Contents:

Zetsche confirms Smart launch Ford bails out of 2010 hybrid target Germany: May sales up 5.5% India: Rolls-Royce opens first dealership Germany: BMW and Total to promote hydrogen vehicles UK: BMW M6 Convertible to debut in July China: DaimlerChrysler to exit venture with Yaxing US: Diesel Jeep Liberty to exit production US: Mercedes offers buyouts to corporate workers US: Supply disruption hampers output at Freightliner plant DaimlerChrysler’s noble experiment Italy: Fiat not to list Ferrari shares Italy: Fiat to double Alfa Romeo and Lancia output UK: Iveco to drop Seddon Atkinson brand Brazil: Iveco announces reorganisation Freelander 2 gears up for production US: Ford making progress on job cuts Mexico: Ford investment under consideration US: Another downgrade in Ford’s debt rating Japan: Isuzu and GM to set up pickup joint venture US: GM to invest US$332m in Warren North America: GM and Suzuki plan joint hybrid development US: Rendezvous and Rainier to exit production Hungary: Suzuki and GM consider new car for European market Portugal: General Motors sets deadline for closure Russia: Plant construction begins Canada: General Motors denies fresh investment in Oshawa US: Honda settles on Indiana for new plant Ukraine: Honda establishes sales subsidiary US: Honda announces tax credits for 2006 hybrid models Japan: Output and sales dip in May Japan: Defective brake lights spur Honda recall Czech Republic: Plant construction delayed until December India: Hyundai shelves commercial vehicle plans US: Technical staff numbers to double US: Montgomery plant boosts Santa Fe output Japan: Clean diesels by 2009 Malaysia: Mitsubishi and Proton complete feasibility studies Australia: More Mitsubishi cars to enter government fleet Japan: May sales and production on the rise Poland: Mitsubishi targets sales increase International set to announce CGI foundry US: Navistar ‘big bore’ will use Bosch equipment US: Piezo for PowerStroke diesels US: Navistar workers reject contract Japan: Nissan and Suzuki announce alliance Russia: Nissan finalises plant deal Japan: Nissan slashes domestic output France: PSA to reduce output at Mulhouse Russia: PSA considers local production unit UK: Unions begin campaign against PSA Peugeot-Citroën Russia: Renault in joint venture talks with AvtoVAZ Spain: Renault expects dip in 2006 output Japan: Toyota announces new environmental strategy Europe: ACEA rejects Toyota’s request to join China: Toyota to open 1000 dealerships by 2010 Canada: Hino inaugurates Ontario plant Japan: Toyota officials confirm plans for hybrid sports car Japan: Daihatsu launches Sonica minicar with new CVT Spain: Seat revises brand strategy Brazil: Volkswagen extends its Constellation truck range Korea: Bentley to enter local market Germany: Workers reject Volkswagen proposal Volvo launches its new FL/FE range Sweden: New chief financial officer France: Renault Trucks displays electric Midlum Sweden: Group deliveries rise 2% Hungary: Volvo to supply 1,000 trucks Mexico: MAN launches new bus plant US: Paccar to introduce hybrid trucks in 2008 India: Proton to enter market in 2007 Japan: Suzuki to end Chevrolet production and distribution May European car sales May global light vehicle sales China: it’s time to get out in the world Financials: European, Japanese & US manufacturers, 2006

Methodology

Our reporting is based on 15 years experience in automotive publishing. Using our global bases in the UK, China, India & Detroit, we use a respected network of leading economists, engineers and analysts, allowing us to probe the core fundamentals of the automotive industry. In this way we establish the underlying factors behind the events and trends that shape the auto industry today and tomorrow.