Audi continues to have the wind in its sails
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- Global sales of Audi increased by 13.9% in October (In comparison with October 2011) to 123,600 units, and by 12.9% in ten months
(in comparison of last year same period) to 1.2 million units.
- In the sole European market, the brand sold 61,000 cars last month, up 4.2% (in comparison with same month last year). In October, Audi recorded increases of 5.1% in Germany, 19.8% in Britain and 0.2% in France. In contrast, sales fell by 14.1% in Italy and 11.8% in Spain.
- In China, Audi sold 36,000 vehicles in October (+ 29.5%) and nearly 333,000 over ten last months (against 313,000 in the same period last year).
- In Russia, Audi has increased its sales by 57.1% last month to 3,000 units.
- Finally, in the United States, the brand sold 12,000 cars in October, up 14.5%.
Fiat increases temporary staff unemployment
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- Fiat will stop production at its plant in Melfi for three weeks during the period from December to January. The 5000 employees of the site, which produces Punto, will be temporarly unemployed on December 17, and then from December 21 to January 13.
- The manufacturer should also extend by two weeks the temporary unemployment measures implemented in Pomiglianod'Arco, which assembles the Panda, from 26 November. Fiat Italian plants currently operate at 50% capacity.
- The Cassino site, where Fiat Bravo and Lancia Delta are produced, will idle for two years.
How the European automotive industry will remain the world leader
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- A meeting of European Ministers of Industry is scheduled for December 10 in Brussels to coordinate the actions to be taken to tackle the crisis on the European soil.
- Commissioner Tajani has proposed an action plan including on innovation, the opening of foreign markets and anticipation of restructuring. In order to prepare the December meeting, he announced discussions with unions and manufacturers. The Commissioner wants to encourage the use of the European Social Fund for the retraining of employees who lost their jobs, by investing in actions for conversion and training. For innovation, he wants to increase by 1 billion euros the EU funding envelope to support research and development, that would rise to 2 billion euros for the period 2014-2020.
- "We must anticipate what will happen in 2050, with nearly 2.5 billion cars in the world. We need to develop electric cars, hydrogen or hybrid, "urged MrTajani. He also said that he agrees with carmakers who urge the Commission to impose stricter conditions for free trade agreements in preparation with United States, China and India. In Europe, the automotive industry accounts for 12 million jobs, contributes for 70 billion euros in the trade balance and annually invests around 28 billion euros in R & D.
Read more... How the European automotive industry will remain the world leader
Avtotor and Magna have signed a major agreement in Russia
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- The Russian car maker, Avtotor and the Canadian auto-parts maker, Magna, announced, in common press release, that a multi-million-dollar manufacturing deal has been signed.
- The cooperation agreement involves the construction of six automobile assembly plants and no fewer than 15 component factoriesin a cluster of full-profile automobile manufactures in the Kaliningrad region.
- The parts plants will meet Avtotor's needs, and may also supply other Russian automotive firms as well as export customers.
The final production capacity is expected to increase in phases, with the potential to reach up to 250,000 vehicles per year by 2018.
- Russian media reported that the joint venture will be 60%-owned by Avtotor, with Magna owning the remainder.
Read more... Avtotor and Magna have signed a major agreement in Russia
Renault has released its 2013-2016 product plan
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Read more... Renault has released its 2013-2016 product plan