One expert says consumers must be sold on the idea that the higher manufacturing costs of key lightweighting materials are offset by long-term fuel savings.
Auto industry R&D is heavily represented in France, and the country encourages research with tax benefits. Last year’s 20 biggest filers published 38% more patents than in 2010.
The car goes on sale in France this month and is the first to offer the auto maker’s new 3-cyl. engines, but early buyers are expected to purchase mainly higher-end models.
Five cooperative groups have been launched. Under study is the sharing of dual-clutch transmissions and platforms, small cars for emerging markets and ultra-low emissions vehicles.
Last month’s pain was not shared equally by the auto makers. Mitsubishi, Honda, Alfa Romeo, Renault, Suzuki and Peugeot all lost more than 20% in volume, while premium and entry-premium brands gained 2.0%.
Jean-Michel Billig worked most recently at Airbus’s Eurocopter division. The choice of an outsider for such a vital role at an auto maker as chief engineer generally means top management is looking for change.
U.S. customers account for 45% of BMW’s high-performance vehicles, while China is the second-biggest market, the company says. The German auto maker sold 19,000 M-branded vehicles worldwide last year, a 12.8%...