It’s that time of the month again. Super-efficient Japan  traditionally is first out of the gate with previous month sales numbers. Lately, there have been some who regret that efficiency. For the sixth straight month in a row, the Japanese new car market is tired, down, worn-out. (Read More…)

Toyota appears to be serious about offering their long awaited new generation FT-86 by the end of 2011 – barely. They are egging on the public by showing an “FT-86 II concept” in Geneva. A Toyota press release promises that “the production model based on the FT-86 II concept is scheduled to make its world premier at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011.“ Which is in December. (Read More…)

Don’t get confused by news that Volkswagen formally took over the Porsche Holding. They did, but Porsche Holding Salzburg is just one of the complicated web of Porsche companies. And  quite an interesting one. (Read More…)

Toyota today confirmed the month-old rumor that they will go to Siberia. And by way of  ESP, we had even pictured the correct car when we wrote about it. (Read More…)

Despite the strong yen, Japanese auto exports rose 7.3 percent in January to 365,288 vehicles, that’s up for the 13th straight month, reports The Nikkei [sub].  Exports weren’t strong enough to out-balance the Japanese car market that contracted 21.5 percent in January. As a result, domestic production in Japan dropped 6.3 percent to 706,107 units in January. This is the fourth straight month of decline, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association reported today.

A lot of executives at Japanese carmakers wish they would be doitsu, or German. (Read More…)

Now we know why Reuters became confused about Daimler and Renault: It’s those other French forging a bloody alliance with those other Germans as well! (Read More…)

Beijing is in a state of confusion after China’s capital drastically slashed the number of license plates available. You literally have to win the lottery to get a plate. Most winners keep the prized (but non-transferable) possession at home. Writes the party organ People’s Daily: “Only about 11 percent of those who won rights to car licenses plates through the new lottery system bought cars in Beijing in January, the first month after restrictions were implemented, according to Chi Yifeng, general manager of Beijing Yayuncun Automobile Transaction Market, the biggest car retail market in China. “ (Read More…)

Developing a new car with traditional technology costs an arm and a leg. Add future technology, and you are starting to talk real money. You need to spread the R&D costs across a lot of cars. The trouble is, massive sales of EVs are still just a dream. What to do in such a dicey situation? You look for partners. Renault and Daimler hammered out a new agreement. “Renault will supply the electric motors for the Smart and Twingo, we develop and make the batteries for both models,” Daimler’s head of research and development Thomas Weber told his hometown paper Stuttgarter Zeitung in an interview that will appear today in the print edition. (Read More…)

When I was a budding young copywriter in 1973, older, more settled advertising types smoked a pipe, had two basset hounds at home and came to the office in a British racing green, topless Morgan.  In wintertime, their lips were blue. Our generation was too drunk to even drive a car – even in the more lenient 70s. Now, Morgan, one of the last remaining true British carmakers, is going back to its roots: Three-wheelers. (Read More…)

Three usually reliable research organizations agree: When automakers release February sales this coming week, they will be strong. Analysts see a sales increase of about 20 percent, and a SAAR in the 12 million territory. (Read More…)

In January, car imports to Japan shot up 53 percent, reports Automotive News’ [sub]Asia Editor Hans Greimel from Tokyo. Quick, who do you think takes top honors? (Read More…)

The first thing I ask any company that wants to do anything in China is: “Did you register your trademark?” Usually, they did not. I either help them registering it  (costs around $1,000). If they refuse, I won’t work with them. It would be a waste of time.  All too often someone else in China sees a value in that trademark. Being a “first to file” country, anybody can file any trademark in China that isn’t already filed – in China. Getting your trademark back is a long, expensive, and often hopeless case.

Ignorance takes another victim: Land Rover. (Read More…)

Sergio Marchionne  is a multitasker: He has been knighted in Italy in 2006, and is CEO of two carmakers, Fiat and Chrysler. Money-wise, he’s just getting by. A 300-page filing with the SEC revealed that his pay as CEO of Chrysler equals what he draws from his knighthood: Niente. Marchionne received no cash salary from the company. He didn’t work entirely for nothing though. (Read More…)

Today was the big day when Geely-bought Volvo wanted to announce its plans for the future. They did not disappoint. (Read More…)

Opel green lighted their new convertible. It is based on the current Astra and will be built in their Polish plant in Gliwice , Automobilwoche [sub]. In Gliwice, the car can be built alongside of other Astra models. According to Opel, the car should go on sale in 2013.

Foundation for the new ragtop is Opel’s compact car architecture, which underpins the Astra, the Astra Sports Tourer and the future Astra GTC.  The new convertible take te place of the Astra Twin Top with its foldable hard top.

Also scheduled for 2013: A new sub-subcompact.  And a homegrown version for the Agila, which currently is a rebadged Suzuki. Volkswagen wants Suzuki for itself.