AROnline news

Ash Sutcliffe, China Car Times, 4th June, 2009

These Roewe 150 spy shots made it onto the internet early this morning, complete with an ‘artist’s rendering’ of what the finished product may look like. Previous ’spy shots’ of a Roewe 250 showed a Fiat Punto with some wires hanging out from under the hood, although that was likely to have been a test mule for an engine rather than a ‘cloned car’.

The Roewe 150, or possibly 250, will be Roewe’s first small car. An actual launch date has yet to be announced but the new model could be unveiled at an end of year Auto Show – possibly Beijing or Guangzhou. The 150 is probably not going to be based on the Rover 25 platform as that is a little bit too long in the tooth for a modern day application.

It has to be stressed that the above mock ups are an artist’s impression of what might come from Roewe but, if this is what’s coming, then we certainly think it’s lacking in character and style.

[Source: China Car Times]

China Watch CCT, China Car Times, Roewe 150, Roewe 250

Geely Group's version of the iconic London Taxi - the Shanghai Englon TX4.

The Shanghai Englon TX4, an updated version of the famed London Taxi (now controlled by Geely), is made by Shanghai Maple Auto (to be renamed Shanghai Englon soon), a joint venture between Geely Group and Manganese Bronze Holdings. Geely Group claim that the TX4′s pure British pedigree conveys Shanghai Englon’s brand characteristics of “classic, British style, nobility.”

The imported TX4 was also the service car working for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and its Chinese version was unveiled at the 2009 Shanghai auto show in April.

Three versions of the Shanghai Englon TX4 will go on sale next week – a 2.4-litre petrol-engined version (with a 5-speed automatic transmission) and two 2.5-litre diesel-engined versions (with 5-speed automatic and manual transmissions). The three Shanghai Englon TX4s are expected to have retail prices between 208,000 yuan ($30,450) and 228,000 yuan.

To replace its low-priced compact sedans and hatchbacks with a much broader vehicle range and price spectrum, Geely has created an entry-level sub-brand Gleagle, a mainstream sub-brand Emgrand (Dihao) and a premium sub-brand Shanghai Englon (Yinglun) which also has the controversial Geely GE, a Rolls-Royce Phantom-like model. 

[Source: Gasgoo.com]

China Watch Geely Group, Geely Holding Group Company Limited, London Taxis International, Shanghai Englon TX4

Birmingham Post, 5th June, 2009

Managers at van maker LDV have issued a last-ditch plea to the Government to help rescue the company or see thousands of jobs axed at a huge cost to the economy. The Birmingham-based business is set to apply for administration on Monday after a rescue deal collapsed when Malaysian firm Weststar said it couldn’t raise enough funds to take over LDV.

The management team warned that administration could lead to the end of all van production in the UK because of uncertainty over other companies. Managers said they were making a “final call” to the Government to avoid closure, adding that a loan of £60 million would help refinance the firm and help turn it into a profitable business, building MAXUS vans.

“The cost of supporting LDV is small compared with standing back and letting it fail,” managers said in a statement. “The cost to the Treasury alone will be up to £53 million in unemployment benefits and lost taxes in the first year, with the certainty in this environment of long-term unemployment to follow.

Around 4,000 British jobs are at risk with over 1,000 in the Midlands region and many around Washwood Heath, which is already one of the highest unemployment areas in the country. In addition to the losses to the Government, the economy loses over £200 million of wages, purchases and export revenue.”

“Around 4,000 British jobs are at risk with over 1,000 in the Midlands region and many around Washwood Heath, which is already one of the highest unemployment areas in the country. In addition to the losses to the Government, the economy loses over £200 million of wages, purchases and export revenue.”

Guy Jones, LDV’s Marketing Director, said: “The two key drivers in the current light commercial vehicle market are to reduce cost and to reduce CO2. The MAXUS product is better suited than many of its major competitors to take advantage of these trends. There has been over £600 million invested in the past few years in lightweight, fuel-efficient products with a low cost of ownership and the Electric MAXUS is now ready for production. It would be a tragedy if the UK threw away the opportunity of the return on this investment”.

Managers said they had restructured the business, eliminating the major loss-making areas of previous years, reducing fixed overheads and labour costs. LDV, owned by Russian giant GAZ Group, has not built any vans since mid-December after a slump in demand for vans.

