Germany's Volkswagen said Wednesday it sold a record number of vehicles in 2017, putting it on track to hold on to the title of world's largest carmaker two years after its "dieselgate" emissions scandal.

Some 10.74 million vehicles from VW or its subsidiaries ranging from Porsche and Audi to Skoda and Seat rolled out of dealerships last year -- an increase of 4.3 percent over the previous year, the carmaker said.

"We are grateful to our customers for the trust these figures reflect," chief executive Matthias Mueller said in a statement.

VW's sales look likely to outstrip Japanese rival Toyota's, whose annual figure for last year is expected to stand at around 10.35 million units.

Nevertheless, the Wolfsburg-based group is still facing a growing challenge from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which also laid claim to the top spot on Wednesday.

Its chief Carlos Ghosn told the French national assembly that, excluding trucks, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi sold 10.6 million vehicles worldwide last year.

"The alliance is the world's biggest carmaker, that's just been confirmed," Ghosn said, arguing that the VW figure included 200,000 heavy trucks, which shouldn't be included in the total.

VW's strong performance underlines its recovery from the blow it was dealt two years ago, when it admitted in September 2015 to cheating regulators' emissions tests on millions of diesel cars worldwide.

It has since begun to rebuild its reputation in some of the world's most important markets, with Chinese sales adding 5.1 percent to 4.2 million vehicles last year and US sales rising 5.8 percent to 625,000 vehicles.

Growth was more spectacular in South America, at 23.7 percent, but sales only reached 522,000 units in absolute terms.

Meanwhile, sales in Central and Eastern Europe including Russia rose by 13.2 percent to 745,000 vehicles.

But growth in Western Europe was more sluggish, with shipments up 1.4 percent at 3.6 million units.

Looking to the group's different brands, generalist VW booked an increase of 4.2 percent to 6.2 million units, while Skoda added 6.6 percent to 1.2 million and Seat 14.6 percent to 468,000 units.

Luxury Porsche shipped 246,000 cars, up 3.6 percent on the year, while Audi fell behind high-end rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz with 0.6-percent growth to 1.9 million vehicles sold.

Truckmaking units MAN and Scania both reported 11.6-percent growth.

Looking to the future, Mueller said VW was making "decisive investments in the mobility of tomorrow".

VW announced in November that it would invest more than 34 billion euros ($41 billion) in future vehicles and technologies -- such as electric and hybrid cars, autonomous driving and digitalisation -- by 2022.

Source: AFP

New details have emerged regarding the next-generation VW Golf. According to Auto Express, which spoke to several Volkswagen honchos at a supplier meeting, the eighth-generation model will make its debut next year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Golf Mk. VIII will also spawn a plug-in hybrid model, GTI, and Golf R, but the e-Golf appears to have been shelved.

Both of the Golf's performance-oriented forms, the GTI and Golf R, will get substantial increases in power for a total of 250 and 350 horsepower respectively. That will put the GTI on roughly equal footing with the Ford Focus ST and Subaru WRX, and the the Golf R at the same level as the Ford Focus RS and closer to the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 and GLA45 models.

The e-Golf, which VW had previously told us would arrive with a roughly 186 mile range, will disappear with the new generation according to Auto Express. The outlet reports that it's a casualty of VW's focus on the I.D. line, particularly the I.D. hatchback. That hatchback is due to arrive a year after the new Golf in 2020 for Europe, and VW says that it will deliver on the 373-mile maximum range (European cycle) quoted for the concept. In the U.S. the first I.D. product we'll see is the production version of the I.D. Crozz in 2020, followed by a version of the I.D. Buzz van in 2022. Of course, it's also possible that the current-generation e-Golf might linger on for a year until the I.D. hatchback goes on sale.

For more information on what's coming for the next-generation VW Golf, be sure to check out our previous coverage on the hatchback.

Car makers appealed to Americans' deep love of SUVs and trucks on Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, unveiling a host of choices from luxurious to utilitarian, while also beefing up the humble sedan.

