Industry

Last February, Lamborghini’s manager for the Asia Pacific region, Christian Mastro, predicted a cooling in the Chinese market at a time when other luxury brands were still bullish on increasing sales there. It turns out that Mastro was right, and Lamborghini is seeing decreasing demand for...

With NEVS’ acquisition of Saab and some of the bankrupt automaker’s remaining assets now complete, the consortium, made up of Chinese and Japanese interests, is now focused on the launch of its first model. That first model is expected to be an electric version of the last Saab 9-3...

General Motors is hard at work developing eight-speed transmissions for both transverse (front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive) and longitudinal (rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive) applications, which will ensure the brand’s competitiveness with others in terms of both performance and fuel...

In August, we heard the sad news that Germany’s Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur, maker of the legendary Apollo line of supercars, was forced to start insolvency proceedings following a failed deal to market its cars in China. At the time of the announcement, the administrator overseeing the...

Porsche has spent the past few years ramping up its production to meet demand. In Leipzig, Germany, its plant is running three shifts to meet global demand for the Cayenne SUV, while an expansion is underway to add another line for the upcoming Macan crossover. Things had been equally busy in...

Aston Martin is doing something nearly unheard of these days: surviving as a car company without the backing of an industry megalith. Admittedly, Aston's niche is rather unique, and its decades of brand recognition and reputation (not to mention a tie-in with a grand cultural institution) don't...

A year since we first heard about the UK’s Eterniti Motors, a new firm hoping to establish itself as a genuine luxury marque while initially targeting buyers in emerging markets such as the Middle East and China, the company has already unveiled its first model and has now surpassed another...

Most major automakers, on both sides of the Atlantic, are teaming up with governments and other industry groups to help develop a new generation of Car-2-Car and Car-2-Object communications technology in order to not only improve safety but also reduce emissions and make driving more enjoyable. One...

Following a meeting of its board of directors this week in Maranello, Italy, Ferrari has announced that Apple’s chief of Internet software, Eddie Cue, will be joining the Prancing Horse as one its board members. The announcement is a clear sign that Ferrari sees the role of information...

Mercedes-Benz is struggling in the United States market to displace BMW from the top of the luxury auto sales pyramid. Its strategy seems to be based on introducing a dizzying array of new cars, some positioned to attract new and younger buyers into the Mercedes family. This much is clear: its...

At a press conference in Paris this morning, French automaker Renault announced a new partnership with Caterham, the British sports car brand and Formula One constructor. The partnership will see a 50:50 joint venture created, which will be responsible for the development of new sports cars, one of...

As sales of luxury cars in China start to mature, the major automakers are now looking for the next country or region to offer the most growth. One of the top contenders is Brazil, which is benefiting from strong demand for its resources as well as a growing service industry. Most major automakers...

Recently we brought you news that current owners of Cosworth, American racing names Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven, had put the legendary British tuner and engine manufacturer up for sale. Since then, reports out of the UK claim motorsport firm Prodrive is considering submitting a bid for...

As Europe’s automakers continue to see their sales increase in key markets like the U.S. and China, while back home sales either remain flat or are on the decline, it’s natural that going into future car design will better reflect the desires of consumers where a bulk of sales are made...

The last we heard, Lotus’ new owner DRB-Hicom had fired CEO Dany Bahar and thrown out his overly ambitious plan to launch up to six brand new models within a five-year period. DRB-Hicom also revealed that it would announce a revised plan for Lotus before mid-2013 and that development of at...

A few months ago we reported that BMW was considering building a new plant in Mexico for production of its 3-Series. While that option may still be on the table, the automaker has confirmed this week that it will build a new plant in Brazil for an undisclosed model, pending approval from regulatory...

As it looks to counter the effects of declining European sales, Fiat is turning an eye towards China. Still viewed as the world’s largest automotive market, Fiat thinks there’s opportunity to resume Jeep production in China for the local market. Today, all Jeep models are produced in...

Earlier this month Volvo signed a Memorandum of Understanding with fellow members of the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium being run in Europe, helping pave the way for the implementation of Car-2-Car and Car-2-Object communication technology in its cars. By enabling vehicles to communicate with...

After announcing in May that it would call on Austrian independent vehicle manufacturer Magna Steyr to build its upcoming compact car, believed to be a production version of 2011’s Etherea concept, Infiniti has now announced it will build the car itself. The decision was made following the...

Volvo announced today that current board member Håkan Samuelsson will take over as president and CEO, effective immediately. Samuelsson replaces Stefan Jacoby, who was on sick leave following a mild stroke suffered last month. Jacoby, who was set to return later this month, has been running...