Autoblog

North America's automakers ran at 97% of their production capacity last year

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:01:00 EST

Wards Auto began tracking North American light-vehicle production capacity utilization in 2005, and last year produced the highest amount on record: 97.8 percent of available production was utilized, an improvement of 9.3 percent versus the year before. The number represents straight-time capacity plus things like the addition of a third shift or a third crew and worker overtime due to less vacations. Production with straight-time capacity utilizing two shifts still came out to 97.1 percent in 2012, an improvement of 13.7 percent versus 2011.

In the US, capacity use was 91 percent, a rise of 12.2 percent year-on-year; the only plants to show a decline were the Ford/Mazda facility in Flat Rock that ceased production of the Mazda6 last year and where the Ford Fusion is now built, and the Subaru plant in Indiana that produces the Toyota Camry alongside Subaru vehicles. In Canada, the capacity-use numbers jumped 19.4 percent to 99.6 percent, and in Mexico overutilization was the theme, their plants running at 124 percent. The Mexican situation isn't new, that country exceeding 100 percent of capacity utilization in 2010 and 2011 as well. In total, 15.6 million vehicles were produced last year in North America, 842,000 more than in 2011.

North America's automakers ran at 97% of their production capacity last year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota sales surge by 45% in Q3, global forecast raised

Zach Bowman — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Automotive News reports Toyota saw a sizable jump in third-quarter North American sales and has adjusted its global forecast accordingly. All told, the Japanese automaker sold 598,000 units in North America during the last quarter, marking an increase of 45 percent over the same time period last year. As a result, operating profit in the region also increased to $807.1 million, though Toyota also credits much of that figure to additional output. The company stepped up North American production by 42 percent in the third quarter.

Last year at this time, the automaker was still reeling from the earthquake and tsunami disasters that struck Japan that March, and with its supply lines crippled, Toyota was forced to cut back production.

Like other Japanese automakers, Toyota has seen its sales in China plummet. Sales in the region fell off by some 49 percent in September compared to the same month a year prior due to anti-Japanese protests in the country.

Toyota sales surge by 45% in Q3, global forecast raised originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan: 85% of vehicles to be built in North America by 2015

Chris Tutor — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan

Nissan is determined to grab eight percent of global market share by 2016, and is investing heavily in its North American facilities to make that happen. After a $5.2 billion cash infusion, Nissan will grow by 9,000 jobs, expand capacity by 425,000 vehicles and 200,000 lithium-ion batteries.

With its existing NA plants, Nissan already produces all its core models here. But by 2015, the company plans to build at its North American plants 85% of all Nissan and Infiniti models sold in the U.S. Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn. plant will soon add the Leaf and Rogue to its lineup and the Canton, Miss. plant will add the Sentra to its truck production. To pull off that expanded lineup, Canton will get 1,000 new jobs boosting its payroll to 4,500 workers.

Nissan also has an engine plant in Decherd, Tenn., which will add 90 jobs this year and up to 400 new jobs eventually, to help build electric motors for the Leaf as well as Daimler.

In Mexico, Nissan plans to spend $2 billion to add a third plant with 3,000 workers making 175,000 subcompacts by late next year.

Finally, Nissan's Farmington Hills, Mich. research group will get 150 new co-workers for vehicle engineering and development.

Nissan: 85% of vehicles to be built in North America by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo looking for partner in North America, seeks meaningful long-term relationship

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Volvo

Volvo is hoping to expand production into North America, and according to BusinessWeek, the Swedish automaker is currently on the search for a partnership here in the States. Ideally, this partnership would be with another manufacturer that Volvo would agree to share small car development costs with.

"In the medium term, five to six years, we need to find a proper solution in North America," Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby said in an interview with BusinessWeek. "Building a plant in ourselves is maybe more unlikely. I'm looking for a partner that could help us utilize a North American plant."

Volvo has reportedly been in talks with a "couple" of manufacturers and is "open to everybody," Jacoby stated, later specifically cited Fiat as a possible solution, since the Italian carmaker is already active in the United States through the Chrysler Group.

In the meantime, Volvo - like many automakers - is expanding its production in China. BusinessWeek reports that Volvo's first factory in Chengdu is "on track," and will start producing cars in the second half of 2013.