From European car makers to American icons, there were dozens of new offerings for the North American market. While sedans and electric cars were still in the game, the industry clearly favored the large SUVs and trucks that are the source of high profit margins and prefered by US consumers two to one.

To meet Americans' changing buying habits and preferences, newly offered trucks and SUVs were more luxurious and family-friendly, stuffed with more technology and premium materials, while lower-cost, paired down versions of the same models were also offered.

In some cases, manufacturers have also tweaked vehicles to make them slightly taller than those of the prior generation. That's a response to consumers who enjoy a greater sense of command over the road.

"Pickup trucks are not just work trucks at all any more. They are much more seen as family cars," said industry analyst Rebecca Lindland of Kelley Blue Book.

Analysts said 2018 would be the year of trucks and SUVs, which have been making a dramatic comeback the last several years after a precipitous decline during the Great Recession starting in 2008.

The top five selling vehicles in 2017 were the F-150 pickup, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, the Ram 1500 pickup,  the Toyota RAV4 SUV and Nissan Rogue SUV, in that order.

With gas prices still affordable, the economy booming, and unemployment low, analysts said US consumers are preferring higher-priced, amenity-laden, large cars compared to more modest family sedans and small compacts.

"Consumers, as soon as the recession was over, were ready to buy vehicles. And we really haven't seen a deterioration," said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, adding that recently passed US tax cuts are also likely to fuel pickup and SUV sales.

The larger models are highly profitable for car makers. Ford's F-150, the best selling car in the US in 2017, had an average transaction price of $58,000, Lindland said.

- Larger, 'muscular'

Unveilings commenced at a rapid clip on Monday, even after some major car makers debuted new models over the weekend.

Fiat Chrysler offered an updated Ram pickup, boasting of new multifunction USB ports, a 12-inch touchscreen display and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, among other features.

In an effort to add some excitement to a waning sedan market, Volkswagen revealed a new Passat -- its higher-end sedan -- with more than 20 design changes and a sportier option. BMW premiered a new coupe version of its i8 hybrid electric vehicle, promising enhanced power and range.

BMW also expanded its SUV lineup with the new X2 -- designed to fit in between its X1 and X3 compact utilities and distinguishing itself in a crowded crossover market with the company's signature zip and a "distinctive exterior design."

The auto show gave a boost to three models by awarding its annual best of the year distinctions.

The 2018 Honda Accord was awarded best car of the year, helping the Japanese company's family sedan best its top rival, the Toyota Camry -- also a finalist for the award.

Among utility cars, Volvo's XC60 SUV was the winner, a much-needed boost for the Chinese-owned Swedish car company as it aims to reassert itself into the American market.  

Ford's massive Lincoln Navigator SUV won, in the truck category, in part because of its towing capability, an awards representative said.

Some automakers tried to stand out with flash and glamour.

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger emerged from a redesigned Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV on Sunday night. GM brought out a redesigned Silverado on Saturday night against a backdrop of earlier models dating back decades -- emphasizing its roots in American history.

"Muscularity is very important in a truck," said GM's design chief Michael Simcoe, while introducing the Silverado.

At the same time, he said consumers are increasingly looking for luxury in trucks.

"We have customers who want luxury car levels of refinement and comfort," he said. "This is the fastest growing segment in the truck business."

Source: AFP

Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit’s Mobility Conference in Abu Dhabi, Gary D. West, Urban Active Operations Manager General Motors International, today reaffirmed General Motor’s commitment to contributing to an all-electric future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.  

Sitting at the forefront of the future mobility revolution, General Motors has identified the four major pillars currently transforming the transportation sphere: in-vehicle connectivity, sharing, electrification and autonomous driving, according to West.

West also expanded on General Motors’ commitment to an all-electric future by discussing plans to launch two new all-electric vehicles in the next 18 months which will be the first of at least 20 new all-electric vehicles launching by 2023.

