Automotive News Europe - February 16, 2009 - 20

PAGE 20 · www.autonewseurope.com February 16 , 2009 Estimated European registrations by country – January Jan. 2009 Jan. 2008 Percent change 1 mos. 2009 1 mos. 2008 Percent change Germany Italy France United Kingdom Spain Netherlands Belgium Poland Greece Austria Ireland Romania Finland Sweden Portugal Czech Republic Denmark Hungary Slovenia Luxembourg Slovakia Bulgaria Estonia Lithuania Latvia EUROPEAN UNION Switzerland Norway Iceland EFTA TOTAL Source: ACEA (www.acea.be) 189,385 157,418 149,372 112,087 59,385 56,375 47,690 26,800 20,247 19,010 15,929 13,813 11,540 11,299 9,021 8,842 7,788 5,962 4,572 3,203 2,907 1,908 952 744 494 936,743 16,251 5,353 170 21,774 958,517 220,742 233,711 162,116 162,097 101,621 66,329 56,846 28,299 33,567 21,884 47,609 29,495 21,544 17,033 15,845 10,082 14,418 12,492 6,128 3,982 4,783 3,326 2,477 2,273 2,191 1,280,890 21,599 9,901 1,432 32,932 1,313,822 –14.2 –32.6 –7.9 –30.9 –41.6 –15.0 –16.1 –5.3 –39.7 –13.1 –66.5 –53.2 –46.4 –33.7 –43.1 –12.3 –46.0 –52.3 –25.4 –19.6 –39.2 –42.6 –61.6 –67.3 –77.5 –26.9 –24.8 –45.9 –88.1 –33.9 –27.0 189,385 157,418 149,372 112,087 59,385 56,375 47,690 26,800 20,247 19,010 15,929 13,813 11,540 11,299 9,021 8,842 7,788 5,962 4,572 3,203 2,907 1,908 952 744 494 936,743 16,251 5,353 170 21,774 958,517 220,742 233,711 162,116 162,097 101,621 66,329 56,846 28,299 33,567 21,884 47,609 29,495 21,544 17,033 15,845 10,082 14,418 12,492 6,128 3,982 4,783 3,326 2,477 2,273 2,191 1,280,890 21,599 9,901 1,432 32,932 1,313,822 –14.2 –32.6 –7.9 –30.9 –41.6 –15.0 –16.1 –5.3 –39.7 –13.1 –66.5 –53.2 –46.4 –33.7 –43.1 –12.3 –46.0 –52.3 –25.4 –19.6 –39.2 –42.6 –61.6 –67.3 –77.5 –26.9 –24.8 –45.9 –88.1 –33.9 –27.0 SKD Automotive made parts for the Chevrolet Malibu (shown), Saturn Aura and Hummer. Estimated European registrations by manufacturer – January Jan. Jan. Percent change 1 mos. 2009 1 mos. 2008 Percent change General Motors pulls tools from supplier plant Ford, Chrysler and Honda are trying to keep stamping maker SKD from collapsing Robert Sherefkin Automotive News Europe DETROIT Ford Motor, Chrysler and Honda of America Manufacturing are propping up a troubled small US supplier after General Motors moved its tooling from the company last month to protect production of its Chevrolet Malibu sedan. Efforts are underway to wind down or sell the supplier, SKD Automotive Group, to a healthy North American company, industry sources said. Chrysler and Honda are providing extra funding in the interim, the sources say. Ford also continues to buy stampings from the factory, the automaker confirmed. GM defended its decision to remove the equipment from SKD’s plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, during the Christmas shutdown. “Based on SKD’s financial distress and uncertainty, GM had to take action to protect our business interests,” said GM spokesman Dan Flores. Carmakers are under pressure to protect the sources of critical parts at a time when the industry is in a tailspin. John Chen, president of the suburban Detroit supplier, did not return telephone calls. Because the company has both US and Canadian headquarters, SKD last month sought the Canadian equivalent of bankruptcy reorganization. Dodge Charger and Challenger cars. SKD’s plant made parts for GM’s Malibu and Saturn Aura cars built in Kansas City, Kansas. The plant also made stampings for Hummer SUVs built