Typ: News
Clepa has been in operation for 50 years and its operations have become more and more important. We represent all the large suppliers in Europe and have global cooperation with supplier organizations in the USA, India, South America and Japan. We view our role more like an expert organization than a lobbyist organization. We are able to put together expert groups, on short notice, within the majority of areas that are affected by legislation and exercise of authority. We can assist with technical expertise and are nationally independent. Our location in Brussels enables us to have close contacts with the EU, both the Commission and the Council. In Geneva we have contacts with the United Nations where global legislation issues for the automotive industry are dealt with.
How do you view the role of suppliers today and in 10 years?
At present the suppliers stand for 75% of the value of a car. By 2020 that figure will be 85%. New technology and developments mean that suppliers are taking on a larger role. Today 50% of R&D takes place within the automotive sector in Europe with suppliers. Car companies´ R&D is very concentrated on design, safety, testing and approval. If one looks at development within Research and Technical Development — RTD — the role of the supplier in the development is greater than 50%.
New technology, new players may lead to new supplier structures?
Yes, there is new technology within the field such as electric motors, batteries etc. Generic development often takes places with a company that is subsequently purchased by established suppliers to the major car companies.
How is it going for the supplier at present?
Everyone is experiencing hard times and have slammed the brakes on. Any work with respect to development that is currently taking place with suppliers is restricted to work that is paid for by the customer or required by legislation.
From your perspective how do you view the global car crisis?
Most likely like everyone else. A gigantic over capacity has existed for quite some time and downward adjustments are needed in order to establish a balance. Volumes increased steadily in the USA and Europe up until 2007, but the volumes were kept up through artificial respiration. Cheap loans, advantageous leasing etc. simultaneously as the markets in Asia and the East woke up — but they wanted their own production. During 2009 worldwide car production is at the pace of 50 million cars per year, which is approximately a 50% rate of capacity utilization. The crisis, with its epicenter in the USA, spread to Europe and capacity must be eliminated in both places.
What is the outlook for the Swedish automotive industry?
The truck industry remains strong but is affected by the recession. Both Scania and AB Volvo are in a good position with respect to product and the markets. On the passenger car side it is not looking so rosy. Saab is in the worst position. When the ethanol bubble popped there was not very much left for Saab. Sure, Saab has produced fine cars — but there are many companies doing that today and more on the way. In the situation that Saab is in, one loses confidence on the market each day that the insecurities regarding the future remain. At present Saab´s volumes correspond to what Ferrari produces. Volvo Car Corporation is also experiencing very tough times, but has a little more time, however, an unclear ownership question is always a heavy burden for customer confidence. Volvo Car Corporation´s XC 60 seems to be a super successful automobile that is liked by the market, but it is all about getting volumes. Saab is always saying they just need to reach the level of 150 000 cars to be successful and Volvo Car Corporation says the same thing, but one should reach the 500 000 level. Volvo was close in 2007, but today both Saab and Volvo Car Corporation are a long way away.
If we look at USA — how is it going there?
GM will likely go into bankruptcy within a month and Chrysler probably has it just as tough. USA´s automotive industry has to get rid of its dead weight in order to have a chance. In 2008 the total salary cost for an automobile worker at GM was 72 USD/hour while Toyota in the USA had a cost of 32 USD/hour. Later when the price of gasoline skyrocketed and the only profitable segment that the American manufacturer´s had — Pick Ups — imploded, the crisis was a fact. The results of previous salary negotiations when things were going well and the inability to interpret market developments lead to the crisis and it is horrendous how fast it went.
Ford definitely has problems, but has obtained credit facilities and for the moment is not sitting in the lap of the Government appealing for aid. Ford could emerge the winner from the crisis in the USA. If GM goes into bankruptcy and is subsequently reconstructed on a lower level Government aid can be provided based on the amount of people employed. Ford must receive the same support, which could provide them with a flying start on the new car scale with new technology. USA´s capacity currently stands at a total of SEK 20 million cars per year and it needs to reduced. New technology is in the pipeline and today´s capacity should be eliminated.
Europe — is it as tough there?
No — the situation is better than in the USA but capacity will disappear and all manufacturers will not survive. The passenger car industry in Sweden, France, Germany — Opel and Fiat in Italy are experiencing difficult times and things will be happening here. The risk for political aid to support the domestic automotive industry is considerable and some aid has already been given in that direction. In Europe the feeling is unnerving about the rapid pace of development that is taking place in the automotive industry in Asia — China, India and Korea. The manufacturers there see an opportunity now when interest for smaller cars is, dramatically, on the rise in Europe.
What is happening in Asia?
