Automotive News

Smart’s European dealers pleased with direct-sales plan

April 3, 2023

BRESCIA, Italy – Smart dealers say they are happy with the brand’s change to a direct-sales agency model, which the joint Mercedes-Geely brand initiated last year by negotiating new contracts ahead of the launch of the #1 full-electric small SUV. “We are happy about the commission structure we are getting for the #1; our only complaint is that we need more product, so we don’t have consumers waiting for too long,” Ossuama Kaddoura, a Paris-based dealer who is also president of ASP (Smart Partner Association) told Automotive News Europe last week on the sidelines of a dealer event in Brescia.…

Automotive News

Russians are reluctant to buy Chinese cars as the market shrinks

March 31, 2023

MOSCOW — As the exodus of Western automakers narrows options for Russian consumers, Chinese automakers are filling the gap, forcing Russians to overcome their reluctance to embrace Chinese brands and accept higher prices. Chinese brands such as Haval, Chery and Geely now account for almost 40 percent of Russia’s new-car sales, data from analytical agency Autostat and consulting company PPK showed, up from less than 10 percent in January-February of 2022. Chinese brands have jumped on the opportunity left by the exit of automakers including Renault, Nissan and Mercedes. But there are teething problems. Reuters spoke to several Russian car…

Automotive News

Volkswagen Is Reportedly Removing Its Design Chief

March 30, 2023

Volkswagen Is Reportedly Removing Its Design ChiefULI_SONNTAG/VW Volkswagen will replace its current design chief Jozef Kaban, Automotive News Europe’s affiliate Automobilwoche reports. The designer’s work reportedly hasn’t impressed new VW CEO Thomas Schaefer, and as a result, he’ll reportedly be replaced by Bentley design boss Andreas Mindt. Kaban has been the head of Volkswagen design since 2020. He came to the company from Rolls-Royce, where he led the design team for six months. Automobilwochereports that Kaban’s retro ID. Life concept—which was supposed to preview a 2025 mainstream EV from VW—didn’t impress the new CEO, who wanted a more modern look.…

Automotive News

Chevy Equinox redesign spotted road testing

March 23, 2023

It remains a key vehicle for General Motors in a highly competitive segment. The Equinox posted US sales of 212,072 in 2022, ranking as Chevy’s second-best-selling vehicle behind the Silverado full-size pickup and GM’s third-top-selling model behind the Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup. The Equinox was third in its segment last year behind the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, according to the Automotive News Research & Data Center. Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told Automotive News in an email that the gasoline-powered Equinox should go into production in April 2024. “With the intense competition…

Automotive News

These Automakers Can’t Quite Hold Onto Their First-Time Buyers

March 19, 2023

The back of a Ram truck is seen on a sales lot on May 23, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Some automakers are struggling to convince first-time buyers to return to the showroom, Elon Musk tested that he really believed he’d be able to take Tesla private in 2018 with some help and Audi took Nio to court and won. All that and more in The Morning Shift for January 24, 2023. 1st Gear: The ‘Nomad Retention Challenge’ There’s apparently a name for people who purchase a car from a brand, but don’t buy their next vehicle from that same brand.…

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