GM food:
- GM CEO ‘agonised’ over putting two engineers on paid leave – Reuters: General Motors Co Chief Executive Mary Barra said she “agonized” over last week’s decision to put two GM engineers on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation into faulty ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths.
- G.M. Chief Cites New Safety Moves and Says Repairs Are Now Underway – NY Times: In her first public appearance since receiving withering criticism from Congress, Mary T. Barra vowed that General Motors was making changes to ensure addressing safety defects would never again be so delayed.
- GM Chief Can’t Shake Recall Furor – WSJ: General Motors’ Barra sought to shift the focus to the auto maker’s coming new vehicles and away from investigations of a troubled ignition-switch recall.
- Chevy enters small crossover segment with the Trax – Automotive News: Chevrolet is adding the Trax to its lineup in the United States, making it the latest brand to enter the budding market for petite crossovers. The 2015 Trax was unveiled tonight, on the eve of the New York auto show.
- GM to launch product development group focused on safety – Reuters: General Motors Co. will create a new global product integrity organisation that will focus on product safety and quality, said GM Chief Executive Mary Barra in a speech on Tuesday.
- Chevrolet Trax: The Big News is Old News – NY Times: The mini S.U.V. is already sold in 140 countries, and it’s coming to the United States next year.
- Senators press Delphi for answers on recalled GM cars – Reuters: Lawmakers probing how General Motors used faulty ignition switches in many vehicles are turning their scrutiny to the supplier of the part, Delphi Automotive.
- GM asks U.S. judge to bar lawsuits for pre-bankruptcy recall claims – Automotive News: General Motors said in a court filing that it will ask a federal bankruptcy judge to bar lawsuits related to its recall for faulty ignition switches, citing the terms of its 2009 bankruptcy.
- Barra Defends GM’s Efforts to Fix Recalled Cars – thedetroitbureau.com: General Motors’ Chief Executive Mary Barra today defended the automaker’s response to the recall of more than 2.6 million vehicles and her own handling of a safety-related problem that had festered inside GM for more than a decade. Barra swept aside to top executives this week as well.
- Barra creates new GM engineering team to improve vehicle safety – Automotive News: General Motors, fighting to bolster its reputation amid a recall crisis, has created a team of engineers aimed at improving vehicle safety, CEO Mary Barra said Tuesday in New York.
- DealBook: Hedge Fund Manager Makes Lonely Defense of G.M. – NY Times: J. Kyle Bass, the hedge fund manager who made a name for himself betting against subprime mortgages, is now betting on General Motors despite its recent troubles.
- GM CEO Mary Barra Says Recall Moving Quickly, Will Make OEM ‘Better’ – Wards: The chief executive stops short of speculating on the effect the recall will have on GM’s four brands, but says Chevrolet, which accounts for most of the 2.6 million recalled units, has a chance to prove itself to customers.
- GM CEO recall comments draw senator’s retort – Just-auto: Comments made by General Motors CEO Mary Barra ahead of the New York auto show have attracted a sharp retort from a US senator.
- US: GM’s Barra announces new ‘Global Product Integrity’ unit – Just-auto: Speaking in New York ahead of the auto show, General Motors CEO Mary Barra has announced the formation of a new unit within the global product development area to be tasked with safety performance.
Benzedrine:
- Why New York is a motor show which defies the rules – Autocar: New York might not be the biggest show in the motoring calendar, but it’s shaping up to be one of the most significant in 2014.
- Daimler said to plan Maybach S class unveiling at Los Angeles show – Automotive News: Daimler will revive the Maybach name with an exclusive version of its S-class limousine that will be unveiled at the Guangzhou and Los Angeles auto shows in November, a person familiar with the company’s plans said.
- Rolls-Royce to Pay Daimler $3.3 Billion for Stake in Joint Venture – WSJ: Rolls-Royce will pay Daimler $3.36 billion for the German auto maker’s 50% interest in their joint venture, Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
- Mercedes to revive luxury Maybach brand – Reuters: Daimler is set to revive Maybach, a brand once coveted by oligarchs, rap stars and royals, to woo a growing class of ultra-wealthy clients in Asia and the United States, a person familiar with the company’s plans said.
