- SWEDEN: “Reptile quick” yes reply to NEVS June salary payments – Just-auto: Scandinavian automotive supplier association, FKG, says it received a “reptile quick” affirmative response whether or not embattled Swedish automaker, NEVS, was able to pay its June salaries.
- Porsche Upbeat on China – WSJ: Porsche expects low double-digit sales growth in China this year, its China CEO said, as it pushes to increase dealerships there by close to 50% by the end of 2015.
- Lawmakers Ask If GM Bosses Bear Fault – WSJ: General Motors’ pinning of a decadelong failure to recall defective cars on a lone engineer faces skepticism from lawmakers who say GM documents show dozens were alerted to ignition-switch defects.
- Fiat Chrysler will sell holdings worth $820 million to fund upscale shift – Automotive News: Fiat Chrysler plans to sell holdings valued at about $820 million, freeing up cash to invest in an expansion of its upscale brands.
- UK: Honda readying update for slow selling Civic already – report – Just-auto: Honda sold just 38,000 Civics in the hotly contested European C-segment last year – a quarter of the volume of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, a media report said.
- SWEDEN: NEVS production halt minimal supplier impact: FKG – Just-auto: Scandinavian automotive supplier body, FKG, says the impact of troubled automaker, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS)’s production halt can be compared to a “coffee break” in terms of any knock-on effect.
- Jaguar promises new model debut for Goodwood Festival of Speed – Autocar: The first model from JLR’s new Special Operations division will be shown for the first time at Goodwood, as F-type coupé and XFR-S Sportbrake take to the hill.
- 25% of recalled cars in U.S. aren’t fixed despite notice – DetN: One of every four cars recalled in the U.S. isn’t fixed, leaving millions of potentially dangerous vehicles on the road.
- Free auto fixes going unclaimed – DetN: Many car owners are finding multiple recall notices in their mailboxes as the total of U.S. callbacks heads toward breaking the all-time record for one year.
- Electric Vehicle Heaven (Insane Electric Vehicle News Roundup) – Via Google News: Charging Station Infographic: Thinking about getting an electric vehicle charging station for your company or organization? Check out the 6 questions …
- Marchionne pitches Chrysler’s ‘Cinderella’ story to U.S. investors – Automotive News: Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said he’s pulling out all the stops to build investor interest ahead of a listing in the United States later this year following the completion of Fiat’s merger with Chrysler.
- Detroit Electric finishing testing on 1st sports car – DetN: Start-up electric vehicle maker Detroit Electric is one step closer to making its SP:01 sports car a reality.
- Hyundai adds small, turbocharged engine to ’15 Sonata lineup – Automotive News: Hyundai will offer a small-displacement, turbocharged engine on the re-engineered 2015 Sonata to bolster the sedan’s fuel economy credentials in the crowded mid-sized segment.
- Honda readies Civic facelift for Paris motor show debut – Autocar: Updated Civic hatchback to get Type-R inspired styling, with the aim of lifting European sales.
- Details emerge about GM plan to pay ignition-switch victims – Reuters: General Motors Co may end up compensating many more people than the families of 13 victims it has linked to a faulty ignition switch, as it considers waiving key legal defences in order to resolve injury and death cases out of court.
- A Contrarian’s Take on GM’s Ignition Switch Controversy – thedetroitbureau.com: GM has now recalled 17.7 mil vehicles in the US alone, including the 2.6 mil involved in the original ignition switch defect. The story is the stuff of daily headlines, but has the media really understood the story or just grabbed for emotions?
- Tesla sets up shop in Dallas — minus test-drives and sales – Automotive News: You can touch, but you can’t drive, a Model S electric car in the latest Tesla Motors gallery in Dallas’ Northpark Mall.
- As western automakers embrace aluminium, Asia still welded to steel – Reuters: About four years ago, Hyundai Motor considered shifting from steel to aluminium body parts for its Genesis sedan to make it lighter, more fuel-efficient and more competitive with German luxury marques, two people familiar with the matter said.
- Los Angeles Ban Against Vehicle Residences Nixed – Via Google News: A ban in Los Angeles against living in a vehicle is too “broad and cryptic,” and unfairly targets the homeless, the 9th Circuit ruled Thursday.
- Nissan beefs up commercial-van warranty to challenge Detroit 3 loyalty – Automotive News: Nissan sweetened its sales pitch to Detroit 3 commercial van customers today by instituting an across-the-board 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on its NV full-sized and compact vehicle line.
