Tough times ahead for global car industry -Audi chief

•  He expects China’s auto market to grow at over 8 % and luxury at over 20 %
•   Audi is the market leader among luxury segment in China
• US sells over 2 million luxury cars – BMW & Mercedes are the top selling models
• He plans to make Audi no.1, world-wide, by 2015.

Tough times ahead for auto manufacturers, but interesting time for car buyer… Let us hope, while chasing the numbers, all auto mfrers do not overlook the safety and environment responsibilities

Toyota 's plans for 2012

According to reports, Toyota likely to increase production targets to 8.65 million vehicles in 2012.

The previous record was 8.53 million in 2007.

This is expected to be over 20% above current year, when production was severely hampered by earthquake, tsunami in Japan and the floods in Thailand.

Let us hope 2012 will be a disaster free year !

Ford Middle East

Nothing much to share.... Hence sharing this link of Ford - ME

Ford is making the right moves, with their new launches like Ford Explorer, already making the right vibes and they are making the right push for smaller cars, Figo/Focus etc

Among the big manufacturers, they seem on a strong ground to forge ahead in 2012...

http://www.me.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137385092786&pagename=Page&c=DFYPage&site=FME

Ford Opens Office in Riyadh

Ford Motor Company recently announced plans to open a branch office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 


The company made the announcement at a ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of Al-Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co. Ltd. (Al-Jazirah), a distributor of Ford and Lincoln cars and trucks in the Kingdom. 


The office is expected to open in the second half of 2012. 


"Ford is the fastest growing automotive brand in Saudi Arabia, with a record 47,000 car and truck sales projected for 2011".


History of Ford Logo : http://www.muscularmustangs.com/database2/fordlogo.php

Peugeot in KSA

Peugeot has a new dealer in KSA - HHA

Surely this arrangement will help Peugeot to get into a niche segment in one of the biggest auto markets in this region. Car manufacturer stands to gain immensely by this - HHA is one of the better dealers in process excellence & customer satisfaction.

With Renault's success through the new dealer, Volvo still finding its feet, Peugeot will be an interesting competetion in this competetive market

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20111123112603

Audi launches approved used car locator in Mideast

Audi is making it even easier to purchase an approved used car from its model range in the Middle East, with the November launch of its new web-based Audi Approved Vehicle locator for Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.

The online locator is developed on a new platform that can be accessedfrom audiapproved.com and is integrated within the dealer and Audi Middle East websites.All vehicles on the Audi Approved Vehicle locator have prices and specification details including interior and exterior imagery.

check out their website : http://www.audiapproved.com/

Luxury Cars market UAE

http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=1&subCategory=2&ContentId=17973


Informative article.. some industry update on luxury cars & overall TIV of UAE

• Porche dealer of UAE is NO.1, world wide - Cayenne is top selling model
• I happened to watch a good report on CNBC autoshow aboard Jet Airways - the acnhor drove the ultimate SUV on the Himachal Pradesh roads, 'one of the toughest'. Well executed program, that was !
• Luxury segment in UAE exp to hit 9% of TIV at 25 K cars, 32 % jump (16% in 2010)
• Overall TIV exp to jump by 15 % to 273 K cars ( 6% in 2010). 
• TIV exp to grow by a healthy 13 % in 2010

new restrictions on import of used car parts

perhaps this should surely improve the safety standards

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article533301.ece

Happiness

"There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something" - Henry Ford 

But it surely does not lie in acquiring latest cars/mobiles & other gadgets... for, happiness lies within, not outside us.

I write this seeing increasing number of cars of higher segments on Mumbai-roads... traffic getting more aggressive & less considerate about others... that is not the spirit of Mumbai

Porche (also BMW) in cruise mode

Ø  Luxury German sports car maker Porsche :

o   profits jumped 25 percent during the first nine months of 2011.

o   operating profit between January and September rose to 1.51bn euros ($2.14bn) from 1.21bn euros in the same period in 2010.

o   Porsche’s turnover rose by 20 percent with sales increasing by 26 percent to 85,872 vehicles. Porche may cross the psychological figure of 100 K vehicles this year

o   Growth was spread across all regions but with the largest increase being posted by China, with vehicle sales up 82 percent to 17,683 units. Total sales in the Asia/Rest of the World region, which includes the Middle East, rose by 54 percent to 31,954 vehicles.

