European carmakers to get serious at Geneva show

[longknife]

March 3, 2013, By By SARAH DiLORENZO, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — The Geneva Motor Show has long had a reputation as one of the glitziest stops on the global auto show circuit — the place to unveil luxury models and out-of-this-world fantasy concept cars. But this year the dire state of the European auto industry will hang over the exhibition halls. Hit by fleeing customers, struggling economies and idle production lines, the region's carmakers need to make tough decisions if they are going to survive.

See more at: European carmakers to get serious at Geneva show | CNS News

 

[Underhill]

March 3, 2013, By By SARAH DiLORENZO, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — The Geneva Motor Show has long had a reputation as one of the glitziest stops on the global auto show circuit — the place to unveil luxury models and out-of-this-world fantasy concept cars. But this year the dire state of the European auto industry will hang over the exhibition halls. Hit by fleeing customers, struggling economies and idle production lines, the region's carmakers need to make tough decisions if they are going to survive.

See more at: European carmakers to get serious at Geneva show | CNS News

So at BMW and Porsche profits are up. VW/Audi are looking at record profits. Fiat is holding it's own thanks to Chrysler. Even Mercedes, while having a bit of a dip for a few months, isn't looking too bad in the long run.

It seems to me that a few French automakers are struggling (mainly Peugeot and Renault, who have been struggling on and off for decades) but I find these stories a bit misleading.