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Harald Hamprecht
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Mercedes will need less time to make cars, Bernhard says
KECSKEMET, Hungary andndash; Mercedes-Benz is restructuring its global production network to cut the average production time for its models to 30 hours by 2015 from 43 in 2008. "We have increased productivity by 2 percent a year over the last few years. We will be accelerating our productivity ...
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Mercedes will build a coupe-styled 4-door car at new Hungary plant
KECSKEMET, Hungary andndash; Mercedes-Benz said it will build a coupe-styled compact premium car at its new factory here, alongside its B-class model. The four-door sporty sedan will be called the CLA and will debut as a concept at the Beijing auto show in April. The sedan has been dubbed a "baby
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Mazda looks to shed workers as it aims to top 300,000 U.S. sales for 1st time since 1994
… its administrative staff by 30 percent. The company also will boost its so-called Second Career Development Support System and reduce its recruiting of employees in Japan. Luca Ciferri and Harald Hamprecht contributed to this report
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How Mini plans to expand lineup, add dealers
… variants are on the way. Segler, a German based in Munich, spoke with Automotive News Europe Editor-in-Chief Harald Hamprecht . Q: Last year Mini sold a record 285,060 cars worldwide. Can you top that in 2012? A: We plan to further increase …
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A crown prince emerges on BMW's board
BMW's latest management board shuffle hints at who will succeed CEO Norbert Reithofer in four years. So who are the winners and losers in the changes that take effect April 1? At first glance it doesn't look good for sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson, who will lose oversight of the Mini and
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Jaguar Land Rover CEO: We're ready to pounce
… CEO Ralf Speth, a German, discussed the company's next steps with Automotive News Europe Editor-in-Chief Harald Hamprecht . Q: What are your greatest challenges? A: On a macroeconomic level, we see different markets doing different …
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Diverse British auto industry is on the rise
The United Kingdom is the birthplace of some of the world's most prestigious car brands -- and some of the industry's greatest failures, such as Austin, DeLorean, Healey, Riley, MG Rover and Triumph. After some difficult years and despite a looming recession, the United Kingdom's auto industry is
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The (r)evolution at BMW
BMW Group CEO Norbert Reithofer finally officially revealed that the automaker wants to sell 2 million cars a year in 2016 instead of 2020. Hitting the target four years ahead of schedule would mean that the milestone would coincide with BMW's 100th birthday. German weekly Manager Magazin reported
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The (r)evolution at BMW
BMW Group CEO Norbert Reithofer finally officially revealed that the automaker wants to sell 2 million cars a year in 2016 instead of 2020. Hitting the target four years ahead of schedule would mean that the milestone would coincide with BMW's 100th birthday. German weekly Manager Magazin reported
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Mazda to cut more than 100 jobs in Europe
Mazda will cut more than 100 jobs at its European headquarters and hand over more responsibilities to national sales companies as part of the Japanese automaker's bid to end global losses. Mazda will reduce headcount at its European offices in Leverkusen, Germany, to 190 employees from 306, the ...
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Why Audi will get Ducati
Last October, Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn told me: "Motorcycles are without question beautiful objects. But there are no plans to enter this line of business." That will change if VW Group subsidiary Audi buys Italian motorcycle maker Ducati, as suggested in media reports. Here are five
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Maserati to double global dealer network
GENEVA andndash; Maserati wants to double its global dealer network by the end of 2013 to capitalize on a model offensive that it expects will spark a tenfold sales increase by the middle of the decade. "We need a broader dealer body of about 500 dealers in place before our new models begin ...
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BMW seeks 4,000 new workers
BMW AG plans to hire about 4,000 new employees this year, boosting its total global work force to more than 104,000 people, CEO Norbert Reithofer said. "At the end of last year, the BMW Group employed about 100,000 people. We will hire about as many new employees as last year, especially in the ...
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Who are the crown princes at BMW?
BMW's latest management board shuffle hints at who will succeed current CEO Norbert Reithofer. So who are the winners and losers? Well, at first glance it doesn't look good for sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson, who loses oversight of the Mini and Rolls-Royce brands. The Englishman is now ...
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Smart aims for flat 2012 sales despite Europe troubles, product drought
GENEVA -- Daimler AG's Smart subsidiary wants its 2012 sales to match those of 2011 despite Europe's overall new-car sales slump and the small-car brand's lack of new product. "The global Smart team is working unbelievably hard to sell more than 100,000 units again in 2012," Annette Winkler, ...
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Mercedes can meet downturn without layoffs, production boss Bernhard says
GENEVA -- Daimler's Mercedes-Benz car division can cope with a potential slump in demand in an economic downturn without reducing its core staff because of its flexible production system, the automaker's purchasing and production chief Wolfgang Bernhard told Automotive News Europe . "We could ...
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Downsized and dynamic
… V50. Volvo doesn't plan to replace the slow-selling C30 coupe, its current entry-level car. Douglas A. Bolduc, Luca Ciferri, Bertrand Gay, Bruce Gain, Nick Gibbs, David Jolley and Harald Hamprecht contributed to this report
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Wealthy Chinese buyers and U.S. rebound may help Bentley double annual sales
Bentley aims to double its annual sales by 2017, helped by China's growing number of wealthy buyers, a rebounding U.S. economy and expansion into new markets, CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer told Automotive News Europe . Duerheimer said China is likely to overtake America this year as Bentley's largest ...
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Bentley expects 25,000 sales for new SUV
Bentley forecasts sales of 25,000 units of its planned new SUV during the model's lifecycle, CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer told Automotive News Europe . Bentley is expected to unveil a concept for the vehicle at the upcoming Geneva auto show. The SUV could be launched within three years if parent ...
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Aston Martin plans double-digit sales growth
UK sports car maker Aston Martin expects double-digit sales growth this year, helped by the brand's expansion in China. "Our sales situation in 2012 will not be significantly different from last year. The exception is that we have gained China as a major market," Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez told ...