Ø  BMW also has reported positive results, with the capacity utilization at a whopping 110 % !!

VW may surpass Toyota as global No.1

 VW’s sales, third among carmakers in 2010, will probably rise 13 percent to 8.1 million vehicles this year, based on the average of three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. GM sales will gain about 8 percent to 7.55 million, while Toyota will drop 9 percent to 7.27 million, according to the survey.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-24/vw-likely-to-surpass-toyota-as-biggest-carmaker-this-year.html

Global Car Sales Trend

Global car sales will rise 8.5 percent to 80.7 million in 2012, according to researcher JD Power & Associates. Demand is being led by developing nations, which will expand 6.1 percent next year, compared with 1.9 percent for advanced economies, the International Monetary Fund predicts. For owners of car carriers, that means profit at a time when freighters hauling commodities are losing money.

“Who’s buying cars? That’s Brazil, that’s Russia, that’s India, that’s China,” said Ole Stenhagen, an analyst at SEB Enskilda AS in Oslo, whose recommendations on shipping companies would have returned 71 percent for investors over the past three years. “As long as you’ve got fleet growth under control, you’re set for a significant increase over the next three to five years.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-24/car-carriers-profit-from-record-global-demand-as-shipping-slumps-freight.html

How Ford jumped from No3 ( in 2008) to No 1 ( 2011) in Canada? Interesting analysis

Market share jumped in three years from 12 % to 17.9%

·         Ford’s global strategy to invest and to focus on small cars seem to have paid off, apart from the constraints faced by key competetors.
·         Human element seems to be a key factor – whether at Allan Mullaly’s global strategy or Mondragon’s local tactics.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mondragon-leaves-ford-canada-in-top-spot/article2213605/

Car Joke - Quattro Vs Uno...

Five Germans in an Audi Quattro arrive at the Italian border. The Italian Customs Officer stops them and tells them "It'sa illegala to putta 5 people in a Quattro."    

 "Vot do you mean it's illegal?" asks the German driver.    "Quattro meansa four" replies the Italian official.    "Quattro is just ze name of zefokken automobile" the German says unbelievingly. "Look at ze dam papers: ze car is designed to karry 5 persons"    "You canta pulla thata one on me!" replies the Italian customs officer. "Quattro meansa four. You have five-a people ina your car and you are thereforea breaking tha law." 

   The German driver replies angrily, "You idiot! Call your zupervisor over. I vant to speak to someone viz more intelligence!"    "Sorry" responds the Italian officer, "He can'ta come. He'sa busy witha 2 guys in a Fiat Uno" 

Tata 407 is 25 yrs youngs... Wow

Tata 407 Celeberates Silver Jubilee....

Thousands of Indians have been part of that beautiful journey... truck operators to financiers ( yours truly included)

UAE automobile sales set to reach 275,000 units in 2011

UAE automobile sales set to reach 275,000 units in 2011

Chinese cars set to invade Saudi market target=

Chinese cars set to invade Saudi market target=

3000 cars to enter ME ! 

Car & Bike Show on NDTV

Yet another interesting episode .... great effort by the team.

I feel C&B is a lot like this humble blog. Auto news from the perspective & expectation of a common man... these days, car is considered an essential, by the common man ! For that price and with those features, if the vehicle performs well, M&M has a sure winner.

Inspired by Cheetah ! cool...

Great effort by team M & M - let Cheetah surge ahead

Mustang Customiser

Ford Mustang Customizer

http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/customizer/

Crown Victoria - Long Live !

