The Bosch Group bids for Pacifica

The market is excited with the news that Bosch Group has made a $495 million bid for Australian auto parts manufacturer Pacifica Group Limited (PBB). Bosch intends to make an off-market takeover offer for Pacifica.

The offer includes the assumption of Pacifica’s existing net debt. The Bosch cash offer represents an outstanding opportunity for Pacifica shareholders to immediately realise a significant premium to the recent trading value of Pacifica shares.

Stockbroking analysts haven't found the offer from Bosch surprising.

Bosch stated that the volume weighted average price includes the recent surge in the share price fuelled by speculation of a potential takeover of Pacifica.

Dr Bernd Bohr, a member of the Bosch Board of Management and chairman of the Automotive Group, said the offer represents full and fair value for Pacifica.

Read More

Toyota hiring new staff in Lafayette

The Toyota Subaru production plant of Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette is hiring a 1,000 strong automotive workforce.

SIA and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development have collaborated to design a paperless, online application process that will begin on Oct. 30. Applications also will be accepted at any WorkOne office in Indiana.
SIA is one of the highest wage manufacturers in the Lafayette area according to Kevin McNamara, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Applications also are expected to come from far outside Tippecanoe and surrounding counties, as people seek employment that offers good pay and substantive benefits.
Through a contract with the Toyota Motor Corp., SIA will hire approximately 1,000 people in two phases, to begin production of the Toyota Camry next year.

Read More

New cars at factory outlet prices

It sounds impossible but Factory Outlet Cars is one of the first retailers to promise a range of new cars at factory outlet prices.

The company is one of the largest UK online new car dealers, offering a wide range of new car prices with considerable savings. The price discounts on new cars do not compromise on customer service and the company has managed to maintain this promise. All the cars are available with car finance, part exchange and delivery so it makes it easier a process to manage.

Factory Outlet Cars has 25 years experience providing new cars and used cars for other new car dealers throughout the UK and this is how they can heavily discount to the consumer. The existing supply network ensures delivering the cars at the right price and at the right time. Most of the car selection is usually in stock locally keeping costs to a minimum and passing these savings onto the consumers.

Read More

Bad year for Ford or automotive in Australia?

The Australian is reporting on new job losses across Australias besieged automotive parts industry this week, after Ford Australia unveiled plans to cut new car production by 20%.

The news come following previously reported new car sales figures drop for Holden and Toyota, in September last year.

Ford also warned of job losses from its 5000-strong workforce after blaming declining sales for the decision to cuts its daily new car production from 450 to 360 from November 20.

Industry analysts warned that Ford's decision would put significant pressure on cash-strapped car part makers.

Ford sales have been hit by rising petrol prices and declining sales on the the back of strong competition from rivals marketing newer products.

Industry insiders confirmed that the car industry is facing a difficult period.

Read More

BeijingBenz-DaimlerChrysler opens new plant

Great news for the automotive industry from China.

BeijingBenz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Ltd, a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and the Beijing Automotive Industry Corp, said it will open its new manufacturing facility in Beijing tomorrow.

The company has previously said it will produce the Chrysler 300C at the new plant in the Beijing Development Area, where Mercedes-Benz E- and C-class sedans will also be made.
Chrysler chief executive Tom LaSorda last year said total annual capacity at the facility will be 80,000 units, including production of the Cherokee Jeep and Mitsubishi cars.

Read More

Poweroffroad customer service - Adam & Tarek Mowafi

There has been a lot of industry talk about The Mowafi's, (Adam & Tarek Mowafi). Their enterprise Poweroffroad seems to be causing some problems amongst the business community as well as customers as people report on the web.

They are infamous for customer services and their poor refund policy.

Some documentation on the web:

• Tarek Mowafi of Poweroffroad rips someone of £2,000
• The Mowafi's dodgy business
• Trading standards court case

Update: It is reported that Adam & Tarek Mowafi have fled to Egypt. Please don't be discouraged to report them to the authorities if you had a bad experience. Also please continue to post your stories as this helps other people protect themselves from similar companies to Poweroffroad.

Read More

Russian auto plant reduces car prices

Great news for the Russian automotive industry from the Gorky Automotive Plant.

Gorky Automotive Plant is setting unified prices for 'GAZ' cars all across Russia. As a result, the prices will decrease in the regions located far from the production center. For example, in the Russian Far East the prices will decrease by RUR17000 for passenger cars and by RUR24-55000 for commercial vehicles.

These changes in the pricing policy aim to make the products maximally close to customers and to further improve the services of the maintenance-sales network at sale and after-sale point servicing.

Read More

Honda updates Element

American Honda Motor Co., Inc, announced that the substantially updated 2007 Honda Element LX and EX went on sale at $18,900. That accounts for an average increase of just 2.7 percent or $572 on a sales weighted basis (not including the all-new Element SC). The all-new Element SC, which goes on sale September 28th, will start at $22,695. Destination and handling charges for all 2007 Honda models is $595.

The extremely versatile Honda Element SUV undergoes a transformation for 2007 with freshened styling, 10 more horsepower, new 5-speed automatic transmission and extensive new standard safety equipment that includes side curtain airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist. The all-new sporty variation, the Element SC, will also debut with a sport-tuned suspension, "Street Custom" styling and premium features. The 2007 Honda Element returns with an extensive list of advanced safety equipment while providing a new level of sophistication and refinement. Honda believes that the expansion of the Element lineup to include the Element SC, will appeal to an even broader set of customers and Honda enthusiasts.

In addition to new safety equipment, more than a dozen enhancements have been made to the Element LX and EX, highlighted by new headlight and grille styling, a more powerful 166-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, Drive-by-Wire(TM) throttle control system, new interior color schemes, standard painted exterior body panels (EX only), Maintenance Minder(TM) system, black urethane flooring, new gauge designs and more. As a further enhancement, the addition of seat-integrated front safety belts to all Element models allows for much easier rear passenger loading and unloading.

Read More

Automotive resources

Used Cars in Los Angeles

Read More

New automotive R&D facility from MG Motors

MG Motors has set-up a new research and development facility for the University of Oklahoma. This could help turn OU into a world-class automotive engineering school reports OU Daily.

Thomas L. Landers, Dean of the College of Engineering said that MG Motors North America Inc. plans to set up shop somewhere on campus this fall and will eventually construct its own facility near the Stephenson Research and Technology Center south of the main campus.

The facility will employ a combination of company engineers, OU faculty, and students with paid assistantships, and there will probably be one student for each full-time engineer.

Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile Corp., which last year purchased the assets of legendary British sports carmaker MG from a bankruptcy court, announced July 12 that it had picked Oklahoma City as the headquarters for its new MG Motors subsidiary.

The company plans to employ about 550 people in Oklahoma, with some 150 at the Oklahoma City headquarters, 325 at a manufacturing plant in Ardmore, and about 35 at the research facility in Norman. The engineering and research team will require people with a variety of backgrounds and skills.

The facility will also provide work experience and research opportunities for aerospace and mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, industrial engineers, computer scientists and chemical engineers who will work with materials, fuel mixtures and combustion processes.

The OU program with the most direct connection to the auto industry is aerospace and mechanical engineering, and there is a number of Oklahoma University students with an interest in the auto industry. The university has a chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers, which sponsors a racing team.

Only a few professors at OU do automotive research and students interested in the automotive field have had few opportunities to get into the industry so far.

Having an R-and-D facility in OU's backyard will be a huge step forward for the automotive education in the academic institution.

Read More