- RUSSIA: Volkswagen lowers Kaluga production target – Just-auto: Due to falling real wages and a weakening rouble, Volkswagen plans to reduce production at its plant in Kaluga, Russia.
- Texas governor says lower tax, regulatory hurdles lure companies such as Toyota, Tesla – Automotive News: Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a potential presidential candidate in two years, said companies such as Toyota will invest where they’re least burdened by taxes and regulation.
- Russia New Car Sales Down 25.8% on Year in August – Via Google News: The car market in Russia has come under pressure this year as real disposable incomes across the country have declined, while ruble weakness has …
- Musk anticipates another Tesla-Toyota project in 2-3 years – Automotive News: Tesla CEO Elon Musk says his company and Toyota could team on another ‘significant’ joint project in two or three years, and at higher volumes than the soon-to-end RAV4 program.
- Cadillac to Offer Nearly Autonomous Car by 2017 – thedetroitbureau.com: Cadillac will introduce a nearly autonomous technology called Super Drive in an all-new model it will launch in 2017, while also debuting a new vehicle-to-vehicle communications system that could alert drivers to highway and weather problems. TheDetroitBureau.com has the story.
- Jaguar targets iPad generation with XE sedan – Automotive News: Jaguar’s new XE sedan is a critical test of the brand’s ability to compete for entry-level luxury buyers after production of the Ford Mondeo-based X-Type was stopped in 2009 because of disappointing sales. The XE is being unveiled today in London.
- US: Cadillac plans “advanced intelligent connected” 2017 models – Just-auto: General Motors’ US flagship brand Cadillac will begin offering advanced “intelligent and connected” vehicle technologies on some 2017 model year vehicles, the automaker’s CEO Mary Barra said at the weekend in a keynote address to the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) World Congress in Detroit.
- Ferrari losses raise pressure on chairman – FT: Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne is critical of team’s lack of Formula 1 wins and has considered listing the sports car manufacturer since 2005
- RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ eyes Aeroflot turnaround as perception benchmark – Just-auto: AvtoVAZ says it is looking to the success of airline, Aeroflot, as a benchmark to improve its image and change consumer perception of its products.
- Audi to reveal new design direction at Los Angeles motor show – Autocar: Design-led concept to preview forthcoming four-door A9 flagship model that will rival the Porsche Panamera. Audi plans to unveil the new design lineage to be adopted by its future models on a large saloon-cum-coupé concept at the Los Angeles motor show in November, sources close to the German car maker have revealed. The new concept, which is also claimed to provide hints to the appearance of a four-door A9 model planned to sit at very top of the Audi range, has been created to preview a fresh design…
- Why doctors hate electronic health records – Via Google News: Imagine you are a car mechanic, and the government offers to help you buy a … The tool improves automobile safety, it says, by giving you the latest …
- VW says fuel cell cars will struggle beyond Japan – Automotive News: Volkswagen says fuel cell cars will probably struggle to catch on outside Japan where the government has invested in measures including a fuel-station network and generous subsidies that are too high for other countries to match.
- Ferrari, Pininfarina Crafting Six One-Off Supercars – Wards: The six bespoke copies are derived from the Pininfarina Sergio Concept built over the architecture of the Ferrari 458 Spider and displayed at the 2013 Geneva auto show.
- CHINA: Ford sees 30% growth in sales this year – Just-auto: Ford sales in China are running ahead 30% so far this year at 717,537, up from 551,738 in the first eight months of 2013. Last month it sold 77,506 vehicles, up from 71,183 sold in August last year.
- G.M.’s Board Is Seen as Slow in Reacting to Safety Crisis – NY Times: The automaker’s directors were caught off guard by the extent of the problems that led to the recall of millions of vehicles, but their chairman says they are now “very much involved” in the situation.
- Buick-badged droptop looks just like sporty Opel Cascada, sources say – Automotive News: Buick dealers recently were given a sneak peek of a Buick-badged Opel Cascada convertible, which is slated for a U.S. launch in late 2015 as a ’16 model.
- Verizon to launch app for car sharing, rentals – Automotive News: Wireless telecommunications giant Verizon today announced plans to introduce a new smartphone app that would allow rental car customers to unlock a vehicle.
- Dodge knocks off $15K to spur sales of pricey new Viper – Automotive News: Since the Viper’s reintroduction at the 2012 New York auto show, the sports coupe has moved fast everywhere except where it matters most: off dealer lots. Now Dodge has a plan to boost Viper sales.
- Non-recall actions raise questions on safety info disclosure – Automotive News: Big recalls by General Motors and Toyota Motor Corp. in recent years raise questions about whether dangerous problems could lurk in little-noticed service bulletins or customer-satisfaction campaigns.