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/motoring/long-live-the-ford-crown-victoria-1.869609

Impact of Japan's quake on Middle East auto industry- a report

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/28/gulf-autos-idUSL6E7IS1C020110728


While Japanese brands struggle to keep up the demand, Hyundai also seem to be behind schedules, as some markets have reported shortages

Chevrolet starts the 100 day countdown to its centennial celebrations

http://www.albawaba.com/chevrolet-starts-100-day-countdown-its-centennial-celebrations-384431

BMW releases music video shot on production floor

Car ads are getting more techie... If Toyota, for one of their dull brands are going social networking sites, BMW has this music video shot on shop-floor !


As for this innovative initiative, the official version is: 

“The appeal of the work was to develop a viable, independent, recognisable composition that only makes use of vehicle sounds, such as the blinkers, GPS voice, closing noises, seat belts, doors, safety alarm, to name but a few. The visual resolution at the end shows clearly that the percussive elements such as the bass synthesizer, the vocals and the melodies were produced by the vehicle itself,” says Bill McAndrews, Head of Communication Strategy, Corporate Communications, at the BMW Group.

Good idea... but could have been executed better, I feel !

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/videos/bmw-releases-music-video-shot-on-production-floor--410305.html

Toyota Sequoia TV Commercial Campaign launched on social media

Toyota is going techie, for sure....
The brand needs all channels in their efforts to rub-off the negative impact of PR fiasco !

But why ad in Dubai ?!  :)


http://www.ameinfo.com/270738.html

Audi in ME

A friend here ( in Middle east) says, if you drive an Audi, you can not drive any other car. 

In my spiritual pursuit, I am trying to go beyond brand, luxury, et al !

Frankly I am scared to ‘upgrade’ to Audi. Don’t want to get hooked to one more brand in life !

Another friend tried to get out of ‘Apple’ addiction, IPhone, ITouch, IPad.. But was not able to & conceded defeat, with humility. Apple a day would have kept doctor away, partially at least J

Some numbers on Audi's performance, for Middle East, comprising 12 markets:

·         3725 cars sold in H1-2011

·         1531 in UAE, 681 in KSA

·         Best selling models : Audi Q7 (863 units), A8 L (613 units) and Q5 (588 units), followed by A4 and A6

Source : http://www.ameinfo.com/270795.html

Android application for the Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) Toyota Fleet.

Interesting, though small, developments !


http://arabnews.com/economy/article471533.ece

Hyundai Veloster to roll in Saudi Arabia & UAE soon

As the market is facing shortage of popular cars from key brands, here is a key brand expected to launch another sleek machine, VELOSTAR !

If these reports are right, perfect timing indeed... as the demand may see an upswing during the Ramadan month & not many high profile launches either....

Interesting times ahead for car-enthusiasts surely!

Hyundai Veloster to roll in Saudi Arabia & UAE soon

Lexus to lose its 11-year luxury top spot in US target=

Lexus to lose its 11-year luxury top spot in US target=

Lexus' loss may be gain for BMW & others...

Believe it not, we are driving less, says a report

According to a report in The Age, 'Peak car use - which is measured as vehicle kilometres travelled per capita - had occurred in all major Australian cities in 2004 in line with the world trend, the authors noted. In 2004, Melbourne's car use peaked at 12,410 passenger kilometres per capita. In 2009, that had dropped to 11,050'
 

That is quite 'GO Green' !!

http://www.theage.com.au/national/believe-it-or-not-were-driving-less-than-ever-20110709-1h7zq.html

gulfnews : Cars leaving UAE with worn tyres will be stopped

gulfnews : Cars leaving UAE with worn tyres will be stopped

This is a very good initiative... Very thoughtful to check vehicles leaving the border too...

Toyota's Recall Saga

Toyota is to recall more than 110,000 hybrid vehicles over concerns about a problem with the power supply circuit. The Japanese carmaker said the recall involves the Highlander hybrid and Lexus RX400h models globally. Lexus did well on JD Power rating released recently

According to experts 'rapid expansion' is considered to be the main reason for the recalls ! What a tragedy... Toyota was considered to be synonymous with quality!