Volvo looking for partner in North America, seeks meaningful long-term relationship originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda projects 30 percent of motorcycle sales to come from India by 2020

Zach Bowman — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Motorcycle, India

Honda recently released its financial report for the the manufacturer's motorcycle division. Not surprisingly, two-wheel-friendly Asia accounted for a lofty 79 percent of the company's total sales in 2011. The entirety of North America, meanwhile, soaked up just 1.6 percent of the brand's total volume last year. What's more, Honda fully intends to expand its operations in the blooming Indian market. Until last year, Honda worked with Hero MotorCorp to sell its bikes in India. With the two entities officially split, the Japanese company reports it expects to see somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 percent of its sales come from the Indian market by 2020.

India boasts a population of 1.2 billion people, or around 17 percent of the world's population, making it the second-largest bike market globally. As of right now, Honda is working on chipping out a 20 percent share of that pie, which means it already dominates the country's motorcycle market as the largest foreign bike manufacturer.

Honda projects 30 percent of motorcycle sales to come from India by 2020 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan has a North American quality problem: suppliers

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Nissan

During the automaker's Quality Forum, reporters were told that Nissan had reduced "nonconforming deliveries," a euphemism for bad batches of parts from vendors, by 85 percent from 2007 to 2011. Yet problems remain, according to a report in Automotive News, with suppliers in North America - both the U.S. and Mexico - who account for 70 percent of Nissan's global nonconforming deliveries.

That statistic presents another challenge to Nissan's North American expansion plans. The company built a quarter of its global production here last year and it just announced a new complex in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Additionally, it has already confirmed a deal to build engines for Daimler and it has already suggested that it and Daimler will do more than just cooperate on small cars.

Nissan hasn't named suppliers, nor did it get into the kinds of issues it was having. It also isn't immediately clear what - if any - of these "nonconforming" parts are being assembled into vehicles that are shipped to dealers without getting flagged at a quality checkpoint somewhere along the assembly process. Even if all of the bad parts are caught ahead of delivery to customers, remedying the problem is likely to be costly and time-consuming.

Even so, Nissan is on the case, with AN reporting that the Japanese automaker has already cut the rate of nonconfirming deliveries by 85 percent globally since 2007.

Nissan has a North American quality problem: suppliers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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70% of Japanese vehicles sold in America are built here, too

Zach Bowman — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

A new study by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association has found 70 percent of Japanese vehicles sold in the U.S. were built on a North American assembly line.

According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the study found that more than 400,000 jobs have been created by Japanese automakers since Honda opened its first facility in the U.S. in 1982. Honda, Toyota and Nissan had a total of 29 plants operating in the U.S. in 2010 with a combined investment of $34 billion. Those numbers are likely to increase in the coming years.

The Japanese Three have made no secret that the companies are looking to guard their operations against an ever-stronger yen. Odds are we'll see even more Japanese facilities open their doors in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Toyota is slated to open a new line in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Honda is expected to begin assembling the Fit in Mexico soon.

But Toyota, Honda and Nissan aren't just building vehicles in the U.S. for American consumers. Japanese-owned plants here are also producing vehicles for consumption abroad. Last year, a total of 145,000 vehicles were built in the U.S. for foreign markets by Japanese automakers, up from 95,000 units in 2010.

70% of Japanese vehicles sold in America are built here, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab North America hires administrator but won't file bankruptcy

Chris Shunk — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Saab

Saab has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, which is likely to be a death knell for the storied automaker. But just because headquarters has filed doesn't mean that Saab North America will follow suit.

The Detroit News reports that Saab has hired Michigan firm McTevia & Associates to deal with creditors, and that there are no immediate plans to file for bankruptcy. Saab president Tim Colbeck reportedly acknowledged to DetNews that the company doesn't have much hope of staying out of liquidation, but added the best chance for survival is a company purchasing Saab out of bankruptcy. On the flip side, even though Saab NA feels that it is cheaper and easier to stay out of bankruptcy court, Colbeck adds that creditors could eventually force the company into bankruptcy.

McTevia chief Jim McTevia tells The Detroit News that the hope is that Saab NA will continue operating long enough for another company to come in and purchase Saab. Saab NA has 188 dealers, and there are 2,400 vehicles still sitting on dealer lots. Saab also employs about 50 employees in Royal Oak, MI.

