TAKATA

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

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

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

It's all about lightweight construction / German plastics congresses focus on new approaches / Russian market could become even more depressed following Crimea crisis / Poor demand idles assembly plants for several days

PLASTIC OMNIUM

Opening of Chinese development centre / Support of company's projected growth in the largest automotive market

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

PEOPLE

Martin Larsson to become new CEO of Plastal Industri

JOHN MCGAVIGAN

Equity funding to facilitate expansion / New plant to serve China's automotive market

IAC

Acquisition of Stankiewicz's US activities