Automotive Industry

War adds to the industry's misery.(War in Iraq accelerates industry's downward trend in Europe)(Cover Story)

Content provided
in partnership with

Byline: Bradford Wernle Automotive News Europe

War in Iraq is accelerating the industry's downward trend in Europe.

"The recession in the car market is set to deepen," due to war and other factors, said Arthur Maher, a forecaster at J.D. Power-LMC.

The European industry finished 2002 with far too many cars and the stock overhang has been carried over in a deteriorating economy, Maher said.

"We think there is going to be significant plant idling in the next couple of quarters," he said.

Most Popular Articles in Autos: Service Slants; 2007 utility vehicle buyer's guide: Side-By-Sides are popular; here's who ...; Transmission considerations: beyond the manual gearbox; Buell Motorcycle engineering, innovation, & dedication: in an industry ...; 100 + 10: America's oldest automotive magazine celebrates its 110th year ...; More »

Sabine Blumel, analyst for Banca IMI, an Italian investment ...