Toyota launches new Auris compact hatchback in Japan

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp on Monday announced the Japan launch of the completely redesigned Auris compact hatchback, a strategic compact model for both Japan and Europe.

The completely redesigned Auris integrates the underlying appeal of automobiles - styling and performance - and takes them to a new dimension, based on the vehicle’s aim of establishing a new standard for sports hatchbacks. Specific improvements include a 55-mm height reduction for a lower center of gravity, improved driving performance tempered through extensive drive tests in Europe, and the addition of an enhanced “RS” sport grade. These changes advance the unique image established for the first-generation Auris under the “performance you can feel” concept.

source: japantoday.com

Volkswagen says net profit surged 36% in first half

BERLIN - Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker, said Thursday that bottom-line profits in the first half of the year soared by more than a third, leading it to confirm its upbeat forecast for 2012.

The group, which manufactures 10 makes of vehicles, reported a 36-percent rise in net profit to 8.83 billion euros ($10.71 billion) during the first six months of 2012 and saw a 23-percent rise in turnover to 95.38 billion euros.

Meanwhile operating profit jumped nearly seven percent to 6.50 billion euros after the group sold 4.6 million vehicles around the globe.

But it said that heightened competition and uncertainty touched off by the eurozone debt crisis in some of its key European markets would weigh on growth this year.

"The Volkswagen Group's main competitive advantages are its multibrand strategy, a range of vehicles that covers almost all segments from subcompact cars to heavy trucks and its growing presence in all major regions of the world, together with its wide range of financial services," it said.

"This will become even more attractive thanks to the integration of Porsche, with its offering of exclusive sports cars."

Volkswagen and Porsche surprised markets earlier this month by announcing they would move their planned merger forward by two years in a deal set to unlock hundreds of millions of euros in untapped synergies.

"The contribution in full of Porsche's automotive business, which is expected to take place as of August 1, 2012, will lead to its consolidation in the Volkswagen Group," the company said.

"However, the resulting increase in sales revenue will be relatively slight due to consolidation effects."

Volkswagen, which includes Seat, Skoda, MAN trucks, Scania and Audi in its stable of brands, appeared far more buoyant than other German automakers such as General Motors unit Opel.

"Our goal for operating profit is to match the 2011 level," it said.

On Wednesday, Daimler, which makes the iconic Mercedes Benz, said its second-quarter net profit had tumbled 11 percent to 1.52 billion euros.

source: interaksyon.com

Canada's Magna to build Nissan-brand Infiniti cars

VIENNA — Canadian auto manufacturer Magna said on Friday it had signed a memorandum of understanding to assemble Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti cars, with an Austrian daily saying the site would be in Graz.

“This new vehicle represents a significant opportunity for the Infiniti brand to reach new consumers and grow in key markets such as Western Europe,” Andy Palmer from the Japanese firm said in a statement.

Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung said the new plant would create about 1,000 jobs and would produce 50,000 Infiniti vehicles every year from 2014, with Magna Steyr preferring Graz in southern Austria to a site in Poland.

Nissan said last month it would build two Infiniti models in China from 2014. It aims to boost sales of the cars to half a million units globally by 2016, up from 145,000 last year when it was produced in Japan and the United States.

source: japantoday.com