Saab North America hires administrator but won't file bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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North American Honda plants will resume normal output next month

Chris Shunk — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

Honda has experienced a very challenging 2011. The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the flooding in Thailand have conspired to badly damage Honda's ability to build vehicles here in North America. That should change soon, though, as Automotive News reports that North American Honda plants will be running at full steam by the beginning of December.

Honda's challenges during the Japan earthquake included a badly damaged development center and several plants that were unable to produce the parts needed to build vehicles here in the States. Just as production began to normalize, the Thailand floods caused a shutdown of the automaker's Ayutthaya plant, which reportedly led to a 4.7-percent reduction in output.

With Honda's plants running at full steam, the automaker should be able to satiate demand for new models like the Civic and the 2012 CR-V.

North American Honda plants will resume normal output next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Analysts chide GM for boosting production [*UPDATED]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

General Motors has announced its planned production for next year: 2.8 million vehicles. That's a 45% increase over its production this year - 1.9 million cars and trucks - and according to some analysts, it's completely unwarranted. GM says it arrived at that number based on "real simple math." Analysts quoted in the Detroit Free Press today appear believe that GM was guided more by hope and a quest for market share.

Just about everyone agrees that next year's new car market will grow compared to this year, with estimates generally ranging from a 10% to 15% increase in sales. GM slashed its production this year so much that by September, its inventory hit unprecedented lows. To be ready for what it believes will be a 15% bounceback in overall North American car sales, a boost in its own sales (which were down almost 40% this yea)r, and to have enough inventory on hand, it figures it needs to bump production by 45%.

Every analyst appears to agree that GM will need to make more cars. But 2.8 million? Even as one analyst said, "There is no question that their production is going to be up next year and it's going to be significant - it really is," they were all in agreement that 2.8 million vehicles will leave a lot of cars either sitting on lots or being ridiculously discounted. The announcement has brought out sentiments that we are seeing shades of the old GM with a 'make them and move them by any means necessary' mentality. Both GM and the analysts' math is "real simple," but we'll have to wait until next year to see whose is accurate.

UPDATE: GM has responded to the original article on its Fastlane blog, chiding the Detroit Free Press for questioning a number that GM only meant as a 2010 production possibility, not a certainty.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty]

REPORT: Analysts chide GM for boosting production [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati's North American CEO steps down... after less than one year?

Michael Harley — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Maserati, Fiat

Marti Eulberg, CEO of Maserati North America, has left her position to "pursue other opportunities," the company announced today. Eulberg, a veteran of Ford and Jaguar, held the CEO position for less than a year after taking the position just last June.

As it as been with most of the world's automakers, 2009 has been a tough year for the Fiat-owned automaker. Only 247 Maserati vehicles had been sold through March of this year in the U.S., representing a sales decline of 58 percent.

As quoted in AutoWeek, Raffaele Fusilli, Maserati's global commercial director said:

"We deeply value the concrete effort of Marti and the MNA team... During a very challenging time, Maserati was one of the very few automotive players in North America to post a positive result in terms of sales in 2008, thus contributing to the second-consecutive record year achieved by the company worldwide.

Fusilli will oversee Maserati's North American operations until a successor is announced.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Maserati's North American CEO steps down... after less than one year? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming to America? Peugeot entering new segments, markets

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: PSA, Peugeot

Peugeot is a long way off from its ambitious target of selling 4 million units annually by the end of the decade. This year its sales projects put it at 2 million, but chief executive Jean-Philippe Collin has a plan in place to reach the targets set out by parent company PSA.

The plan involves expansion on two fronts. Firstly, Peugeot plans on developing new models to compete in segments where it currently does not compete. Collin figures the French automaker currently competes in 72% of market segments, but wants to get that figure up to 90%. Despite Peugeot's sportscar racing program, the company is not prepared to build a pure sportscar any more hardcore than the upcoming 308 RC Z sports-coupe. It is pursuing government funding to develop a diesel-hybrid drivetrain, however, which might be key to its expansion.

