- Chevrolet Sail Sales Reach a Million in China – GM: Shanghai GM recently sold its one millionth Chevrolet Sail since the introduction of the current generation of the popular small car in 2010.
- US: GM Metal Center explosion kills one, injures several – Just-auto: An explosion at General Motors’ Marion Metal Center in Indiana killed one worker employed by contractor Quaker Chemical Corporation, which provides inventory management and other contract services at the site, and injured several others.
- GM Korea contractor probed by prosecutors for possible leak of engine technology – Automotive News: General Motors said South Korean prosecutors are investigating whether a contractor leaked the carmaker’s engine technology overseas.
- Peugeot to build fifth factory in China – FT: Peugeot has been given clearance to build a plant in Chengdu, which will begin production in 2016 with the capacity to build 300,000 cars a year
- Indiana GM plant chemical blast kills 1, injures 5 – DetN: A chemical explosion Tuesday at a General Motors metal-stamping plant in Indiana killed a contractor and injured several others, authorities said.
- Detroit Needs Residents, but Sends Some Packing – NY Times: In a city that needs to keep its residents, there is a virtual pipeline out, with more than one in 10 homes subject to foreclosure because of back property taxes.
- BMW holds U.S. luxury segment lead over Mercedes, Lexus – Automotive News: BMW won the June luxury sales crown in the United States and widened its lead over Mercedes and Lexus during the first six months.
- Explosion Kills Worker at GM’s Indiana Plant – WSJ: General Motors Co. said a contract worker died on Tuesday in a chemical explosion at a metal-stamping factory the auto maker operates near Marion, Ind.
- GM says one worker killed, four hospitalized in metal plant explosion – Automotive News: General Motors said one person died and four people were hospitalized Tuesday after a chemical explosion at a factory near Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Strong start to summer raises hopes for even better second half – Automotive News: A flurry of new light-vehicle sales as June ended helped generate the fastest selling rate for the U.S. auto industry in almost eight years, raising hopes for an even more robust second half of 2014.
- Toyota advances 3% as cars set pace – Automotive News: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. posted a 3 percent increase in U.S. sales in June, marked by significant gains from cars at the Toyota and Lexus brands.
- U.S. June auto sales hit level not seen since July 2006 – Reuters: U.S. auto sales hit levels in June not seen since before the financial crisis that led to the bankruptcy of two American automakers, posting the best annualized figures in eight years.
- Nearly Every GM Model Targeted for Recall This Year – thedetroitbureau.com: The numbers are daunting: 54 separate recalls covering 26 mil vehicles sold in the US – in just six months. GM has not only led the auto industry to the biggest recall tally ever, but has apparently achieved another milestone, recalling almost every product in its line-up.
- 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Makes 707 HP – Via Google News: The actual number is an insane 707 hp, which blows away the 650-hp 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to become the most powerful American car on the …
- New car-buying law off to slow start in Cuba – Via Google News: A new Peugeot family car that listed for $262,000 in Havana would cost … of income from automobile sales to be invested in public transportation.
- U.S. Auto Sales Hit 16.6 Million Units in June – thedetroitbureau.com: Overall June was another stellar month for U.S. automakers, General Motors faced positives and negatives. The automaker’s sweeping recalls managed to divert attention away from the troubles at Cadillac and its flat sales, to post a 1% overall increase. Most other automakers saw sales jumps too.
- Nissan’s newest factory lines boost deliveries – Automotive News: Nissan Motor Corp.’s recent investments in North American factory capacity translated to robust small-car sales in June.
- New Hyundai Genesis Can Outfox Speed Cameras – thedetroitbureau.com: Even the best of drivers occasionally let their foot press down a little too hard on the gas pedal. However, instead of ponying up the money for the resulting speeding ticket, drivers could buy the new Hyundai Genesis, which will slow down when it it senses a hidden speed camera.
- Automakers are Nervous About What Google is Doing with Self-driving Cars – Via Google News: Google’s vision and what car companies thought they could do were separated by a gulf of doubt and indecision. Talks fell apart and Google moved …
- GM sales solid despite recalls, but Chevy falls – Automotive News: GM remains relatively unscathed in the showroom from its unprecedented recall crisis, as sales rose 1 percent last month to the company’s strongest June in seven years.
- Chrysler up 9% on strong Jeep, Ram demand – Automotive News: Continued strong demand for SUVs and pickups pushed Chrysler Group sales up 9 percent in June.
- GERMANY: VW taking over Blackberry R&D centre in Bochum – Just-auto: The Volkswagen Group is taking over BlackBerry’s European research and development centre in Bochum, Germany.
- Fiat Chrysler: Konnichiwa, Namaste – FT: Where will Sergio Marchionne go in search of millions of cars?
- Foxx: U.S. will keep up pressure on GM to do right thing – DetN: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx defended the government’s handling of auto safety issues in the wake of GM’s growing number of vehicle recalls — and said it will push the automaker to take action.
- Wheelies: The Flying Honda Edition – NY Times: Honda puts its first commercial jet into flight; N.H.T.S.A. opens an investigation of 2012-14 Nissan Versas for a problem with a trim panel that hinders pedal operation.
- June Car Sales Deliver Unexpected Surprises – thedetroitbureau.com: With motorists facing new worries over rising gasoline prices, sales of fuel-efficient passenger cars perked up in June, while General Motors Co. surprised some observers by posting a modest 1% sales increase despite its ongoing recall crisis.
- G.M. Sales Rise 1%, Despite Flood of Recalls – NY Times: General Motors bucked Wall Street’s low expectations and negative publicity over a flood of safety recalls, reporting a modest rise in U.S. sales in June.
- Ford F-150 Tops 2014 Most American Vehicle List – thedetroitbureau.com: As the most patriotic of holidays – Independence Day – approaches, it may come as a shock to discover that if you want to buy an “American” car, you may need to go to a Toyota or Honda dealership. Cars.com released its annual list of “Most American” vehicles and once again, the Ford F-150 topped the list.
- Victim compensation fund patches cracks in GM’s credibility – DetN: Look no further than Kenneth Feinberg’s victim compensation fund to take the measure of just how badly GM botched a defective ignition switch blamed for at least 13 deaths and dozens of accidents.
- GERMANY: Audi prioritises low emissions over distinctive design – report – Just-auto: Volkswagen Group premium car unit Audi is betting ‘green’ car fans are more interested in low emissions than distinctive designs.
- UK: BMW starts on five-door Mini – Just-auto: BMW on Tuesday started production of the new five-door Mini hatchback at its Plant Oxford here in England.
- GERMANY: Audi introduces lightweight suspension springs – Just-auto: Audi claims to be reinforcing its leading role in automotive lightweight construction by introducing new, lightweight suspension springs made of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) which will appear in “an upper mid-size model” before the end of 2014.
- Chrysler sales jump 9%; GM up 1%; Ford down 6% in June – DetN: Detroit’s Big Three automakers saw mixed sales results for a June that’s shaping up to be better than most analysts predicted, despite two fewer selling days than the same month a year ago.
- US: Chrysler expands safety recall to install WIN module detent ring – Just-auto: Chrysler Group is expanding a previous safety recall to install a more robust ignition switch module detent ring.
- MEXICO: Chrysler to import Mitsubishi global compact sedan – Just-auto: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has announced a five-year deal with Mexican distributor Chrysler de Mexico (CdM) to supply its global compact sedan for sales starting in November 2014.
- CHINA: GM recalls 194,107 Buick Excelles for headlight bulb check – Just-auto: General Motors’ manufacturing JV in China, has recalled 194,107 Buick Excelle GT cars for headlight checks.
