The big news today of course is Toyota’s move to Texas. Toyota HQ in Tokyo maintained radio silence all day, though.
- Toyota May Move Majority of California HQ to Texas – thedetroitbureau.com: Hoping to save money, Toyota Motor Co. reportedly plans to move a substantial portion of its U.S. corporate operations from Torrance, California to the suburbs of Dallas, according to several reports.
- US: Toyota to restructure sales and marketing unit – reports – Just-auto: Toyota is expected later on Monday (28 April) to announce a major restructure of its California-based US sales and marketing operation including voluntary layoffs.
- STXNEWS LATAM-Brazil car sales up 30 pct in April so far -industry – Reuters: Sales of new vehicles in Brazil have climbed about 30 percent so far this month from the same period of March, the president of national carmakers group Anfavea told journalists on Monday.
- SOUTH KOREA: Kia posts gains in sales and revenue – Just-auto: Kia Motors has reported improved business performance in Q1, 2014 despite flat trading in the domestic market and a strong KRW-US$ exchange rate.
- INDIA: Maruti Suzuki full year exports slump 16% – Just-auto: Exports by Indian market leader Maruti Suzuki slumped 15.8% to 101,352 units in fiscal year 2013/2014 as total sales fell 1.4% to 1,155,041 vehicles.
- How Lincoln Plans to Win in China – Wards: Lincoln isn’t aiming to elbow aside the Mercedes S-Class or AudiA6. It wants to cash in on the increasing popularity ofCUVs and SUVs to grab a slice of what soon will be the largest luxury pie in the world.
- Lincoln’s Futuristic Dealerships in China – Wards: Lincoln vehicles will be sold through an independent network of 60 dealers in 50 cities across China by 2016. Ford’s luxury brand spent three years researching the market, including building a prototype dealer facility in Shanghai to test and refine every aspect of the Lincoln customer’s journey through the purchase and ownership process.
- China’s Soaring Luxury Market – Wards: Wealthy young consumers soon will make China the world’s largest luxury vehicle market. Only a tiny percentage of Beijing, China’s population can afford luxury items, but with a population of more than 21 million, a small percentage adds up to a lot of shoppers supporting many high-end stores in the city’s upscale Dongcheng financial district. Rodeo Drive and Fifth Avenue have nothing on this smoggy street of dreams, except perhaps cleaner air.
- Mazda3 Follows in Mazda6 Footsteps – Wards: 2014 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors The latest installment in our series on 2014 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors highlights the new Mazda3, which uses new technology, great value and snappy good looks to win the brand a second consecutive interiors trophy.
- 2014 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors Winner – Mazda3 – Wards: Ergonomically, the Mazda3 is spot-on, thanks to a multifunction controller placed in the center console within easy reach near the driver’s right hip.
- THAILAND: Sales drop 46% in March – Just-auto: New vehicle sales in Thailand fell by 46.5% to 83,893 units in March, from a peak of 156,953 units in the same month last year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries.
- Hyundai Comes Into Own With Genesis – Wards: Vehicle Test Drive Hyundai gives the second-generation Genesis a unique, if polarizing, face, and furthers the sedan’s reputation for being the best-for-the-buck entry in the Mid-Large Luxury segment.
- ’15 Hyundai Genesis – Wards: Hyundai’s second-generation Genesis has a new, more aggressive appearance outside, but a sedate look inside. Its interior boasts high levels of comfort and material refinement.
- VW Group signs off new £5000 car for its budget brand – Autocar: Volkswagen officials finalise car design for its new budget brand. New marque should help VW Group rival the likes of Dacia and break into emerging markets.
- Chrysler in 2014 closely resembles what Marchionne said it would 5 years ago – Automotive News: In late 2009, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne and his team laid out an audacious five-year plan to rebuild Chrysler Group.
- Alfa Romeo will become stand-alone company, sources say – Automotive News: Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne will turn Alfa Romeo into a stand-alone company, part of his latest plan to revive the struggling brand, people familiar with the matter told Automotive News Europe.
- How will Ford build the aluminum F-150? – Automotive News: To get a sense of the manufacturing challenge facing Ford as it prepares to build its aluminum-bodied F-150 pickups, you need only look at rivets and other complexities at the Range Rover assembly plant in Solihull, England.
- Retreat at VW now may help UAW later – Automotive News: It’s never easy for a labor union to walk away from a fight, but for the UAW, surrender offered a way to salvage a long-term opportunity from the wreckage of Chattanooga.
- Fields’ track record shows he has leadership chops to silence critics – Automotive News: Mark Fields, the 53-year-old New Jersey native who is expected to be named soon as Ford’s next CEO, has confronted cynics with every big post he’s taken. They always expect him to fail #8211; and he never does.
- GM’s top lawyer is no potted plant – Automotive News: Michael Millikin, GM’s top lawyer, was conspicuous in his silence during a U.S. Senate panel grilling of CEO Mary Barra over the company’s ignition-switch recall.
- Ford tries to revive C-Max Hybrid sales – Automotive News: Ford is faced with rebuilding the C-Max Hybrid’s sales after volume tanked when the company was forced to lower the vehicle’s estimated fuel economy in August.
- M-B gets tough over customer service scores – Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz USA is taking a hard line with dealers after the brand made little progress in the latest J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Index.
- New Jaguar SUV starts Nurburgring testing ahead of 2016 launch – Autocar: Jaguar’s C-X17 SUV will aim to take on the Porsche Macan when it goes on sale in two years’ time, powered by Jaguar’s new range of Ingenium engines.
- European earnings forecasts still founder – FT: Downgrades shed light not just on inaccuracy of forecasts but also on pressures that are continuing to affect companies’ profitability
- Classroom is workshop to create engineers – FT: Heavyweight manufacturing companies are beginning to step up their involvement with primary schools to tackle the growing skills gap in engineering
- Volkswagen Passat Struggles in U.S. Midsize Sedan Market – WSJ: In the U.S. midsize, midprice sedan segment—absolutely frantic with innovation and competition—Volkswagen’s Passat is suffering accelerated decrepitude.
- UAW Veteran Nominated to GM Board – WSJ: In another first for U.S. auto makers, General Motors nominated United Auto Workers union executive Joe Ashton to its board of directors soon after naming the first woman CEO.
- Peugeot Holders Endorse New Capital – WSJ: Peugeot Citroën shareholders endorsed its €3 billion ($4.15 billion) capital increase, paving the way for the French state and China’s Dongfeng Motor to acquire sizeable stakes in France’s largest auto maker.
- Nissan Lannia Concept: A look at the next-gen Altima? – KBB: Unveiled in Beijing, the Nissan Lannia Concept is forward-looking compact 4-door specifically aimed at young, “Post-80s” millennials in China.
- 2015 Corvette offers Atlantic and Pacific Design Packages – KBB: Intent on adding even more distinction to its new C7 lineup, Chevrolet has announced a pair of trim packages for the 2015 Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible.
- New Vehicles and Recalls Cut Ford Profit – NY Times: The automaker attributed the decline to increased warranty costs and expenses tied to a job reduction in Europe.