MarketWatch: Energy - etude de marche

Industry Update 4
News Headlines 6
MWW Automotive Group opens new painting facility in Indiana 6
ITEC and UAW reach tentative agreement on new labor contracts 6
ROI launches rough terrain vehicle 6
Daimler Trucks forms joint venture with Hero Group 6
Mahindra launches bio diesel B5 tractor 6
GM produces 500,000th six-speed rear-wheel transmission 6
Nissan North America names new vice president 6
Seagate disks drive 6
Lexus announces pricing of 2008 and 2009 models 6
Lionax secures contract from Odyssey Group 6
Metzeler Automotive acquires GDX Automotive 6
PPG to acquire body shop distribution business of Unipart Automotive 6
Smart Energy Solutions signs distribution agreement with Iveco 6
Brian Woods to re-join CSK Auto 6
Daimler receives huge orders for Orion hybrid buses 7
Westport Innovations strengthens global heavy-duty management team 7
International Truck and Engine appoints new vice president 7
Daihatsu launches redesigned mini vehicle Tanto 7
Speedy Hire orders 300 Ford Transits vans 7
Yazaki unveils intelligent towing system 7
AutoZone announces management changes 7
Ford plans to launch Focus RS model in 2009 7
CSK Auto Q3 net sales down 7
Guangzhou Automobile and Hino establish joint venture 7
Group 1 Automotive acquires three dealerships 7
Volvo deputy CEO to retire 7
US Marine Corps orders 1,500 MRAP vehicles 7
General Motors announces price adjustment on 2008 models 7
Honda starts building a new R&D center 8
Nissan launches Serena minivan 8
Honda launches new Inspire 8
General Motors and UAW sign agreement on attrition program 8
Enova receives additional order from First Auto Works 8
Eqbal Al-Yousuf joins ZAP board of directors 8
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company names new CTO 8
Mazda launches Mazda Demio Chiara 8
Edaran Tan Chong Motor launches Nissan Grand Livina in Malaysia 8
Daihatsu completes construction of Oita plant 8
CarMax Q3 sales up 8
Lionax signs contract with Tuofeng Auto Parts 8
Cooper Tire appoints CEO Roy Armes as chairman 8
Odyne to provide Dueco with plug-in hybrid electric vehicle systems 8
Mitsubishi signs contract with Freudenberg 8
Visteon to share powertrain technology with DOE 8
Yamaha expands four-stroke Yamalube motorsports oil product line 9
Denso's key executive to retire 9
Valmet Automotive announces management changes 9
Mercedes-Benz USA appoints general manager of corporate finance 9
Exit Only announces JV with Shortcode of Florida 9
Gentex to equip new Kia Mohave with rear camera display mirror 9
MBUSA appoints general manager of sales management and volume planning 9
Group 1 Automotive acquires additional Mercedes-Benz dealership 9
GMA wins orders for Ultra Light-Weight Camouflage Net System 9
MBtech names new vice president of electrical/electronics 9
Lexus announces pricing for all-new 2008 LX 570 9
Kongsberg Automotive improves compliance with Dyadem's FMEA-Pro 9
T&WA sells substantial assets to EnovaPremier 9
Hyundai Motor America appoints new president and CEO 10
Penske terminates agreement to acquire Rallye Motors 10
Toyota starts production at St Petersburg facility 10
Fuji Heavy Industries introduces Subaru Forester 10
Toyota selects four overseas subsidiaries for sustainable plant activities 10
Virtual Reality Cave improves Ford product development process 10
Mazda November domestic vehicle production up 10
Nissan November global production up 15% 10
SAIC to acquire manufacturing assets of Nanjing Automobile Group 10
China Automotive to acquire additional interests Henglong Automotive Parts 10
Standard Motor Products enters into sale and leaseback agreement 10
Chevrolet offers small-block V-8 engine in the Tahoe LTZ model 10
US Bankruptcy Court confirms Dana's plan of reorganization 10
Hella and Behr Hella to partner with Visteon 11
Mitsubishi global vehicle production up in November 11
Hino may build assembly plant in Japan 11
Michelin to increase tire prices in Japanese market 11
Volvo recalls 125,000 trucks in North America 11
Mercedes-Benz USA appoints new GM for customer assistance center 11
Audi to invest in new models 11
1-800-Radiator acquires JMAC Radiator and Air 11
