Toyota celebrates hitting the nine million mark for production in Europe.

Toyota is one of Japan’s best-known businesses, but its status as a global manufacturer is witnessed by the fact its vehicle production in Europe has passed nine million units. Local production has flourished to the point where two out of every three Toyota vehicles sold in Europe is built here, too.

From Portugal in the west, to Russia in the east, there are six Toyota vehicle plants and three powertrain factories in Europe. In Britain Toyota Manufacturing UK has been producing cars at Burnaston in Derbyshire and engines at Deeside in North Wales since 1992. The Burnaston operation currently builds all versions of Auris and Avensis, and has the distinction of being Toyota’s first centre for hybrid vehicle production in Europe.

Didier Leroy, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, said: “We have a long tradition of building locally what we sell locally. Recently we have also expanded our exports outside Europe, based on the competitiveness of our European operations. We are committed to keeping production in Europe by bringing technology like hybrid and management innovations that enable us to keep our manufacturing plants globally competitive.”

Speaking at the recent Paris motor show, Leroy added that Toyota’s European operations are profitable as well, thanks to three consecutive years of growth in Europe and the prospective of a further rise in sales volume this year.

He said: “Looking ahead, we have every reason to remain optimistic. With the recent launch of the new generation Aygo and Yaris, we have the youngest offerings in the compact car market. We are confident they will reinforce our position in the city car and supermini segments and strengthen the foundations of our European manufacturing operations.

Toyota’s European designers have gained increasing autonomy from Japan in the development of new models that are tailored to suit European drivers’ tastes, including new Aygo, Yaris and the C-HR crossover concept revealed in Paris.

Europe is adopting a more significant role as global planning centre to define future generations of cars competing in the core A, B and C segments.

Manufacturing history and production centres

Toyota’s European manufacturing began in 1971 with the opening of the Toyota Caetano plant in Portugal, which initially built Corolla models. Forty-three years later, Toyota has manufacturing centres in seven European countries, the result of more than €8 billion investment.

• Toyota Caetano Portugal: started production in 1971 and currently produces the Dyna light commercial vehicle.
• Toyota Manufacturing UK: opened in 1992, TMUK today builds the Avensis saloon and tourer and Auris hatchback and Touring Sports, including hybrid models. It also produces 1.6 and 1.8-litre petrol engines and assembles hybrid engines at Deeside.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey: established in 1994, TMMUK currently builds Verso and Corolla models.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing France: based in Valenciennes in northern France, TMMF is the centre for Yaris production in Europe, including the hybrid.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland: Toyota produces the 1.0-litre petrol engine for Aygo and Yaris at TMMP, together with manual transmissions used in Auris, Avensis, Verso, Corolla and Aygo. The plant opened in 2002.
• Toyota Motor Industries Poland: TMIP is home to production of 2.0 and 2.2-litre diesel engines for Avensis, Auris and RAV4 and the 1.4-litre D-4D unit featured in Yaris, Auris and Corolla. The factory has been in operation since 2005.
• Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech: this joint venture with PSA Peugeot Citroën was set up in Kolin in the Czech Republic in 2005 to build Aygo, alongside the Citroën C1 and Peugeot 108.
• Toyota Motor Russia: Toyota’s newest European production centre began operations in St Petersburg in 2007, manufacturing Camry saloons. This year it is set to add stamping and plastics production to its business and it is preparing to manufacture RAV4 from 2016.

Nissan reports strong revenues and profits for Q1.

NISSAN REPORTS NET INCOME OF 112.1 BILLION YEN FOR
FIRST QUARTER OF FY2014

Results for three months to June 30,2014 (TSE report basis – China JV equity basis)*	Q1	Y-O-Y
Net revenue	¥2.47 trillion ($24.13 billion/€17.60 billion)	+10.4%
Operating profit	¥122.6 billion ($1.20 billion/€880 million)	+13.4%
Ordinary profit	¥148.8 billion ($1.46 billion/€1.06 billion)	+29.6%
Net income	¥112.1 billion ($1.10 billion/€800 million)	+36.7%
Based on average foreign exchange rates of JPY 102.2/USD and JPY 140.1/EUR

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced financial results for the three months to June 30, 2014.