As part of General Motor’s electrification efforts in the region, Chevrolet is also taking part in the 2018 Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip (Global EVRT) taking place between January 18 and 26, 2018. As the Official Electric Vehicle Partner for this 1,217 kilometer cross-desert road trip between the UAE and Oman, Chevrolet is providing three new Chevrolet Bolt EVs, offering participants the opportunity to test drive the vehicle almost one year before it goes on sale in the region.  

Speaking at the Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip launch event, Molly Peck, Chief Marketing Officer General Motors Middle East, said “Firmly dedicated to furthering the knowledge and adoption of EVs in the region, we are thrilled to be part of the 2018 EVRT Middle East edition. We can’t wait for participants to get behind the wheel and experience the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s outstanding green credentials that combine innovative technologies and an unprecedented driving range of over 500km.”

Committed to playing a major role in the next chapter of the Middle East EV story, Chevrolet Middle East is gearing up to bring the Chevrolet Bolt EV to select markets across the region at the end of 2018 to form the backbone of the region’s electric vehicle fleets.

BMW, which has been losing ground in the US luxury market to Mercedes, is hoping to turn the tide with a spate of new SUV offerings.

Renault sold a record number of cars last year, the French carmaker said Monday, with global unit sales reaching 3.76 million, a rise of 8.5 percent over 2016.

Emirates Auction, the leading company in the field of management and organization of public and online auctions in the Middle East, launched the first online auction for distinguished vehicle number plates of Category (H) in the Emirate of Ajman yesterday. The auction includes 44 number plates that are available to bid on through its website and smartphone application.
HE Omar Matar Al Mannai, Executive Director of Emirates Auction, stated that the first online auction in Ajman includes a number of distinguished vehicle number plates, which include one double-digit number plate, 10 three-digit number plates, 16 four-digit plates and 17 five-digit number plates. The auction can be accessed through the company's website and smartphone applications. The auction was launched on Monday evening and will continue until January 27.

Al Mannai stated that the auction has been popular since it launched and that the distinguished number plates that are available are varied and appeal to different tastes. He added that the number plates from Category (H) are unique because they are only made available through public and online auctions, which provides an opportunity for everyone to acquire distinguished vehicle number plates through the latest and most transparent bidding systems in the world.
One of the most prominent number plates in the online auction is number 12, which is the only double-digit number plate available. Other prominent numbers in the auction are three-digit number plates such as 120, 707, 555, 313 and 990, four-digit number plates such as 1122, 1881 3663 and 8800, and five-digit number plates such as 10100, 11100, 91111, 11112 and other numbers that are available for bidding through the company's website www.emiratesauctions.com, or by downloading the Emirates Auction smartphone application through Apple Store or Google Play.

In November of 2017, Emirates Auction held the first public auction on vehicle number plates in the Emirate of Ajman. The auction raised Dh9.131 million from the sale of 50 distinctive number plates of category (H), with the presence of more than 850 people.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler (FCA), swatted down speculation Monday that he might sell the group's popular Jeep brand and forecasted a future strategic plan by June in anticipation of his retirement.

"We're not going to break up anything," Marchionne said during a question and answer session with reporters at the Detroit auto show. He also offered a firm "no," when asked if he might sell Jeep.

Wall Street has speculated that FCA might sell off or spin off some units, while also exploring alliances. The speculation sent the company's stock to a record high last week.

The retiring CEO also predicted that a new strategic plan would be announced by the end of June and followed with an announcement of who will be his successor.

Marchionne offered a spoiler: the next CEO would come from the ranks of the current C Suite.

"My successor is going to come out from those ranks," he said, adding that with only men currently occupying those positions, "it's going to be a male that will succeed me."

The company has been engaged in getting its financial house in order and paying down debts by 2018, he said, and will next present a new strategic plan by June 1. That date is the anniversary of Marchionne taking the helm at Fiat.

The outspoken CEO valued the recently passed US tax cuts as being worth approximately $1 billion for FCA. He said the cuts ensured an economic boost and offered more confidence in the future.

"That's exactly what we, as an auto maker in the United States, were waiting to hear. I think it facilitated a number of decisions that needed to be done."

Marchionne credited the cuts with his decision to move production of the company's popular Ram pickup back to the US. It had been sent to Mexico almost a decade ago.

