Top News:
- Panasonic to shut battery factory in Beijing, cut 1300 jobs – Reuters: … amid shift to higher-margin batteries (Adds quote, background on Tesla) … business, including making lithium-ion batteries for Tesla Motors Inc.
- Cadillac Purchases Put on Hold in China Amid Stock Plunge – Bloomberg: The rout in China stocks is posing another threat to the world’s biggest car market, … “People won’t buy cars if they think their money bags will shrink. … of Beijing Asia Games Village Automobile Exchange, the biggest auto mall in the…
- Woman in China robbed, molested by Uber driver – report – Reuters: Such incidents elsewhere have damaged Uber’s reputation and sparked both public and regulatory backlashes against online car-hailing services.
- Manslaughter conviction reversed due to GM ignition – Freep: The judge determined a faulty General Motors ignition switch contributed to the crash that killed a man.
- Honda offers facelift of slow-selling CR-Z sports hybrid – Automotive News: Honda hopes a facelift will give a sales lift one of its weakest entries: the beleaguered CR-Z sporty hybrid. A revamped version goes on sale in Japan in October and is expected to hit U.S. showrooms sometime the following month.
- Tesla Model S breaks Consumer Reports’ scale – Automotive News: The Tesla Model S P85D scored a 103 on Consumer Reports’ rating scale meant to stop at 100, forcing the magazine to recalibrate its ratings.
- Reborn TVR sells out 2017 allocation for new sports car – Autocar: Revitalised TVR will bring four new sports cars to market, starting in 2017, and has already sold out the first year’s allocation
- Consumer Reports: Tesla Model S P85D highest rated – Detroit News: It’s the only car ever to score 100 in the magazine’s ratings
- Volkswagen to Invest $340 Million in South African Car Business – Bloomberg: Volkswagen AG, which is seeking to become the world’s largest automaker by 2018, is investing more than 4.5 billion rand ($340 million) in South…
- CHINA: Toyota resumes Tianjin production after port inferno – Just-auto: Toyota says it will gradually restart production at its Tianjin plant tomorrow (27 August) following the devastating explosion in the nearby port, which killed at least 121 people and destroyed a possible 10,000 cars.
- Ten Automakers Sued Over Deadly Keyless Ignition Risks – Detroit Bureau: A lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Los Angeles naming 10 of the world’s largest automakers as plaintiffs in a suit alleging 13 deaths were caused by faulty keyless ignition systems. The story from TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Toyota restarts Tinajin site after port inferno – Just-auto: Toyota says it will gradually restart production at its Tianjin plant tomorrow (27 August) following the devastating explosion in the nearby port.
- Tesla With ‘Insane Mode’ Busts Curve on Consumer Reports Ratings – Bloomberg: “This is a glimpse into what we can expect down the line, where we have cars with the performance of supercars and the comfort, convenience and…
- BRIEF-Chinese auto maker SAIC’s H1 net profit up 4.4 pct – Reuters: Aug 27 SAIC Motor Corp Ltd. * Says H1 net profit up 4.4 percent y/y at 14.2 billion yuan ($2.22 billion). Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/1U7Qlpw.
- The best car Consumer Reports has ever tested – CNBC: When asked about the rating from Consumer Reports, Tesla spokeswoman … A big change is the addition of a second motor, giving the P85D dual…
- China’s top automaker SAIC says H2 market outlook “grim” – Reuters: China’s largest automaker SAIC Motor Corp Ltd warned on Thursday of a grim outlook for the overall vehicle market in the second half of the year, as the slowest economic growth in 25 years and a downturn in the stock market puts off buyers.
- China’s top automaker SAIC says H2 market outlook “grim” – Reuters: BEIJING Aug 27 China’s largest automaker SAIC Motor Corp Ltd warned on Thursday of a grim outlook for the overall vehicle market in the second…
- SERBIA: GAZ starts GAZelle Next sales – Just-auto: GAZ Group says it has started sales of GAZelle NEXT vehicles in Serbia.
- Toyota promises not to sell damaged cars, FAW Toyota’s Tianjin factory back to production today – Automotive News: Gasgoo.com (Shanghai August 27) The skyrocketing sales achieved by Toyota Motor Corporation in China this year was suddenly halted by the blasts…
- China’s slowing auto market to put further pressure on oil – Reuters: China’s falling auto sales have been at the forefront of concerns that its economy is slowing much faster than…
- Daimler says would welcome new Chinese long-term investor – Reuters: “BAIC is our most important partner in China,” Daimler said. … Shares in Daimler rose 3.4 percent to 72.55 euros by 0741 GMT, outperforming a 2.9…
- Renault Kwid Top-End Variant Surfaces Online Ahead of September Launch, Bookings Open … – Ibtimes: In the latest image by IndianCar Bikes, the Renault Kwid is seen being loaded onto a truck before making its way to the dealership of the company.
- 2016 Kia Sportage revealed ahead of Frankfurt debut – official pictures – Autocar: The fourth-generation Kia Sportage has been revealed and will move upmarket to fight the Nissan Qashqai and Honda CR-V in Europe
- World’s biggest car makers sued over ‘deadly’ keyless ignitions – Guardian: The lawsuit claims the 10 carmakers, including Daimler’s Mercedes Benz, have long known about the risks of keyless ignitions. Photograph: Thomas…
- RVs make journey back from recession – Detroit News: Retiring boomers, reviving economy help drive up sales of travel trailers and motor homes
- Bronco might ride again at Michigan Assembly – Detroit News: Pairing the Bronco with the Ranger would toughen Ford’s SUV lineup to compete with Jeep
- Toyota to Restart Tianjin Plants Today – Bloomberg: Toyota is restarting its Tianjin factories just two weeks after the devastating chemical explosions. Toyota says it doesn’t expect sales to be significantly…