Hyundai/Kia June report

Hyundai & Kia duo, World's No 5 auto manufacturer registered good growth in June, 11.

While Hyundai grew by 12.3 %, Kia went up by 22 % !

Indeed, when the global auto market is coming out of a recession, people are looking for value for money. If that comes with higher style quotient, esp the new Sonata & Kia launches, buyers 'feel better'!
With US demand also looking good, an interesting H2 ahead. But there have been reports of shortage of Hyundai cars in Middle East



http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/01/hyundai-sales-idUSL3E7I104M20110701

Car Re-exports

Car re-exports stage a quick revival

some update on re-export of cars from Middle East

JD POWER NEW RATING

Quality check

J.D. Power and Associates rates these as having the fewest complaints in the first 90 days of ownership:

Subcompact

1. Honda Fit 
2. Kia Rio 
3. Hyundai Accent

Compact

1. (tie) Honda Civic 
1. (tie) Honda Insight 
3. Toyota Prius

Compact sporty

1. Mazda MX-5 Miata 
2. Volkswagen Eos 
3. Volkswagen GTI

Compact premium sporty*

1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet/Coup

Entry premium

1. Lexus ES 
2. Acura TSX 
3. Lexus IS

Midsize premium

1. Lexus GS 
2. Jaguar XF 
3. Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan/wagon

Midsize sporty*

1. Dodge Challenger 
2. Chevrolet Camaro

Large premium

1. Lexus LS 
2. Hyundai Equus 
3. Porsche Panamera

Midsize

1. Honda Accord 
2. Subaru Legacy 
3. Toyota Camry

Large

1. Ford Taurus 
2. Buick Lucerne 
3. Nissan Maxima

Compact crossover/SUV

1. Honda Element 
2. Honda CR-V 
3. Toyota FJ Cruiser

Compact MPV*

1. Chevrolet HHR

Entry premium crossover/SUV

1. Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 
2. Acura RDX 
3. Volvo XC60

Midsize crossover/SUV

1. Honda Accord Crosstour 
2. (tie) Dodge Durango 
2. (tie) Subaru Outback Wagon

Large crossover-SUV

1. Chevrolet Tahoe 
2. GMC Yukon 
3. Chevrolet Suburban

Midsize premium crossover/SUV

1. Lexus RX 
2. (tie) BMW X6 
2. (tie) Infiniti FX-Series 
2. (tie) Volvo XC70

Large premium crossover/SUV

1. Cadillac Escalade 
2. Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 
3. Lincoln Navigator

Large pickup

1. Ford F-150 LD 
2. Toyota Tundra 
3. Chevrolet Avalanche

Midsize pickup

1. Honda Ridgeline 
2. Nissan Frontier 
3. Ram Dakota

Minivan

1. Chrysler Town & Country 
2. Honda Odyssey 
3. Dodge Grand Caravan 
*No other model in this segment performs above the segment average

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110624/AUTO01/106240387/Ford-s-quality-ranking-plummets-in-J.D.-Power-survey#ixzz1QDf9IoaH

World car industry

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110621035349


World car production to be 90 million by year 2018...(60 million in 2010)!!

Wow"...... But what about pollution

Dubai's car market

Dubai's auto market for 2010 

•  Valued at AED 20 bn
• Re-exports AED 9 bn

Courtesy - arabian business

IPhone & other ads in India

I am no ad expert... Hence comments from a common man's perspective!!

I was pleasantly surprised to see an IPhone 4 tvc !! Why do they need to advertise at all. The product sells by itself. It gets the best advt thru word of mouth.

Me & a senior colleague felt we Iphoners have no privacy & face huge risk in future. We tried out competing phones. Recently he confessed, 'Iphone is addictive!'

Punch line says it all

gulfnews : 'You have to be in emerging markets'

gulfnews : 'You have to be in emerging markets'

An interesting conversation with an auto expert from ME... about the situation arising out of tsunami @ Japan, in terms of supply of cars & spares... also, how they are moving in to other markets such as Saudi Arabia & India.