Japan has been greatly affected by the recession, which is hitting exports hard while the domestic market weakens. The Japanese automotive industry is surprised — yes maybe almost frightened over the rapid progression of developing in China, India and Korea. Capacity is being built up for new techniques in the next generation of cars. China realizes that one does not catch up to the West and Japan on the combustion engine side, but China has ambitions to be the leader on the electric side and they are well positioned there. India is also coming on strong with much focus on the small car segment that will be in demand in the West. Indian manufacturers have already made contact with European niche manufacturers.
How will the new technology affect the automotive industry?
By 2020, at the latest, the CO2 requirements will be 95g per km. This means small cars in order to fulfill the requirement with combustion engines. There will also be a demand for larger cars. Car manufacturers will therefore have small electric cars in their program because it gives "CO 2 credit" when calculated together the combined emission from a manufacturer´s sales. Furthermore electric cars will be in demand. The technology already exists for small electric cars that can go 100 km on one charge, and that is sufficient for many urban drivers. There will be both large and small cars in the future, but electricity will be ‘big thing´ in small cars. Look at Daimler for example, which has Smart as a little car and that will become an electric car, but the company will also continue with its larger cars and will be able to do so by introducing hybrids and utilizing the Smart car´s low emission in order to land on 95 g on average for the entire production.
Sweden finally — What advice do you have?
The passenger car industry must have a clear and strong owner that is knowledgeable and understands the automotive world. An exciting thought would be a Swedish ensemble where ABB, AB Volvo, Vattenfall and the Government went in and took over Volvo Car Corporation — it could be profitable. Saab is already so stripped that the chances of success on its own are small. The Swedish truck industry is strong and competitive and it will come on strong when the economy turns around.
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USA auto sales continue their upswing
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Professor Schellnhuber awarded the Volvo Environment Prize
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New Chalmers lab
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AB Volvo Organiserar gets new organization
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AB Volvo slows down
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Saab fights on
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Volvo Cars reports a loss
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Subaru invests in Trollhättan
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Swedish Engineering at IAA
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New CO2 emissions figures
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Subsidies do not affect the sale of electric cars
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Scania sponsors Olympics in Russia
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Diesel hybrids important
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Delicate balancing act
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Technology leads the way
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Triple helix makes for exciting projects
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New type of 4WD provides exciting characteristics
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“This is a fabulous opportunity for Sweden"
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New generation Volvo engine to be built in Skövde
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VW to be big player in trucks
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Volvo PV collaboration with Siemens
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PowerCell creates new opportunities
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Toyota Greenest
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Honda knows the way to a sustainable society
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Spin-off from Volvo growing strong
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The great denial
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World's biggest electric taxi fleet
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E-driveline in Gothenburg
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Oil prices will make the call
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Situation in Japan worsens
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Shanghai - tomorrow's most important car show
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Automotive companies not most admired
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Whirlwind of activity these days at Saab
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SKF and Chalmers form technical center for sustainability and the environment
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Climate-smart essential to VW
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Automotive world enters iWorld
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France aims to be a leader in electric vehicles - and Peugeot's riding shotgun
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European jobs going abroad?
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Market shares most important to Hyundai
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Uddevalla plant once again all Volvo
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Expertise - Our most important competitive factor
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Portugal charges ahead
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Two clear trends in Geneva
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Difficult balancing act for central banks and politicians
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A clear optimism in Detroit
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Electrifying the winds of change
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Saab selling off segments
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Swedish suppliers follow Volvo CC to China
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Cartel probe
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Fiat factory to remain in Turin
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The automobile turns 125
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South America still attractive to Swedish automotive suppliers
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Truck & Bus World Forum in Göteborg
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Cooperation saves lives
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Heavyweight changes lead to lightweight solutions
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New focus on electrically powered vehicles
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Electric cars and plug-in hybrids - the vehicles of the future
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Swedish subcontractors aim to increase their share of the German market
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The government has to take the bull by the horns
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Economy still stuttering
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New car inventory growing
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China goes electric - in a big way
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Saab buying BMW engines
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New car sales on the decline in Europe
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Change happens - faster than you think
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Saab automobile opens doors for new partnerships
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China on a global buying rampage
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Electrifying our cars
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Metroauto offers new forms of ownership
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Testing activities on the rise in Gothenburg
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Aggressive ventures during the recession yielded market shares
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Swedish subcontractors gather strength for the IAA
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Smarter trucks in sight
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Will the European integration start to creak?
