Top News:
- Dutch students grow their own biodegradable car – Reuters: What’s made of sugar, can carry four people and travel at 50 miles (80 km) per hour? A biodegradable car, whose inventors say could be the next step in environmentally friendly motoring.
- 2017 Ford Ecosport spotted in ST-Line form ahead of September launch – Autocar: Ford’s facelifted compact SUV is tipped for a debut this autumn; it’ll gain Sync3 infotainment and possibly an optional four-wheel-drive system
- Lessons From the Previous Generation’s Flying Car Frenzy – Bloomberg: Silicon Valley always feels like it’s a few years away from world-changing breakthroughs. Driverless cars will whisk us around in three to five years.
- Russia’s July new autos sales up 18.6 pct y/y – AEB – Reuters: Sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia increased by 18.6 percent year-on-year in July to 129,685 …
- China refines rules for surging car-sharing sector – FT: The 37 rental car-sharing companies in China operate about 6,000 electric vehicles in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. That number will rise to…
- Mazda announces breakthrough in long-coveted engine technology – Reuters: Mazda Motor Corp said it would become the world’s first automaker to commercialize a petrol engine using technology that deep-pocketed rivals have been trying to engineer for decades, a twist in an industry that is increasingly going electric.
- Chinese Uber rival Didi is now making a move in the Middle East and North Africa – CNBC: Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has announced plans to expand its business in the Middle East and North Africa.
- ‘Gig Economy’ Companies Working Harder to Attract Employees – WSJ: Companies such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash that rely on part-time workers are offering richer benefits and perks to attract and retain workers amid a hot labor market.
- VW Offers Incentives to Trade in Dirty Diesel Cars in Germany – Bloomberg: Volkswagen AG’s namesake brand and its upscale sister marque Audi are offering as much as 10,000 euros ($11,800) per car in incentives in…
- Autos rev up alongside Tencent as Hong Kong shares hit fresh 26-month high – Nikkei: Several other automobile companies listed in the city also raced ahead, with Great Wall Motor rising 4.9%, while Dongfeng Motor Group, BYD, BAIC…
- Volkswagen offers up to 10000 euros in premiums to new-car buyers – Reuters: Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will offer up to 10,000 euros ($11,810.00) in premiums to buyers of VW brand vehicles trading in an …
- 2018 Nissan Leaf leaked onto internet ahead of September reveal – Autocar: The Leaf was leaked onto the internet via Twitter Design takes influence from the new Micra; Leaf is confirmed to be available with Nissan’s Pro Pilot semi-autonomous driving system
- Groundbreaking Mazda Skyactiv-X petrol engines to be ‘cleaner than electric’ – Autocar: Mazda has developed a Skyaciv-X range of petrol engines that use compression ignition Car maker set to produce world’s first compression ignition petrol engine, claiming ‘well-to-wheel’ emissions that beat electric vehicles
- Autonomous cars race narrows on doubts about clear path to profit – Reuters: BMW and Daimler, the world’s top luxury carmakers, have announced alliances with suppliers, talking up the virtues of having a bigger pool of engineers to develop a self-driving car.
- ‘Self-driving car’ actually controlled by man dressed up as a car seat – Guardian: Tech blogs went crazy over the weekend after a new self-driving car was seen rolling around Arlington, Virginia. Unlike vehicles from Google Waymo,…
- Renault Deal A Welcome Relief For Iranian Government Struggling To Attract International … – Forbes: On August 7, Renault signed a joint venture agreement with the Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) and Parto Negin…
- China ride-hailing firm DiDi backs Uber rival Careem – Reuters: DiDi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hailing firm, has invested in Middle East online taxi service Careem in a new partnership deal that marks Didi’s latest international expansion against rival Uber.
