- BELGIUM: Honeywell slams Munich University coolant report as “nothing new” – Just-auto: Honeywell says the report by the Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Munich University concerning the contentious debate surrounding the r1234yf and r134a refrigerants, is “nothing new.”
- Mercedes sales close in on BMW, Audi in April – Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz narrowed the sales gap with larger luxury competitors BMW and Audi last month as customers sought the company’s top-of-the-line S-Class and up-market E-Class sedans.
- VW says four-month group sales rise 6% to 3.2 million – Automotive News: Volkswagen said it increased sales across its multi-brand group more than 6 percent in the first four months to over 3.2 million cars, a new record.
- US: 2015 e-Golf to be Volkswagen’s first EV – Just-auto: Volkswagen of America has confirmed that the e-Golf will be sold in the US market, with the local launch in selected states set for the final quarter of 2014.
- VW says it expects new SUV to revitalize U.S. sales as it outlines 2018 strategy – Automotive News: Volkswagen AG plans to redouble efforts to boost flagging sales in the United States as well as grow in Brazil as Europe’s largest automaker chases Toyota Motor Corp.’s global lead.
- CHINA: FAW now building three generations of Mazda6 – Just-auto: With the latest generation J71 series Mazda6 having just gone on sale in China, FAW Mazda is now making all three generations of the model.
- Mercedes April sales growth beats gains at BMW on S-Class – DetN: Mercedes-Benz narrowed the sales gap with larger luxury-auto competitors Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Audi AG last month as customers sought the company’s top-of- the-line S-Class and up-market E-Class sedans.
- VW squeezes out Scania minorities – FT: Decision by Swedish pension fund Alecta to reverse decision rejecting offer paves way for truckmaker to integrate assets and take on challengers
- Porsche developing hot new Cayman R – Autocar: First test mule spotted for updated Cayman R, which should get a tuned version of the Carrera S’s engine and more aggressive styling.
- GERMANY: VW crosses equity threshold to take full control of Scania – Just-auto: VW says it will control 90.47% percent of Scania’s capital after 27.5% of stockholders of the Swedish truck company accepted its SEK 200 per share offer, exceeding the 90% acceptance threshold.
- Record Year Continues for BMW Group in April – Wards: April deliveries total 162,093, increase of 4.3% Year-to-date sales rise 7.5% to 649,118 A total of 162,093 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were delivered to customers in April, a rise of 4.3% on the same month last year (prev. yr…. read more
- Ex-Treasury chief didn’t know auto task force fired GM’s Wagoner – DetN: Former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner kept a hands-off approach to managing the government’s $85 billion auto industry bailout, saying he was unaware of the decision of the auto task force to fire General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner.
- Subaru developing new global platform, more efficient engines – KBB: Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, has revealed ambitious plans aimed at enhancing the brand while building a stronger business structure.
- Chrysler loses $690M in Q1 on special charges – DetN: Sales of sport utility vehicles and pickups drove Chrysler profits in the first quarter, but that wasn’t enough to overcome $1.2 billion in unfavorable charges.
- Seeing Future in Fuel Cells, Toyota Ends Tesla Deal – NY Times: The electric RAV4 has sold poorly, despite low-cost lease and loan offers Toyota introduced last year to promote sales.
- Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Waterspeed Collection revealed – Autocar: Bespoke Rolls-Royce shows off personalisation options by honouring Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1937 water speed record, with just 35 examples to be made.
- Rolls-Royce SUV to launch in 2017 – Autocar: Design work is under way on Rolls-Royce’s first ever SUV, which is likely to cost more than £200,000 when it goes on sale.
- Toyota Supply Pact With Tesla to Expire in 2014 – WSJ: Tesla Motors’ supply agreement with Toyota Motor for the battery pack in the RAV4 electric vehicle will expire in 2014, putting in question whether Toyota will continue with the lightly-selling utility.
- GM crash victim’s family files new lawsuit, claims company lied – Reuters: A Georgia couple who settled with General Motors Co last year over their daughter’s fatal car crash linked to a faulty ignition switch has filed a new lawsuit against the automaker.
- Chrysler Reports a Loss On Acquisition Charges – NY Times: The carmaker, which is now part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, said it took charges totaling $1.2 billion, but revenue rose 23 percent.
- GM offers dealers $5,000 for Cadillac ELR test drives – Automotive News: General Motors is offering Cadillac dealers a $5,000 incentive to offer test drives of its ELR plug-in hybrid, which has gotten off to a slow start since its launch five months ago.
- Ignition Switch Victim’s Family Re-files Suit Against GM – thedetroitbureau.com: The family of perhaps the best-known of the victims General Motors’ faulty ignition switch, Brooke Melton, is refiling its civil liability suit against the automaker – after agreeing to a settlement earlier. The filing alleges a GM representative lied about his knowledge of the problem.
- GM ignition switch death suit refiled over fraud claims – Automotive News: The Georgia attorney whose wrongful death suit against GM helped trigger the recall of 2.6 million cars is seeking to reopen the case, alleging the automaker fraudulently withheld information about its faulty ignition switches ahead of a settlement.
- US: Chrysler posts big Q1 loss on restructure deal – Just-auto: Chrysler has posted a first quarter 2014 net loss of $690m due to extraordinary items related to the settlement with the UAW’s healthcare trust at the beginning of the year under which Fiat took 100% ownership of Chrysler.
- Parents of woman who died in Cobalt crash claim GM concealed evidence – DetN: The parents of a Georgia woman who died in a 2010 crash — and who settled a lawsuit with General Motors Co. last year — have filed a new lawsuit against GM.
- Fuji Heavy: my other car’s a Subaru – FT: The market believes the carmaker does not control its destiny and see few safe roads to growth
- GM offers free trial for embedded 4G Wi-Fi on most ’15 models – DetN: General Motors Co. said Monday it will give a free, three-month trial period or 3 gigabytes of use for its embedded OnStar 4G LTE mobile Internet service that will be available on most 2015 vehicles sold in the U.S.
- JAPAN: Nissan full-year net profit up 13.6% – Just-auto: Nissan has reported full-year net profit for the year ended March 31 up 13.6% to 389bn yen, in line with its previously issued guidance.
- BELGIUM: Ghosn is new ACEA president – Just-auto: Carlos Ghosn, Renault chairman and Nissan president, is the new president of ACEA, the European car makers’ association, a position he previously held in 2009.