Operating profit rose to 122.6 billion yen for the first quarter of the 2014 fiscal year, representing a 5% margin on net revenues that climbed 10.4% to 2.47 trillion yen for the period.

"Nissan continued to make progress in the first three months of the fiscal year as encouraging demand for new products, benefits from recent plant investments, and improving market conditions in North America, China and Europe combined to lift both revenues and profits," said Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive officer. "Nissan is well placed to deliver on its outlook given our continued product offensive along with measures to enhance competitiveness, build market share and the ongoing benefits of our Alliance strategy."

The improvement reflected particularly strong unit sales growth in the key markets of the U.S. and China, up 14.1% and 21.1% respectively. The company also benefited from rising demand for award-winning products including the Qashqai, Rogue and X-Trail, all derived from the Common Module Family developed within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

During the first quarter of FY14 Nissan sold 1,240,000 vehicles globally, a 6.0% rise year-on-year.

The company continued to expand its zero-emissions leadership. Total sales since launch of the all-electric Nissan LEAF have passed 124,000 units and it continues to be the best-selling EV in history. Nissan took zero-emissions into the light commercial vehicle segment with the June launch of e-NV200, which offers versatility and class-leading running costs.

Nissan also provided a financial update on a management pro forma basis which includes the proportionate consolidation of the results of the joint venture in China. Pro forma results for the first quarter show that net revenue increased to 2.69 trillion yen, up 7.2% year-on-year. Operating profit was up 32.3% versus the same period last year, to 155.8 billion yen, resulting in a 5.8% operating profit margin, an increase of 1.1 percentage points.

FY2014 Outlook

Nissan reaffirmed its global sales forecast for fiscal 2014. The company expects to sell 5.65 million units this fiscal year, up 8.9%. New plant capacity will come on-stream in markets such as Mexico and Brazil. Full-year sales of new models including Nissan Qashqai and Rogue, Datsun GO and Infiniti Q50, will contribute to the momentum.

Based on this sales outlook, Nissan maintained forecasts first issued to the Tokyo Stock Exchange in May 2014. Calculated under the equity accounting method for our China joint venture for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015, the forecasts showed:

Nissan FY14 Outlook – TSE report basis – China JV equity basis
Net revenue	10.79 trillion ($107.9 billion/€77.07 billion)
Operating profit	535.0 billion ($5.35 billion/€3.82 billion)
Ordinary profit	620.0 billion ($6.20 billion/€4.43 billion)
Net Income	405.0 billion ($4.05 billion/€2.89 billion)
Calculated on exchange rate of JPY 100/1 USD and JPY 140/1 EUR

Iveco follows Ford, Vauxhall and Renault with their brand new light Commercial vehicle

A totally redesigned vehicle that satisfies all the needs of light commercial vehicle transport: from a robust chassis cab to a more spacious van with improved manoeuvrability

The third generation of the Iveco Daily, which will soon make its arrival in markets across Europe, will be presented to the international press in June 2014. This entirely new vehicle is the result of the perfect blend between tradition and innovation, making it the preferred working companion for professional transport operators.

The vehicle is manufactured at plants in Suzzara, Italy and Valladolid, Spain, two facilities where Iveco has recently made significant investments in upgrading its production line technology.

The new Daily still retains its classic ladder frame chassis structure, which ensures strength, flexibility, and long-term durability, as well as greater ease of configuration for chassis cab models, but there are also numerous new features that the Daily 2014 offers Iveco customers.

The company’s planning efforts concentrated on both versions, chassis cab and van. On the van in particular, performance from every aspect in terms of handling and carrying capacity has been improved, thanks to optimised load volumes, and ease of use with a more accessible cargo bed.

