhelming majority of used (81%) and new (76%) car buyers would choose the same type – used or new – of vehicle again. Continue reading

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Robert Bosch Invests in TetraVue for Lidar Skills

In theory, TetraVue’s expertise helps to address challenges with automated vehicles encountering unexpected and dangerous obstacles during operation. TetraVue’s core technology differentiation is claimed to be their patented “light slicer” technology, which uses time and distance measurements to find optical intensities using standard CMOS sensors. Continue reading

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Maven Expands Los Angeles Car Sharing with Chevrolet Bolt

The Chevrolet Bolt EV, with an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles, has launched in Los Angeles in Maven City car sharing and the Lyft Express Drive program. Maven supplies vehicles for Lyft’s Express Drive program, providing Lyft drivers with access to weekly rentals of GM vehicles in some cities. Continue reading

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Win, Win? GM to Sell Opel to PSA

The combined volume of the groups could exceed current second-placed Renault-Nissan but would still be well short of market leader VW group. Continue reading

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