in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The local union branch, surprised by GM’s move to pull the tools December 23, promptly put up a blockade around the Brampton plant. But the blockade was unable to stop GM’s tools from being moved to Magna International and Van Rob Stampings. GM says its vehicle production was unaffected by the changeover in suppliers. The CAW’s Dias says GM may have acted to head off a bankruptcy that could have halted the tooling move. SKD, founded in 1937, operates a plant in Michigan and Mexico and three in Canada. It makes large chassis, structural and suspension stamped parts. SKD ranked No. 112 on the Automotive News list of the 150 largest suppliers of parts to automakers in North America, with sales of $399 million (¤311 million) in the fiscal ANE year 2007. Volkswagen division Audi Seat Skoda Other VOLKSWAGEN AG Peugeot Citroen PSA GROUP Ford division Volvo FORD MOTOR CO Fiat division Lancia Alfa Romeo Other FIAT GROUP Opel/Vauxhall Chevrolet Saab GM U.S. GENERAL MOTORS Renault division Dacia RENAULT Toyota Division Lexus TOYOTA MOTOR Mercedes-Benz Smart DAIMLER AG BMW division Mini BMW GROUP NISSAN HYUNDAI HONDA MAZDA SUZUKI KIA MITSUBISHI Jaguar Land Rover JAGUAR LAND ROVER† CHRYSLER LLC OTHER TOTAL 106,016 46,114 21,802 25,177 170 199,279 67,828 60,444 128,272 89,216 13,709 102,925 66,903 7,882 7,949 511 83,245 66,340 11,437 2,583 85 80,445 61,873 10,165 72,038 49,756 1,437 51,193 40,455 7,763 48,218 37,533 6,532 44,065 25,359 19,009 18,836 18,188 16,765 15,808 6,776 1,988 3,321 5,309 4,161 18,626 958,517 130,631 49,106 29,969 39,299 312 249,317 90,186 80,451 170,637 110,037 21,616 131,653 92,597 11,001 8,135 730 112,463 101,449 16,694 5,753 662 124,558 93,823 15,162 108,985 71,930 2,844 74,774 60,643 8,713 69,356 52,726 12,438 65,164 34,023 22,713 25,807 21,845 23,437 22,171 11,633 1,665 8,794 10,459 8,892 25,935 1,313,822 –18.8 –6.1 –27.3 –35.9 –45.5 –20.1 –24.8 –24.9 –24.8 –18.9 –36.6 –21.8 –27.7 –28.4 –2.3 –30.0 –26.0 –34.6 –31.5 –55.1 –87.2 –35.4 –34.1 –33.0 –33.9 –30.8 –49.5 –31.5 –33.3 –10.9 –30.5 –28.8 –47.5 –32.4 –25.5 –16.3 –27.0 –16.7 –28.5 –28.7 –41.8 19.4 –62.2 –49.2 –53.2 –28.2 –27.0 106,016 46,114 21,802 25,177 170 199,279 67,828 60,444 128,272 89,216 13,709 102,925 66,903 7,882 7,949 511 83,245 66,340 11,437 2,583 85 80,445 61,873 10,165 72,038 49,756 1,437 51,193 40,455 7,763 48,218 37,533 6,532 44,065 25,359 19,009 18,836 18,188 16,765 15,808 6,776 1,988 3,321 5,309 4,161 18,626 958,517 130,631 49,106 29,969 39,299 312 249,317 90,186 80,451 170,637 110,037 21,616 131,653 92,597 11,001 8,135 730 112,463 101,449 16,694 5,753 662 124,558 93,823 15,162 108,985 71,930 2,844 74,774 60,643 8,713 69,356 52,726 12,438 65,164 34,023 22,713 25,807 21,845 23,437 22,171 11,633 1,665 8,794 10,459 8,892 25,935 1,313,822 –18.8 –6.1 –27.3 –35.9 –45.5 –20.1 –24.8 –24.9 –24.8 –18.9 –36.6 –21.8 –27.7 –28.4 –2.3 –30.0 –26.0 –34.6 –31.5 –55.1 –87.2 –35.4 –34.1 –33.0 –33.9 –30.8 –49.5 –31.5 –33.3 –10.9 –30.5 –28.8 –47.5 –32.4 –25.5 –16.3 –27.0 –16.7 –28.5 –28.7 –41.8 19.4 –62.2 –49.2 –53.2 –28.2 –27.0 Protect parts production The Brampton plant now supplies stampings to Ford, Honda and Chrysler. Ford and Chrysler spokespeople told Automotive News Europe that they have reached agreements that will protect parts production. Honda executives were not available to comment. Ford, Honda and Chrysler approved a 60-day agreement to keep the company