The van’s capacity has been improved through the reassessment of the relationship between wheelbase, overall length, and the length of the cargo bed. This gives way to the new 18 and 20 m3 models (best in class for volume) and the 11 m3 model (best in class for cargo efficiency - an index that measures the relationship between the length of the loading compartment with the total length of the vehicle).

Thanks to the new design, with elongated wheelbases and a shortened rear overhang, the new Daily guarantees excellent driveability without compromising its well-known agility in tight spaces. All models up to 3.5 tonnes are equipped with new front suspensions, which afford excellent control of the vehicle and allow for an improvement in comfort and for the maximum possible load capacity. A new rear suspension layout has been designed for single wheel drive models that decreases the height of the loading platform by an estimated 55 millimetres, thereby simplifying loading and unloading operations.

The third generation of the Daily is strongly oriented towards businesses, delivering more than a 5% fuel consumption saving compared with the previous model. This is combined with a significant improvement in Total Cost of Ownership for the vehicle, together with best in class performance and a wide choice of engines, transmissions and axle ratios.  

The on-board experience has also been greatly improved with a cabin that offers new levels of comfort and noise insulation, guaranteeing the same driving position and feel that is typical of a high-performing automobile. Interior ergonomics (at the top of the range in their category) accompany greater soundproofing, a more efficient air conditioning system and excellent driver comfort for all load conditions.

Strong by nature, versatile, and easy to drive, and also attractive thanks to its fresh and modern styling, the new Daily is the most concrete illustration of the continuous improvement of a product that has been a key player in the history of light commercial vehicle transport for more than 35 years.

To complete its offering, the new Daily will also be available in a variety of minibus versions to meet the needs of customers who operate in the passenger transportation sector, both in urban areas and for rapid transfers outside of urban networks.

The new Daily will be available through Iveco dealerships across Europe starting in June.

Isuzu retains Pick-Up of the year accolade.

For the second consecutive year the Isuzu D-Max has been named ‘Pick-Up of the Year’ by leading light-commercial-vehicle experts, VansA2Z.com. The accolade underlines the continued rise in reputation and popularity for the class-leading capabilities of the Isuzu D-Max.

Launched in June 2012, the D-Max offers one of the widest model ranges in the segment along with class-leading fuel economy, emissions and towing capability. Sales in 2013 marked a record for the Brand in the UK and confirmed its status as the largest D-Max market in Europe. In 2014, sales are already over 17% up on last year.

Commenting on the virtues of the Isuzu, VansA2Z.com, said: “We can certainly testify to the effectiveness of the D-Max. It’s designed as a workhorse rather than a Chelsea tractor and is just as at home on a farm or a construction site as it is parked outside a west end boutique. It should therefore come as no surprise that it has driven off with our pick-up of the year for the second year in a row”.

The judges’ full citation is at: www.vansa2z.com/Van-of-the-Year-Awards-2014-Pick-Up

William Brown, Isuzu UK General Manager, commented: “Winning the award for a second year in a row is a fantastic accomplishment and is testament to just how well the D-Max has been received. Since its introduction, we have increased its towing capacity to a class-leading 3.5-tonnes, expanded our fleet offering, and introduced new models including the special-edition Blade earlier this month. Watch this space, as there are more developments to come.”

The Isuzu D-Max is available in three body styles – single, extended and double cab – with prices starting from £14,749 (CVOTR) for the entry-level single cab 4x2 rising to £23,649 (CVOTR) for the range-topping Isuzu D-Max Utah Auto.

The Isuzu D-Max is fitted with a super-efficient 2.5-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, producing 163 PS and 400 Nm of torque, is able to tow a class-leading 3.5-tonnes (braked) while still returning fuel economy of 38.2 mpg (combined), and is available with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.

Every Isuzu D-Max sold in the UK comes with the company’s pioneering five-year / 125,000-mile warranty, as standard.