- Barra’s career path shows how a woman becomes CEO, but can more follow? – Automotive News: Mary Barra made corporate history seven months ago when she became the first female CEO of a major global carmaker.
- U.S. probes GM lawyers’ role on vehicle recalls, reports say – Automotive News: Federal prosecutors have learned that lawyers for General Motors were present at key meetings during which information about problems with some of its vehicles were discussed, a source close to the investigation told Reuters.
- RUSSIA: Moscow confirms scrappage revival “under discussion” – Just-auto: Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade confirms it is mulling reintroducing a scrappage scheme in a bid to reverse the alarming plunge in auto sales.
- SOUTH KOREA: Strikes hit Hyundai and Kia – Just-auto: A four-hour strike over wage reforms stopped production at Hyundai and Kia factories on Friday.
- MEXICO: Infiniti adds three models to new factory output – Just-auto: Nissan’s upmarket Infiniti brand will build three smaller models on a shared Daimler platform at the factory the two companies are building in Aguascalientes.
- US: Chrysler recalls 15,956 vehicles to replace rear shock absorbers – Just-auto: Chrysler has recalled certain model year 2014 Jeep Cherokee and Ram 1500 and 2015 Chrysler 200 vehicles. The recall has affected 15,956 units.
- Study Offers Road Map for Fuel-Cell-Vehicle Growth – Wards: The study says a key to hydrogen’s potential success is clustering hydrogen-fuel infrastructure in urban or regional networks, limiting initial costs and creating an early market for the technology before committing to full national deployment.
- Ten practical tips to fix the modern electric vehicle – Autocar: Electric cars will never take off if they’re not made to be easier to use, and more practical for everyday motoring. Here’s how that can happen.
- More on the Mysterious Bugatti Veyron in Shanghai – CarNewsChina.com: Last week we published an article about a mysterious Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, spotted by Reader Antoine Chalendard in Shanghai on August 10. The vehicle is mysterious because it looks similar to the one-off Bugatti Grand Sport L’Or Blanc, but it isn’t a known Bugatti special-edition. So what was, and is, this interesting Veyron? […]
- Spy Shots: Citroen C3-XR is almost Ready for the Chinese car market – CarNewsChina.com: The latest Spy shots of the Citroen CX3-R SUV in China, seen near the factory with at least two more examples nearby. The Citroen C3-XR debuted as the C-XR concept on the 2014 Beijing Auto Show in April. Debut of the production version is expected for the Chengdu Auto Show in September with a launch […]
- U.S. Probes Role of GM Lawyers in Recall – WSJ: Federal prosecutors are looking at the role employees inside and outside of General Motors’ legal department played in a delayed ignition-switch recall linked to 54 accidents and more than a dozen deaths.
- Leaked: first Photo of the Volkswagen NMC – CarNewsChina.com: This is the first leaked-official photo of the new China-only Volkswagen NMC, looking a bit more boring than we hoped. The Volkswagen NMC, or New Midsize Coupe, debuted as a concept on the Beijing Auto Show in April. The production version will debut on the Chengdu Auto Show in September and launch on the Chinese car market […]
- Get Ready To Say Goodbye To The Traffic Light – Via Google News: First, the traffic light will let your car know when it’s about to change status. It’s green but changing to red in 10, 9, 8, counting down, seconds, said …
- Asustek subsidiary, Toyota unveil smart automobile system – Via Google News: UniMax Electronics, a subsidiary of Taiwan’s Asustek Computer, unveiled Wednesday a smart automobile system designed for Toyota cars that offers …
- U.S. federal prosecutors questioning GM lawyers on vehicle recalls -source – Reuters: U.S. federal prosecutors have learned that lawyers for General Motors Co were present at key meetings during which information about problems with some of its vehicles were discussed, a source close to the investigation said.
- China Says Mercedes-Benz Violated Antitrust Rules in Pricing – NY Times: The government said that prices for parts and maintenance for Mercedes vehicles had been set at exorbitant levels, state news media said.
