Who owns whom, Car companies and mergers

Who owns whom

Who owns whom – The rumors are always the most interesting; General Motors got out of its purchase option with FIAT by paying them $2 Billion. Now both Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp(SAIC)(a Joint Venture with General Motors and Volkswagen in China) and TATA Motor Group are rumored to be interested in purchasing FIAT, the parent company of Ferrari and Maserati. This would give either company a foray into Europe and Latin America and, possibly, a footprint into the United States, slicing the domestic marketshare pie just a little more.

Any company with ambitions to go global has to be in China. But, how long will it be before China feels the pressure and wants to increase its marketshare by going global? Obviously, sooner than most thought. Rumor has it that the companies to watch out for are Changan, Chery, and Geely. Changan is the top producing car company in China and has dealings with Ford, Suzuki, and Mazda. Chery is the eighth largest automaker in China and has a deal with Malcolm Bricklin, the founder of Subaru USA and Yugo USA to sell cars in the US. Geely owns 5 percent of the Chinese market. Cars are priced around USD 5,000. There is a report that Geely recently signed a deal with Malcolm Bricklins Chery to start selling its vehicles in the United States by 2006.

General Motors and Ford are in the news for losing marketshare while Nissan and Toyota are in the news for gaining marketshare. They should all be competitive and not talk to each other at all, right? Wrong, synergy between companies can save big on technology and the savings are in the billions when platforms are shared. Sometimes the platform sharing is with the strangest bedfellows until you realize who owns whom.

Car companies and mergers

Acura Motors:

• Honda:
  Takeo Fukui, President, and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd
  Number of dealers: 1,011
  2004 sales: 1,195,479
• Acura (USA):
  Richard Colliver, Executive Vice President
  Number of dealers:264
  2004 sales: 198,919
  BMW Motor Company
• BMW
  Dr. Helmut Panke, Chairman of the Board of Management, Bayerische Motorenwerke A.G.
  Number of dealers:340
  2004 sales:260,079
• Mini
  Number of dealers:80
  2004 sales:36,032
• Rolls-Royce
  In 1998 BMW purchased the right to use the Rolls-Royce Motor Car name from Rolls-Royce PLC for $66 million. VW had purchased the Rolls-Royce Motor Car company, but that did not include the rights to the name.
  As part of the agreement with VW, BMW did not begin producing Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in their new plant in Goodwood in the U.K. until January 1st, 2003.
  The Rolls-Royce Phantom shares the same engine as the BMW 760
• Brilliance
  Listed on NYSE since 1992, has a Joint Venture with BMW to produce 3 and 5 series for the Chinese market. Makes the Zhonghua in China. Brillance also signed an agreement with an Egyptian partner last month to produce Zhonghuas in North Africa
• Changan
  The third-largest automaker in China, after First Auto Works and Shanghai Auto. The state-owned company already has dealings with Ford, Suzuki, and Mazda for Chinese operations. Changan is working with the Italian design and engineering firm IDEA and has opened an R&D center in Italy.
• Chery
  The most likely Chinese made car to come to the USA first
  Malcolm Bricklin, CEO
  Chery Automobiles began to produce cars in Iran at the end of last year
  Chery is also in talks with Malaysia’s Alado Automobiles to produce cars there
  Daimler-Chrysler (DCX)
  It was a merger between Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz in 1998
  Jurgen Schrempp, Chairman, DaimlerChrysler AG
• Beijing Jeep (DCX and Beijing Auto Industry Corp)
• Chrysler Group
  Jeff Bell, Vice President of Marketing
  Number of dealers:2,195
  2004 sales: 1,016,130 (Chrysler and Jeep are reported together)
  – The 2-seater Crossfire shares its mechanicals from the Mercedes-Benz SLK.
• Dodge
  Darryl R. Jackson, Vice President Dodge Marketing
  Number of dealers: 1,802
  2004 sales: 1,189,894
  If you don’t want a station wagon, but like the way the Dodge Magnum works you will like the Charger, it shares the same LX platform and almost all it’s mechanical and electronic components with the Dodge Magnum and the Chrysler 300. What does that mean? It means you get a great rear-wheel drive with a great all-independent suspension from Mercedes.

• Jeep
  Jeff Bell, Vice President of Marketing
• Maybach
• Mercedes-Benz
  Paul Halata, President and CEO
  Number of dealers: 329
  2004 sales: 221,610
• Smart DongFeng
  Chinas 2nd largest automaker, a state enterprise that’s owned by the central government. They have Joint Ventures (JVs) with Nissan, Peugeot, and Honda
• FIAT S.p.A. – Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Car Factory of Turin)
  Sergio Marchionne, CEO
• Fiat
  see SAIC and Tata – both are rumored to be interested in purchasing FIAT S.p.A. This would be a footprint into Latin America, Europe and possibly the United States for either if they did buy FIAT SpA.
  General Motors had an option to buy Fiat but divested its interest in February 2005
• Abarth (no more individual models, only styling/sports kits)
• Alfa Romeo
  In February Fiat took over Maserati and merged it with Alfa Romeo
• Ferrari
  Ferrari is part of FIAT S.p.A., not FIAT auto FIAT S.p.A. owns a controlling interest in Ferrari
• Lancia
• Maserati
  Maserati is part of Fiat Auto, linked to Alfa Romeo. Maserati’s distribution in the USA is dependent on the Ferrari channel
• First Auto Works (FAW)
  Chinas largest automaker of trucks and cars, including a car named Hongqi, which means Red Flag. JVs with VW and Toyota.