Peugeot is also planning on pursuing new markets, namely in China, Russia and South America. However, while a return to the North American market is being considered, especially in light of the weak American dollar, Collin maintains that such a move would still be several years off.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subs. req'd]

Coming to America? Peugeot entering new segments, markets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini picks L.A. for new HQ location

Merritt Johnson — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lamborghini

Some automakers might be concerned over California's fight for an EPA waver, but Lamborghini isn't one of them. Regardless of government-imposed regulations, the Italian exotic car maker knows that the luxury market will continue to demand high-powered vehicles available in every color found in a Skittles bag. That is why Lamborghini has chosen the Los Angeles area, Santa Monica specifically, to house its brand new headquarters for North American sales operations. It is the company's first business venture outside of Italy, and it happened in this country mainly because the continent comprises a 41-percent market share of all Lamborghini's sold in the world. The sunshine state alone accounts for more Lambo sales than most entire nations, hence the reason it won out in the race for office location.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Lamborghini picks L.A. for new HQ location originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US-market Alfas could be built in Mexico

Dan Roth — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:07:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo is returning to the US market in about a year, offering the zooty 8C Competizione and 8C Spider atop a range of less spectacular offerings. While the top-end 8Cs will probably be Italian emigres, the 149 and 169 sedans could be put together in Mexico. Alfa doesn't have a hard and fast decision yet, and could pick another site, even one in North America. Moving the labor to Mexico for the volume sellers might prove to be a wise move on Alfa's part. The dollar continues to take a beating, pushing up the cost of European items on US sales markets, and building somewhere else would sidestep some of those increased costs. Alfa is trying this idea in China, too, where Chery will assemble automobiles for that market. We're all for it if it gets the keys to some stylish Italians in our hands while holding the prices down. The quality can't be any worse than it was in the bad old days that led to the notorious reputation for unreliability that afflicted Italian marques. Besides, those shop queens were so joyous to drive, they made suckers out of all of us, and we'd do it again, given the chance.

[Source: Inside Line]

US-market Alfas could be built in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Alfa Romeo MiTo could be first true MINI-killer

Dan Roth — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo

The Mini is so 2006. VW's new Polo has yet to launch. Neither of those cars matter once you set eyes on the forthcoming hotness from Alfa Romeo. Alfa is coming back to the U.S. market, and while everyone's been ga-ga about the 8C Competizione, supercars just don't support the type of sales volume that Alfa is looking for. Dubbed the MiTo, Alfa's B-car might be the starter kit for the more aspirational supercars that the brand has to offer, but it's no less kickass when taken on its own. Alfa's styling will be new and fresh in the U.S., the brand having been absent from North American shores since the 1990s. There's a little retro in the nose as seen in these renderings from Winding Road, but it's not anywhere near the total homage to the 1960s that the Mini is.

What's underneath the sheetmetal that's alternately voluptuous and crisply creased is a versatile chassis developed before GM took their wad of cash home from Fiat. The MiTo actually shares its platform with the Opel Corsa and the Fiat Grande Punto, both of which have left favorable impressions with reviewers. Power units could run the gamut from a fire breathing turbocharged 1.4-liter gas unit to a 1.9-liter diesel, and a 2.0-liter that kicks out 280 horsepower is also a possibility if a Delta version comes to fruition. As excited as this news makes us, it's going to be a long wait until 2010.

[Source: Winding Road]

Rendered Speculation: Alfa Romeo MiTo could be first true MINI-killer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming to America: VW Polo may come stateside

Dan Roth — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Volkswagen

Click image for a hi-res gallery of VW Polos

"Do you need the Polo?" That's going to be Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn's query to US dealers when he meets with them this week. The answer could determine whether or not we see a sub-Golf sized VeeDub here in the United States. Rising fuel prices have made small cars big again, and VW's taking a hard look at capitalizing on that. The inrush of Volkswagen's competitors to smaller models also makes the segment hard to ignore. BMW's got the hotly anticipated 1-series, Daimler's trend-tastic Smart has been foisted upon us, Saturn's slick Astra is nearly here, and Ford's threatening to give us the Fiesta in a couple of years, too. If we were a VW dealer, our answer to Winterkorn would be a resounding "YES!"

[Source: Auto News - sub req]

Gallery: Volkswagen Polo

Coming to America: VW Polo may come stateside originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda to double North American production of the CR-V

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Honda

Recently, Honda has had issues with keeping supply and demand in check with its newest products. Waiting lists for everything from the Civic Si to the Honda Fit have become bones of contention with consumers, and the recently redesigned Honda CR-V was among them earlier this year. Sales of Honda's cute 'ute have been on an upwards trajectory during 2007, with over 167,000 units sold thus far -- a 44-percent jump over the previous year. Analysts contend that buyers who used to flock to the Ford Explorer are now looking at smaller, more fuel-efficient offerings, bolstering sales of the CR-V along with Toyota's RAV4.

