- RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ to stem sales fall this year: Bo Andersson – Just-auto: AvtoVAZ says it will stem its fall in sales this year as it launches four new models onto the Russian market in the next 24 months.
- BRAZIL: Updated March may make Nissan local Japanese leader – Just-auto: Compact hatchbacks are strongly represented in Brazil’s light vehicle market, accounting for nothing short of 45% of sales.
- RUSSIA: “World economy can rest in peace”: Gazprom Neft chairman – Just-auto: Russian energy giant, Gazprom Neft, says it will continue to work on developing new power sources, despite their entry to market remaining “considerably shorter than political and electoral cycles.”
- JAPAN: Toyota seeks to speed up Japan, US hydrogen networks – Just-auto: Toyota will help local authorities in Japan and the US create infrastructure for refuelling hydrogen-powered cars to help speed up the spread of fuel cell vehicles.
- Rash to write off Chinese car groups – FT: Multinational car companies have spurred the development of the largest, most competitive and most profitable car industry the world has ever known
- INDIA: Volkswagen rethinks strategy – Just-auto: Volkswagen is rethinking its strategy in India after failing to impose itself following a big splash market entry five years ago.
- China to take 6 million older vehicles off roads – DetN: China’s government plans to take 6 million older, polluting vehicles off the road this year in an effort to revive stalled progress toward cleaning up smog-choked cities.
- BMW i8 Not Quite Ready for Prime Time – Wards: Vehicle Test Drive BMW’s beautiful and complex i8 is a design and engineering achievement but wants for electric range.
- VW Counting on ’15 Golf Lineup to Boost U.S. Presence – Wards: The Golf launch is expected to raise VW’s profile in the U.S., but it’s unlikely to usurp the top spot in the automaker’s lineup, held by the Jetta.
- US: May sales pegged at 1.52m, SAAR 16.1m – Just-auto: New light vehicle sales in the US (including fleet) this month are expected to reach 1,521,000 units, up 5.5% year on year and 9.5% over April 2014, TrueCar has forecast.
- Canada probing fatal crashes amid complaints over faulty GM switches – Reuters: Canada is probing two fatal crashes in General Motors Co vehicles which were subject to a recall to fix faulty switches and has received nine further complaints from drivers, the country’s top transportation official told Reuters on Monday.
- General Motors to start exporting cars from India – Reuters: General Motors India said it would begin exporting vehicles from the country and start selling a left-hand-drive version of its Chevrolet Beat hatchback to Chile in the first quarter of 2015.
- Private Capital Sought for China Vehicle Charging Stations – WSJ: China’s largest power grid operator by sales will invite private capital to build charging stations for electric vehicles.
- Ford’s shift upscale across Europe draws skeptics – Automotive News: Ford intends to compete with premium automakers with high-end versions of its mass-market models in a bid to end years of financial losses in Europe. But the strategy is not without risk.
- Minivan (or is it family hauler?) poised for rebound in U.S. – DetN: You can call it a comeback. But some automakers would prefer that you just don’t call it a minivan.
- 13 Deaths, Untold Heartache, From G.M. Defect – NY Times: Guilt, doubt and blame have plagued the people touched by a General Motors ignition switch defect that has killed 13 people.
- Canada probes fatal crashes amid complaints over faulty GM switches – Automotive News: Canada is probing two fatal crashes in General Motors vehicles which were subject to a recall to fix faulty switches and has received nine additional complaints from drivers, the country’s top transportation official told Reuters on Monday.
- FAW launches Junpai brand in China – CarNewsChina.com: First Auto Works (FAW) has launched a new passenger car brand in China. The new brand is called ‘Junpai’ in Chinese and ‘Jumper’ in English.
- Mercedes-Benz S600 Maybach will debut on the Guangzhou Auto Show in China – CarNewsChina.com: The Mercedes-Benz S600 Maybach will have its worldwide debut on the Guangzhou Auto Show in China, scheduled to start in mid December. The S600 Maybach is a stretched out and dressed up luxurious variant of the ‘base’ Mercedes-Benz S600 S-Class. \
- Large carmakers set to miss carbon target – FT: General Motors, BMW, Fiat and Hyundai risk fines under EU rules but say they can make up lost ground before the 2021 deadline for carbon reduction
- Australia’s Holden recalls 42000 cars for potential seatbelt fault – Via Google News: Australian automobile manufacturer Holden is recalling 42,000 Commodores over a potential fault with front seatbelt, …
- GM Recalls Saturns, Buicks, and Chevys Due to Brake & Gear Shift Problems – Via Google News: Sometimes, drivers believe they have put the car in park, but because of a flaw that may incorrectly display the gear in the gear selector, it may not …