"I think it should have never left. It belonged to this country," Marchionne said.

source: AFP

Volkswagen said Sunday that its namesake brand sold more vehicles worldwide in 2017 than ever before, a sign it is recovering from a bruising emissions-cheating scandal three years ago.

"We finished 2017 with the best performance ever for Volkswagen," Herbert Diess, chairman of the board of management of the Volkswagen passenger cars brand, said Sunday night at the Detroit Auto Show.

Global sales rose 4.2 percent to 6.2 million, with sales in China jumping 5.9 percent to 3.2 million, more than half the total sold globally.

Other countries with strong gains in terms of percentages included the United States, Russia and Brazil, although all of these countries are much smaller markets for VW than China.

VW's sales dropped 0.1 percent in Europe, due in part to a 4.7 percent fall in Germany.

Diess reiterated VW's apology over the dieselgate scandal that has cost it billions of dollars in settlements and government probes.

VW released the figures ahead of the launch of an updated version of the Jetta, its top-selling vehicle in the US. The base price of $18,545 won especially loud applause at a glitzy launch Sunday night.

The Jetta is among just a handful of sedans being launched at the 2018 show, which is dominated by pickup trucks and other large vehicles that have been outselling smaller cars in recent years in the US.

"As a full-line automaker family oriented, you need to have a competitive strong sedan," VW North American chief executive Hinrich Woebcken told reporters after the launch.

source: AFP

Volkswagen introduced a redesigned Jetta on Sunday at the Detroit auto show, aiming to renew interest in the compact sedan after it was tarnished in the company's global emissions scandal.

One thing that might help: more car for less money.

VW revealed the bigger and cheaper 2019 Jetta with only an internal combustion engine, as the German automaker continues to distance itself from its diesel emissions affair.

Despite the changes, the new Jetta is born into the world facing an uphill battle. Although it remained VW's best-selling model in 2017, sales tumbled 4.4% to 115,808 vehicles, as Americans rapidly ditch small cars in favor of crossovers and SUVs. 

Unlike many of today's new vehicles — which fetched an average transaction price of $35,126 in 2017, according to Cox Automotive — the Jetta is priced to sell.

The vehicle carries a starting price of $18.545, or $100 less than the previous model.

Designers gave the new model a "coupe-like exterior" with a quickly sloping roofline. The new model gets a 1.4-liter engine with 147 horsepower and six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

It's slightly longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, too — which is not unexpected as Americans seek out roomier rides.Volkswagen itself has capitalized on the transition to bigger vehicles, introducing a redesined Tiguan and creating a new large SUV called the Atlas, which is an early hit after sales began in 2017.

But the Jetta is still central to the automaker's American lineup. The Jetta's new design includes a large front grille aimed at presenting what VW called "bold character."

The Jetta also gets several new safety features. They include a standard rearview camera and optional forward collision alert, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.The new Jetta hits dealerships in the second quarter, adding to the more than 3.2 million units sold to American customers since it debuted.

source: AFP

Nearly 80 Tesla owners in Norway have sued the US automaker over misleading advertising, saying their electric car did not deliver the promised performance, Norwegian daily Dagens Naeringsliv (DN) reported on Thursday.

The plaintiffs complained that the real power of their Tesla S P85D, a sedan with one of the fastest accelerations in the world, was 469 horsepower and not 700 horsepower as promised by the manufacturer.

They want the same compensation as another group of 133 Norwegian Tesla owners who previously sued the company and reached a deal in December 2016.

Tesla agreed to compensate the 133 car owners by paying them 65,000 kroner (7,260 euros, $8,600) or by providing them with new equipment, according to the financial daily.

"It's the same kind of case that ended up in a compromise the last time," the plaintiffs' lawyer Christoffer Falkeid told the paper.

"It's about the power of the car and the mistakes in marketing and in the sales process but I do not want to go into amounts," he added.

Contacted by AFP, Tesla declined to comment.

A civil complaint will be examined in April by an Oslo court if no deal is reached until then.

