- GM to recall 511,528 Camaros for ignition-related defect; 3 other recalls announced – Automotive News: General Motors announced four more recalls today covering more than 500,000 cars sold in the United States — including every Camaro sold since the current iteration of the iconic muscle car went on sale.
- Nissan, Daimler Power up their Growing Alliance – thedetroitbureau.com: The growing alliance between Nissan, Renault and Daimler is about to take a critical next step with opening later this month of the new Infiniti powertrain plant in Decherd, Tennessee. It will supply engines for both the Infiniti Q50 and the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
- GM recalls 511,528 Chevy Camaro because key bump can cause power loss – Reuters: General Motors Co said on Friday it will recall 511,528 Chevrolet Camaro cars, mainly in North America, because a driver’s knee can bump the key fob and turn it out of the “run” position, causing a loss of power.
- Data Shows Deaths Related to Ignition Switch Defect May Number Over 300 – Via Google News: The defect could cause the problem at any time during the car’s operation. Such a power shutdown would turn off all key power systems, including …
- Protests drive growth of taxi-hailing apps – FT: Protests in several large European cities had side-effect of raising profile of the smartphone services the drivers were demonstrating against
- Volkswagen Shipped First XL1 Car With 0.9 l/100 km Fuel Consumption – Via Google News: Volkswagen XL1, the most economical production car to meet current standards, has been delivered to the first customer. The ultra-economic model …
- BMW and Tesla executives meet to discuss electric cars – Reuters: Executives from German carmaker BMW and U.S.-based Tesla Motors Inc met this week in a move which could lead to the creation of charging stations usable for different types of electric cars.
- Suzuki chairman says unclear when court may rule on row with Volkswagen – Reuters: Suzuki Motor Corp Chairman Osamu Suzuki said it was unclear when an international arbitration court will rule on its 2-1/2 year dispute with Volkswagen AG over their failed partnership.
- UPDATE 2-BMW and Tesla executives meet to discuss electric cars – Reuters: BMW and Tesla executives seek ways to promote electric cars.
- Murano Production Launch Leads Nissan’s U.S. Agenda – Wards: Canton production marks the first time since the Murano bowed in 2003 that it will be built outside Japan.
- UK: “Stars in alignment” tempt former Ford of Britain CEO back to auto – Just-auto: Former Ford of Britain chairman, Joe Greenwell, says the extremely robust progress of the UK automotive sector drew him back into the industry following retirement at the US manufacturer.
- GM Removed ‘Restraints’ for Exotic-Killer Chevy Camaro Z/28 – Wards: Engineers were encouraged to tap into the latest lightweight and performance technologies, and if a vehicle feature kept the car from going faster and was not required by law, it was stripped out.
- Chevy Camaro Z/28 Takes Nurburgring – Wards: GM’s top executives lifted traditional vehicle requirements for Chevy Camaro Z/28 to take on world’s most popular track-oriented sports cars, and it delivered last year with a 7:37.40 lap of the Nurburgring to eclipse published times of the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.
- BMW and Tesla executives met to discuss electric cars – Automotive News: BMW said its managers met this week with executives from Tesla to discuss ways to promote the use of electric cars.
- Ghosn explains why Nissan-Renault needs to be among top 3 automakers – Automotive News: Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn elaborated on his goal to make the alliance one of the world’s top three vehicle producers, saying automakers need economies of scale to be competitive.
- Tesla scraps technology patents to boost electric vehicle growth – Autocar: Chief executive Elon Musk has welcomed other car manufacturers to share his firm’s expertise in their own electric vehicles.
- Dongfeng EQ2050 is Bad & Beautiful in Black – CarNewsChina.com: A bad & beautiful black Dongfeng EQ2050 Brave Soldier, Spotted in China in the Beijing Tuning Street. The EQ2050 is also known as the ‘Chinese Hummer’, which in a way it certainly is. The monster started life as a purely military vehicle but car buyers with the right connections can get one too.
- Tesla Teams Up With Soho to Add Car-Charging Outlets in Beijing – Via Google News: Tesla Motors Inc., the electric-car maker led by billionaire Elon Musk, signed an agreement with real-estate developer Soho China Ltd. to set up more …
- This is the Landwind E32, China’s copy of the Range Rover Evoque – CarNewsChina.com: The first spy shots showing the Landwind E32 SUV all-naked in China, and it is truly a carbon-copy of the Range Rover Evoque. As far as copying is an art, this is a masterpiece. Same overall design, same wheel arches, same shut line, same vents behind the front-wheel arches, same headlights, same grille, same roof.
