Top News:
- SWEDEN: “Diesel not dead” says defiant FKG supplier association – Just-auto: Scandinavian supplier body, FKG says despite the emissions conflagration currently sweeping through Volkswagen, it still believes diesel technology to be the future of powertrains, albeit one possibly allied to a hybrid model.
- Hyundai loses $28.9 million patent infringement trial – Automotive News: Hyundai and affiliate Kia were told to pay a Baltimore company $28.9 million after a federal jury said the South Korean carmakers infringed patents related to hybrid engines. The companies pledged to appeal.
- California to launch separate VW emissions probe, report says – Automotive News: California plans to conduct its own probe of Volkswagen in the widening fallout from the company’s admission that 11 million of its diesel vehicles use software to cheat emissions tests, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
- Aston Martin names Laura Schwab head of Americas – Automotive News: Aston Martin has named Laura Schwab as new president of its Americas region. The iconic British automaker confirmed to Automotive News on Thursday that it had hired Schwab as its Americas Regional President, effective October 26.
- General Motors Poised for Profitability – Detroit Bureau: General Motors is poised to post hefty profits over the next several years, GM executives said as they outlined their future plans, according to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Range Rover Evoque Convertible to be revealed in November – Autocar: Los Angeles motor show unveiling expected for Land Rover’s open-top Range Rover Evoque
- Jobs under threat at Aston Martin as part of restructuring – Autocar: Aston’s reshuffling could result in jobs going at the company’s HQ, although manufacturing expansion plans are expected imminently
- US regulator extends diesel emissions probe to other car models: FT – Reuters: Reuters reported last month that the EPA and California officials would test … The agency is hiring cars from rental agencies or borrowing them from…
- VW ‘doesn’t know’ if cars cheated European tests – Autocar: Crisis-hit firm is still trying to work out whether cheat software was active during official NEDC tests
- Could Volkswagen be doing a better job of managing this crisis? – Autocar: Concerned and confused Volkswagen customers are contacting Autocar for help – but shouldn’t the company itself be doing more?
- Report: Mazda’s executive reportedly confirms arrival of rotary-powered concept for Tokyo – Egmcartech: Dutch publication, Autovisie, reports Mazda’s executive officially confirmed the pending arrival of a new rotary-powered concept at the Tokyo Motor…
- China’s Car Stocks Surge Again on Lingering Glee Over Tax Cut – WSJ: Although it downgrades Guangzhou Automobile [2238.HK] from buy to hold on the view it’s become over-priced in the rally, UOB still maintains a buy…
- Matthias Muller, in the Driver’s Seat at Volkswagen – New York Times: Matthias Muller, Volkswagen’s new chief executive, has not been the typical button-down German executive. Before the company’s emissions-testing…
- UAW Contract Vote at Fiat Chrysler Takes a Populist Tone – New York Times: In voting that ended this week, the union’s members stingingly rejected the national agreement their leaders had painstakingly worked out with Fiat…
- Hyundai, Kia ride SUV, minivan sales in US – Yonhap: Sales of Kia Motors’ Sedona minivan rose nearly fourfold in the United States in September, while sales of Hyundai…
- VW’s Horn to face U.S. House panel over emissions violations – Automotive News: Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn will go before a U.S. House panel next week to answer questions from lawmakers about the company’s violations of U.S. diesel emissions rules.
- US fuel economy data on cars inaccurate and getting worse, study finds – Reuters: The gap between the better performance of cars in testing by regulators and the lower fuel economy drivers experience has been widely known.
- Nissan sees potential in new SUV and crossover sizes – Autocar: Nissan’s Gripz concept car was unveiled at the recent Frankfurt motor show Nissan product planning chief Philippe Klein doesn’t rule out a sub-Juke crossover in the future, as he tells Autocar there are still “spaces” to explore
- We’re a Long Way From ‘Peak Car’ – WSJ: “Millennials have been reluctant to buy items such as cars,” a Goldman … of Uber and its competitors guarantees a decline in automobile and fuel use.
- Toyota rises 16 percent, seeks more truck output – Automotive News: Toyota Motor Sales posted a 16 percent year-over-year U.S. sales increase last month that resulted in its best September since 2007.
- Look again: VW dropping but industry is rocking – Automotive News: Take wandering Labor Day out of the sales equation and look at August and September as a single period. No brand was as bad as it looked in August, or as good as it looked in September, especially Volkswagen.
- Toyota outsells Fiat Chrysler, seeks more truck output – Automotive News: Toyota Motor Sales outsold Fiat Chrysler Automobiles by 331 units last month, posting a 16 percent year-over-year increase that resulted in its best September since 2007.
- Autobytel buys AutoWeb – Automotive News: Autobytel acquired online search company AutoWeb, the online automotive lead provider said today, expanding its capabilities in directing consumers to dealer and automaker websites.
- UAW rejects Fiat Chrysler contract; strikes loom – Reuters: Alternatively, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union may invite Fiat Chrysler … Fiat Chrysler said it was disappointed by the tentative pact’s rejection.
- General Motors to develop self-driving Chevrolet Volt – Autocar: GM announces autonomous driving research project will begin at its Warren Technical Centre in late 2016 General Motors will start its own autonomous car testing project in the United States with a fleet of Chevrolet Volts in late 2016.
- This Japanese Emissions Test Equipment Maker Humbled Mighty VW – Bloomberg: Horiba’s equipment helped tip off the researchers to a scheme in which 11 million Volkswagen group cars around the world pollute more on the road…
- VW Claims Mount as Lawyers Vie for Leading Role, Friendly Court – Bloomberg: As claims against Volkswagen AG for selling “clean diesel” cars that cheated their … Brandon Barnes, a litigation analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence in…
- Ford scores biggest gain since 2010 – Automotive News: Ford Motor Co. achieved its largest year-over-year U.S. sales increase in almost five years, posting a 23 percent gain for September.
- European automakers ask policymakers for time on emissions – Reuters: … the leadership role that the European manufacturers have taken globally in this technology,” the letter, seen by Reuters said, referring to diesel cars.