Category: Industry News

Placed under administration after filing for bankruptcy protection, Bertone suffered from a strong disagreement between family members preventing the situation from improving. Since then, things got better and a new business plan was decided.

The new business plan separates the current organization in two companies: Bertone Stile and Bertone Carroziera. Bertone Carroziera own the unique facility which has a production capacity of 70,000 vehicles. Under bankruptcy protection the 1,3000 staff employed by Bertone are being paid by the Italian government. All efforts are focused on Bertone Stile from now on. A new manager has been hired, Teresio Gaudio who is a former Aprilia’s manager. Gaudio’s first task will be to replace their main client, the Chinese carmaker Chery, which left Bertone to work with Studio Torino launched by a former Bertone head of design, Roberto Piatti.

The new business plan will also focus on design services more profitable than building prototypes or unique vehicles for larger carmakers. Gaudio expects Bertone Stile to be profitable by 2010. The company will reduce its staff from 95 to 80 people.

Pininfarina has announced it will open a design centre in India.

Due to be located in Pune, northwestern India, Pininfarina will offer services to all automakers, the company said. However, with minority participation by Indian automotive giant Tata, it isn’t sure that other carmakers will be happy to share future projects with Tata.

"This agreement witnesses the great attention Pininfarina is dedicating to an emerging and highly developing market such as the Indian one," said the group’s CEO Andrea Pininfarina.

Pininfarina announced last month that it would increase its capital by €100 million/£80 million. Ratan Tata has expressed interest in the Tata Companies participating Pininfarina’s planned capital increase with the subscription of a portion of the options that will be assigned to the Pininfarina family.

Petrol retailers says there will be no shortage of fuel supply when refinery workers at Grangemouth refinery will go on strike.

After refinery workers at Grangemouth refinery announced a two-day strike starting on Sunday, there were fears over fuel supplies in Scotland and Northern England, but Petrol Retailers Association reassured people by announcing there will be no shortage in the near-future.

‘Fuel availability for motorists outside Scotland will not be affected by the potential shutdown at the Grangemouth refinery. If the shutdown does occur, the effect on supply in Scotland will be limited due to the sheer volume of fuel already in the supply chain,’ said Ray Holloway, director of the RMI Petrol Retailers Association.

However if car-owners buy more petrol than usual to prevent a fuel shortage, they might put pressure on the fuel supply chain and perhaps create fuel shortage.

‘It is bulk-buying of fuel that will ultimately be responsible for any shortages. Even if supplies are not interrupted, if motorists buy more than their normal requirements, they will be putting abnormal pressure on the road delivery services of the oil industry in Scotland. Forecourts do not have unlimited storage facilities. If they are prematurely drained of fuel stocks due to bulk buying this will lead to consumer inconvenience while they are refilled.’

Refinery workers will go on strike after talks between the union and the plant’s operator, Ineos, broke down Wednesday over a company proposal to modify the salary pension plan.

Despite a slowdown and a growing inflation rate in India, car makers are planning to move their lineup upmarket in an attempt to build their brand image in the future and to meet demand for larger models from Indian customers.

Honda will soon launch our outgoing Accord saloon which will be lightly upgraded when reaching the Indian shores. Price remains unknown, but Honda will keep a price tag similar to European prices. Toyota will introduce the current Corolla in an attempt to take on the established Honda Civic which dominates sales compact segment there. Hyundai will also join the fight as the Korean carmaker will launch the i30 to replace the poor selling Elantra. Hyundai will also bring the Santa Fe to India. The 2.2-litre common rail diesel model will be launched later in the year. On the SUV segment, Mitsubishi will launch the Outlander.

European carmakers have also plans to bring bigger models. Along with the Passat and Touareg, Volkswagen hopes to increase its Indian sales by selling the Jetta.

The Korean carmaker has announced plans for an unprecedented raft of new models due for production over the next few years.

From 2009 through to 2014, SsangYong will invest more than €1.9 billion/£1.5 billion in 20 new models based on five different platforms, with five new engines and with monocoque construction. It’s possible that world-famous Italian styling house, Italdesign, founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro, will be involved, having already styled the latest Rexton model.

SsangYong’s new diesel hybrid technology, unveiled at last month’s Geneva Motor Show, is likely to feature in the new model line-up. The South Korean company says that a diesel hybrid can slash CO2 emissions and improve fuel efficiency by 30 per cent.

Paul Williams, managing director of British distributor Koelliker UK said: “I have been able to see some of the new models and although I can’t reveal any details, I’m very excited about what’s coming. It’s unlikely that all 20 will be appropriate for the UK, but it will mean a wider and more attractive range with much greater choice for customers. There will be different body styles and engines including passenger cars that will enable us to compete strongly in new market sectors.”

In the UK SsangYong is best known for building vehicles with a bold desgin:  the Kyron, Rexton and Rodius. Just weeks ago, SsangYong launched a new luxury car , the Chairman, as a direct competitor to BMW and Mercedes in the South Korean market.

Ken Livingstone has announced he will try to reduce speed limits in London to just 20mph if he’s re-elected to a third term office.

London Mayor made a step further towards car annihilation in London by announcing he would lobby for a speed reduction to just 20mph in London if he’s re-elected. He justified his decision by stating that 90% of of pedestrians die if hit at 40mph while just 2.5% die if hit at 20mph. Why doesn’t he push the logic to reduce speed limit to less than 10 miles to ensure nobody will die because there is no much difference between 10 and 20mph.

However by limiting the speed to 20mph, the mayor might also generate more pollution. Indeed cars’ pollution is optimal between 40 and 70mph. At 20mph, cars would pollute more. Perhaps another excuse for Livinsgtone to increase the Congestion Charge?

Tatra’s main shareholder and CEO, Ronald Adams has announced that the company might bring back Tatras of the past as retro automobiles.

Tatra vehicles were probably the most incredible cars from Eastern Europe with their unique features: four headlights, dorsal fin, tear-drop shape and rear V8 engine. They were ideal for spy or futuristic movies like Gattaca. Unfortunately, they disappeared due to new order in the 90s. The carmaker would take two or three historic models like the 87 or the 603 and built them on modern platforms and powertrains outsourced from bigger carmakers. The first models might appear in 2009 or 2010.

The statement raises questions regarding the engine. Where will the company find a air-cooled V8? The answer is probably nowhere, but we know a carmaker that makes a great air-cooled boxer six cylinder unit, Subaru. The latest T613/5 was powered by a 3.5-litre V8 which delivered a power output of 220bhp. With its power output of 242bhp, the Legacy’s engine would be a a great choice.

Drivers are having to dodge more than 3 million holes in the road.

In a report, the Asphalt Industry Alliance reveals that around 1 million are potholes left unfixed by local councils, while holes dug by utility companies account for a further 2.5 million road openings. The poor state of roads in England and Wales is caused by a shortfall of more than £1 billion in road maintenance budgets and  £53 million was paid out in compensation for damage to vehicles or road traffic accidents in 2006/07.

"Despite some increase in central Government funding over recent years, it seems that highways maintenance is still suffering from historically being treated as the Cinderella service, " said Asphalt Industry Alliance chairman Jim Crick.

There is an 11-year backlog of maintenance work, while some roads faced a 65-year wait for resurfacing.