According to Norwegian media, another group of 38 motorists also filed a lawsuit against Tesla last fall.

Norway, the world leader in electric cars in terms of market share, is one of the largest markets in the world for Tesla.

There ar a total of 1,201 Tesla S P85Ds in Norway.

Last year, Tesla sales in the Nordic country reached 8,465, all models combined.

source: AFP

German high-end carmaker BMW said Friday it booked record sales for the seventh year in a row in 2017, but continued to trail rival Mercedes-Benz.

The Munich-based group said in a statement that sales of its core BMW-brand cars rose by 4.2 percent to almost 2.1 million last year.

Growth was primarily driven by the strong performance of its X-series SUVs and updated 5-series limousines, the statement said.

While sales in China grew by 15 percent, European sales edged forward by one percent and business in the Americas declined by two percent.

Despite the record performance, BMW was still unable to catch up with Mercedes, which held on to the pole position in the luxury segment with sales of 2.3 million units last year.

Nevertheless, sales chief Ian Robertson insisted that the BMW group as a whole was "the world's leading premium automotive company".

Taking into account sales of BMW's Mini and luxury Rolls-Royce units, the group sold some 2.46 million vehicles worldwide last year.

By comparison, Mercedes-Benz and its Smart brand sold 2.42 million units.

Also on Friday, Volkswagen subsidiary Audi -- another Bavarian contender in the high-end segment -- reported sales up just 0.6 percent year-on-year in 2017, at almost 1.9 million vehicles.

Audi's sales were near flat in Europe and grew only one percent in China.

But shipments of cars with the four-rings logo surged 7.8 percent in the United States, where Audi has in recent years made headlines for its role in VW's 'dieselgate' emissions cheating scandal.

German carmakers have responded to repeated embarrassments over emissions by promising dozens of new electric and hybrid models in the coming years.

The nation's proudest industry must also clean up its act to meet tougher rules on greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants in future.

BMW said it hit a self-imposed target to sell more than 100,000 electric and hybrid vehicles in 2017 across its own-brand and Mini ranges.

Shares in BMW added one percent to 89.59 euros in trading on the Frankfurt stock exchange on Friday morning.

Volkswagen shares were untroubled by Audi's sluggish performance, gaining 0.75 percent to 179.14 euros, while the overall DAX index of blue-chip German shares was flat.

Pickup trucks and SUVs will be among the biggest stars of this year's Detroit Auto Show, reflecting the US tilt towards larger vehicles in an era of relatively low gasoline prices.

Car sales data from 2017 show large models grabbing their biggest-ever share of the US market. Judging from the agenda of the 2018 show, which kicks off this weekend at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, auto manufacturers expect more of the same for a good while longer.

"They're really riding what's selling now," said Randy Miller, global automotive and transportation leader at Ernst & Young, noting that profit margins on larger vehicles dwarf those of smaller vehicles.

The most anticipated offerings include revamps of the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 pickups, the number two and three best-selling US cars in 2017 behind the Ford F-series pickups.

The show is expected to draw some 700,000 visitors in all. After the press preview, the event will open to the public from January 20-28.

The Detroit gathering comes just a few days after the giant Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which this year included numerous auto executives, who talked up new mobile-friendly gadgets and updated techies on initiatives around electric cars and autonomous transport.

"A lot of the manufacturers have geared up their future product and technology and they're showcasing that stuff at CES," said Matt DeLorenzo, managing editor of Kelley Blue Book. "Next week it'll be 'Let's get back to business and show what we're selling now.'" 

- Cautious mood -

Analysts described the overall industry mood as cautious after US car sales fell in 2017 for the first time since 2009, dropping 1.5 percent to 17.2 million.

The industry took the decline in stride, reasoning that the years-long boom after the 2008 financial crisis had to end one day and taking solace in the fact that sales stayed north of 16 million, still a good level.

But the decline also comes as car manufacturers continue to anxiously view ongoing trade negotiations to revamp the North America Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Shares of GM and Ford both tumbled Wednesday on speculation that President Donald Trump will ditch the agreement.

