US latest H1 growth good but trend is slowing but overall year will be up.
Europe latest auto market will be down marginally. H2 may be slightly better.
China Sales of cars above $46,000 increased by more than 51% in H1. Cars below this dropped by 3%. Reasons: cancellation of sales incentives, licensing restrictions in Metro Beijing and Shanghai, and a lack of new fuel efficient small cars with a good quality reputation by the larger Chinese domestic producers – who find it difficult to change quickly.
EV (Electric Vehicle) Forecast demand not overstated but will have teething issues. Expect 2-3% within 5 years. Ghosn and Renault-Nissan alliance may be right to have invested heavily though reliance on only BEVs may prove ill-judged. Renault in short-term could make correct.
Hybrid (Hybrid Vehicles) forecast demand not expected to be anything more than 10-20% of the market. US estimates of up to 60% are wide of the mark.

Mergers/Takeovers/Closures

Saab back on and then off again, off and now on July, 2011

Chinese partners not so good.
Saab looks as if it will be back in business but for how long?
There is another cash injection deal and a tentative date (August 9, 2011) for the restart of production at its main plant in Trollhattan, Sweden.
The latest cash injection came via the European Investment Bank, for the sale and lease back of some of its property. The deal involves a consortium of Swedish real estate investors led by Hemfosa Fastigheter that will purchase 50.1 % of the shares in Saab Property for approximately $40 million.

Will this be enough? Probably not. Once again too little too late. Saab still needs to invest megabucks in product development – even if now smart and using just one flexible platform.

Old news from June 2011:
Saab revived production around May 27: resumed production after a cash advance on an order from Pangda Automobile Trade Company ended a two-month manufacturing halt. June 7 production halted again: warned of continued delays as it works out new contracts with suppliers, raising fresh fears about the future of the Swedish car maker. Saab claims a good order bank of 10,000 vehicles but just need to calm suppliers fears.

Toyota and the Japanese automakers are now resuming normal production post-Tsunami. This is about 3-4 months earlier than expected. All will be down on the total year (by around 12% to 20% depending on how much they can over-produce in the second half of 2011).

Market retail sales and production volumes as of end of June 2011

Asia