- 2015 Ford Mustang Has Knee Airbag in the Glove Box – Via Google News: Passengers riding in the 2015 Ford Mustang can rest a little easier knowing the car has a new type of knee airbag. Ford received 15 patents for the …
- Volkswagen set to build SUV in Tennessee: report – Reuters: Volkswagen AG is nearing a decision to pick its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant over a site in Mexico to build a new seven-seater crossover vehicle for the North American market, a German newspaper reported on Thursday.
- Fiat-Chrysler targets big US investor base – FT: Selling Treasury stock and shares in CNH would raise much-needed cash for heavily indebted carmaker, and release stock to potential US investors
- Audi draws up plans for range of electric cars, report says – Automotive News: Audi has drawn up blueprints for a range of high-performance electric cars to help it take on its German rivals and Tesla Motors if the market picks up, sources at the carmaker told Reuters.
- GM to Demonstrate Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 in Tianjin Eco-City – GM: General Motors today announced that it will begin demonstrating the Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 (Electric Networked-Vehicle) in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City this week, signaling the company’s learning and progress in sustainable urban mobility.
- SAIC chairman pledges to boost brand in China, invest in Silicon Valley – Automotive News: SAIC, the Chinese manufacturing partner of GM and VW, plans to to increase spending to build up its own car brands while it contemplates investing in a venture capital unit in Silicon Valley.
- DealBook: Detroit Rolls Out New Model: A Hybrid Pension Plan – NY Times: If it succeeds, the city’s cost-cutting hybrid pension plan could be a model for solving government budget crises across the country.
- How to Save Fuel in Hot Weather – thedetroitbureau.com: If you watched your fuel bills rise during the frigid winter you’ll be happy to know fuel economy can jump when the weather warms — at least if you follow some smart summer fuel-saving tips.
- Audi Draws Up Plans for Range of Electric Cars: Sources – NY Times: Audi has drawn up blueprints for a wider range of high-performance electric cars to help it take on German rivals and U.S. firm Tesla Motors if the market picks up, according to sources at the carmaker.
- Facelifted Honda CR-V spotted testing for the first time – Autocar: Major cosmetic changes in line for updated CR-V, which should reach the UK towards the end of next yearA facelifted version of the Honda CR-V has been spotted testing for the first time.The mid-life refresh for the CR-V – the fourth generation of which has been on sale since 2011 – appears to focus on an extensive update for its front-end styling. While still under heavy disguise, we can expect significant changes to the car’s badge, central grille and headlight clusters as well as a new front…
- Cadillac Loses Another Top Exec – thedetroitbureau.com: This was supposed to be a big year for Cadillac as it rolled out new models like the CTS and updated Escalade, but with sales taking an unexpected dive, the maker has lost its third US sales chief in two years.
- GERMANY: Audi Q7 to have world’s first electric turbocharger – Just-auto: Audi plans to introduce the world’s first electric turbocharger engine in the next generation Q7 SUV, reported Drive.au.
- US: Mahindra works on new utility vehicle at North American Technical Centre – Just-auto: Mahindra & Mahindra is working on a new utility vehicle for the global market at its North American Technical Centre, reported The Financial Express.
- US: NHTSA eyes 1.2m Chrysler vehicles for ignition switch problem – Just-auto: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (MHTSA) reportedly is investigating 1.2m Chrysler vehicles over ignition switch issues.
- GERMANY: Opel introduces new diesel engines for Meriva – Just-auto: General Motors’ Opel/Vauxhall has added a new 1.6 CDTI engine with power outputs of 100kW/136hp, 81kW/110hp and 70kW/95hp to its Meriva MPV range.
- NEW PRODUCT: Peugeot shows revised 508 flagship – Just-auto: Peugeot has shown a mid-cycle refreshed 508 that it claims will reinforce the brand’s image in key markets around the world.
- US: Mercedes-Benz begins C-Class production at Tuscaloosa – Just-auto: Mercedes-Benz has started production of the latest C-Class at its US plant in Tuscaloosa/Alabama, the third global source.
- SWEDEN: Enforcement authority receives US$3.45m NEVS bills applications – Just-auto: Stockholm enforcement authority, Kronofogden, says it has received 30 applications totalling US$3.45m for unpaid bills relating to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) as the automaker struggles with short-term financing.