Ford Says Thailand Floods Prevented Asia Unit From Making Profit

Ford Motor Co. said floods in Thailand caused a 2011 loss for its Asia Pacific and Africa region, preventing the automaker from achieving its goal to be profitable in all its global business units.

“The impact of the Thai floods is a bit bigger than we anticipated,” Ford Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth told analysts yesterday in a presentation at the Detroit auto show. “We guided in the third quarter that all business units would be profitable for the full year. We now think that’s no longer possible because of the impact of the Thai floods.”

Bosch sells low-tech brakes ops to buyout firm

(Reuters) - Robert Bosch GmbH ROBG.UL, the world's largest car parts maker, is to sell what remains of its low-tech brakes business to KPS Capital Partners, a U.S. buyout firm which one source familiar with the deal said paid around 200 million euros.
Bosch, like other global players in the auto parts markets, wants to focus on more profitable high-tech components, leaving production of more mainstream parts to rivals with a lower cost base.

Tsunami and flood make disastrous year for car sales

NATURAL disasters took the wind out of last year's vehicle market and robbed it of a potential record after tens of thousands of sales were lost, the industry said yesterday.

Australia broke the million mark for only the fourth time last year -- with 1,008,437 vehicles sold -- but the total was 2.6 per cent down on 2010 and more than 40,000 below forecast.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan and floods in Thailand combined to choke supply while devastated communities from Queensland to Western Australia put a lid on demand, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said, in what was an unprecedented year of "uncertainty and instability".

Nadzmi reveals his plans for Proton

Interesting interview with Proton Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh on his plan of action for Proton, if he were to get the stake from Khazanah Nasional.

Suzuki to Spend Nearly $800 Million to Boost Engine, Automobile Output In Indonesia

Suzuki Motor Corp. (7269.TO) said Wednesday it will build a new engine factory in Indonesia as part of a Y60 billion ($779 million) expansion to increase output of small, four-wheeled vehicles in the fast-growing Southeast Asian market.

"Suzuki Motor Corp plans to invest nearly $800 million to expand its automobile production facilities in Indonesia over the next two years," Soebronto Laras, the president of Jakarta-based PT Suzuki Indomobil Motor, told the Wall Street Journal.

China 'to withdraw' foreign car investment support

Is this a Chance for Thailand??

China has said it will withdraw support for foreign investment in the country's car industry to encourage domestic carmakers, according to state media.

The Xinhua news agency cited a joint announcement from the Ministry of Commerce and the National Reform and Development Commission.

The report did not provide details of what support was being withdrawn.

Some of the world's largest carmakers, including America's General Motors and Germany's Volkswagen, operate in China.

Ford to Unveil SUV in India

Ford Motor Co. will unveil a new, compact sport-utility vehicle in New Delhi, India, this week that is designed to help the auto maker carve bigger inroads in one of the fastest growing auto markets in the world.

The small utility vehicle, called the EcoSport, will be built on the same underpinnings as the auto maker's subcompact Ford Fiesta and likely will be sold first in Asia and South America. Pricing and availability of the vehicle have not been disclosed.