- California DMV Not Cool with Google’s Steering Wheel-Free Car – Via Google News: In May Google unveiled a car unlike any other: Built in-house, it had no steering wheel or brake or acceleration pedals. Although hype …
- Jaguar’s new little XE sedan favored to succeed despite mighty Germans – DetN: Mission Impossible. David and Goliath. Feeding the five thousand. Tom and Jerry.
- Kia wants to sell 270,000 Sorento SUVs globally in 2015 – Automotive News: Kia unveiled its redesigned Sorento, saying it aims to sell 270,000 units of the SUV globally next year as the automaker seeks to maintain its momentum in the United States, Europe and other key markets.
- RUSSIA: Incentives “sooner rather than later” to kick-start market: AEB – Just-auto: Russia’s Association of European Businesses (AEB) automotive chairman, says it will probable be “sooner rather than later” that Moscow introduces incentives to kick-start the alarmingly falling market.
- SWEDEN: NEVS, reviver of Saab, enters administration – Just-auto: NEVS, which has been attempting to revive Saab, has announced that, while it fully intends to pay creditors, it has nonetheless entered administration so as “to create more time for negotiations” [with potential investors].
- Saab Auto’s Chinese-Backed Owner Goes Bust – Via Google News: The Chinese-backed company that bought Sweden’s Saab automobile brand out of bankruptcy has filed for bankruptcy protection …
- Colorado Drivers Proclaimed Best in America – thedetroitbureau.com: With Americans buying new vehicles at a frenzied pace this year, knowing that Fort Collins, Colorado, is the safest place to drive that new car or truck might be useful information. Allstate Insurance Co. released its 10th annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report.” Worcester, Massachusetts finished last: No. 200.
- Ford to launch ’15 Mustang output today in Michigan – Automotive News: Ford today officially launches production of the redesigned Mustang at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. With the 2015 model, Ford is making the Mustang to suit global tastes for the first time.
- First Ford 2015 Mustang rolls off line in Flat Rock – DetN: The first of Ford Motor Co.’s 2015 Mustangs roll off the line Thursday at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
- RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ to break even this year: Bo Andersson – Just-auto: AvtoVAZ says it will likely increase revenue 50% by 2017 as a raft of productivity and management improvement levels take their cumulative effect with break-even forecast this year.
- RUSSIA: Auto sanctions would “massively impact” business: AEB – Just-auto: Imposition of import restrictions into Russia on the automotive sector would “massively impact” business and could lead to dealerships being swamped says a major industy body in the country.
- GM to Make Cadillac SRX in U.S. – WSJ: General Motors said it would invest as much as $185 million to build small engines at its Spring Hill, Tenn., assembly plant and move production of its Cadillac SRX crossover vehicle to the facility from Mexico.
- Exclusive: GM plans to move some Chevy Equinox assembly to Mexico -source – Reuters: General Motors Co and the United Auto Workers on Wednesday trumpeted the news that production of the Cadillac SRX would be shifted from Mexico to Tennessee, but Reuters has learned that GM also plans to move some other assembly work in the opposite direction.
- Ford prepares Dearborn Truck Plant for new aluminum-bodied F-150 – DetN: Ford Motor Co. is preparing its Dearborn Truck Plant for production of the all-new aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150 pickup with the most extensive retooling in the plant’s 10-year history.
- Exclusive: GM moving some production between Mexico and Tennessee – Reuters: General Motors Co is shifting some production of the Cadillac SRX from Mexico to Tennessee, but will partly offset that by moving some Chevrolet Equinox manufacturing from Tennessee to Mexico, an industry source told Reuters.
- Auto sales surge, but buyers may have loans longer than the cars – Via Google News: U.S. automobile sales are sizzling in part because Americans increasingly are taking out longer and longer loans to purchase used …
- Mercedes to ditch M-class in favor of GLE as part of renaming strategy – Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz is ditching the M-class nameplate as part of a comprehensive renaming strategy. When the vehicle receives a face-lift in early 2015 for the 2016 model year, it will be called the GLE class.
- Why the traditionally soft July marked a slowdown in auto sales – Via Google News: Global automakers see China as a major source of growth now and in the future and are spending heavily to develop models for local tastes.
- BMW joins Cadillac wooing Silicon Valley to combat Tesla – Automotive News: BMW scored a coup this month when former Apple executive Tony Fadell became one of the first owners of the new $136,000 i8 plug-in sports car in the United States.
- Kia to invest more than $1-billion to build auto plant in Mexico – Via Google News: Kia Motors Corp. plans to build its first assembly plant in Mexico as the South Korean auto maker follows European and Asian rivals in adding regional …
- Alfardan Automobiles brings BMW i8 to Qatar – Via Google News: BMW’s i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, described as a revolutionary automobile, has been brought to Qatar by Alfardan Automobiles, the BMW Group …
- Cars in the US might soon be mandated to broadcast speed and location data – Via Google News: The United States Department of Transportation is taking the next step towards creating a vehicle-to-vehicle communications system that will allow …
- Volvo Planning at Least 9 New Models – thedetroitbureau.com: Volvo not only rolled out the new version of its XC90, which will hit showrooms next Spring, it also announced it plans to introduce nine new models between now and 2019. Most of the focus will be on the sport-utes, traditional wagons and sedans, but a few surprises could be sprinkled among the intros.
- GM to build Cadillac SRX at Spring Hill plant in Tennessee – DetN: The UAW confirmed today that General Motors will build the next-generation Cadillac SRX at its Spring Hill manufacturing plant.
- Subaru casts wider net with safer, greener WRX – Automotive News: Subaru hopes the redesigned WRX line will capture a wider customer base with better fuel economy and safety features after spinning off the nameplate from its Impreza stablemate.
- US: Cadillac SRX moving from Mexico as GM spends $185m more at Spring Hill – Just-auto: General Motors said on Wednesday (27 August) it would spend US$185m to make small petrol engines at its Spring Hill manufacturing complex (once a Saturn plant), retaining 390 jobs. GM also said it would build the next generation Cadillac SRX there, moving the model from Mexico.
- Sales rate to top 16 million for 6th month in a row, analysts predict – Automotive News: Auto sales volume in the United States is expected to keep rolling along in August, with two independent forecasters predicting a sixth straight month of 16 million-plus selling rates. TrueCar predicts a seasonally adjusted annual selling rate of 16.
- MOSCOW SHOW: Nissan Pathfinder first locally built petrol hybrid – Just-auto: Nissan on Wednesday launched the redesigned Pathfinder range in Russia at the Moscow motor show, including the first Russian manufactured petrol-electric hybrid.
- China Volkswagen Probe Not Antitrust Issue – WSJ: China’s probe into a Volkswagen AG joint venture isn’t tied to an antitrust investigation, according to the auto maker and its local partner.