The European light commercial vehicle (LCV) telematics market is largely untapped. Overall penetration of telematics in the 29 million LCVs in operation in Europe is just 6.2 per cent, which presents immense opportunities for telematics vendors as well as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Jaguar Land Rover is talking with other automakers about a partnership on hybrid vehicles as the UK luxury car manufacturer battles to meet CO2 emissions targets in Europe.
To avoid tax, all Transit Connects arrived as passenger vehicles. Even without a free-trade pact, Ford Motor Co. has leaned on European models such as the Ford Fiesta and C-Max to extend its U.S. product line. But that strategy can backfire.
Europe’s car market is bottoming out after five years of falling demand, but high unemployment and weak bank lending suggest its recovery will be long and slow, executives at the Frankfurt auto show said.
Automakers have been hammered by Europe’s prolonged economic downturn, with sales falling sharply and profits suffering even more because of overcapacity.
Instead of hitting the panic button, European automakers pressed reset on their operations in the region. The restructuring and an improving economy have made some industry executives cautiously optimistic.
Green shoots of recovery are beginning to appear for Europe’s carmakers, despite continued shrinkage in the region’s overall new-car sales.
