While in Italy manufacturers, importers and dealers are losing dozens of employees and millions of euro every day – and Fiat develops his worst results in the last 30 years – in Russia the Carmakers seems to play war games.

The Russian market is a great opportunity for manufacturers and dealers: last year, 2,652,000 cars were sold with a growth of 39.1% over 2010. As reported by Focus 2 move, the first quarter of 2012 ended with another growth of 22.7%, despite statements of analysts praising the CIVETS and giving BRICS markets for finished! Read more »

Quality Seafood © by JD Hancock

Using the same parts for different models of cars, and for different brands in the case of auto groups, is definitely an intelligent solution for cost containment and the allocation of fixed costs on a larger number of vehicles, besides the reduction of merchandise in stock by adopting a just in time production system. Read more »

Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" © by papalars

In 2008 the global financial crisis hit European Economy reducing real purchase power and effecting commodities sectors, including the automotive. Markets started to decline and the European Governments decided to support automotive, considering the high impact over GDP. Read more »

With trumpets and drums Mr. Rob Kurnick announces the landing of the Penske Group into the land of Fiat: “In Italy the economy is recovering and there are opportunities to grab!”

A few days ago the associations of Dealers and Manufacturers – Federauto and Unrae – had spoken a “bit differently” regarding the dramatic situation of all those spitting blood in the italian automotive: fearing the loss of 15,000 jobs in dealerships and 200,000 in the entire segment. Read more »

I am very proud that Ricardo Olivera, from Lisboa, has selected Automotive Space to advert his World Shopper Conference. You can see the banner created for WCS2012.
Click on the header to subscribe, or on this link.

For the last few days I have been hearing the ad on the italian radio for the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta and the part about maintaining its value in the used car market according to Eurotax and Quattroruote (the most important italian automotive newspaper) really caught my attention. Read more »

iXS European Downhill Cup @ Pila © EdoM

Today we live in an era in which we are bombarded with a wealth of information. Today more than ever it is important to sell not only automobiles but also experiences.

Automobile companies invest millions of euros in advertising, spokespersons and events. It has almost become a habit for many brands to be open on Sunday, dictated by the company, which is costly for the dealer. Read more »

 Interview Date: March, 14th 2012.

Professional Profile: Marco Saltalamacchia

Remarks: Interview carried by  Pietro Montagna

I have asked Mr. Marco SALTALAMACCHIA (former Senior Vice President of BMW Sales & CEO of BMW Italy SpA) some thoughts about the future of our sector.
Good Morning Mr. Saltalamacchia, the current crisis of the European Automotive Market triggered a huge brainstorming of ideas and possible solutions. From your experience do you think it would be feasible to think about a distribution without dealers? Do you foresee a direct web selling, or either un-experimented channels? Read more »

Wales V England, 1955 © by joncandy

Months ago I signed a subscription to Automotive News, digital magazine that keeps me informed in what’s going on in the automotive world in Europe and the States, and I read that in Europe despite the divestiture of brands such as Dahiatsu there are Japanese who continue to believe and invest, with prospects of double-digit growth in the coming years.

Read more »

photo credit: godzillante|photochopper

“2012 started full of uncertain for OEMs in the automotive industry” this was how I started my article last month. At that time reports on January Chinese market performance were not yet available and when they arrived, with an incredible 26% lost year on year, Car OEMs Top Executives become really nervous. Read more »