Revenge Designs announces purchase of new manufacturing facility 11
Mitsubishi Motors signs agreement with Russian Ministry 11
Arctic Cat names new general manager 11
Arctic Cat signs new lease agreement for corporate headquarters 11
Suzuki may cut Maruti 800 car price 11
Suzuki Iwata plant reaches 10 million mark 11
Suzuki reportedly planning to increase Indian dealerships 12
Toyota to unveil new hybrid pickup truck 12
Teleflex sells automotive and industrial businesses to Kongsberg 12
PSA Peugeot Citroen to build plant in Russia 12
Hyundai announces management changes 12
Elder Automotive Group purchases Jaguar of Novi 12
Ford maximizes market research to improve vehicle quality 12
Kinetic launches Flyte in Mumbai 12
Bajaj Auto and Nissan-Renault likely to finalize JV talks soon 12
Ratan Tata may retire after low-cost car launch 12
Bosch plans to sell car parts to Tata Motors 12
GM recalls 7,056 Buick cars in China 12
PHH announces termination of GECC merger agreement 12
GenTek announces acquisition of Bay Chemical and Supply Company 12
WesternOne Equity acquires C&N Motors 13
GM Daewoo December sales up 31% 13
TVS Motor's December sales dip 13
Ashok Leyland to expand trux business 13
Kongsberg Automotive acquires Teleflex's Global Motion Systems 13
Tata Motors December vehicle sales down 13
OEConnection enters into agreement with Suzuki 13
TRW purchases portion of Delphi's module assembly assets 13
Ashok Leyland develops new CNG engine 13
Mile Marker appoints new chief marketing executive 13
Scania signs major truck order from Arla 13
MotoSport selects eStara solution 13
Navteq powers NavStar's Voice Navigator product 14
Audi of America appoints new COO 14
Webasto Product North America names new president and CEO 14
MTS completes Toyota driving simulator project 14
Volvo Cars of North America December sales up 9% 14
Toyota Motor Sales USA December sales down 14
Nissan North America December sales down 14
Subaru of America December sales up in December 14
BMW Group annual sales up 14
American Honda Motor annual sales up 14
Mazda North American Operations December sales up 25% 14
Kia Motors America yearly sales up 14
Hyundai Motor America December sales up 14
Audi US 2007 sales up 14
GM reports rise in December retail sales, 3.87 million vehicles sold in 2007 14
MBUSA reports record sales for 2007 15
Acura reports annual sales of 0.18 million vehicles 15
Renault annual sales up 15
Ford to equip vehicles with Ecoboost engine technology 15
Cequent acquires rights to Let's Go Aero cargo management products 15
Johnson Controls to implement price increase for batteries 15
Avis Budget Group to acquire rights to operate Budget car rental operations 15
Auto Body Panels expands into six new markets 15
Uni-Select acquires Replacement Parts Depot 15
Champion Acura to start construction of new sales and service facility 15
Group 1 Automotive acquires Mercedes-Benz dealership in Amityville 15
Visteon and 3M unveils automotive technology 15
Penske Automotive opens new Toyota Scion dealership in Florida 15
Nissan to launch GT-R GT500 16
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles to feature HD radio technology 16
Chery Auto and Quantum to manufacture 150,000 sedans per annum 16
Ford announces $500 million investment to expand India operations 16
TBA announces merger of two companies in Mexico 16
M&M defers plan to start new plant in Chennai 16
Networkcar appoints vice president of indirect distribution 16
Fiat expands BroadVision e-business platform 16
Nissan, Dongfeng open auto finance company in China 16
Infineon Technologies partners with Delphi 16
Nissan to debut new Nissan Note 16
Delphi offers hub for connecting multiple vehicle systems 16
Volvo announces changes in executive committee 16
EMTA signs trademark license agreement 16
Infineon and Delphi announce collaboration 17
Tata Motors unveils Tata Nano 17
BorgWarner Thermal Systems to open new facility in India 17
Bajaj Auto reportedly planning to increase stake in KTM 17
Continental to establish new plant in India 17
Company Spotlight: Hyundai Motor Co. 18
Key Facts 19
SWOT Analysis 19
Threats 20
Weaknesses 21
Threats 24
Further Reading 26
Index 27