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Crunch watch Feb 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard, Ben Pulman and Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 02 March 2009 18:11 Monday 2 March• The Volkswagen Group announces a 5% rise in sales revenues in the 2008 tax year and a 3% increase in operating profits, up to €6.3 billion. Chairman Martin Winterkorn said the group's multi-brand strategy and low CO2 cars had helped sustain sales, although he admitted that 2009 would see a fall in demand and revenues (Volkswagen) Friday 27 February• Jaguar Land Rover announces a significant order for 13,000 cars from a Chinese business. It's a morale boost for JLR which has been hit by a slump in demand with the global slowdown (BBC News)• Opel this afternoon agreed to a restructuring plan designed to save as many jobs and factories as possible – but it needs a €3.3 billion lifeline from the state.

RIP Anatole ‘Tony’ Lapine 1930–2012

Anatole ‘Tony’ Lapine, head of Style Porsche from 1969 to 1988, passed away at the age of 81 on 29 April at his home in Baden-Baden, Germany. Lapine is best known for overseeing the then new generation of cars during his time at Porsche. These included Wolfgang Möbius' iconic 1978 928 and the Harm Lagaay-designed 924/944.

2015 Subaru Outback previewed ahead of New York auto show

Subaru plans to unveil the production version of the 2015 Subaru Outback at the New York auto show later this month, hot on the heels of the debut of the 2015 Subaru Legacy. The Outback is scheduled to go on sale at the end of 2014. The sixth-generation Subaru Outback will feature exterior styling cues similar to those of the 2015 Legacy.