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Swedish body-manufacturers to reduce energy consumption
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More can be done - and done better
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Bright future ahead for Indian automotive industry
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Electric vehicle breakthrough in Sweden curbed by prices
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Greece sparks unrest in the global economy
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The need for engineering expertise is on the rise
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New partnership worrying Volvo Group owners
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Greece gets help
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Car show in Beijing bigger every year
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Geely to buy Volvo CC
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OECD advises in a new report
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The Chinese government waves aside revaluation of the Yen
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Swedish Liberals don't have faith in ethanol
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The new UN standard for electric vehicles
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Economic recovery is going slowly
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Without change we stand still
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2010-02-09
Good investment opportunities in Västra Götaland
2010-02-09
AB Volvo reshuffles at the top
2010-02-09
Ford and Volvo Car Corporation doing better
2010-02-09
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2010-02-09
China takes the lead
2010-02-09
A little more hope for positive development
2010-02-09
Oil prices on the rise
2010-02-09
Layoffs at Pininfarina in Uddevalla
2010-02-09
SAAB buyout a done deal
2010-02-09
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2010-01-13
Climate summit — success or fiasco
2010-01-13
Clean Truck 2010
2010-01-13
Diesel and Natural gas
2010-01-13
Shortage of electric cars in Sweden
2010-01-13
Extra funds to Region Västra Götaland
2010-01-13
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2010-01-13
Hybrid cars on the rise in Japan
2010-01-13
Can Fiat be interested in Saab
2010-01-13
New constellations
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2009-12-07
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2009-12-07
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2009-12-07
The use of natural gas by road transport will reduce carbon emission
2009-12-07
Efforts starting to bear fruit
2009-12-07
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SKF-Ricardo collaboration
2009-12-07
The government-owned venture capital company makes its first investment
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A different kind of car project
2009-11-13
Will Volvo Car Corporation become Chinese
2009-11-13
A step closer for SAAB
2009-11-13
Harsh climate in the truck market continues
2009-11-13
SP takes the initiative regarding fire safety in vehicles
2009-11-13
SEK 100 million to redundant workers from Volvo & suppliers
2009-11-13
Trollhättan takes the baton in development electric cars
2009-11-13
State venture capital company seeking more investments
2009-11-13
China speeds up
2009-11-13
News Heavy Vehicles
2009-10-13
Future auto plants go flexible
2009-10-13
Company notices
2009-10-13
Mismanaged brand
2009-10-13
Review of Opel deal
2009-10-13
Preparations for Copenhagen meeting
2009-10-13
Will there be a “double dip"
2009-10-13
Electric and hybrid but also luxury and performance
2009-10-13
Conservative optimism — but still challenging, plenty regarding climate and the new Saab
2009-10-13
A Managing director who is passionate about sustainable energy systems
2009-09-17
Many participants in the battery race...
2009-09-17
Swedish technology reduces carbon dioxide emissions in vehicle applications
2009-09-17
Christina sees a future for batteries in vehicles
2009-09-17
5 questions to Sara Wallin, CEO Almi Väst
2009-09-17
Is the downturn in the automotive industry over?
2009-09-17
Sale start of Swedish electric cars in October
2009-09-17
The world´s first electric car fleet in Göteborg
2009-09-17
A new era takes shape in the automotive world
2009-09-17
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2009-09-11
Automotive News September - Company
2009-09-11
Automotive News September - Branch
2009-09-11
Automotive News september - Politics/ Transport politics
2009-09-11
Automotive News September Environment
2009-09-11
General
2009-09-11
600.000kilometres without oil changes with new Swedish technology
2009-08-14
SoundRacer brings Super Sports Car sound to the green car
2009-06-29
Will billions in reconstruction relief solve the core problems?
2009-06-12
Automotive News - Heavy Vehicles -
2009-06-12
Automotive News - Company -
2009-06-12
Automotive News - Branch -
2009-06-12
Automotive News - Transport politics/Politics -
2009-06-12
Automotive News - Environment -
2009-06-12
Automotive News - General -
2009-06-12
Lower fuel consumption with the help of wind tunnel
2009-05-29
SEK 50 million for competence development to counteract lay offs and terminations
2009-05-29
Manufacturing industry could increase its efficiency by up to 20%
2009-05-29
Biogas, the next challenge in North Carolina
2009-05-29
Motor sport and environmental technology
2009-05-29
Major investment in biogas in Skaraborg
2009-05-29
With focus on transport and the future
2009-05-29
5 questions to Eva Tigerström,& Malin Wallander, from the Swedish Road Administration
2009-05-29
Investing in electric cars in West Sweden
2009-05-29
The Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre continues towards new goals
2009-05-29
"Suppliers account for 75% of the value in a car"
2009-05-29
Fiat tries to take the lead
2009-05-08
Who can afford to buy electric cars?
2009-05-08
Mounting risks for suppliers
2009-05-08
Heavy trucks continue to decline
2009-05-08
New Car Manufacturer in Nödinge, Sweden
2009-04-16
Saab must think in new direction
2009-04-16
Government climate bill complete
2009-04-16
Profitable to scrap old cars
2009-04-16
