Autoblog

Alfa Romeo planning to reach 500,000 annual sales by 2014

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST

The Alfa Romeo brand is a tough one to pin down... or perhaps it's parent company Fiat that's elusive, or maybe just CEO Sergio Marchionne that refuses to be a fixed target. New Alfa-Abarth-Maserati CEO Harald Wester has said that Alfa's long-term sales target is 500,000 vehicles by 2014. That's a mountainous 400,000-unit increase over 2009 sales, yet the route to the peak of that mountain isn't any clearer than it was in January when Alfa wasn't coming to the U.S., except that Alfa finally has "the right conditions, the right products and the right synergies to get there," according to Wester.

A brief summary of the timeline: in January Marchionne says Fiat can't come to the States unless it makes a business case - which, at that point, hadn't been made; later that same month Harald Wester takes his consolidated CEO position; in February Marchionne says Alfas will be sold in the U.S. by 2012; and in April Fiat's five-year plan is unveiled with Alfa slotting in six new models, some based on Chrysler platforms.

The only detail we're missing is why Alfa Romeo thinks it will work this time, this well. Alfa has been underperforming in Europe in spite of the models its been releasing, and we don't know why Chrysler platforms would change that. True, Alfa is only relying on the U.S. market for that growth, but an average year-on-year increase of 80,000 cars, starting this year, is an order of the tallest kind. And that's before any talk of Alfa having to battle Lancia for market share and marketing dollars.

Audi may have big U.S. targets too, but Audi won't need to fight the perceptions of a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. market two decades ago in order to meet them. We've been expecting Alfas product assault to be good. But with these numbers, we'll expect it to be phenomenal.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Alfa Romeo planning to reach 500,000 annual sales by 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ: Renault pondering return to North America

Chris Shunk — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Renault

Dacia Duster - Click above for high-res image gallery

Renault hasn't been in the US market since 1987, the year the Alliance and the Encore stopped trickling out of AMC factories. Few have missed the French automaker's presence since it left our shores, though many thought the doors would once again open to the land of opportunity once Nissan was in the fold. That hasn't happened so far, but a story in The Wall Street Journal shows that Renault is at least thinking about once again coming Stateside to sell cars and SUVs. Gerard Detourbet, head of Renault's entry-level vehicle division, told WSJ that the company is studying a move to North America, and the vehicle that could influence the decision is the low-cost Duster SUV.

The Duster, which for now is being build by Dacia in Romania, will eventually be sold as a Renault once production ramps up. If the apparently capable Duster is a success in emerging markets like South America and Eastern Europe, there could be a chance Renault would give the mini ute a chance in the U.S. But Detourbet reportedly doesn't see Renault entering the U.S. market with just one vehicle like it did with the Alliance in late 1982, instead favoring a family of affordable vehicles as the best approach. And with Renault's Logan line already established in many parts of the world, the budget-minded nameplate could be reworked for U.S. duty at some point in the future.

While it's nice to hear that Renault is at least considering a return to America, we're not all that hopeful that anything will happen within the next three to five years. Besides, once the Duster is retrofitted for U.S. duty it'll probably be heavier, more expensive and overwhelmingly diesel-less.

Gallery: Dacia Duster 4x4

[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub's Req'd]

WSJ: Renault pondering return to North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford poised to overtake GM as America's top-selling automaker

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota

2010 Ford Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Merrill Lynch's Car Wars study, Ford's improving lineup of cars will be responsible for hauling the company's market share to places it hasn't been in many decades - namely, ahead of General Motors and number one in the U.S. With its recent rise to 16.1% share, Ford has taken the number two spot most recently held by Toyota, and Merrill predicts Ford's share over the next four years will rise another two points to 18%.

Even as it had the best-selling vehicle in America in the F-150, Ford's domestic market share has been shrinking for 13 years. The turnaround comes at the same time that post-bankruptcy GM is expected to decline five points, to about 15%, over the next four years. If the report proves to be true, that would put Ford ahead of every other automaker in the U.S. with a clear swath of daylight between them.

In case you were wondering, Chrysler is predicted to fare even worse, because "Chrysler's product pipeline is dubious and likely to drive significant market share losses." Merrill's analysis of a 6% loss of market share would take the Pentastar down to 6%, while Hyundai, Honda, and Kia are expected to post gains of 3- to 3.5%.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

REPORT: Ford poised to overtake GM as America's top-selling automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan, Ghosn bracing for the worst

Chris Shunk — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Nissan, Renault

Times are tough in the US auto industry, and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn doesn't see the situation improving any time soon. Ghosn and company are planning under the assumption that overall US sales won't break 15M units for the year, which is a substantial 2M units less than just three years ago. To complicate matters, the Japanese automaker expects steel prices to rise either later this year or early in 2009, which would put further strains on the entire industry.

