Top News:
- Bumps in Toyota’s road to diversity – Automotive News: Stumbles with two high-profile foreign executives at Toyota cast a pall over what had been a bold move forward in the internationalization of the world’s biggest automaker.
- Amidst Safety Crackdown, NHTSA Comes Under Fire – Detroit Bureau: In the wake of a series of fatal safety problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has promised to crack down on the auto industry. But NHTSA itself is expected to come under fire for its own lapses. An audit set to be released this week will warn that “Significant safety concerns (are) being overlooked,” reports TheDetroitBureau.com.
- MOROCCO: PSA plans car factory – Just-auto: PSA Peugeot Citroen has announced plans to build a EUR557m (US$630m) factory in Morocco as it seeks to Both reduce production costs and its reliance on Europe following a brush with bankruptcy.
- Honda confirms eight Takata fatality – Just-auto: Honda Motor has confirmed an eighth fatal victim of a ruptured Takata airbag inflator after completing the investigation of a September crash in Los…
- Video: The Audi RS3 gets sideways at Anglesey (promoted) – Autocar: Precision stunt-driver Mauro Calo, the Audi RS3, and the car’s designer Stephan Fahr-Becker spent a day by the sea. But not a relaxing one
- GM gambles on quick car redesigns in shifting market – Automotive News: General Motors wants to raise its game in the car space so badly that it’s speeding up redesigns and loading future models with head-turning features.
- Constant merger talk is testing faith in Marchionne – Automotive News: The constant drumbeat of stories about efforts by Sergio Marchionne to provoke a merger with General Motors is testing the faith of the dealers, workers and executives who once pledged undying fealty to their sweater-clad savior.
- Chevy preps a Cruze hatchback for the U.S. – Automotive News: Chevrolet plans a hatchback version of the next-generation Cruze compact sedan for the U.S., targeting a niche segment that could be ripe for growth.
- Continental says it’s ‘working heavily’ on electrified turbo – Automotive News: Continental AG is working on an electrified turbocharger to compete with a similar unit made by France’s Valeo that is scheduled to debut on an Audi next year.
- FCA hikes Ram diesel torque rating for 2016 – Automotive News: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Ram division is firing the opening salvo in the 2016 model pickup wars by boosting the torque rating of its high-output, 6.7-liter diesel engine to 900 pounds-feet — highest in the industry.
- Dodge plans to produce ’17 minivan – Automotive News: The death of the current-generation Dodge Grand Caravan may have been greatly exaggerated. According to company documents, Fiat Chrysler plans to continue production of the current Dodge people hauler at least into the 2017 model year.