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GM Likely to Build Next Generation of Cadillac SRX in China – WSJ: General Motors will likely produce the next generation of the Cadillac SRX in China, a company executive said Friday.
- GM halts South Africa production after wage talks collapse – Automotive News: Wage talks to end an indefinite strike by more than 220,000 metalworkers in South Africa failed Thursday as the stoppage forced General Motors to halt output at its vehicle-assembly plant.
- GM suspends South Africa production as striking union rejects offer – Reuters: General Motors suspended production at its main South African plant after a strike hit parts supplies, the U.S. automaker said on Friday, making it the latest victim of relentless labor unrest in Africa’s most advanced economy.
- Is the new Volkswagen Passat desirable enough? – Autocar: While VW’s new saloon is loaded with new tech and an upmarket feel, the Passat might find itself stranded in a class where sales are slowing.
- Mercedes-Benz Sales Surge in First Half – WSJ: Mercedes-Benz posted its strongest first-half on record as sales surged 13% world-wide on the back of muscular growth in demand in China and other Asian markets for luxury cars.
- Honda says to expand U.S. regional air bag recall to include California – Reuters: Honda Motor Co is expanding to the state of California a U.S. regional recall of vehicles over potentially explosive air bags made by Takata Corp, the automaker said on Friday, after a complaint that said a driver was injured in an accident in the state.
- Shareholders reject Tata executives pay – FT: Struggling Indian carmaker may have to ask for return of salaries paid after shareholders reject pay proposal for three senior executives
- Toyota: “business as usual” in South Africa despite strike – Reuters: Japanese automaker Toyota said on Friday it was “business as usual” in South Africa despite a strike that has hit the supply of components to the local industry, forcing GM to suspend output at its main plant in the country.
- GM switch complaints began 17 years ago, long before Cobalt – Reuters: General Motors car owners have been complaining to dealers about defective ignition switches since 1997, years before the automaker launched the Chevrolet Cobalt and other small cars with faulty switches linked to at least 13 deaths.
- Thierry Peugeot Leaves Peugeot Supervisory Board – WSJ: French car maker PSA Peugeot-Citroën SA said Thursday Thierry Peugeot will leave the company’s supervisory board.
- Small cars to fuel production boom in Mexico – Automotive News: Mexican auto factory output is poised to explode this decade, making the country a top source of United States vehicle imports — particularly small cars.
- Supplier price-fixing crackdown jolts Japan’s business culture – Automotive News: Compared with just two years ago, Japanese parts makers are scrambling to educate employees on actions that are off-limits. The buzzword of the times: compliance.
- GM to recall 27,051 Spark cars in Korea due to transmission defect – Reuters: General Motors Co will recall 27,051 Spark mini cars in South Korea due to a defective transmission mount, the latest in a string of global recalls by the U.S. automaker.
- S. Korea’s imported car sales surge 39.2 pct in June – Via Google News: Imported car sales in South Korea surged 39.2 percent on-year in June on strong demand for overseas brands by …
- BMW’s $1 billion plant surfs Mexican investment wave – Reuters: Luxury car maker BMW revealed a $1 billion Mexican plant investment on Thursday, becoming the latest major automaker to take advantage of the country’s growing industrial base and tariff-free access to the U.S. market.
- BlackBerry Sells R&D Facility – WSJ: BlackBerry agreed to sell a research and development facility in Germany to an arm of Volkswagen that makes automobile infotainment systems for an undisclosed amount.
- Handlebars: A Ducati That Proudly Bares All – NY Times: The magnificently capable Ducati Monster 1200 S is the third generation of the family and is a significant redesign.
- Bits Blog: London Transport Regulator Says Uber Can Legally Operate – NY Times: The decision follows protests by thousands of taxi drivers in Europe, who contend that the start-up’s technology does not comply with local rules and that the company evades taxes.