While times are tough, Ghosn does see a silver lining for Nissan, as the Japanese automaker has a full lineup of fuel efficient cars that customers are buying. That should translate into increased market share, though since it's a larger piece of a smaller pie, it probably won't translate into more year over year volume. While that isn't reason enough to break out the Dom Pérignon, it's better than most automakers can say these days.

[Source: Forbes]

Nissan, Ghosn bracing for the worst originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep helping Chrysler retain market share

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Compass, and Patriot are helping Chrysler defend its market share in a declining sales environment. Between these new models and incentives on Dodge and Chrysler vehicles, Chrysler has managed to stay 0.1% ahead of the market's year-on-year drop in sales. The Wrangler Unlimited is proving a noteworthy boon, helping lift Wrangler sales by 71% year-over-year. Steve Landry, Chrysler's EVP of North American sales said, "The four-door has really created a halo effect for the Jeep brand, bringing people into the Jeep showrooms and it has improved our two-door sales."

Although Chrysler-brand vehicles lead the way among the Big Three in incentives, Jeep has placed little reliance on them. The numbers mean that Chrysler's market share has actually improved a tiny bit, from 12.85% to 12.86% in the US. It's a minuscule improvement to be sure, but for a company that has been through the wringer over the past few months (years, some would say), it's still a great statement.

[Source: Freep]

Jeep helping Chrysler retain market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Would VW leave the US market?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials

VW's has strengthened its position in Europe as the leading brand, claiming more than 20% market share. In the US, though, VW sales have dropped by an average of 25,000 cars every year for four years, and the company has lost close to a billion dollars each of the past three years. Stefan Jacoby, the former head of global sales and marketing who raised the firm's Euro market share, has been put in the top US spot in order to achieve one goal: breaking even in the US by 2009.

Blame for the slide can be attributed to a variety of factors (and we're sure you readers have plenty of theories about what's wrong with and how to fix VW), but unless they figure out how to get them right, the feeling is that VW could leave the US market. It's almost impossible to believe that the company known for fun, funky cars that drove until the wheels fell of, two cars that have been famous for decades around the world (Beetle and Golf), deep brand equity, and fervent brand loyalty would have to grab its wurst and head back home. Yet the situation was summed up by one exec as: "For the first time in some time, the phrase 'If we are to stay in the U.S.' precedes a lot of conversations at VW."

[Source: Business Week]

Would VW leave the US market? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW diesels will arrive in 2008

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:44:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Green, BMW

After showing off their BlueTec-equipped diesel six-cylinder engine at the Detroit Auto Show, BMW indicated that they would be installing oil-burners in their US offerings in 2008. Yesterday, prior to the opening of the Geneva Motor Show BMW CEO Dr. Norbert Reithofer reaffirmed that diesels would be available in US-market BMWs beginning with the X5 and 5-series models. Diesel engines make up about forty percent of BMW's sales worldwide, but are currently unavailable here. He also stated that the mild hybrid system they are jointly developing with DaimlerChrysler would be on sale in about two years time.

[Source: Automotive News - subscription required]

BMW diesels will arrive in 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Changfeng wants to bring Chinese pickups/SUVs to the US

Dan Roth — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, China

Changfeng Motor Company took a pair each of SUVs and pickup trucks to the NAIAS in Detroit as a first salvo at attacking the US market. Changfeng is a state-owned manufacturer that used to build vehicles for the Chinese army. Before you walk away snickering, consider this; Changfeng is hot to start exports to the US within 3 years, they claim they can meet US standards for emissions and safety, and they've enlisted the design hand of Pininfarina. A bargain-priced Italian-styled vehicle with a high level of content like all the power gee-gaws buyers want like nav, DVD screens, etc. has the potential to be a quick seller. From what we've seen, they're not there yet. The Feibao CT5 (shown above) reminds us of a late '80s Hyundai in material quality and fit and finish. Changfeng will get there, but there's lots of work still to be done. There is no US sales organization, nevermind a dealer network, and the product had best be up to par when it finally appears for sale here. There's also the issue of perception. China is, after all, the country that is siphoning tons of jobs world wide because of their rock-bottom labor costs. There's resentment, as well as real and percieved quality issues to overcome. We have no doubt, though, once these vehicles hit the market, some US buyers will forget all about their gripes and buy on price if the vehicles approach acceptability. Maybe they could even partner with Wal-Mart to sell them?

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Changfeng wants to bring Chinese pickups/SUVs to the US originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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