Honda is constantly trying to keep a balance between imported and domestically made products, so it's considering doubling the North American production of the CR-V. The move would come at a perfect time, as CR-V sales have officially eclipsed sales of the Explorer, the U.S.'s best selling SUV for 14 years.

[Source: Detroit News]

Honda to double North American production of the CR-V originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jump Ship! Another VW ad exec splits

Dan Roth — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:34:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen

Perhaps sensing impending doom, Volkswagen's David Goggins is cleaning out his desk as director of product and marketing strategy. There's been a good amount of turnover in VW's marketing ranks in the last year and a half, and Goggins had only served for 14 months before deciding to return to Bentley where he was previously in charge of marketing. Former Ferrari spokesman Toscan Bennett will take up the reins of the wares-shilling department.

The writing may have been on the wall for Goggins, as the marketing department will reportedly undergo a nip and tuck concurrent with Volkswagen USA's relocation to northern Virginia. Apparently, not too many members of the marketing team were invited to join the exodus from Auburn Hills, so that may have motivated Goggins stepping down. As nice as VWs are, it'd be an easy choice for us to go with Bentley, too. The flip-flopping in VW's come-on office has played a role in defocusing the marketing effort - VW is running the risk of confusing, or worse, boring buyers with indifferent advertising and a paucity of new stuff to sell. Next year, however, looks good from a product standpoint, and we'll likely be inundated by a more concerted effort to plant backsides in seats, and signatures on dotted lines.

[Source: Brandweek]

Jump Ship! Another VW ad exec splits originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: i spied in Canada

Justin Gardiner — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Green, Japan, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

What you're looking at is a right-hand-drive Mitsubishi i spotted in Toronto, as in Toronto, Canada... as in on the North American continent. Mitsubishi's initial line was that the i would be for the Japan Domestic Market only. Then they exported it to Hong Kong, Singapore and Brunei. Then New Zealand. Then Britain. And Australian cities are next in the crosshairs. Wherever it has shown up, it's been a sales sensation, which is handy for Mitsubishi as sales in Japan have slumped to 1,200 cars per month from almost 8,000 per month in March 2006.

So will North America be getting its first 660cc kei car? Not a chance say sources within Mitsubishi's Tokyo HQ. Then the i spied in Toronto is almost certainly a plug-in electric i MiEV undergoing testing. Everyone will have to wait until 2009 or even 2010 to get their hands on one of those, but when they hit markets worldwide they'll have sticker prices under 2million Yen - that's about $17,500 today.

Well spotted Allan!

Spy Shots: i spied in Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo says it won't be building in North America

Dan Roth — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Volvo

There have been periodic rumors of a United States assembly plant for Volvo cars since at least the early 1980s. There was a North American construction arm of the Swedish carmaker, situated in Nova Scotia, but that plant has been shuttered for several years now. Volvo CEO Fredrik Arp has told Automotive News that an American plant would take an unacceptably long time to pay for itself, according to the automaker's studies. A weak dollar doesn't help the economic argument for a plant in the States, either. Volvo can currently handle its goal of 600,000 units worldwide, which they have yet to meet. Current plant capacity is good for 590,000 vehicles, so it goes building any new plants, Volvo would be wise to fully utilize its current capacity. The automaker is looking to markets other than North America to drive growth in the coming years -- China, India and Russia all look to be emerging soon as major Volvo buyers.

Arp would not be pressed regarding rumors of Volvo being put up for sale by parent Ford, but he did comment that the historically green-minded automaker has its finger on the pulse of viable alternative powertrains for the US market. Diesels and alternative fuels are big in Europe, but Volvo's not going to just forge ahead in the US with those technologies. Rather, what they intend to do is watch and see what green platform takes off here, and follow on quickly with their own version of whatever that turns out to be. Volvo is too much of a niche player in the US market to risk developing something that may be met with a yawn by the US consumer. Up for sale or not, it looks like Gothenburg's Rollers have their eyes on the brass ring.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req]

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/ANE01/70626009/1116/rss03&rssfeed=rss03

Volvo says it won't be building in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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