[Source: Birmingham Post]

LDV GAZ Group, LDV, Weststar

Jon Griffin, Birmingham Post, 5th June, 2009

LDV’s Russian owners GAZ Group say they have “exhausted all possibilities” in the fight to save the Birmingham van-maker in another apparent huge nail in the coffin for 7,000 UK jobs.

Tycoon Oleg Deripaska’s giant industrial conglomerate – which announced it was selling LDV in February – appeared to signal the death knell for the Washwood Heath factory with a gloomy statement.

LDV managers say they are continuing to work to secure the future of the firm but a spokesman for GAZ admitted time was running short to save the company. With only three days before Monday’s scheduled administration hearing, a GAZ spokesman said: “We have done everything we can to secure LDV’s future in Birmingham, but time is running out.

“LDV has had no option but to reapply for administration. The administration hearing is scheduled for Monday morning, and we will continue to do all we can to secure the plant’s future until the last moment. Over the past few months, GAZ has been committed to finding a solution to ensure manufacturing remained in Birmingham. We have exhausted all possibilities, pursuing a management buy-out, approaching foreign investors such as Weststar and holding extensive talks with government to try to secure bridging funding.”

The GAZ statement appeared to deliver a potentially fatal blow to LDV, which will collapse into insolvency on Monday, after would-be buyers Malaysian firm Weststar pulled out of negotiations because of lack of funds.

The GAZ statement appeared to deliver a potentially fatal blow to LDV, which will collapse into insolvency on Monday, after would-be buyers Malaysian firm Weststar pulled out of negotiations because of lack of funds.

A total of 850 direct jobs and up to 6,000 more in the supply and dealership network are under threat unless a new rescue plan emerges. A hearing to consider the administration will take place at Birmingham County Court at 10.15am on Monday.

LDV’s PR and Marketing Director Guy Jones said: “The LDV management team will continue to work up to this deadline to find a solution to secure the future of the business and production and jobs for LDV employees, suppliers, dealers and business partners.”

Meanwhile, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry is offering an employment lifeline to LDV employees with recruitment consultant Helen Gardiner saying: “If the worst comes to the worst, we urge LDV employees to contact us.

“Automotive skills and experience are easily transferable into other sectors. As a Chamber of Commerce we have a wide range of contacts and therefore can readily source jobs and candidates. We have recently placed two former automotive employees who were made redundant into new jobs with Hovis Bakery.”

LDV employees should contact Ms Gardiner on 0121 607 1765.

[Source: Birmingham Post]

LDV GAZ Group, LDV, Oleg Deripaska, Weststar

Jon Griffin, Birmingham Post, 5th June, 2009

Night shifts are being reintroduced for thousands of workers at Land Rover’s giant Solihull factory in a major vote of confidence in demand for new models. The first signs of a potential fight back from the recession for the Midlands’ biggest factory emerged as Land Rover revealed night shifts originally axed last September were back in use.

The return of double-shifts at Lode Lane will see around 3,500 workers enjoy a boost to their gross pay of around £260 a month in the teeth of the worst recession to hit the car industry for 40 years. With vehicle stocks now back to levels acceptable to management, JLR bosses are reinstating night shift working for employees on the Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport lines.

Range Rover production returned to double-shift working earlier this week while the night shift will resume for Discovery and Range Rover Sport models from Monday June 15, it was revealed. The moves, ahead of anticipated strong demand for new upgraded versions of all three models, were described as a “positive step” by JLR spokesman Mark Foster.

This is great news for the shopfloor and great news for the business. It’s a tremendous boost for people who will get night-shift premiums back.” Bob Nason, Plant Convenor

“We are in line with our business forecasts. Although sales are lower than they were this time last year, in terms of what we expected, we are bang on. This has got to be a positive step – it is really about getting the balance right. We have seen our production volumes stabilise, although at lower levels than last year, and we have worked through the stock, so that stock levels are where we expected them to be, and we can return to double shifts on these models.”

The return of night shift working at Lode Lane was revealed as new vehicle registration figures showed a continuing slump in demand in car sales across the UK. However, with major new upgraded products now boosting output once again at Lode Lane, the reintroduction of night shifts was warmly welcomed by Unite union leaders.

Plant Convenor Bob Nason said: “This is great news for the shopfloor and great news for the business. It’s a tremendous boost for people who will get night-shift premiums back.”

[Source: Birmingham Post]

Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover, JLR, Lode Lane, Solihull