- SWEDEN: Volvo Cars hails new engineering architecture that debuts on XC90 – Just-auto: Volvo Cars says that its new vehicle engineering architecture – Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) – is the cornerstone of the company’s ongoing USD11bn transformation plan.
- US: Hyundai launches interactive billboard in Times Square – Just-auto: Hyundai Motor has launched a new interactive billboard campaign entitled ‘Hyundai Brilliant Interactive Art’.
- SWEDEN: Volvo Group CEO gets leading role in UN sustainable transport initiative – Just-auto: Olof Persson, President and CEO of the Volvo Group, will take up the position as co-chairman when United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon assembles a high-level advisory group on sustainable transport.
- Motor Mouth: What exactly is a ‘luxury car’ anyway? – Via Google News: Surely it is some sign of the apocalypse the four horsemen literally galloping toward the precipice that Maserati recently felt the need to …
- Aston Martin’s U.S. stores at risk due to new crash rule, dealer says – Automotive News: Aston Martin stores in the United States will become unprofitable and could be forced to close if the sports-car maker cannot get an exemption for two of its models from tougher new crash standards, a top dealer said.
- Chinese Toy maker makes Nine-meter long aircraft carrier from Bricks – CarNewsChina.com: A team of six brilliant brick builders working for famous Chinese toymaker Sluban has created a masterpiece. This is the 9.02 meter long ‘Liaoning’, a giant model of the Chinese navy aircraft carrier with the same name. The builders used 440.000 bricks and the job took 180 days. The real Liaoning in port.
- Dream of world-class Detroit auto museum gains traction – Via Google News: As car lovers from across the country and around the world gather for the Woodward Dream Cruise on Saturday, the dream of a …
- Mercedes, Audi gain on BMW in global luxury sales race – Automotive News: Mercedes and Audi are closing in on global premium sales leader BMW as the race between the three tightened last month.
- Japanese Auto Jobs in U.S. Slow as Mexico Woos Carmakers – Via Google News: Light-vehicle sales in the U.S. rose 7.6 percent to 15.6 million last year, when Japanese automakers added almost 1,800 jobs. Their suppliers and the …
- SAIC Motor Ready For Wider Audience – WSJ: Earnings are humming at SAIC Motor, China’s biggest car maker. Its audience of investors should expand soon, as its Shanghai shares become available in Hong Kong.
- Auto sales increase along with subprime loans – Via Google News: General Motors Co.’s financing unit, the subprime-auto lender that received a subpoena from the Justice Department this month, plans to sell $975 …
- GM exec: Cadillac ELR not automaker’s answer to Tesla – DetN: A General Motors executive said today he sees Tesla as a ‘completely serious competitor in every way,’ but the plug-in hybrid Cadillac ELR is not GM’s answer to Tesla cars.
- Audi faces US$292m fine in China for anti-trust violations: report – Via Google News: Last year, Audi sold 488,488 cars. … Some car manufacturers, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover lowered vehicle prices, …
- Toyota Produces Second FT-1 Concept Sports Car – thedetroitbureau.com: The buzz for a new Toyota Supra just went up a couple of decibels today as the automaker revealed a new version of its ballyhooed FT-1 concept car in California with a graphite exterior and saddle-colored interior. The original red model debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January. For more details, go to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Former GM veteran, Fisker boss Posawatz to join INRIX board – Automotive News: Tony Posawatz, the former vehicle line director for the Chevrolet Volt who also briefly headed Fisker Automotive, has joined the board of directors for telematics company INRIX.
- Tesla “Ready to Feast” with New Model X SUV – thedetroitbureau.com: Tesla Motors is just beginning production of the much-delayed Model X, its second major product line, and should have the first of the battery-electric SUVs in showrooms by early next year, overshadowing the Model S and pushing the stock price past $260 a share, according to Morgan Stanley. For more, go to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- GM Tech Center nears full operation while pumps run – Automotive News: General Motors’ Technical Center is nearly back to full operations after Monday’s record rainfall in Detroit caused flooding and power issues.
- U.S. Treasury to cut Ally stake – Automotive News: The Treasury Department said it will cut its stake in Ally Financial by selling stock on the open market in its first divestiture since an initial public offering in April.
- Treasury to begin sale of final Ally shares – DetN: The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday it will begin its effort to complete its exit of Detroit-based auto lender Ally Financial Inc. by selling additional shares of its 75.1 million remaining shares.
- Hellcat Sales Not Limited to 1,200 Units – Wards: Chrysler unveils the 707-hp Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, which goes on sale in early 2015. The automaker defuses rumors that production will be capped on its most powerful sedan or the 2-door Challenger SRT Hellcat.
- CHINA: Companies fear unfair targeting in regulatory clampdown – Just-auto: Foreign companies are protesting that Chinese authorities involved in an antitrust crackdown are abusing their power through intimidation tactics.
- US: Land Rover models to be recalled – Just-auto: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is recalling 46,515 SUVs in the US and Canada because of a front passenger air bag issue, according to documents filed with US safety regulators.
- Ford Pitches Innovation as it Prepares Launch of Aluminum F-150 Pickup – thedetroitbureau.com: It may not seem like much, but the new sliding rear window on the 2015 Ford F-150 saves a pound – and works better. It’s one of the many innovations the maker is pushing as it prepares to launch the all-new aluminum pickup.
- US: Audi tests ‘piloted driving’ systems in Florida – Just-auto: Audi says it is pressing forward with the development of piloted driving and has conducted a public test on an expressway in Florida, US.