• Ford Motor Company
  William Clay Ford Jr, Chairman of the Board and CEO
• Aston Martin
  Mike ODriscoll, President, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover North America
  Ford bought Aston Martin in 1994
• ChangAn Ford (Ford and ChangAn Motors)
• Ford
  Stephen G. Lyons, President
  Number of dealers: 3,799
  2004 sales: 2,778,678
• Jaguar
  Mike ODriscoll, President, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover North America
  Number of dealers: 173
  2004 sales: 45,875
  Ford bought Jaguar in 1990
• Land Rover
  Mike ODriscoll, President, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover North America
  Number of dealers: 164
  2004 sales: 35,506
  Sold to Ford in 2000 from BMW the Range Rover had a BMW engine till this year when it switched to a V-8 from Jaguar.
• Lincoln
  Darryl Hazel, President
  Number of dealers: 641
  2004 sales: 332,600
• Mazda (33.4% controlling interest)
  James O’Sullivan, President, and CEO
  Number of dealers:702
  2004 sales:263,883
  The hot new Mazda 3 shares its underpinnings with the upcoming Mazda 5, Volvo S40 and V50 and the European version of the Ford Focus. The Mazda 6 is the basis for the 2006 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr
• Mercury
• Volvo
  Anne Belec, President and CEO
  Number of dealers: 353
  2004 sales: 139,384
  Ford bought Volvo in 1999 for $6.5 billion. Since then the same platform has been used for the S80 sedan, S60 sedan, XC90 SUV, and two generations of V70 wagons. The same platform was recently used for the Ford Five Hundred, Ford Freestyle, and the Mercury Montego. Geely
  The second most likely Chinese company to come to America. A private Chinese company started 7 years ago that specializes in affordable compact cars, such as Huapu and Haoqing, for the masses. Now has 5 percent of the car market in China. Cars priced around USD 5,000.
  Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd signed a partnership agreement in May, with Malaysian manufacturers Information Gateway Corporation SDN BHD (IGC), to assemble it’s own brand cars in Malaysia, the first car will be the Freedom Cruiser.
  General Motors G. Richard “Rick” Wagoner, Jr., Chairman and CEO
• AM General
  (government vehicles produced as HUMMVs; not sold to private individuals)
• Buick
  Number of dealers: 2,758
  2004 sales: 309,639
• Cadillac
  Number of dealers: 1,482
  2004 sales: 234,217
• Chevrolet
  Number of dealers: 4,145
  2004 sales: 2,763,238
  The Chevy Malibu spans the globe by sharing parts with the Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Saab 9-3, and the European Cadillac BLS. Daewoo (sold as Chevrolet, Holden or Suzuki outside North Korea)
  GM Daewoo Auto and Technology provides vehicles to Chevrolet, Holden, Buick and it’s alliance partner Suzuki. In Korea and Vietnam, GMDAT products are sold under the GM Daewoo brand.
• GMC
  Number of dealers: 2,249
  2004 sales: 602,064
• Holden (Australia)
• Hummer
  Number of dealers: 164
  2004 sales: 29,345
• Isuzu (10 % interest)
  Minoru Matsushima, Chairman
  Number of dealers: 350
  2004 sales: 27,188
• Opel
  (Europe excluding the UK, also India and Africa)
• Pontiac
  Number of dealers: 2,786
  2004 sales: 474,179
  Shares the platform and parts with the Toyota Matrix, but priced higher. Entered into a joint venture with Toyota in 1984. GM put up an abandoned factory in Fremont, CA, and Toyota added cash and the Corolla platform. Now known as NUMMI, this was Toyotas first foray into the American market.
• Saturn
  Jill Lajdziak, Vice President, Sales, Service, and Marketing
  Number of dealers: 445
  2004 sales: 212,017
• Saab
  Number of dealers: 249
  2004 sales: 38,159
  the all-wheel-drive Saab 9-2X is based on the Subaru WRX, known now as the Saabaru. The 2006 Saab 9-7X SUV is built on the same platform as a Chevy Trailblazer, Buick Ranier, and GMC Envoy. The Saab is built in Moraine, Ohio.
• Shanghai GM (GM and Shanghai Auto Industry Corp-SAIC) GreatWall Motors
  The maker of pickup trucks and SUVs based in a town about 100 miles south of Beijing. Also listed on the NYSE in 2003.
• Hyundai Kia Automotive Group:
• Hyundai Motor America:
  Hyundai Motor America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea
  Bob Cosmai, President and CEO
  Number of dealers: 664
  2004 sales: 418,615
• Kia:
  Peter Butterfield, President, and CEO
  Number of dealers: 650
  2004 sales: 270,055
  Mitsubishi Motors North America
  less than 20% owned by DCX, no longer a controlling interest
  Rich Gilligan, President, and CEO
  Number of dealers: 52
  2004 sales: 161,609
  The Mitsubishi Raider will be built by Dodge in the Warren truck plant, using the Dodge Dakota platform/powertrain.
• Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
  (44% shareholding by Renault)
• Nissan
  (Known as Datsun from 1932 to 1983)
  Jed Connelly, Senior Vice President Sales, and Marketing
  Number of dealers: 1,072
  2004 sales: 855,002
  In North America, Nissan has vehicle manufacturing plants in Smyrna, Tenn.; Canton, Miss.; and Aguascalientes and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Globally, Nissan vehicles are produced in plants in Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt.
• Infiniti
  Jed Connelly, Senior Vice President Sales, and Marketing
  Number of dealers: 172
  2004 sales: 130,067
• Renault (15% held by Nissan)
• Renault Samsung Panoz Porsche
  Wendelin Wiedeking, Chairman of the Board of Management, Porsche AG
  Number of dealers: 204
  2004 sales: 33,289
  The Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Toureg are built on the same platform that was designed by Porsche and built-in Volkswagens Czech Republic plant
• Lotus PSA Group
• Citroen
• Peugeot Saleen SGM Wuling (China)
  Three-way Joint Venture with GM, Shanghai Auto Industry Corp and Wuling Motors that produces micro trucks and micro cars, including the Chevrolet Spark, based off the Daewoo Matiz.
• Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp(SAIC)
  Joint Venture with General Motors and Volkswagen in China. Rumored to be interested in buying Fiat.
  A state enterprise owned by the city of Shanghai.Subaru Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd (20% interest owned by General Motors)
  A descendant of the Nakajima Aircraft Company (est. 1917), Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) was established on July 15, 1953, when five Japanese companies joined to form one of Japans largest manufacturers of transportation equipment.
  FHI has an aerospace division that provides Boeing with infrastructure. FHI applies a great deal of its aircraft technology to its automotive division, most notably the horizontally-opposed boxer engines used in all modern Subaru automobiles.
  Kyoji Takenaka, President, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Subaru of America
  Subaru is the Japanese word for the star cluster the Pleiades that is depicted in the company logo
  Number of dealers: 580
  2004 sales: 187,402
  All Impreza models, 2.5i, WRX sedan and wagon, Outback Sport, and STi are on the same platform, built-in Gunma, Japan
  All Legacy models (2.5i, GT)and all Outback models (3.0 R sedan, 2.5i wagon, XT, L.L.Bean, and VDC) and all Baja models are built on the Legacy platform, built-in Lafayette, Indiana. The all-new B9 Tribeca is based on a highly modified Outback platform, but it’s much longer and wider, with different suspension components. Suzuki (20% interest owned by General Motors)
  Sokichi Nakano, Chairman
  Number of dealers: 540
  2004 sales: 73,946
  Tata Motors:
  Rumored to be interested in buying Fiat. If so, that would give TATA their first footprint into America
  Seven out of ten medium and heavy commercial vehicles in India are made by Tata. The Indica V2 is Indias only fully designed and manufactured passenger car.
  In 2004 Tata Motors bought Daewoo’s truck manufacturing unit in South KoreaToyota Motor Corporation:
• Daihatsu
• Lexus:
  Denny Clements, Group Vice President, and General Manager
  Number of dealers: 210
  2004 sales: 287,927
• Scion:
• Toyota:
  Yukitoshi Funo, President and COE
  Number of dealers: 1,210
  2004 sales: 1,772,122
  same platform – matrix and corolla?
• Volkswagen Group:
• Audi:
  Johan de Nysschen, Executive Vice President
  Number of dealers:262
  2004 sales:77,917
  The Phaeton and Audi A8 share some similar technologies such as air suspension, 4.2 V8 and W12 engines.
• Bentley:
  Andrew Stuart, CEO
  Number of dealers:39
  2004 sales: 2,479
  Purchased by VW in 1998. The Bentley Continental and Flying Spur share bits of the platform and hardware of the 12-cylinder Volkswagen Phaeton. Bentley has said they could assemble the Flying Spur at the Phaeton factory in Dresden, “The Glass Factory”, Germany, but the factory at Crew, England has sufficient capacity right now to handle the demand of the Bentley for the next two years.
• Bugatti
• Lamborghini
• SEAT
• Skoda
• Volkswagen
  Frank Witter, CEO and Chief Financial Officer
  Number of dealers: 611
  2004 sales: 256,111
  VWAG has a Joint Venture with First Auto Works but none of those vehicles are exported resources: Most Manufacturers listed above
  fact file
  Automotive Resources Asia, based in Shanghai, Beijing, and Bangkok
  National Automotive Dealer Association (NADA) Magazine China Daily