- BMW Announces GoPro Connected Drive – Via Google News: BMW and GoPro have announced the integration of the GoPro’s live wireless video to feed into the car’s infotainment system.
- Official – Mercedes-AMG GT to get new 503bhp twin-turbo engine – Autocar: SLS AMG successor is first recipient of AMG’s new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, boasting 503bhp and 479lb ft.
- GM Georgia move may preview handling of switch injury litigation – Automotive News: General Motors previewed how it may handle some death and injury lawsuits triggered by faulty ignition switches when it moved an already-settled case from state to federal court after the plaintiffs tried to revive their claim.
- Rattner says he saw ‘GM nod’ and ‘GM salute’ during rescue – Automotive News: Steven Rattner, the former auto czar who led the government bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler, says he witnessed GM’s problematic management culture firsthand and was shocked — and crash victim advocates are asking why he didn’t act.
- Ford lowers fuel economy rating for six vehicles – Reuters: Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it was lowering the fuel economy ratings on six of its models, including a number of hybrids, and would reimburse owners for the difference.
- Will auto recalls lead to safer cars on the road? – Via Google News: With the world’s two largest car makers admitting to blatant neglect toward consumer welfare and stepping up vehicle recalls based on safety concerns …
- Ford Lowers Fuel Economy Ratings on Hybrids, Fiesta – Wards: Affected customers will receive a goodwill payment for the estimated average fuel costs of the difference between the two fuel economy labels, with payouts ranging from $150 to $1,050.
- Ford lowers mpg estimates on 6 models after internal audit – Automotive News: Ford, admitting that it made a mistake in calculating fuel economy estimates for several car models, including hybrids, will revise the mpg ratings downward and repay owners for the added fuel costs.
- Teenage Endurance Driver Takes Exams While Preparing for Le Mans – NY Times: For Alessandro Latif, the choice between taking his college exams and competing in his first Le Mans 24-Hour race was impossible. So he’s doing both.
- Elon Musk: Take our Tesla patents, please! – Washington Post: Tesla Motors announced Thursday that it is making the patents for its technology available to potential competitors, hoping to inspire innovation in the electric car market. “Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology,” Tesla founder and chief operating officer Elon Musk said in a blog post.
- Musk says Tesla’s patents are open to all automakers – Automotive News: Tesla Motors will relinquish its legal right to defend its electric vehicle patents ‘against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology,” CEO Elon Musk said today.
- Study: Are Hybrids on the Decline? – Via Google News: Although it may seem like the car market is flooded with more and more hybrid models these days, the overall market for gasoline-electric cars is not …
- GM ignition-switch defect response probed by 9 states – Automotive News: GM’s delayed decision to recall almost 2.6 million cars for ignition-switch defects is being investigated by attorneys general in Florida, Connecticut and at least seven more states.
- Jaguar Land Rover launches new Special Operations division – Autocar: New business division to produce high-performance cars such as the Jaguar F-type Project 7, and heritage machines along the lines of the lightweight E-type.
- CHINA: JLR to set up China engine plant – report – Just-auto: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to set up an engine plant in China, its first outside the UK.
- JAPAN: Mitsubishi recalls 920,000 cars for switch defect – Just-auto: Mitsubishi Motors has recalled over 920,000 vehicles worldwide to check for faulty light switches.
- Nissan e-NV200 Combi first drive review – Autocar: The passenger version of Nissan’s new electric van is a niche vehicle, but could hold appeal for growing families who need the space.
- US: Magna and Ford unveil multi-material lightweight vehicle concept – Just-auto: Magna International and Ford have unveiled a multi-material lightweight vehicle (MMLV) concept that uses advanced material solutions to achieve a claimed almost 25% weight reduction compared to the current production vehicle.
- SOUTH KOREA: Kia starts volume production of Soul EV – Just-auto: Kia’s Gwangju facility in Korea has started volume production of its new all-electric Soul EV for export sales. It is the company’s first electric vehicle to be marketed by the company outside Korea.
- Spy Shots: Kia K4, the interior – CarNewsChina.com: The best spy shots so far of the interior of the upcoming Kia K4 sedan. The Kia K4 debuted as a concept on the Beijing Auto Show back in April, and debut of the production version is scheduled for the Chengdu Auto Show in September with a launch on the China car market in October.