News watch Sept 2012: today's auto industry news

By Ollie Kew

Motor Industry

04 September 2012 10:00

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour

Tuesday 4 September 2012
• New Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) reports that the company has sucessfully acquired most of Saab's assests, but will not be allowed to use the company's griffin logo on any new products. NEVS, which plans to sell a zero-emission version of the 9-3, hopes to introduce its first new car within 18 months, and although the griffin logo will be absent, it will be badged with the Saab name (Autmotive News Europe)
• With the economy likely to be the major factor in the 2012 US presidential election, debate is already well underway on the 2009 auto industry bailout. David Plouffe, senior advisor to the Obama White House, has made a statement arguing the US auto industry would have ceased to exist had 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney been in office. Mr Romney's campaign refuted the claim, with Mr Romney stating he would have offered aid to GM and Chrysler, but only after they had gone bankrupt (DetNews)

Monday 3 September 2012
• European car makers may have to bite the bullet and make swathing cuts and factory closures in the wake of the recession, three years after their American counterparts did the same, according to reports. Although still not up to pre-crisis level, bailed-out Chrysler and GM are already posting healthy profits of around $7.6bn, while European car makers continue to struggle in the sluggish European sales climate (Automotive News Europe)
• Emphasizing just how dire the European market status is, French car sales dipped by 11.4% in August 2012 versus the same period in 2011. The slump, which hit French automakers PSA and Renault hard with drops of 10.6% and 20.6% respectively, has been bucked by Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai. The traditionally budget brands saw rises of 18.7% and 31.4% respectively. (Automotive News Europe)
• At least there's better news for Renault's cheap-and-cheerful sub-brand, Dacia. Buoyed by sales of the Duster SUV, the Romanian/Moroccan-built marque posted a 21.1% sales rise in August (Automotive News Europe)
• There's bad news if you're a US reader excited about Alfa Romeo's return to the North American market. Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is set to unveil a new timetable for Alfa's American return on 30 October 2012. Previously, it was understood that the 4C sports car would spearhead the US revival, landing in late 2012, with the bulk of sales beginning with a crossover model in mid-2013 (Automotive News Europe)

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