Tata Delight

Tata has launched DELIGHT, a loyalty program for commercial vehicle industry!
That is great news. This is an industry which is always low on 'sophistication-quotient'.
At the same time, hope it is simple enough for an average truck owner.
Great effort...TATA

gulfnews : Work hard and save money, Saudi magnate tells youth

Valuable pieces of advise for all, young & old :

......'Al Rajhi advised the 1,000-plus youths packed in the RCCI hall to work 14 hours a day if they wanted to succeed.

"If you save the money you consume in excessive use of electricity, you can buy a flat after 20 years," he said. "In the beginning my wife did not respond to my advice on power saving, but when I told her the money saved from it would be given to her, she used to put off the lights I had left on."

"It is not wise to give your children pocket money.....'

gulfnews : Work hard and save money, Saudi magnate tells youth

TOYOTA to stay on in Japan

Toyota plan to continue to manufacture cars at Japan, in spite of the devastation & disruption to production. It may take a long time to get things back on track, or 'assembly line/just in time' ! Even the rising input costs or shortage of power or even unfavorable rate of Yen will not make them change them to move production out of their country. Their own CFO says, '...current environment makes it very, very difficult' !

I wonder... !

• Toyota is placing their country above the interests of the shareholders. Is it fair ? Also, they want to create jobs in Japan, in these bad times... Very patriotic..!
• May be they want to ensure they produce in Japan to ensure quality, esp in view of their recent recalls?? They may still pull off on cost-front with better inventory .... can it be 'better', as they are already very good ?? 
• Higher input cost may mean the end-customer may not be getting the 'best' price...
• Other key players, Nissan & Honda, seem to be making more 'prudent' business decisions..

As a global brand, should they not be focussing on giving the best quality, at best price and creating jobs where they can ensure same ? 

These are the questions a customer will have... not in Japan, but in other key markets, including Middle East, where they enjoy dominant market share... 

 

Why do we buy Luxury cars ?

I always wondered why we spend extra money ( also loan-installments/interest) to buy a luxury car, when a much lower segment can fulfill the purpose.
Safety is definitely one of the reasons why we buy expensive cars. But, not just safety...

check out : http://www.livemint.com/2011/03/24221653/The-curious-economics-of-luxur.html?atype=tp
The linen shirt from Adam Smith is an good example.
NDTV recently carried a report how our neta (of 'aam admis'!) sport a Mont Blanc pen!

Why ??  for the 'social' reasons/peer pressure/et al ! ( blame it elsewhere!)
But it works as a Marketing Placebo... it enhances out performance, born out of our superiority complex!!
Interesting... !

PS - all the more reasons for the world to practice 'Ceiling on Desires, to Live SSpiritually!

Sale of cars - On Line

The future of managing distribution cost... GO ONLINE, even for Car Sales...

Check out Renault plan :

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-03/renault-plans-to-start-internet-sales-to-fight-peugeot-s-low-cost-offers.html

Be Inspired

If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.

- Henry Ford

Social Media Marketing Group News | LinkedIn

a well compiled report...

as expected, Facebook is the most preferred for every brand!

Social Media Marketing Group News | LinkedIn

UPDATE 4-Toyota may build cut-price car for Asia in Indonesia | Reuters

Auto Industry... Future Trends

UPDATE 4-Toyota may build cut-price car for Asia in Indonesia | Reuters

IndiansinKuwait.com - 22 Car dealerships: Kuwait one of world's largest auto markets

A small note on Kuwait auto industry...

IndiansinKuwait.com - 22 Car dealerships: Kuwait one of world's largest auto markets

IBM's "Next Five in Five"

It was interesting to note the Next Five...