- Autos Fuddled by Accents Send Ford, VW Seeking Fix: Cars – Via Google News: The car just doesn’t understand, said Colin Britton, a software executive in Lexington, Massachusetts, whose wife tries to trick the system with a …
- Fiat 500X SUV teased before Paris d but – Via Google News: Its wheelbase of around 4200mm will make it the longest model in the Fiat 500 family and it will share Fiat’s small vehicle architecture with the 500L …
- Technology making car theft obsolete – Via Google News: Here’s one way to recognize a stolen car: It’s probably pretty old. … That’s led to a dramatic decline in auto theft, in Massachusetts and throughout the …
- GM plans to launch hands-free driving by 2016 – Via Google News: GM’s “Super Cruise” semi-automated technology will automatically keep a vehicle in a specific, properly equipped freeway lane, making necessary …
- Volvo confirms super-luxury XC90 in development – Autocar:New four-seat XC90 with “exceptional” legroom planned for Chinese market, as Volvo shifts its flagship SUV upmarket. Volvo will build a super-luxury version of the new XC90 for the Chinese market, sources have revealed. The new model will be a strict four-seater and the middle row and third row of seats will be removed. Instead, a pair of XC90 front seats will be mounted in the back of the car. The two rear seats will have the same luxury functions as the front seats, including a full range of…
- Why the Vauxhall Ampera got it so right, and yet so wrong – Autocar: The high-tech and hugely clever Vauxhall Ampera was the future, but low sales mean it’s being axed this year. We find out why. So farewell then, Ampera. This innovative – and, in its home nation as the Chevrolet Volt, highly controversial – car will be discontinued in its Vauxhall and Opel guises towards the end of the year. General Motors has already teased an image of the second-generation Chevy Volt, which is set to make its debut at the Detroit motor show next January. But Europe won’t be getting…
- GM to offer connected car, automated driving technology in 2016 – Reuters: General Motors Co will introduce in two years its first car that can communicate with other vehicles to help avoid accidents and ease traffic congestion, Chief Executive Mary Barra said on Sunday.
- GM to Add V2V, Autonomous-Driving Technologies to ’17 Cadillacs – Wards: In a speech today opening a week-long Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress, GM CEO Mary Barra says V2V and Super Cruise autonomous technology contain authentic market and societal benefits.
- GM announces new automated and connected vehicle technologies for 2017 Cadillac models – Via Google News: General Motors’ V2V (vehicle to vehicle) communication technology has the potential to mitigate many traffic collisions by sending and receiving basic …
- VW to Halt Production at Russian Plant – WSJ: Volkswagen will halt production at its plant in Kaluga, Russia, for 10 days because of economic weakness in the country, Europe’s biggest auto maker said.
- Volvo would love to build a Tesla rival, says strategy boss – Autocar: Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo’s product strategy boss, says he would love to produce an all-electric version of the Concept Coupé – but it’s likely to remain a dream for the time being. Volvo would “love” to build a Tesla-rivalling all-electric version of its Concept Coupé, but it will remain a dream for some time to come, according to Lex Kerssemakers, the company’s boss of product strategy. Although Volvo has traditionally had coupés in its line-up, the firm’s C-Range remains officially…
- Rein-car-nation: 2014 BMW M235i vs. 2001 BMW M3 – DetN: For nearly $20k less, you get the legendary, 2001 BMW M3 reborn as a 2014 M235i. And much more.
- Land Rover plans high-tech Discovery 5 for 2016 launch – Autocar: Land Rover’s next-generation big SUV is set to usher in a raft of advanced tech in a bid to woo luxury-minded buyers from the likes of BMW’s X5Land Rover’s all-new Discovery 5 is thought to be at least 18 months away from going on sale, but it is arguably this model that will have to undergo the biggest philosophical shift of any Land Rover model in the company’s history. The Discovery 5 will not only have to excel off road but will also become something of a technology pioneer.
- Technology: Don’t Tell the Parking Attendant: The New Corvette Is a Snitch – NY Times:The 2015 Corvette offers a built-in video camera for recording not only weekend track times but to also keep an eye on the valet.
- Museums: Choosing Stability Over Spectacle – NY Times:The sinkhole that opened under the National Corvette Museum increased attendance, but the requirements and costs of maintaining it are forcing the museum to fill the hole.
- France Vehicle Sales Down 3.2% in August – Wards: WardsAuto Staff France vehicle sales totaled 103,506 for August 2014
- U.K. Vehicle Sales Up 9.7% in August – Wards: WardsAuto Staff U.K. vehicle sales totaled 87,391 units for August 2014.
- U.K. Vehicle Sales, August 2014 – Wards: U.K. vehicle sales by vehicle type and company for August 2014.
- France Vehicle Sales, August 2014 – Wards: France vehicle sales by vehicle type and company for August 2014.
- Palmer assigned to Aston Martin reboot – FT: Nissan executive to join carmaker as it attempts to restore fortunes
- INDIA: GM’s Barra faces hostile reception from Gujarat workers – Just-auto: General Motors CEO Mary Barra could face protests from workers at the carmaker’s Gujarat plant when she goes makes an expected visit to India later this month.
- Ford Focus Gains Traction in China, But 191K Recalled Due Fire Risk – thedetroitbureau.com: Ford has been enjoying a 30% increase in sales this year in China. The catalyst for those strong results has been the Ford Focus, but those good times may have come to a screeching halt today as the company announced it was recalling more than 191K Focuses for a fuel line leak that could lead to fires.
- Latest in Driver Safety Technology Coming to Detroit – thedetroitbureau.com: Toyota’s announcement yesterday of its goal of zero highway deaths related to its vehicles was one of several made by automakers recently about new safety technology coming to vehicles. Many of those will be on display at the 21st Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress in Detroit next week perfect.
- TAIWAN: Sales rise 9% in August – Just-auto: New vehicle sales in Taiwan increased 8.8% to 23,180 units in August, from 21,306 units in the same month of last year, according to local carmaker Yulon Motor.
- SOUTH KOREA: Auto exports drop 19% in August, hit by strikes – Just-auto: South Korea vehicle exports fell by 18.8% year on year to 182,795 units in August, reflecting industrial action at the country’s largest automakers, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
- GERMANY: Sales in China help Mercedes to new August and YTD records – Just-auto: Mercedes-Benz sold 118,887 vehicles worldwide last month, an August record and has reached the 1m year to date sales mark one month earlier than last year.