- Volvo Wants to Electrify the Road – but Idaho Entrepreneurs Want to Pave them with Solar Cells – thedetroitbureau.com: Battery-cars and buses may be clean but they’re plagued by limited range and long charging times. But Volvo will test a new electric bus that can charge even while driving using special induction chargers built into the road. Meanwhile, an Idaho couple has developed special solar cells that could replace conventional asphalt pavement and provide much of the energy America needs. But at what cost?
- US: KBB analyst pegs May sales at 1.54m, 16.05m SAAR – Just-auto: After TrueCar yesterday (27 May) called May 2014 new light vehicle sales in the US (including fleet) 1,521,000 units, up 5.5% year on year and 9.5% over April, and a SAAR of 16.1m, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) has pegged a year on year rise of 6.7% to 1.54m units, and an estimated 16.05m seasonally adjusted annual rate.
- Google plans own fleet of self-driving cars – Automotive News: Google will launch its own fleet of autonomous vehicle prototypes #8211; with no steering wheels and no gas or brake pedals #8211; as the technology giant begins a new phase of its self-driving car project.
- The most Bizarre Car Transport in China, ever – CarNewsChina.com: We have seen some impressive ways of transporting cars on Chinese roads but this one beats ‘em all. A giant truck carrying Changan pickup trucks and MPV’s was Spotted in China on a highway near Beijing by Reader Lao Wei, thank you for the pictures!
- Qoros 3 Hatch will hit the Chinese car market on June 24 – CarNewsChina.com: The Qoros 3 Hatch will be launched on the Chinese car market on June 24, giving Qoros an entry in the all-important compact-hatchback segment. Price will start around 110.000 yuan and end around 150.000 yuan. The Qoros 3 Hatch is based on the Qoros 3 Sedan that was launched in November last year.
- Google unveils driverless car prototype – FT: The search engine group is producing its own fleet of 100 prototype two-seater vehicles that dispense with steering wheels and pedals
- Google unveils prototype self-driving car, without steering wheel or brakes – Via Google News: It doesn’t have a steering wheel, but you’re supposed to feel relaxed in Google’s new prototype self-driving car. The search giant has moved into car …
- Loophole lets recalls roll – Via Google News: Under federal law, used-car dealers and rental companies are not required even to tell customers that a vehicle has been recalled. It’s an oversight …
- Number of imported cars in Korea surges to new record – Via Google News: The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association said Wednesday that over 75-thousand cars worth over two-and-a-half billion U.S. dollars were …
- Detroit Urged to Tear Down 40,000 Buildings – NY Times: A task force recommended that the bankrupt city spend nearly $2 billion to stem the spread of blight.
- Google’s Next Phase in Driverless Cars: No Brakes or Steering Wheel – NY Times: Google has begun building a fleet of 100 experimental electric-powered vehicles that will dispense with all the standard controls found in modern automobiles and take the driver out of driving.
- U.S. seeks to fund Alcoa’s bet on automotive aluminum – Automotive News: The United States Department of Energy has proposed lending money to Alcoa to expand aluminum production at a Tennessee factory, setting the stage for the first loan to a supplier under a dormant $25 billion fund.
- U.S. Gains in a Spat With China Over Tariffs – NY Times: The ruling by the World Trade Organization gives the Obama administration another opportunity to portray itself as being willing to confront Beijing on trade issues.
- S&P Rates Tesla Debt as ‘Junk’ – WSJ: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services labeled Tesla Motors Inc. a “vulnerable” investment, giving it a noninvestment-grade corporate debt rating of B-.
- Tesla bonds assigned ‘junk’ status by SandP – Automotive News: Tesla received a far less rousing recommendation from bond raters at Standard and Poor’s Corp. — which assigned the electric-vehicle maker a B- rating, or ‘junk’ status.
- Volvo begins ‘striptease’ intro for new XC90 – Via Google News: Volvo, the Swedish car company owned by the Chinese, doesn’t make big news in the U.S. these days, but hopes a “striptease” introduction of the …
- Insurance may not cover car sharing, NJ warns – Via Google News: Your auto insurance may leave you on the side of the road if you sign up as a driver for car-sharing services, a state official warned Tuesday.
- Self-driving cars are closer than you think – Via Google News: And if cars don’t crash anymore, will we even need auto insurance?” … The self-driving car would become a mobile office, and that presents design …
- China Killing 6 Million Old Cars to Cut Smog – thedetroitbureau.com: During the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the world saw the smog that residents of the city are exposed to daily. In fact, most Beijing residents wear masks to ward off the effects of what’s floating around in their air. Now the government plans to eliminate 6 million cars to reduce the threat.
- Caterham is not for sale, says chairman Tony Fernandes – Autocar: British sports car maker isn’t on the market, says the group chairman, but it is searching for additional investment for future projects.