- Milestones: Ralph Nader made cars safer – Via Google News: From the title alone, Unsafe at Any Speed, it was clear the author, Ralph Nader, wasn’t going to present both sides of the argument about automotive …
- Vehicle Repair Insurance Prices Now Displayed Nationally Using New Quote Finder Online – Via Google News: The annual costs for repairing a used vehicle can now exceed $2,000 for some brands, according to auto industry data. The Quotes Pros company is …
- Chrysler’s Ram pickup may stick with steel through 2020, report says – Automotive News: Chrysler Group is planning an extensive facelift of its full-size Ram 1500 pickup in spring 2017, but has no firm plans to follow rivals GM and Ford in replacing steel body panels with aluminum until a complete redesign after 2020, industry sources…
- Hyundai looks to challenge Toyota Prius with new hybrid – Autocar: New Hyundai hybrid spotted testing in the US, signalling the Korean maker’s intent to take on the Prius.
- Acura TLX’s new assembly line is on Twitter – Automotive News: Acura is advancing the social marketing spectrum with an interactive TLX launch campaign that allows Twitter users to build their own versions of the premium sedan within a tweet.
- Exclusive: Chrysler’s Ram pickup may stick with steel through 2020 – sources – Reuters: Chrysler Group [CHRY.UL] is planning an extensive facelift of its full-size Ram 1500 pickup in spring 2017, but has no firm plans to follow rivals General Motors and Ford Motor Co in replacing steel body panels with aluminum until a complete redesign after 2020, industry sources told Reuters.
- Recalls have little to no impact on residual values, study says – Automotive News: Recalls have almost no effect on vehicle depreciation rates, a new study found. Even widespread recalls that generate sweeping publicity had little to no effect on residual values, which represent the value of a used vehicle.
- Study sees dealership throughput breaking records in 2014 – Automotive News: For the third consecutive year, U.S. dealership throughput — the average number of vehicles sold per store — is expected to break records in 2014, a study released today found. But the experts behind the study warn that a downturn is inevitable.
- BMW 535d Is No Diesel in Distress – WSJ: BMW’s turbocharged diesel sedan proves to be as punchy and free-revving as a gas-powered car, writes Dan Neil.
- Watch the 2015 BMW M4 Drift around 52 Other M Cars – Via Google News: Would you let your beloved BMW M car get this close to a madman drifting the new 2015 BMW M4? These 52 BMW owners did, although the madman …
- Ford recalls 2014 Focus, C-MAX Hybrid cars for potential steering gear issue – DetN: Ford Motor Co. on Thursday issued a safety recall for more than 600 2014 Focus and C-MAX Hybrid cars in North America for a potential issue with the steering gear that could result in loss of control.
- Leaked stickers suggest a thirstier 2015 Ford Mustang as weight creeps up – Automotive News: Adding independent rear suspension, numerous electronic safety features and other items raised the weight and lowered the fuel economy of several models of the rebuilt 2015 Ford Mustang, according to window stickers leaked on the Internet today.
- Cadillac considers moving some staff functions to Manhattan – Automotive News: Cadillac is considering adding or shifting some staff functions from Detroit to Manhattan, GM said today, as part of an effort to remake the brand’s image and broaden its appeal outside North America under new boss Johan de Nysschen.
- Google’s Self-Driving Cars Will Speed If Necessary – Via Google News: The team behind Google’s self-driving car project claim that the robots inside will break the speed limit to keep up with surrounding traffic, according to …
- Wheelies: The Lincoln Lawyer Edition – NY Times: Matthew McConaughey signs a deal to appear in a series of ads for Lincoln; Ford announces plans for a Prius-fighting hybrid.
- Ford Worker Files Charges against UAW – thedetroitbureau.com: The UAW may be getting an early look at possible changes in the dues it collects from its members as a Ford hourly worker filed charges against the union with the National Labor Relations Board over how much it collects from him. It also raise the specter of the possible impact right-to-work laws will impact the UAW in the future, according to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Chinese car probe takes unexpected turn – FT: Landmark ruling, which should benefit foreign carmakers and Chinese buyers, takes some sting out of criticism China is targeting overseas companies
- Ford tells U.S. dealers to stop selling some C-Max, Focus models – Automotive News: Ford told its dealers in the United States to stop test-driving and selling C-Max and Focus models produced during a week this month because of potential problems with the steering gear assembly, a notice sent to dealers on Wednesday shows.