- Ford wins dismissal in U.S. of claims it aided apartheid – Automotive News: Ford and IBM won dismissal of a lawsuit claiming they aided South Africa’s apartheid regime, with a judge saying they couldn’t be sued in the United States over actions of their units overseas.
- Lexus NX may challenge RX for brand sales leader outside U.S. – Automotive News: The new Lexus NX compact crossover, already racking thousands of orders in Japan, may unseat big sibling RX as the luxury brand’s top global nameplate. At least outside the United States.
- Tesla signs deal to set up 400 charging points in China – Automotive News: Tesla Motors has agreed to work with China’s second-largest mobile-phone company to set up charging points for its electric vehicles.
- SWEDEN [13:15BST update]: Court approves NEVS reorganisation application – Just-auto: The District court of Vänersborg, Sweden, on Friday (29 August) approved the application for reorganisation from Saab owner National Electric Vehicle Sweden.
- China to offer tax breaks on electric cars, limited mostly to local brands – Reuters: China said on Friday it would offer tax breaks on purchases of electric cars predominantly made by Chinese automakers, in its latest policy measure to boost green vehicles in the world’s biggest auto market, amid rising concern over pollution.
- UK Lexus standardises radar safety systems on new NX crossover – Just-auto: Lexus GB’s new hybrid NX 300h will be its first UK model fitted as standard with radar-controlled systems to help prevent accidents, the automaker said.
- RUSSIA: Little appetite for union at Renault Avtoframos – Just-auto: Renault’s Russian director, Bruno Ancelin, says he was “heavily surprised” there was no appetite for a trade union at the company’s Moscow plant when he arrived to take up his post.
- RUSSIA: Renault looks to 80% localisation as rouble pressure grows – Just-auto: Renault Russia says it is looking to up the localised content of its vehicles to 80% as the fallout from the current political turmoil involving Moscow and Ukraine continues to take its toll on the rouble.
- REFILE-China to offer tax breaks on electric cars, limited mostly to local brands – Reuters: China announced on Friday additional policy support for electric car purchases, offering tax breaks predominantly for cars made by Chinese automakers.
- Millennial malarkey: The myth that a generation hates cars – Via Google News: Nobody has been watching the maturing of the Millennials more closely than the auto manufacturers because of the widespread belief that these …
- Can Toyota Cling On To Its Lead Over Volkswagen? – Via Google News: Another factor contributing to Volkswagen’s ability to catch up to the Japanese automobile manufacturer is the high vehicle demand in the Chinese …
- Fiat clears Chrysler merger hurdle – Automotive News: Fiat will spend less than the limit the carmaker set to buy shares from investors who opted to sell ahead of its merger with Chrysler Group, clearing a key hurdle before the deal can close.
- Denza first drive review – Autocar: Daimler joint venture with BYD yields this five-door hatchback for China, but it’s not fast or refined enough to compete on European turf. The new Denza hatchback, a practical and (with Chinese government subsidies) relatively affordable electric vehicle developed in a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler and the automotive arm of Chinese industrial giant BYD.
- Infiniti Q50L debuts in China on the Chengdu Auto Show – CarNewsChina.com: This is the new Infiniti Q50L, it debuted today on the 2014 Chengdu Auto Show. The Q50L is a stretched variant of the Infiniti Q50 for the Chinese auto market. The Q50 L is stretched by 48 millimeter and heightened by 6 millimeter compared to the international version. The L will be launched on the […]
- Facelifted MG6 debuts in China on the Chengdu Auto Show – CarNewsChina.com: The facelifted MG6 debuted in China on the Chengdu Auto Show. The facelift includes new headlights, a new grille with a large MG logo, a new front bumper, a new rear bumper, new rear lights, and a new boot lid. The facelifted MG6 will be launched on the Chinese auto market in Q4. Price will […]
- Infiniti ESQ debuts in China on the Chengdu Auto Show – CarNewsChina.com: The daring and slightly controversial Infiniti ESQ debuted in China on the 2014 Chengdu Auto Show. The Infiniti ESQ will launch on the Chinese auto market in October. Price will range from about 200.000 to 300.000 yuan ($32.000 – 49.000). Check those Ninja-star alloys! Brilliant. The Infiniti ESQ is a China-only compact SUV based on the […]
- Strike ‘cost car makers about 16000 lost vehicles’ – Via Google News: Two multinationals have already blamed labour troubles for their decision not to build additional car ranges in South Africa, while another has said it …
- Volkswagen Lamando debuts in China on the Chengdu Auto Show – CarNewsChina.com: The brand new Volkswagen Lamando debuted in China on the Chengdu Auto Show. The Volkswagen Lamando, formerly known as the Volkswagen NMC, is a sporty CC model based on the MQB platform, the same platform that also underpins the Volkswagen Golf 7. The Lamando is developed to attack the mighty popular Mercedes-Benz CLA.
