- Buick Encore Sales in China Surpass 100,000 Units – GM: Last month, sales of the Buick Encore in China surpassed 100,000 units since the SUV’s introduction in late 2012. Shanghai GM had sold 102,468 Encores as of May 31.
- RPT-GM dismissed vice president, two directors in recall probe -sources – Reuters: General Motors Co dismissed several high-ranking executives, including at least one vice president and two directors, for their roles in the still-unfolding drama over deadly ignition switches in older GM cars, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
- After 50 Years, Porsche’s Iconic Boxer Still Improving – Wards: Story Behind 2014 10 Best Engines Porsche 2.7L boxer 6-cyl., which is standard and not an up-power option in ’14 Boxsters and Caymans, is one of the sweetest yet.
- Strong Mercedes sales have yet to move it past Audi – Reuters: Mercedes-Benz keeps delivering double-digit sales growth, but its overhauled line-up of luxury cars has yet to move it past German rival Audi.
- Renault to build two new SUVs, two saloons and an EV in new China plan – Autocar: Dongfeng-Renault’s joint venture will produce SUVs based on Qashqai and X-Trail. First cars will appear in 2016. Electric car based on Zoe tech to follow.
- University of Michigan To Set Up Fake City To Test Efficiency Of Automated Vehicles – Via Google News: As interesting as Google’s self-driving cars may sound, the idea has raised several safety concerns. Automobile experts have expressed their concern …
- Spy Shots: new Ford Escort is almost Ready for the China car market – CarNewsChina.com: Spy shots showing that the new Ford Escort is almost ready for the Chinese car market. The new Ford Escort debuted in April on the 2014 Beijing Auto Show, and launch is expected for Q3. Price will range from 90.000 to 120.000 yuan.
- GM top executives spared in internal report on safety failure – Reuters: General Motors Co on Thursday issued a report detailing how for 11 years it turned a blind eye to an ignition-switch problem linked to at least 13 deaths but largely pinned the blame on what the report described as incompetent lower-level employees, leaving top brass untouched.
- Scathing report slams GM for years of recall delays – DetN: General Motors Co. missed a staggering number of opportunities to uncover and fix a deadly ignition switch defect over more than a decade, according to a scathing internal report.
- What the report says about the role, knowledge of GM’s top executives, board – Automotive News: The Valukas report goes into great detail about the roles played by senior GM executives, and the company’s board, in the years leading up to the ignition switch recalls. A summary of the report:
- G.M. Inquiry Cites Years of Neglect Over Fatal Defect – NY Times: In an internal investigation, the company cited bureaucratic problems and the failure of individual employees to deal with a fatal ignition flaw, and said 15 had been dismissed.
- GM’s big blunder: missing the link between stalling, airbags – Automotive News: GM engineers knew the ignition switch in the Chevrolet Cobalt could be bumped out of position, cutting the engine, according to former U.S. attorney Anton Valukas’ report released Thursday.
- GM faces grueling process ahead in recall – DetN: The release of General Motors Co.’s 315-page scathing internal report is only the beginning of a long, painful process.
- Camden County pair accused of reporting fake car thefts, collecting $130K – Via Google News: Steven Shore, 38, a car salesman from Pennsauken, and Michele Yorgan, 43, of Cherry Hill were each arrested at their residences Thursday morning …
- Millennials lead trend in less car-ownership, driving – Via Google News: Jenn Smith and Keith Kostecki, an artist couple who live in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago have lived without a car for years.
- Has the Ignition Switch Debacle Changed General Motors’ Culture? – Via Google News: From now on, GM will consider how safety defects can affect entire systems, and the entire car, said Mark Reuss, global product development, …
- On Leadership: What GM could do to change its culture – Washington Post: In announcing the “brutally tough” and “deeply troubling” results of the investigation into the ignition switch catastrophe at General Motors, CEO Mary Barra on Thursday laid out the changes the company is making to overhaul its bureaucratic culture. Read full article >>
- Overhaul ordered for GM’s legal department – Automotive News: General Motors says its top attorney has survived today’s wave of firings, but outside investigator Anton Valukas is calling for a sweeping overhaul of GM’s legal department based on its handling of the ignition switch crisis.
- GM program established to compensate families affected by ignition switch defect – DetN: General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra said today the automaker will compensate families who have lost loved ones and victims who have been seriously injured stemming from the company’s ignition switch defect in 2.59 million cars. The program could begin to accept claims on Aug. 1.
- GM report rips ‘organizational dysfunction’ – DetN: General Motors suffered from ‘organizational dysfunction’ as employees said they were told not to take notes in critical meetings on safety issues and repeatedly failed to take responsibility for problems, a massive internal report found.
- Barra: Employees must speak up on safety – DetN: General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra sent a tough message to its 220,000 employees worldwide: Speak up if you see a problem with safety.
- Myopia lies at heart of GM switch faults – FT: Many staff followed a limited interpretation of their responsibilities, failing to show curiosity about their actions’ implications or the effect on customers
- GM recall report blames internal culture – FT: GM chief vows to transform company culture after report on botched ignition switch recall concludes it resulted from ‘incompetence and neglect’
- Angry Barra tells troops: Never forget what happened – Automotive News: GM CEO Mary Barra today gave the most forceful and forthright speech of her short tenure, telling thousands of employees that she was “saddened and disturbed” reading the internal report detailing the company’s deadly ignition switch defect while…
- GM Pledges to Fix Safety ‘Failures,’ But Questions Remain – Wards: It is unclear whether a key factor in the vehicle-development process, uncovering a connection between the defective ignition switch and airbag failures, may exist with parts in other GM vehicles on the road today.
- Pro-Tesla electric car bill advances in NJ Assembly – Via Google News: When his appointees at the Motor Vehicle Commission banned Tesla Motors from selling its electric cars at New Jersey stores, Gov.