- Tesla measure allowing 5 stores heads to Pa. governor’s desk – Automotive News: Tesla Motors, which has battled auto dealer groups over its direct sales of electric cars through company-owned stores, won another victory in Pennsylvania and a measure there allowing it to expand retail operations is headed for the governor’s desk.
- Volkswagen denies planning a bid for U.S. Paccar – Reuters: Volkswagen denied planning a bid for U.S. truck maker Paccar after analysts published comments in a research note from a senior executive of German rival Daimler saying he had heard of such a plan.
- BlackBerry Sells R&D Facility in Germany – Via Google News: A key part of BlackBerry’s effort to return to profitability is through the sale to auto makers of software that allows drivers to connect with their in-car …
- 2015 Dodge Challenger: ‘The most powerful muscle car ever’ – Washington Post: Chances are you’ve heard about horsepower. Every car commercial mentions it. But what does it mean when Chrysler says that its new Dodge Challenger SRT has 707 horsepower? The car company says the car’s optional Hellcat V8 engine makes it “the most powerful muscle car ever built.” Read full article >>
- Former Peugeot chairman quits board over public dissent – Reuters: PSA Peugeot Citroen’s deputy chairman Thierry Peugeot was forced out on Thursday after voicing renewed public dissent over a French-backed tie-up with Dongfeng that he had unsuccessfully opposed as chairman.
- VW brand half year sales over 3 million cars – Reuters: Volkswagen sold more than three million cars of its VW brand in the first half of 2014, Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said on Thursday.
- Infiniti hires Porsche official as first corporate communications director – Automotive News: Infiniti Americas said it hired Nick Twork as director of corporate communications, a newly created position at the company, effective July 21.
- BMW to Invest $1 Billion in Mexican Assembly Plant – WSJ: German auto maker BMW confirmed Thursday plans to build its first assembly plant in Mexico, joining other companies that have been stepping up their presence in the country.
- Mazda to unveil next MX-5 Miata sports car – Via Google News: Back in April, we boldly predicted that Mazda — which was making a big deal out of the MX-5 Miata’s 25th anniversary — would show the next edition at …
- Wheelies: The Mexican Bimmer Edition – NY Times: BMW announces it will build a factory in Mexico; Chrysler says its 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will produce 707 horsepower.
- BMW to invest $1 billion in new plant in Mexico, employ 1,500 workers – Automotive News: BMW plans to spend $1 billion to build a plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with capacity of about 150,000 units per year, the company said today.
- BMW to build $1bn car plant in Mexico – FT: Carmaker joins rivals Audi and Daimler in setting up plants to benefit from country’s low labour costs and the North American Free-Trade Agreement
- Fiat narrows Q1 loss by 46% after Chrysler-related accounting change – Automotive News: Fiat has revised its first quarter net loss to 173 million euros ($236 million) from a previously announced loss of 319 million euros based on accounting changes related to its buyout of Chrysler.
- Daimler tests self-driving truck, sets goal of production by 2025 – Automotive News: Daimler is working to introduce trucks that steer, brake and accelerate independently as early as 2025 as the world’s commercial-vehicle industry leader seeks to keep an innovative edge.
- Chevrolet Touts In-Car 4G LTE Wi-Fi In Latest Ad Campaign – Via Google News: Chevrolet is calling it the “4G of July” and the company is celebrating its new in-car 4G LTE Wi-Fi with a slew of advertisements this Fourth of July …
- GERMANY: Car sales down 1.9% in June – Just-auto: New car sales in Germany declined by 1.9% in June, though the result was distorted by fewer working days falling in June this year.
- GM Pushes Wi-Fi in New Cars – WSJ: General Motors is kicking off a marketing push to sell high-speed Internet service to buyers of everything from Chevrolet Spark subcompacts to top-of-the-line Cadillacs over the holiday weekend.
- Toyota to add Lexus assembly at Motomachi plant – Just-auto: Toyota will start making Lexus brand cars at its Motomachi plant in Japan in August, the automaker said on Thursday, expanding its production base as it wants both to boost both sales and the brand’s status world-wide.