AMERICAS AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORT MARKET

AMERICAS: SEPTEMBER 2008 - Canadian Trucking Alliance is not impressed by Transport Canada's Full Cost Investigation.

Transport Canada and provincial and territorial governments have undertaken a full cost investigation (FCI) of transportation in Canada which "includes the comprehensive financial and social costs associated with infrastructures, services, vehicles, and with the movement of people and goods. Social costs refer to the costs of accidents, noise, congestion delays and environmental damages."

The FCI is intended to deliver defensible estimates of costs that would allow a better understanding of the relative full costs of the different modes of transport.

The report, published in July 2008 but based on data from 2000, estimated the full costs of transportation ranged between C$198 billion and C$233 billion. Of that figure social costs associated with the impacts of transportation activities in 2000 were estimated to be in the a range between C$24.4 billion and C$39.5 billion.

The full cost of trucking was estimated at C$53.84 billion of which C$4.01 billion or 7% is attributable to social costs.

David Bradley, CEO of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, is not impressed. He is quoted in a CTA release as stating that, "Beyond an interesting intellectual exercise, the report is not of much use and certainly cannot be relied upon for policy purposes." Furthemore he decries Transport Canada's admission that "in order to complete this project by the deadline, the issue of absolute and relative benefits and advantages of transportation has been excluded from the scope of the project." Bradley elaborates that this omission "doesn't help the sector in its attempts to ensure that policy-makers and legislators view the industry as more than a necessary evil or stop taking it for granted."

Canada Trucking 2008

Snapdata's Snapshots Canada Trucking 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Canadian trucking market and covers general freight, dry bulk, liquid bulk, forest products, movers and other specialised freight. Market value is based on revenues. Market volume is based on the number of vehicles in circulation. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Canada Trucking 2008 forms part of Snapdata's Transport industry coverage.

EUROPEAN MOTOR VEHICLES MARKET

EUROPE: MARCH 2008 - European motor vehicle manufacturing landscape changes.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association have calculated that, in total, there are more than 250 automobile manufacturing plants in Europe, directly employing 2.3 million Europeans and indirectly supporting a further 10 million jobs in related sectors. These plants produce more than 18.5 million vehicles each year.

Roughly 170 plants are operated by 14 major manufacturers who between them produce 90% of Europe's vehicles; the remaining European plants are operated by smaller, specialist or Japanese manufacturers.

Based on 2004 figures Germany, with 36, has the most plants, followed by the UK (32), Italy (29) and France (25). In Central and Eastern Europe, manufacture is concentrated in Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia, each with more than 10 plants.

The competitive landscape will be altered by two announcements....more

AUTOMOTIVE MARKET

AMERICAS: FEBRUARY 2008 - Tata in poll position to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.

Ken Gorin, chairman of the Jaguar Business Operations Council which represents Jaguar dealers in the United States, stated in an interview in December 2007 that the American public was not ready for Indian ownership of a luxury car brand. He was quoted as stating, 'I believe it would severely throw a tremendous cast of doubt over the viability of the brand.' His opinion was dismissed as narrow by his UK counterpart James Brearley, chairman of the British Jaguar dealers' council.

Gorin's concerns were also dismissed by Ravi Kant, managing director of Tata Motors, Kamal Nath, India's commerce and industry minister and the president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

Despite this controversy Lewis Booth, executive vice president - Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group stated on 3 January 2008 that, 'Ford is committed to focused negotiations at a more detailed level with Tata Motors concerning the potential sale of the combined Jaguar Land Rover business.'

'There is still a considerable amount of work to do, and while no final decision has been made, we will proceed with further substantive discussions with Tata Motors over the forthcoming weeks with a view to securing an agreement that is in the best interests of all parties concerned.'

Jaguar's management was reported to be entirely relaxed at this decision.

Instant Overview of the Snapshots China Buses Market 2008

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Snapdata's Snapshots China Buses 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Chinese bus market, and covers light, medium and large buses. Market volume is based on new registrations. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots China Buses 2008 forms part of Snapdata's Automotive industry coverage.

New Overview of the Canada Cars Market 2008

For more information follow this link: Snapshots Canada Cars 2008

Snapdata's Snapshots Canada Cars 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Canadian car market, and covers mid-range, large, luxury, small and other cars. It does not include used cars or car stock. Market volume is based on new registrations. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Canada Cars 2008 forms part of Snapdata's Automotive industry coverage.