- The Rental-Car Crash Worsens – Bloomberg: Rental-car companies have been under pressure from emergence of … As consumer demand shifts to sport utility vehicles, Hertz’s cars have been…
- Skoda names VW Group veteran Stefani as design chief – Automotive News: Volkswagen Group’s Czech unit, Skoda, has named Oliver Stefani as its new design head, effective September 1. Stefani replaces…
- Nissan/NEC sell rechargeable electric battery business – FT: Nissan and NEC have agreed to sell their rechargeable electric battery joint venture to a Chinese private equity firm, providing both companies with an…
- Nissan to sell its electric battery business to GSR Capital – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co said on Tuesday it has agreed to sell its electric battery business to Chinese investment firm GSR Capital for an …
- China July Car Sales Rise on Fading Tax Impact, Strong Economy – Bloomberg: Retail sales of cars, SUVs and multipurpose vehicles climbed 5.5 percent to 1.7 million units last month, the China Passenger Car Association said in…
- Geely Shares Soar To Record, China Automaker Now Worth More Than Half Of Ford – Forbes: Shares in Geely Auto, one of China’s largest non-government controlled automakers, climbed more than 7% to a record high at the Hong Kong Stock…
- Mazda to put autonomous-driving technology in all models by 2025 – CNBC: Mazda said it would launch a new gasoline engine in 2019 that would use compression ignition, improving fuel efficiency.
- Electric cars threaten Brunei plan for oil bonanza – FT: But he acknowledged this aim could be jeopardised by the world oil price depression – and by possible longer-term trends such as the electric car’s…
- TABLE-Vietnam July auto sales down 27 pct y/y – industry body – Reuters: Vietnam’s total vehicle sales fell by 27 percent to 20,662 units in July from a year earlier, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ …
- Mazda touts new gasoline engine to drive longer-term strategy – Reuters: Mazda Motor Corp said it would launch a new engine in 2019 that it says would be the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition, unveiling a plan that places traditional engines at the centre of its longer-term strategy.
- Hyundai shares slide as union launches strikes – FT: Unionised workers at Hyundai will go on strike for four hours on Thursday and Monday in an effort to pressure management to accept demands for…
- Strong July sales push Geely to 23-year high – FT: … with Volvo, which is also controlled by the holding company Zhejiang Geely, to develop new electric car technology under the brand Lynk & Co.
- Rise of electric cars challenges the world’s thirst for oil – FT: In the early years of US oil production in the late 19th century, gasoline was considered a useless byproduct of kerosene that would be burnt off or…
- MARKET BUZZ: Geely Automobile Up Nearly 4% As July Sales Surge – Nikkei: “We are positive on Geely’s Lynk & Co brand SUV to penetrate into mid- to high-end SUV segment,” House says. “We believe the timing of Geely’s…
- Geely Automotive Zooms Higher on Strong Sales – Barrons: Geely’s good fortune rubbed off on other automakers today. Dongfeng Motor (489.HK) was up 1.5%, and Guangzhou Automobile (2238.HK) and Great…
- UAW at a crossroads after unsuccessful Nissan election – Detroitnews: Labor observers are wondering what’s next for the United Auto Workers union after last week’s devastating defeat in organizing Nissan workers in…
- German state conservatives seek tougher VW oversight – Reuters: Conservatives in Germany’s Lower Saxony state called on Tuesday for tougher oversight of carmaker Volkswagen, in which the state owns a fifth of the shares.
