Archives for June 2014

• UK: Lexus offers iPad and DVD packs for CT200h – Just-auto: Lexus UK is offering new multimedia entertainment systems for the entry level CT200h hatchback – DVD and iPad systems for rear seat passengers.
• 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: Infiniti ESQ testing in China – CarNewsChina.com: The very first spy shots of the new Infiniti ESQ testing in China. The Infiniti ESQ is a China-only compact SUV based on the Nissan Juke. It comes with a hefty body kit, a redesigned grille, and a luxurious interior. The Infiniti ESQ will be launched on the Chinese car market just before the end […]
• Argentina and Brazil extend auto industry accord until July 2015 – Via Google News: The new pact stipulates a “flex in vehicle trade exchanges of 1.50,” according to both governments, who spoke briefly following a meeting between …
• Tesla could open factory in Europe, Musk says – Automotive News: Tesla will build a factory in Europe once sales of its electric cars reach 160,000 a year in the region, CEO Elon Musk said. Musk also hinted at sharing Tesla’s patents to encourage other carmakers to embrace electric vehicles.
• New UAW boss faces King-size challenge – DetN: Dennis Williams says all the right things as new president of the United Auto Workers. There will be ‘no more concessions,’ a sop to members that also acknowledges the dramatically improved financial health of the hometown automakers, among others. He says there will be no confrontation unless confrontation is necessary, a bid to sound tough and reasonable at the same time.

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• FRANCE: Renault buys out Caterham’s share in Alpine JV – Just-auto: Renault has taken full control of French sports car maker Alpine after buying out the 50% share owned by Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes’ UK-based Caterham Group.
• GERMANY: BMW sales reach record levels – Just-auto: BMW Group sales were a record 177,741 in May taking year-to-date sales to 826,865, up 7.4% on year-ago levels and also a record for the first five months.
• CHINA: China’s vehicle market up 8.5% in May – Just-auto: Data issued by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) shows that the vehicle market in China was up 8.5% in May.
• BMW holds off Audi as A3 tightens race for luxury-car lead – Automotive News: BMW held onto the lead in global luxury-car sales as demand for 5-series sedans and X5 SUVs helped edge out Audi.
• China auto sales rise but domestic brands lag – DetN: Sales in the world’s biggest auto market accelerated in May but domestic Chinese brands lagged and their market share shrank, an industry group reported Tuesday.
• BMW holds off Audi as A3 sedan tightens race for luxury-car lead – DetN: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG held onto the lead in global luxury-car sales as demand for 5-Series sedans and X5 sport-utility vehicles helped edge out Audi AG.
• FRANCE: PSA Peugeot Citroen mulls ending Mitsubishi EV partnership – Just-auto: PSA Peugeot Citroen says it has launched a study to see whether or not it will continue its co-operation with Mitsubishi concerning electric vehicles as it looks to potentially place more emphasis on hybrid vehicles.
• The Upshot|If Robots Drove, How Much Safer Would Roads Be? – Via Google News: Google says its driverless cars have logged more than 700,000 miles without an accident caused by the car, and that its cars do not do unsafe things …
• Chinese new fuel consumption policy forced car makers to boost small size vehicles – Via Google News: As it known, placement ratio and sales of new cars are stunned in Chinese market with “purchase tax subsidy” and “automobile goes town” …
• Chinese Chevrolet Cruze will hit the Chinese car market in July – CarNewsChina.com: The new Chinese Chevrolet Cruze will be launched on the Chinese car market in July, it debuted in April on the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. The Chevrolet Cruze is manufactured in China by the Shanghai-GM joint venture. Price will start around 120.000 yuan and end around 160.000 yuan.
• Renault buys out Caterham stake in Alpine sports car brand – Autocar: French firm confirms it will continue development of its new Alpine-branded sports car alone, with plans to launch the model in 2016Renault has bought out the remaining stake held by Caterham in its Alpine business.T he manufacturer says that the arrangement has been made by mutual consent, and that the two companies could still work together in the future. This latest development brings to an end the Caterham-Alpine joint venture project which was signed off late in 2012.

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• Average age of light vehicle on U.S. roads stayed flat at 11.4 in 2013, IHS says – Automotive News: The average age of a light vehicle on the road in the United States remained flat at 11.4 years at the end of 2013, and the total light vehicles in operation reached a record 252.7 million, up 2 percent from 2012, IHS Automotive said today.
• US: GM announces four more recalls – Just-auto: General Motors has announced four more recalls, taking the total to 34 this year, including the high-profile ignition switch replacement programme currently under way.
• Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Take Aim at GM for Recall – WSJ: General Motors’ recall related to defective ignition switches is attracting lawyers who forged some of the biggest civil settlements ever, from the landmark tobacco litigation to the Exxon Valdez.
• Mahathir wants Proton to shed ‘cheap car’ image – Via Google News: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has proposed that the Proton car prices be increased in a bid to overcome its image as a producer of …
• Augmented Reality Car Dashboards – Via Google News: All of us are aware of a multitude of new car technology, which gets launched each day in variety of automobiles. In the past, GPS navigation system …
• Nissan launches second electric vehicle, stands by zero-emission technology – Reuters: Japan’s Nissan Motor Co said it’s launching its second all-electric vehicle this month, persisting with the technology despite a much slower market acceptance than it expected since it rolled out its first electric car over three years ago.
• Why Ford just said no when Musk tried to put the ‘E’ in SEX – Automotive News: Elon Musk says he wanted to name Tesla’s planned third model, a compact, battery-powered sedan, the Model E.

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