going, said Jerry Dias, an assistant to Ken Lewenza, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union. Chrysler depends on the supplier for its Brampton assembly plant, which builds the Chrysler 300 and 300C and †Ford Motor Co. sold Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors on June 2, 2008; Jaguar’s and Land Rover’s sales through May 2008 are included with Tata Motors for comparison purposes only. Note: Europe includes the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland (includes Liechtenstein) but not Malta and Cyprus. GM US includes IBC/Isuzu. Fiat Group Other includes Ferrari and Maserati. VW Other includes Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Source: ACEA (www.acea.be) China growth of 10% foreseen by GM in ’09 Steven Ribet Automotive News Europe SHANGHAI General Motors predicts growth of 10 percent or less for the Chinese car market this year, but remains confident in the company’s fortunes there for the longer term. “The outlook for China is robust for lots of reasons,” said Kevin Wale, president of GM China. “The car market is at an early level of development, but already very big. The long-term trend for economic growth is strong. The government is doing much to stimulate both the economy and its pillar car industry. We see this as very constructive,” Wale added. Wale said GM’s brush with bankruptcy at home has taken a toll on the company’s Chinese investment. “In a globalized business, you can’t have some deferrals in the US that don’t have some effect” elsewhere, he said. Nonetheless, Wale insists all of GM’s key China projects remain on track. These include five new or redesigned models each for Chevrolet and Buick launched during the next two to three years. Construction will continue on schedule at GM’s Anhui proving ground and its new regional headquarters in Shanghai. Production at a new SAIC-GM-Wuling engine plant in Qingdao will go ahead according to plan. GM’s financial difficulties are common knowledge among the Chinese public. Yet Wale rejects the suggestion this may be resulting in a loss of confidence. “The consumer understands we’ve got a strong business here in China,” he said. “They know we’ve got a strong partnership with SAIC. That’s what they focus on.” Wale acknowledges that the strengthening yuan slows exports of components to GM plants in other continents. “That makes it harder to source from China,” he said. “But some of our suppliers here have shown good improvements in productivity, and ANE labor costs are still low.” Italy gives cash to buyers of low-CO2 cars TURIN Consumers in Italy could get up to ¤5,000 from the government if they buy a green car. To boost new-car sales, the Italian government plans to offer incentives of between ¤1,500 and ¤5,000 to buyers who exchange a car at least 10 years old for a new model. Buyers will receive ¤1,500 if they purchase a new car that has CO2 emissions of less than 140 grams per kilometer for a gasoline model and 130g/km for a diesel car. The cash bonus rises to ¤5,000 if the customer buys a new car that has CO2 emissions below 120g/km and is powered by compressed natural gas, electricity or hydrogen. If the car has emissions above 120g/km or is powered by liquid petroleum ga
http://www.autonewseurope.com http://www.acea.be http://www.acea.be
Automotive News Europe - February 16, 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Europe - February 16, 2009
