This week's snippets of automotive news include the latest on Honda's Swindon factory, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, French luxury brands and future Lexus models.
Honda's Swindon factory:
Does Honda's factory in Swindon have a future post-Brexit? Most definitely, according to the company’s big boss, Takahiro Hachigo. He said: “We would like to see clear rules and conditions when Brexit happens. Maybe we’ll make some small changes, but there’s no plan to drastically change Honda’s strategy in the UK.”
Mercedes-Benz B-Class:
The Mercedes B-Class will not be axed, the brand’s sales and marketing boss Britta Seeger has said, despite sales of MPVs declining in recent years as more buyers choose SUVs. “The B-Class is a very well-respected product,” she said. The B-Class outsells the rival BMW 2 Series Active Tourer in the UK.
French luxury brands:
French luxury brands are among the most powerful in the world, said DS boss Yves Bonnefont, citing Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and the nation’s car makers aspire to be among them. “We want to be on that list, but I’ll probably be retired,” said the 50-year-old. Bonnefont estimated that building a credible luxury brand can take as much as 20 years.
Lexus confidence:
Lexus boss Yoshihiro Sawa has said that the firm has found its confidence with the launch of the LC sports car-cum-GT, and that the positive reaction will encourage it to be “braver and more challenging” with its new models in the future. “For a while, being new was enough to be exciting, but soon it became quite boring,” said Sawa. “We don’t have the heritage of our rivals and we now know we must be different from the others in order to stand out.”
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FRENCH LUXURY
An honest man there - except DS will never attain this as much as they would like. Their previous prestige cars have casued the makers to hemerage financial losses like a burst water main. No one expects and no one really wants because there are names out there which will always be better from a humble Audi to a Massa or Merc Jag etc. All of which have a history and a name. He wont just have retured buy will have passed a long time before the French can get even close. Yes it is a shame as I once owned a Citroen Massa which was one of the finest cars I have ever driven and gave me pleasure just looking at it. Pure stroke of genious. Maybe they could do something with a Ferrari? lol - Meanwhile the Koreans will be there long before them making it much more difficult to fulfill their wishes
FRENCH LUXURY
An honest man there - except DS will never attain this as much as they would like. Their previous prestige cars have casued the makers to hemerage financial losses like a burst water main. No one expects and no one really wants because there are names out there which will always be better from a humble Audi to a Massa or Merc Jag etc. All of which have a history and a name. He wont just have retured buy will have passed a long time before the French can get even close. Yes it is a shame as I once owned a Citroen Massa which was one of the finest cars I have ever driven and gave me pleasure just looking at it. Pure stroke of genious. Maybe they could do something with a Ferrari? lol - Meanwhile the Koreans will be there long before them making it much more difficult to fulfill their wishes
Surely most of Honda Swindon
Surely most of Honda Swindon production is currently exported, outside Europe? So Brexit might well improve things for them.