- Ford to Raise Production at Spanish Factory – Yahoo:
- Ontario sells last GM shares for $875 million – Automotive News: Ontario’s government sold its last remaining General Motors shares acquired during the automaker’s 2009 bailout, saying it would invest the $875 million of proceeds in an infrastructure fund.
- CANADA: Chrysler changes name – Just-auto: Chrysler Canada, based in Windsor, Ontario, has changed its name to FCA Canada.
- Honda, Subaru airlifting parts amid West Coast port labor talks – Automotive News: Japanese carmakers including Honda and Subaru are shipping some auto parts to the US by air to bypass a labor dispute at West Coast ports that is delaying deliveries.
- Daimler says low ECB rates may force more pension payments – Reuters: German carmaker Daimler said onThursday the low interest rate environment may force it to. invest more in its German pension plan, after it made a 2.5. billion euros ($2.9 billion) payment in the fourth quarter to. cover a funding shortfall.
- 2015 GMC Lineup – Wards: GMC looks to continue its U.S. sales momentum in 2015, banking on an aggressive marketing and advertising blitz until an injection new product comes down the pipe in another 12-18 months.
- European Car Industry Worries About 2015 – Yahoo:
- Takata whistle blower willing to testify on deadly airbag flaws – Automotive News: A former Takata engineer has told a US congressional committee he’s willing to testify that he warned of deadly consequences before the company chose a design for airbags that were later recalled due to lethal flaws.
- JAPAN: Honda to cut Suzuka plant’s production 20% – Just-auto: Honda is to cut output at its Suzuka plant (that makes the Fit and CR-Z) by around 20% – according to the Nikkei news agency.
- GERMANY: Daimler books record results for 2014 – Just-auto: Despite record sales of 2.5m vehicles with a 10% rise in revenue, Daimler group EBIT was flat at EUR10.8bn for 2014 and net profit dipped EUR1.5bn. Operating EBIT rose EUR2.1bn, however.
- Infiniti QX30 Concept to Lift Cover in Geneva – Wards: 2015 Geneva Auto Show . There are no details on the model just yet, but a sneak peek released of the upcoming CUV indicates the design is just as quirky as Nissan said it would be..
- Snowstorms Have You Wishing for a Self-Driving Vehicle? Think Again – thedetroitbureau.com: If the heavy storms that snarled roads across the country have you wishing you could turn driving duties over to an autonomous vehicle, think again. While self-driving cars may soon be ready to handle roads in sunny California, they’ll have a tougher time dealing with snow and ice.
- Japanese Automakers’ 2014 Production Best on Record – Wards: The major automakers’ shares of overseas production ranged from 21.7% by Fuji (Subaru) to 80.5% by Nissan.
- Takata, Maker of Airbags, Expects Wider Loss as Recall Costs Mount – NY Times: The Japanese company has set aside about $425 million to cover recall-related costs and is stepping up production of replacement parts.
- European auto recovery lifted by cheap oil, southern markets – Reuters: The car sales recovery in Western Europe gathered pace in January with a 7.1 percent gain as. southern markets including Spain continued to bounce back,. according to industry data published on Thursday.
- European auto recovery lifted by cheap oil, southern markets – Reuters: The car sales recovery in Western Europe gathered pace in January with a 7.1 percent gain as southern markets including Spain continued to bounce back, according to industry data published on Thursday.
- Daimler CFO says sees 500 mln euro currency gain in 2015 – Reuters: Daimler’s Chief Financial Officer Bodo Uebber on Thursday said he sees the German truck and car manufacturer benefiting from around 500 million euros ($569 million) worth of positive currency effects in 2015.
- New Infiniti QX30 crossover previewed ahead of Geneva show – Autocar: QX30 will join the Q30 hatchback in a growing compact SUV line-upThe Infiniti QX30 compact crossover will make its world debut at the Geneva motor show next month.
- UK new car sales rise 6.7 pct in January to 8-yr high – Yahoo: [Reuters] – British new car registrations rose by 6.7 percent in January to their highest level for that month since 2007, an industry body said on Thursday.
- Europe’s Auto Market Growth Set to Slow – Via Google News: ?Demand for new cars should grow again in Europe this year but not as fast as it did last year, according to the European Automobile …
- Takata adds nearly $30 million to special loss to cover air bag recalls, cuts outlook – Reuters: Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp booked nearly $30 million in extra charges for vehicle recalls to replace potentially deadly air bag inflators, as well as other costs, tipping it toward a bigger annual loss than previously forecast.
- A Treasure Trove of retro cars discovered in France (VIDEO) – Via Google News: One of the greatest collections of retro luxury automobiles has been brought … Potential buyers and car lovers stated that this collection is one of the …
- Armadillo ? An Innovative Electric Car – Via Google News: Earlier, several Japanese and European automobile manufacturers took their turn building urban electric cars. And now, it is South Korea’s turn, and …
- Suzuki Motor logs flat Q3 profit as Japan price competition bites – Reuters: Suzuki Motor Corp posted a0.6 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit on Thursday,. missing analyst estimates, as price competition at home in Japan. offset a jump in income from India.
- Press Releases – Auto industry cautiously optimistic for 2015 – ACEA: Brussels, 5 February – On the occasion of its Annual Reception in Brussels, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) yesterday set…
- Japan’s Takata books bigger special loss to cover air bag recalls, other costs – Reuters: Japanese auto parts maker TakataCorp booked nearly $30 million in extra charges to. cover vehicle recalls to replace potentially deadly air bag. inflators, as well as other costs, pushing it to a bigger loss. this year than previously forecast.
- Detroit faces changing auto industry – Via Google News: The city of Detroit has been inextricably tied to the automobile industry since Henry Ford established his Detroit-based company in 1903. The Great …
- Nissan Motor expands plan for Rogue exports to U.S. from S.Korea – Reuters: The Renault-Nissan alliance said on Thursday it would export 38 percent more Nissan Rogue crossovers to the United States from South Korea in 2015 than planned earlier, to meet rising demand in North America.
- Hyundai to unveil refreshed SUV to revive key market sales – Reuters: Hyundai Motor will inMarch unveil the first major makeover of its top-selling Tucson. sports utility vehicle in six years in a bid to revive growth in. key markets like Europe and the United States where SUV sales. are now strong.
- Despite Recalls, G.M. Pays Workers Big Bonus – NY Times: The automaker’s workers will receive profit-sharing payouts of up to $9,000 each, after the company opted not to factor in recall costs.
- Sources: Toyota considering doubling its $350M headquarters – Yahoo:
- ZAP and Jonway Auto’s EV Minivan will be OEM by Dong Feng Motor Corporation, one of the four China’s Largest Auto Group through Shi Kong, Zhejiang – Yahoo: ZAP (ZAAP:OTC), an Electric Vehicle (EV) automotive company incorporated in California Bay Area, and Jonway Auto just signed an OEM contract on February 2, 2015 for 5000 units of ZAP Jonway’s EV Minivans that will be sold under the brand of Dong Feng Motor Corporation .
- Telsa Motors seeks direct sales in Arizona – Via Google News: Officials with the Automobile Dealership Association said that unproven cars, like Tesla, don’t deserve special treatment. They said this bill would …