Instant Overview of the Snapshots Brazil Buses Market 2008

For more information follow this link: Snapshots Brazil Buses 2008

Snapdata's Snapshots Brazil Buses 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Brazilian bus market, and covers tourist, local, micro, intercity and mini buses. Market volume is based on new registrations. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Brazil Buses 2008 forms part of Snapdata's Automotive industry coverage.

AUTOMOTIVE MARKETS

EUROPE: Russian car market thrives whilst others stagnate.

The Russian car market has been enjoying a high level of growth whilst those of North America and Western Europe have been stagnating. It is now the 8th largest globally and the 5th largest in Europe.

Key drivers of this growth are the increasing wealth consumer wealth, a burgeoning credit market following liberalisation and the increasing competitiveness and availability of foreign brands; growth has been highest in the domestically produced foreign sector.

As car density in Russia is 180 cars per 1,000 people (compared with figures of 512 and 552 for the UK and Germany respectively) there is capacity for continued growth.

CHINA AUTOMOTIVE

ASIA: China is now a net passenger vehicle exporter.

In a survey conducted by Deloittes, Chinese automotive executives estimated that the proportion of exports to total sales of automotive products will grow from 14% in 2006 to 28% in 2010.

China first became a net exporter of passenger vehicles in 2005 when exports grew 224% over the previous year. The majority of vehicles went to developing countries.

Several factors identified by Deloittes have served to dent industry optimism:

excess capacity resulting in a steep drop in prices;

reduction in profitability as cost reductions lag price reductions;

reduction in vehicle import duties.

AUTOMOTIVE

EUROPE: EU strategies for the European automotive industry.

European Union President José Manuel Barroso stated in February 2007 that, "The EU car industries are at the core of our economies. By positively taking up the climate change challenge, they will preserve and enhance their competitiveness in the long term. This is of crucial importance for consumers and workers alike. The strategy we adopted today covers the strategic issues - from road safety to the environment to research - that if addressed in a timely fashion will make sure that the EU car industries will remain strong and innovative world leaders."

The strategy he refers to involves the reduction of administrative burdens, reduction of CO2 emissions (incorporating both technological changes and the increased use of bio-fuels), research and development (clean renewable fuels and vehicles and intelligent vehicles and roads have been identified as core research priorities within the EU), trade (proposals to assess the potential of using bi-lateral trade agreements, particularly in the Asian region, to improve market access and reinforce the need to enforce intellectual property rights globally).

AUTOMOTIVE

ASIA: Politics and New Designs alter the face of the Asia Pacific Automotive markets.

The long term impact of the arrest and indictment of Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong Koo is yet to be determined. He has been accused of creating slush funds to pay politicians and officials for business favours. The groundbreaking for two new overseas plants subsidiary Kia's in the US and Hyundai' in the Czech Republic have already been postponed. However, work on the joint venture engine factory in China, Beijing Hyundai, started as scheduled on May 16.

Mahindra & Mahindra, a leading Indian vehicle manufacturer, reported a 23% rise in net sales to Rs83.26bn for the year ended 31 March 2006. The company will launch the Logan, in association with Renault, in the first half of 2007.

Honda have announced that they are developing an entirely new compact car to be targeted primarily at the Indian market. Tata, General Motors, Fiat and Toyota are also developing new models for this sector which accounts for 75% of the Indian market.

The Chinese government, concerned about over capacity in the automotive industry, is reported to now require companies to prove that consumer demand justifies additional investment before giving approval

AUTOMOTIVE

AMERICAS: Positive News for Latin America Automotive Markets

Positive news from the region as both Argentina and Brazil report strong growth in vehicle manufacturing. Adefa, the Argentinian National Automakers' Federation, reported that Q1 production grew 23.8% to 77,203 units compared with the same period last year. In Brazil production in March was boosted by strong domestic demand fuelled by falling interest rates and grew 12.3% compared with February 2006. Mexico's exports of trucks and buses rose almost 50% in March; 86% of the 4,188 vehicles were exported to the USA.

Ford plans to restructure its executive ranks in Latin America and Canada.

Continental AG have officially opened their new plant in Brazil whilst General Motors have announced that they will invest almost $650m in a new plant in Mexico and Daimler Chrysler will spend approximately $1bn upgrading their assembly site in Toluca, Mexico.

Prime-Tass reports that Russian automaker Gaz is considering assembling its mid-sized Gazel trucks and vans in Brazil and General Motors do Brazil is negotiating the export of the Brazilian made Chevrolet Vectra to central Europe.