- Mercedes Offers First Hint of New GT Sports Car – thedetroitbureau.com: Watch your back, Porsche, you’re about to get a challenge from your cross-town rival, Mercedes-Benz, which is confirming plans to launch a 911-fighter later this year. TheDetroitBureau.com has more on the new Mercedes GT AMG.
- First Look: 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic Coupe – thedetroitbureau.com: Barely two months after introducing the newest 2-door version of its flagship S-Class line, Mercedes is taking the coupe to an all-new level of performance. TheDetroitBureau.com gets a first look at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic Coupe – which puts out more torque than a NASCAR race car.
- The new Mercedes-AMG GT – Wards: A new AMG high-performance automobile is all set for its world premiere in the fall of 2014. The Mercedes-AMG GT will thrill sports car fans around the world with breathtaking design and supreme agility.
- Mercedes drops Benz for new GT – Autocar: New Mercedes-AMG sports car will go on sale later this year. SLS successor will not have ‘Benz’ name in its title, instead bringing the AMG performance off-shoot name to the fore.
In other news:
- Toyota on track for 2015 fuel cell car launch – Just-auto: Toyota is on track for the launch of its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2015, with limited numbers also earmarked for Europe, according to remarks made by Toyota Motor Europe executives.
- GERMANY: BMW raises i3 output to 100 a day – Just-auto: BMW is raising output of the i3 electric car at its Leipzig factory as it takes the model to North America and reports continued high demand.
- INDIA: Union claims major election victory at Maruti-Suzuki plant – Just-auto: Maruti-Suzuki is declining to comment on union claims the labour body has won 11 out of 12 seats against what it refers to as a “management installed puppet panel” at the automaker’s Manesar plant.
- BRAZIL: Nissan opens new Resende factory and supplier park – Just-auto: Nissan has officially opened its BRL$2.6bn (US$1.5bn) factory complex in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which is one of the largest automotive investments by any manufacturer in the country.
- BMW on Oz Subsidies for EV: It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask – Wards: Even if BMW is denied government help in lowering the i3’s price, the automaker believes the car will succeed because it will be available both as an all-electric vehicle and as an EV with a range extender. read more
- GERMANY: VW Group Q1 sales grow 5.8% – Just-auto: Volkswagen Group sales were up 5.8% at 2.4m units in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. Growth in March was 7.6% year-on-year at 929,500 units.
- Maserati said to weigh new sports car after orders triple – Automotive News: Maserati will probably increase production and add the Alfieri sports car to its lineup after advance sales at the upscale Italian brand have almost tripled over 2013’s deliveries, sources said.
- Mazda celebrates MX-5 anniversary with new special edition – Autocar: Special edition of the roadster gets an upgraded engine, new paint and improved interior,
- Next Mazda MX-5 previewed at New York motor show – Autocar: Mazda shows completed transmission and suspension systems for all-new MX-5 sports car, which is due to go on sale next year.
- MAZDA MX-5 MIATA 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT IN NEW YORK – Wards: Mazda North American Operations today debuted the MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).
- Why the Mustang II should get its due – Automotive News: One member of the Mustang family won’t have a very high-profile role at this week’s 50th anniversary celebrations: the 1974-78 Mustang II.
- Audi to revive A3 hatch in U.S., sans gasoline – Automotive News: Audi has decided to bring back the five-door version of its A3 compact to the United States — but without an ordinary gasoline engine. The five-door body style will be available with a 2-liter TDI engine next summer, Audi said today.
- Infiniti Refreshes Biggest Models – Wards: 2014 New York International Auto Show The Q70 adds a new long-wheelbase variant with 5.9 ins. more rear legroom, while the QX80 sees changes to its interior wood trims.
- Infiniti QX80 revealed at New York show – Autocar: Nissan Patrol-based luxury SUV sports a 5.6-litre V8 and optional four-wheel drive.
- Revised Infiniti Q70 shown in New York – Autocar: New Infiniti Q70 receives a makeover just
- Bridgestone executives indicted for auto parts price fixing – Automotive News: One current Bridgestone executive and two who formerly worked for the Japanese tire company have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Cleveland for allegedly conspiring to fix automotive-part prices.