- Exclusive: At least 74 dead in crashes similar to those GM linked to faulty switches – Reuters: At least 74 people have died in General Motors cars in accidents with some key similarities to those that GM has linked to 13 deaths involving defective ignition switches, a Reuters analysis of government fatal-crash data has determined. Such accidents also occurred at a higher rate in the GM cars than in top competitors’ models, the analysis showed.
- Chrysler sales rise 17% on Jeep surge, Ram – Automotive News: Strong Jeep and Ram pickup demand propelled Chrysler Group to a 17 percent U.S. sales increase in May, extending the company’s gains to 50 consecutive months.
- US: GM files 2,004 ignition switch-related injury/death reports – Just-auto: General Motors has filed 2,004 reports on injuries and deaths resulting from accidents in its cars that have been recalled for ignition switch-related defects, a media report, citing the Center for Auto Safety, said.
- VW weighs tripling SUV lineup to overtake Toyota, report says – Automotive News: Volkswagen AG is considering tripling the namesake VW brand’s SUV lineup in a bid to overtake Toyota in global sales, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
- INDIA: VW considers budget brand – Just-auto: Volkswagen is considering a budget brand for the Indian market, mirroring a move the carmaker is making in China, the Economic Times has learned.
- INDIA: BMW plans more products and expanded network – Just-auto: BMW India is to launch an aggressive sales push, introducing new products and expanding its dealer network after dropping from top to third place in the Indian luxury car market.
- How Ghosn aims to catch Toyota, GM, VW – Automotive News: Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has high ambitions for the French-Japanese carmaking alliance. His aim is to “install Renault-Nissan as one of the top three global automakers.”
- Next UAW Chief to Confront Wage Split – WSJ: The next president of the United Auto Workers union plans to attack the two-tier wage system that divides employees at the Detroit Three, setting a confrontation with an auto industry intent on keeping labor costs down.
- N.H.T.S.A. Investigates Effectiveness of Chrysler Air Bag Recall – NY Times: Chrysler has repaired only 13 percent of the S.U.V.s affected by the 745,000-vehicle recall, which was issued in 2012.
- VW’s key crossover for U.S. delayed by incentive tug-of-war, report says – Automotive News: A tug-of-war between Mexico and Tennessee over financial incentives is delaying Volkswagen’s decision on where to build a make-or-break crossover in North America, sources told Reuters, delaying the German group’s efforts to fix its ailing U.S.
- UAW meets to select new president, consider dues increase – Reuters: The United Auto Workers union opened a four-day convention on Monday where 1,100 members will select a new president and decide whether to approve the first dues increase since 1967.
- RIP Automobile Magazine? The Rise and Fall of the Car Buff Book – Via Google News: Great car writers like P.J. O’Rourke did Top Gear long before Top Gear did Top Gear. Brock Yates writing for Car and Driver penned some of the …
- New Mustang expected to gain 200-300 pounds, modifier says – Automotive News: Ford has pledged to reduce the weight of its vehicles with each redesign. The next Mustang may fall short of that goal.
- VW’s key U.S. model delayed by incentive tug-of-war: sources – Reuters: A tug-of-war between Mexico and Tennessee over incentives is delaying Volkswagen’s decision on where to build a make-or-break vehicle in North America, sources said, delaying the German group’s efforts to fix its ailing U.S. business.
- King makes the case to UAW delegates for dues hike – Automotive News: UAW President Bob King today appealed to delegates for an increase in member dues without using the word ‘dues.
- BMW plans to cut 100 million euros of German labor costs per year: paper – Reuters: Carmaker BMW intends to cut 100 million euros ($136 million) of German labor costs annually from 2015 onwards, German local newspaper Muenchner Merkur reported on Monday on its web page, citing workers’ representatives.
- Hands off: More self-driving cars are coming, but how? – Via Google News: On the heels of Google’s prototype self-driving car reveal last week, Valsan and his team forecast that in 2025, only 4 percent of vehicles sold around …
- Thousands of recalled cars sold in DC area – Via Google News: What he found in his car’s history was a shock – it had an open safety recall the dealer didn’t say a word about. What’s worse, he didn’t have to.
- Feds Investigating Chrysler for Possible Faulty Recall Repairs – thedetroitbureau.com: The spotlight of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now being shone on Chrysler and its 2012 recall of more than 740,000 SUVs due to an issue with airbags and the repairs made to them. Six owners of the vehicles repaired for the problem have had airbags deploy without explanation. For more, go to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- GM finalizes number of vehicles in air bag recall of large trucks – Reuters: General Motors Co on Monday finalized the number of newer-model large pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles it is recalling because the air bags may not deploy, lowering the number of affected vehicles.
- German Union Throws Support Behind UAW Plans for VW Plant – thedetroitbureau.com: Frank Patta, general secretary, Volkswagen’s Global Works Council told UAW delegates today that council is committed to the United Auto Workers efforts to unionize workers at Volkswagen AG’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- VW works councils rep vows continued support for UAW in Chattanooga – Automotive News: The UAW must and will ‘start anew’ at Volkswagen AG’s Chattanooga assembly plant to represent workers there in collective bargaining and on works councils that create labor co-determination with management, the chief labor…
- China’s green car push unlikely to fuel buying – Via Google News: The mainland has taken big steps to inspire people to use new energy cars, but there is still a long way to go until such vehicles become the norm in …
- Teens Face the “100 Deadliest Days of the Year” – thedetroitbureau.com: Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teen , young drivers who have three times the rate of fatal crashes as all motorists. And the accident rate spikes 26% during what the AAA calls the “100 Deadliest Days” of the year.
- Mitsubishi Unveils 2014 Pikes Peak Race Car – Via Google News: The Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution III, which is an update to last year’s car, will enter the 12.42-mile hill climb that finishes at 14,110 feet above sea level on …
- INDIA: Hindustan asks for more time to restructure, Chinese approached – Just-auto: Senior management at Hindustan Motors have promised to make “partial payment” of five months pay arrears to 2,600 employees at the Uttarpara factory which made the iconic Ambassador model, a favourite of Indian government ministers and army generals.
- Classic cars fathers might dream about – Via Google News: Dads love cars. And they love classics. They will find both in “American Auto Legends” by Michael Furman and Tracy Powell. It is within these pages …
- Auto Buyers Loading Up on Loans as Monthly Payments Hit Record – thedetroitbureau.com: U.S. auto buyers are paying more than ever and stretching out their loans to record lengths in order to make their monthly payments, according to a new study.
- UK: Booming Dacia can continue to grow – CEO – Just-auto: Dacia has the potential to continue its remarkable rise under Renault ownership over the past 15 years, CEO Nicolas Maure said.
- Op-Ed Contributor: America’s Highways, Running on Empty – NY Times: The government can no longer rely on gas taxes to fix the nation’s roads.
- Kahn to make Aston Martin-inspired sports car and bespoke Defender – Autocar: Range Rover tuner says it will look to build its own version of the Land Rover Defender and a new Aston Martin-inspired sports car.