EuropeAutoNews

Honda Motor Co. has racked up 7,000 orders in Japan for its new CR-Z sporty hybrid, which went on sale here Feb. 25. The tally is more than half Honda’s annual sales target of 12,000 units in Japan.

Former VW executive Hans-Ulrich Sachs was optimistic and confident when launching Chinese brand Brilliance in Europe in late-2006. Today, he is disappointed and unsure whether Europeans really know the risks of doing business with the Chinese.

Europe’s vanmakers have gone a long way toward meeting proposals to curb climate-warming emissions, but as debate on the 2016 targets starts, big auto is seen digging its heels in over the last mile.

Renault is counting on government incentives and battery-lease programs to help push down electric car prices enough to make them competitive with similar-sized diesel models in Europe.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will look at spinning off its car business from the rest of the industrial group only when he has a firmer grip on Chrysler Group and can put the two together.

Chevrolet outsold Kia by 611 units in February, passing the Korean automaker to become Russia’s No. 3 brand after two months. Chevrolet was helped by the recently launched Cruze mid-sized sedan.

Peugeot has appointed Vincent Rambaud as its new CEO. He starts his new job April 2.

As Jacques Aschenbroich launches his revamp of car parts supplier Valeo, observers say he will need all the diplomatic skills and determination honed in his climb up France’s corporate ladder to make the plan a reality.

German dealer group giant AVAG Holding AG, a key Opel dealer, is adding Ford cars to its product portfolio.
Originally posted 2009-10-05 11:15:00. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Britain said it would provide a 270 million pound ($410 million) loan guarantee to Opel/Vauxhall to help secure the company’s operations in the UK and the rest of Europe.