Volkswagen Group’s plan to build a budget car for emerging markets, a key part of its drive to become the world’s biggest automaker, has stalled because the carmaker is struggling to meet cost targets for the vehicle, said Heinz-Jakob Neusser, VW’s brand development chief.Europe’s largest carmaker has been trying for more than a year to hit internal cost requirements for the vehicle, which would likely sell for between 6,000 euros ($8,300) and 8,000 euros and be built in China, the biggest market for budget cars.
Daily Archives: March 5, 2014
Opel CEO targets No. 2 brand in Europe by 2022
General Motors’ Opel unit wants to overtake PSA/Peugeot-Citroen to become the second-largest carmaker in Europe by 2022, the European automaker’s CEO said.
“Why aim only for a turnaround by 2016 if we can go further and say we want to be number two in Europe by 2022,” Karl-Thomas Neumann said at the Geneva auto show, adding that 2014 would be a difficult year, burdened by the cost of closing a factory in Bochum, Germany.
BMW’s Robertson discusses future leader qualifications
BMW sales chief Ian Robertson says that the auto industry’s next-generation leaders will need to have open minds and international backgrounds.These characteristics will be crucial as automakers adapt to megatrends, he said.
One example is the growing number of people in megacities such as London who want a mobility solution — such as a car-sharing scheme — rather than the responsibility of car ownership.
Volkswagen T-ROC concept revealed, new possible SUV range
Volkswagen has has revealed T-Roc concept at the Geneva Motor Show, that rides on its new MQB modular transverse matrix platform, underpinning also the seventh-generation Golf.
While T-Roc is purely a concept, Volkswagen says the model is a “look ahead to possible future SUV models”.
Jeep introduces new Renegade small SUV; segment-first 9-speed transmission
Jeep unveiled the new 2015 Jeep Renegade small SUV at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed for global markets, the Renegade offers 16 powertrain combinations globally and the segment’s first nine-speed automatic transmission.