- Luxury Cars Hit a Pothole in India – Bloomberg: India’s GST Council on Monday recommended an additional levy of 10 percentage points on luxury cars and sports utility vehicles, taking the total to…
- Faraday Future Postpones Plans To Build Nevada Factory, Leasing Turnkey Plant Amid Cash Flow … – Forbes: Beleaguered electric car startup Faraday Future will open a plant near … “Given the rapid industry advances in electric vehicles, these are critical…
- Hot hybrid Mercedes-AMG range to launch with petrol-electric CLS – Autocar: Mercedes-AMG will introduce a new petrol-electric hybrid line-up to sit below its 63 range, starting with a CLS version later this year. The model is due…
- Wells Fargo, Awash in Scandal, Faces Violations Over Car Insurance Refunds – New York Times: Wells Fargo, Awash in Scandal, Faces Violations Over Car Insurance … “The company has identified certain issues related to the unused portion of…
- GS Yuasa to Double EV Range With New Battery From 2020: – New York Times: The new battery, to be developed by a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsubishi Motors Corp, will be supplied to Japanese and European…
- Tesla to Raise $1.5 Billion Through Debt Offering – New York Times: Tesla delivered the first 30 Model 3s to employees at the end of July. At the time, Elon Musk, the automaker’s chief executive and a founder, worried…
- Toyota adding hybrid options in Europe ahead of diesel bans – Nikkei: Toyota Motor plans to fill out its hybrid vehicle lineup in Europe, adding lower-cost, higher-power and other new grades of…
- Facing Cash Burn, Tesla Is Selling $1.5 Billion in 8-Year Notes – Barrons: It’s not surprising, but is certainly noteworthy that Tesla (TSLA) announce Monday it is selling $1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes. CEO Elon Musk…
- Tesla rally pushes funds, ETFs into big bets on shares – Reuters: Signage is displayed outside of Tesla Motors before the Tesla Energy Powerwall Home Battery event in Hawthorne, California April 30, …
- Mitsubishi Motors to take plug-in-hybrid SUV to Iran – Nikkei: Mitsubishi Motors will introduce the plug-in-hybrid version of its Outlander sport utility vehicle to the Iranian market as early as fall, eager to…
- Mexico auto exports rise in July, but pace of growth slows – Reuters: Mexico’s auto production and shipments rose again in July but at a slower pace as car sales in the United States, the …
- Why Tesla Motors Is Fueling Up on Debt – New York Times: Tesla Motors is seeking to raise $1.5 billion in a bond offering to help finance production of the the Model 3 sedan. Credit Tesla Motors, via Associated…
- Albemarle and Nvidia hit new all-time highs on strong growth outlook – CNBC: … used in electric vehicles, a growing part of the auto market as companies like Elon Musk’s Tesla, Mercedez-Benz and Volvo expand in the business.
- GS Yuasa’s new battery to double electric car range – Nikkei: Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture with trading house Mitsubishi Corp. and carmaker Mitsubishi Motors, will develop the cells, which will be…
- Time to face up to the electric car revolution – Guardian: Your editorial perpetuates a number of myths about electric vehicles (Car drivers are heading into a future far from their dreams, 7 August). You say…
- China – Autonewschina: Volvo, Geely form joint ventures to share technology, improve Lynk & CO … Volvo Car Corp. will establish two joint ventures with Zhejiang Geely…
- Billionaire Elon Musk Sets His Sights On The Debt Markets For Tesla’s Next $1.5 Billion – Forbes: APRIL 04: A Tesla car is displayed in a showroom at a … In the past, the company has used a mix of stock offerings and the sale of…
- What does the Toyota-Mazda partnership mean for shoppers? – Washington Post: Joint development of electric vehicle technology: You know it, we know it, … Mazda hasn’t been so enamored of electric cars, but with Toyota’s help, … with the lower EV prices expected down the road, that’ll make the vehicles more…
- NXP Investors Can Expect More Qualcomm Love – WSJ: Qualcomm looks like it will have to up its $38 billion bid for Dutch car-chip giant NXP if it wants achieve its goal of getting a slice of the automotive future.
- India’s plan for higher rate luxury car tax to hit sales – Mercedes-Benz – Reuters: Other luxury carmakers in India include BMW, Audi , Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover, owned by Tata Motors. Automakers such as Toyota Motor, …
- Battery Advancements Set To Accelerate Electric Car Adoption – Forbes: When Volvo announced on July 5th that all vehicles would be electric or hybrid by 2019, it positioned itself as the first major auto manufacturer to end…
- EU says no plans for electric cars quotas – Reuters: The European Union on Monday said it had no plans to introduce quotas for electric cars for an automobile sector seeking to recover from the Volkswagen diesel scandal, a spokeswoman for the EU executive said.