- Alfa Romeo Giulia due by 2016 – Via Google News: The car – a parts-bin exercise with input from Ferrari and Maserati – will be the first new-breed Alfa sedan since Fiat-Chrysler Automobile boss Sergio …
- Renault to unveil 141mpg concept car at Paris motor show – Autocar: Design boss confirms “experimental” super-frugal concept car, which will rival Peugeot’s 2008 Hybrid Air, for October show. Renault will present a new “experimental engineering” concept car at the Paris motor show in October, Autocar has learned. Speaking at the Moscow motor show, Renault design boss Laurens van den Acker confirmed the new concept is Renault’s answer to a challenge set by the French government, to put a car capable of returning 141mpg into production by 2020.
- Ford, IBM win dismissal of 12-year lawsuit over apartheid abuses – Reuters: A Manhattan federal judge has dismissed a 12-year-old lawsuit accusing Ford Motor Co and IBM Corp of encouraging human rights abuses in apartheid-era South Africa, reluctantly concluding that the case does not belong in U.S. courts.
- Automakers still dogged by Bluetooth glitches, Power study finds – Automotive News: Bluetooth technology aims to leave drivers hands-free, but some drivers end up connection-free, according to a study of multimedia quality and satisfaction released today.
- Global price-fixing crackdown threatens supply chain’s ‘business model’ – Automotive News: As antitrust regulators, most recently in China, go after auto suppliers in what has become a worldwide probe into price fixing, a longtime “business model” in the supply chain is now in danger, says an automotive purchasing executive.
- VW Employees Dealing with New Union Tussle – thedetroitbureau.com: The ongoing saga of union representation at Volkswagen’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, took another turn recently as one employee is attempting to form his own union at the plant. The UAW has dismissed the effort suggesting it has more than half the employees signed with Local 42 there.
- Ford exec: ’15 Mustang sales to determine if 3rd shift needed at Flat Rock – DetN: Ford Motor Co. could decide whether it will add a third shift at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant by late next year, a Ford executive said Thursday following a celebration at the plant at which the first 2015 Ford Mustang for retail customers rolled off the production line.
- CHINA: Dongfeng Peugeot 408 enters production – Just-auto: Responding to a question from just-auto.com, a spokesman for Peugeot has named Wuhan 2 as the location for build of the new 408, a sedan version of the 308.
- Aerodynamic and suspension tweaks for Nissan 370Z Nismo – Autocar: Japanese company’s sporting arm gives the flagship 370Z a makeover to deliver a sharper and more engaging driving experience. The flagship Nissan 370Z Nismo has been revised to deliver a sharper and more engaging driving experience, while the Japanese manufacturer has also improved refinement and enhanced equipment levels across the entire 370Z range. The changes focus on aerodynamic and suspension tweaks, but the performance of the 370Z Nismo is unchanged, meaning it is still powered by a 339bhp,…
- US: Report: Cadillac SRX switch to US to be offset by Chevys moved to Mexico – Just-auto: While General Motors, in a move hailed by the United Auto Workers, last night (27 August) announced production of the Cadillac SRX would be shifted from Mexico to Tennessee, the Reuters news agency reported subsequently it had learned the automaker also plans to move some other assembly work from the US to Mexico.
- Forget the Ford EcoSport and focus on a baby Landie or Volvo – Autocar: Most B-segment SUVs on the market are indifferently executed, which leaves an open goal for a manufacturer to build a truly good one, Ford’s new B-segment SUV, the EcoSport, has recently been taking quite a kicking from us road testing types (not to mention from those inside the Blue Oval’s mighty portals who know a good car).Why?