1. Beaming up your friends in 3D - which means we will spend more time on-line ==> less time off line, more obesity, et al... !
2. Batteries that breathe air to power devices - we desperately need better battery technology to minimise the pollution 
3. Computers helping energising cities
4. commutes that are personalised... 
5. but what caught my attention was ORDINARY PEOPLE SAVING THE PLANET

This is most urgent need of the hour. If we depend on orgns, governments or media to dictate the pace ( or lack of it) implementation, we may need to migrate to another planet sooner than we imagined. The common man has to take the responsibility and the initiative. Each one of holds the future of our planet. 

A Fund for Vintage Cars !

A fund for vintage cars...not sure

But a fund for art... may work.

Both these being physical assets, still better than all the paper-chase that caused the credit crunch.

But we definitely need a fund to GO Greeeeeen.. !

» A sexy alternative – Kippreport.com

Nissan GT-R 2012 VVIP edition now in UAE & GCC | Drive Arabia : Dubai / Abu Dhabi [UAE, Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman & GCC]

VVIP edition !!

Nissan GT-R 2012 VVIP edition now in UAE & GCC | Drive Arabia : Dubai / Abu Dhabi [UAE, Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman & GCC]

General Motors sees 54% surge in Saudi car sales - Energy - ArabianBusiness.com

A small update on GM, ME..

yet again all indicators in percentage ! :(

General Motors sees 54% surge in Saudi car sales - Energy - ArabianBusiness.com

Ha'il Desert Challenge hits the road today - Arab News

Hail Rally

Ha'il Desert Challenge hits the road today - Arab News

Ha'il Desert Challenge hits the road today - Arab News

Hail Rally

Ha'il Desert Challenge hits the road today - Arab News

BBC News - What will cars be like in the future?

BBC News - What will cars be like in the future?

Toyota unveils car design contest for Saudi kids

A small, but a good CSR initiative from Toyota dealer in KSA - ALJ.

Toyota unveils car design contest for Saudi kids

Ford’s GCC sales grow 28% in 2010 | AutoMiddleEast.com

Ford’s GCC sales grow 28% in 2010 | AutoMiddleEast.com

interesting article on trends... trend only, as no absolute numbers !!

Qatar wealth fund to raise capital stake in Porsche - Funds - ArabianBusiness.com

Qatar wealth fund to raise capital stake in Porsche - Funds - ArabianBusiness.com

Traders report surge in car sales across Gulf in 2010 - Transport - ArabianBusiness.com

Middle East showing signs of recovery in Auto Sales... great news for 2011

Traders report surge in car sales across Gulf in 2010 - Transport - ArabianBusiness.com

Goutham Parekh to drive in ME series

Gautham to kick off @ REEM, Riyadh! Cool !

Goutham Parekh to drive in ME series

Goutham Parekh to drive in ME series

Gautham to kick off @ REEM, Riyadh! Cool !

Goutham Parekh to drive in ME series

BBC News - Rolls-Royce sales surge 'set to continue', carmaker's chief says

BBC News - Rolls-Royce sales surge 'set to continue', carmaker's chief says

Ford Figo goes on sale in KSA | CarMiddleEast.com

Made in India, for Middle East Market

Hope the car can handle the heat of ME and the A/c powerful enough

Ford Figo goes on sale in KSA | CarMiddleEast.com

Top international brands to take part in first Qatar Motor Show

A quick update on Qatar Motor Show...

This year, the motor shows are generally low key, courtesy aftermath of the downturn in auto industry world wide..

with lesser models showcased, the interest or hype is low too

Top international brands to take part in first Qatar Motor Show

Local Press: Why do we evade Saher? - Arab News

Saher is a great beginning... it may have its on shortcomings, as it is at an early stages of implementation.

As the author rightly mentions, world over authorities are struggling to control the havoc created by drunken-driving. Something we don't need to worry in KSA. But here our challenge is the 'intoxication' of over-speeding !

We should not look at it as something imposed on us, but something for our safety.

Everyone of us who gets behind the wheel has to be responsible - to himself, his family and most importantly, the society.

Local Press: Why do we evade Saher? - Arab News