Ford, Renault upmarket drive seems a hard road in weak markets made worse by underlying changes - “There is still a hell of a way to go with overcapacity. Some has been taken out but not nearly enough”

The braggadocio and bombast was still echoing around the Frankfurt car show stands when Volkswagen reminded everybody that perhaps all was not well with the European automotive industry.

CEOs had performed with their usual hype and bluster. Ballet dancers, grand pianos playing faux classics, singers, acrobats, jazz bands, and the noisiest of rock groups had performed on the various stages as industry leaders proclaimed to audiences mainly of their own cheerleaders that the future was bright.

Their products were the fastest, the most handsome fuel-sippers on the planet. Happy days were here again...more