TAKATA

Airbag manufacturer in the crosshairs of US media / Almost 8m passenger vehicles recalled

RÖCHLING

New plant commissioned in Kunshan / Chinese facility to manufacture automotive components

CENTRAL EUROPEAN AUTOMOTIVE MARKET

Slovakia and Czech Republic en route to becoming key car production centres / Triangle between Prague, Bratislava and Zilina emerges as an OEM stronghold / Hyundai draws South Korean companies to Europe

BIOPLASTICS

Soaring US demand and agricultural developments in China boost global demand / PE one of fastest growing segments / BCC Research report

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

Would you like a tomato with that car?

MAGNA

Cooperating with Ford / Concept vehicle with significant plastics content / CFRP at the core

VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS

EUR 47m modernisation investment at Czech plants / Fifty jobs to be created as part of growth strategy

BIOPLASTICS

Eight consumer goods giants come together with WWF to drive sustainable plant-based feedstock development / Establish Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance

MAGNETI MARELLI

Automotive lighting joint venture with China South Industries / Changan is major customer

NIFCO

UK subsidiary of Japanese automotive supplier expects to hit GBP 100m in sales by 2018 / Merging German operations

COCA-COLA

Collaboration with Ford / "PlantBottle" technology used in interior of new “Fusion Energi”

US PLASTICS MARKET

Industry enjoys robust 2012 / "All hail shale" great morale booster but little substance / Polymer production still below pre-recession levels / Large customer sectors see slowdown around the corner

MAGNA

Opening of new facility in Turkey / Production of outside mirrors and fascias

SCHLEMMER GROUP

Expansion of injection moulding capabilities in Morocco underway / Plans to double local revenues over the next four years

TOYODA GOSEI

Japanese auto supplier on massive North American expansion course / Two new sites in operation and a third to be built

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Demand for new cars in Europe to bottom out in 2013 / Slight growth predicted for 2014 / Production stagnates at 12m vehicles / Producers fight poor demand with technology / Suppliers raise proportion of plastics in cars

FRÄNKISCHE ROHRWERKE

Expansion of North American headquarters / Potential to add 50 jobs

IAC

Joint venture with South African Feltex / Country's automotive market showing good growth through 2018

INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS

Tenth manufacturing facility opens in China / Assembly production for Ford, Volvo and Suzuki / Polyolefin and PVC resins for interior components

AUTOMOTIVE MARKET

Reduction of overcapacities in Italy, Spain and particularly France / TecPart says German suppliers are on comparatively safe ground / "Markets will stagnate for several years" / Raising R&D activities in Europe?

AUTOMOTIVE MARKET

Suppliers suffer the brunt of declining sales figures / Growth driver China shows signs of weakness / Will the lull drag on until 2015?

PLASTIC OMNIUM

Inergy subsidiary planning additional facility in Russia / Remaining shares in Indian jv acquired

FAURECIA

Sora Composites' automotive activities acquired / New US joint venture with Rush Group

BIOPLASTICS

Global market to grow 34% per year to 2016 / Largest growth in Europe and the Americas / BCC Research report

VISTEON

MoU to divest Interiors business to Chinese joint venture is terminated