A couple of new connections for the Automotivefamily.com have come up this week. One is an agreement between VW and GAZ of Russia. VW will build VW and Skoda cars at the GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod. Second connection is that Spyker has sold its sportscar building to CCP Global Holdings. The deal will help Spyker to rebuild SAAB, which it bought off of GM last year.

Source:rt.com/business
autoexpress.co.uk

Time to update the Automotive Family Tree. BMW and PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) have just announced a joint-venture deal to develop and produce hybrid components and software. This is a 50-50 partnership called BMW Peugeot Citroen Electification, and will help cut supply costs.

Source: autonews.com

For those keeping score at home, Fiat now has 25% of Chrysler, 63.5% UAW VEBA, U.S. Treasury 9.2% and Canadian government 2.3%. Time to update the Automotive Family Tree!

Source: thecarconnection.com

Well, the new year is here, so lets start with an odd connection. BAIC (aka Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp) has put a bid to acquire Pininfarina, according to gasgoo.com. Pinifarina is an Italian car design firm and coach builder, but most would know them from designing all the current and past Ferrari.

Nothing has been decided yet, but they have worked in the past and will continue to work together in the future.

Source: gasgoo.com

Time to update the Automotive Family Tree. According to autonews.com, Ford will cut its ownership from 11% to 3.5%. Ford had been Mazda’s biggest shareholder since 1979.

It should be noted that both parties are committed to continuing joint ventures, joint projects and exchange of technology information.

Source:

Time to draw another line in the Automotive Family Tree. BMW will supply engines for Saab’s next-generation vehicles. It will be the 4-banger, turbocharged gasoline engines starting in 2012. The engines will be made to Saab’s specific requirements.

So, is BMW sharing the same engine that’s in the MINI? Kind of small for the 9-3 and really small for the 9-5. Hey wait, isn’t this the same engine that BMW has an agreement with PSA? Maybe I can find out the details later.

Source: autonews.com (subscription maybe required)

Lets see if I can squeeze a few more car logo’s into the Automotive Family Tree. Nissan and Chinese automaker Dongeng Motors Group Co. will jointly produce cars sold under the Qi Chen brand starting in early 2012. Honda will also be doing something similar in China with the collaboration with Guangzhou Honda Automobile, the Li Niam brand will start in 2011. Both Nissan and Honda are doing this to make cheaper model cars for the Chinese market.

Source: egmcartech.com

The Automotive Family Tree will need to be updated soon. Looks like India’s Mahindra and Mahindra has agreed to take over the bankrupt South Korean car maker Ssangyong Motor. No price was given at time of print, but analyst say the cost of more than 50% of Ssangyong would be 500 billion won ($4.23 billion).

Source: drive.com.au

If you watch the Travel channel, you see “Theme” style hotels, which some look cool and others just look plain strange and scary to stay. However, in Stuttgart Germany, you can stay at the Meilenwerk V8 Hotel. It has 34 rooms for the auto obsessed people we are! There’s a racing theme room, Cadillac bed, Morris Minor garage theme, carwash theme, which includes a 70’s model Mercedes-Benz, Motorcycle theme and even a Herbie #53 VW Beatle theme bed. One very nice, very large “Zeppelin” suite that will run you $489 per night, room rates vary with season.

Source: autoblog.com

v8hotel.de/eng/

Shell was kind enough to spend me three bottles of 2X Concentrated Gumout Fuel System Cleaner for gas engines. The first three emails I get I’ll send them your way (US residents only). Look for my review at the end of the month. Email address can be found here.

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