"Manufacturers are leery about potential changes in trade policy, NAFTA, etc," said Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor of cars.com.

Trump's Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is scheduled to appear in Detroit over the weekend.

The Detroit show also comes only weeks after Trump signed into law a massive US tax code rewrite. Automakers applauded Washington after it scuppered a proposal to end a key tax credit for electric cars. 

The industry also welcomes a lower corporate tax rate, but insiders say it is too soon to know whether provisions to encourage more domestic capital spending will have much effect.

"People are not clear how it's going to affect them," Wiesenfelder said. "It's very difficult to tell at this stage what the real bottom line will be on the tax code."

- Electric future? -

Auto industry insiders are especially keen to get a look at the new the Ram 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado, which with the F-150 were on track to again be the top three selling US vehicles for 2017 as of mid-December, according to Kelley Blue Book.

"It doesn't look like there's going to be a great amount of introductions, but the ones that are there look pretty significant," said Wiesenfelder.

Other new vehicles expected to be unveiled include several SUVs or larger "crossover" vehicles from Acura, BMW and Mercedes, while Ford is considered likely to revive the Ford Ranger, a midsize pickup last offered in 2011.

Expected sedan launches include a revamped Toyota Avalon, an updated Volkswagen Jetta and new products from Kia and Hyundai.

Still, sedans are clearly on the outs with many US consumers. Traditional cars accounted for just 36 percent of the US market last year, down from 50 percent in 2012, and the lowest share ever, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Analysts see other factors besides cheap gas pushing consumers to bigger vehicles.

"You feel like you're more in control of the situation, especially as there's more pickups and SUVs around you," said DeLorenzo. "You want to be tall like everyone else, rather than sitting lower in a traditional sedan."

DeLorenzo noted that the 2018 show is expected to include just one major new electric or hybrid vehicles -- a new Honda Insight prototype.

"What it says is that the electric future everybody's talking about might be a little further out than what they're letting on," he said.

source: AFP

French carmaker PSA said Tuesday that it would make 1,300 people redundant under labour reforms pushed through by President Emmanuel Macron, the first big company to take advantage of the looser layoff laws.

Macron ran his campaign on a pledge to make businesses more competitive by making it less expensive to hire and fire workers, part of the former investment banker's push for a "French renaissance".

In September, he used executive decrees to shake up collective bargaining rules, overcoming the resistance of the far left and some labour unions.

Under the new rules, companies can cut jobs by offering voluntary redundancies instead of having to draw up a company-wide restructuring plan, which requires executives to prove financial difficulties.

Knowing that they can lay off workers with little ado is to entice employers to hire them more easily in the first place, the theory goes.

The goal is to cut a French unemployment rate currently at 9.2 percent, above the euro zone average of 8.7 percent and well above the 3.6 percent in neighbouring Germany.

Voluntary redundancies already existed before Macron's reforms, but only on a case-by-case basis.

French clothing retailer Pimkie also said this week that it would use the new rules to lay off 208 staff out of roughly 1,900 in France.

But PSA, whose brands include Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and Vauxhall, was the first major company to invoke the new rules ahead of a meeting with union leaders Tuesday.

PSA also plans to offer 900 early retirement plans, but said it would offset the redundancies by adding 1,300 permanent contracts this year and 2,000 apprentice contracts for younger workers.

"At least half of entry-level positions filled by the group?s former interns or work-study employees, with the hiring of at least 2,000 young people," the carmaker said.

The head of the militant CGT union, which led protests against the reforms in September, accused Europe's second-biggest carmaker after Volkswagen of a race to the bottom.

"The management at PSA wants to turn permanent contracts into unstable jobs, temporary work, etc.," Philippe Martinez told France Info radio.

PSA has to obtain the agreement of unions representing at least 50 percent of workers to proceed with the plan.

But for Martinez, executives now have the upper hand.

"I know that some directors at big companies will say 'It's either this or else I close a factory'," he said.

"We all know of a number of cases when volunteers are forced."

Source: AFP