- VW to invest $900 mln in Tennessee plant to build mid-sized SUV – Reuters: Volkswagen AG said on Monday it would invest about $900 million to build a mid-sized SUV at its U.S. plant in Tennessee starting in late 2016, nearly doubling the factory’s work force.
- Nissan Small Sports Car, Next-Gen Cube Up in Air – Wards: A production, rear-wheel-drive small sports car is difficult for the automaker to bring to fruition, a company official says, as its current RWD platforms underpin expensive models.
- Fiat Has More Trouble Selling Cars – Via Google News: Among all major car makes sold in America, Fiat had the highest number of days to turn at 122 in June, according to research operation Edmunds.
- Mercedes S65 AMG coupe to cost £183k – Autocar: V12-powered S-class coupé to cost £183,065 when order books open this week, with first deliveries towards the end of this year.
- Hyundai Weighing Consumer Response to ’15 Sonata – Wards: “The feedback we get is that the car looks conservative when you see it in pictures but looks better in person,” says Mike O’Brien, vice president-corporate and product planning.
- Mobile Security Experts Race to Out-gun Highway Hackers – thedetroitbureau.com: You’re heading to work in your autonomous vehicle, but instead of turning onto the freeway, the car veers to into a dangerous neighborhood. A scene straight out a sci-fi movie for some, but a possible reality for security experts working to secure vehicles that are ever-more vulnerable to hackers.
- BMW 1-series facelift to launch in 2015 – Autocar: Changes to the 1-series hatchback focus on new front and rear-end design, with cabin improvements also expected.
- DATSUN ARRIVES IN RUSSIA – Nissan:
- China’s sales outlook cut by trade group on slow economy, truck slump – Automotive News: China’s state-backed auto association forecast that vehicle sales will slow more than it previously projected, as the economy showed little signs of improvement and more cities consider purchase restrictions.
- Exclusive: Prosecutors’ case against GM focuses on misleading statements – Reuters: Federal prosecutors are developing a criminal fraud case hinged on whether General Motors made misleading statements about a deadly ignition switch flaw, and are examining activity dating back a decade, before GM’s 2009 bankruptcy, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
- Toyota’s massive engine overhaul – Automotive News: Toyota Motor Corp., after long neglecting the internal combustion engine in favor of hybrids, is preparing a sweeping powertrain makeover.
- New Caddy boss knows luxury – Automotive News: Having spent nearly two decades in various roles at Audi and the past two years as global president of Infiniti, Johan de Nysschen, 54, comes to Cadillac as it’s new boss with intimate knowledge of the luxury market and some of the key competitors…
- Volkswagen’s soaring growth under Piech masks troubles – Automotive News: During his two-decade reign, Volkswagen Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech has created an automotive giant with broad geographic reach. But industry analysts say the No.
- China Offers Cash in Bid to Make Green Cars 30% of Official Fleet – Via Google News: What will it take for the world’s largest auto market to go green? China is hoping a series of new subsidies and other inducements to get government …
- Shoppers wary of dealer loans – Via Google News: Although most car buyers finance their vehicles through dealerships, the vast majority don’t plan to do so while in the online-research phase of …
- DealBook: Federal Judge Rules That Detroit Is Entitled to Revenue From Casinos – NY Times: The court rejected a bond insurer’s argument that the city could not use the money to settle bankruptcy debts.
- Nissan bets on football sponsorship – FT: Japanese carmaker looks to win fans in China by shifting the focus of its marketing towards sport with the broadest appeal
- Car-Hailing Service, Lyft, Postpones Its Debut in New York – NY Times: Officials have said Lyft does not meet safety requirements and is not authorized to dispatch cars to pick up riders in New York.
- TomTom’s 10 worst traffic cities – KBB: Netherlands-based navigation-system maker TomTom International issued its 4th annual Top 10 list of cities with the worst traffic congestion listing the global winner/loser as Moscow, Russia, with a 74% index number.
- Common Sense: Buick Sheds Its Old Fogy Image and Lifts G.M. – NY Times: Sales at General Motors rose 1 percent in June despite the crisis over faulty ignitions that has prompted lawsuits and huge product recalls, in large part because of rising Buick sales.
- Bits Blog: Taxi Commission Blocks Lyft’s Entry Into New York City – NY Times: The ride-summoning service had planned to start service in New York on Friday, but regulators said they were concerned about the screening of drivers.
- Jaguar “Virtual Windshield” Brings Videogaming to Life – thedetroitbureau.com: Head-Up Displays are the norm in modern fighter jets, and basic versions have been used in some automobiles for years. But Jaguar Land Rover is working on a concept, dubbed the Virtual Windshield, that could effectively bring videogames to life.
- Volkswagen Issues Stop-Sale Order for 2015 Golf, GTI – thedetroitbureau.com: Volkswagen issued a stop-sale order and recall of 2015 GTI and Golf models in the U.S. and Canada to fix a problem with the vehicle’s steering system. A stop-sale order means that dealers may not sell the affected vehicle until the problem has been fixed. The order is just one more delay for U.S. buyers waiting for the new Golf.
- Chrysler Recalls 895,000 SUVs Due to Potential Fire Hazard – thedetroitbureau.com: Chrysler issued a recall covering nearly 900,000 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos for a potential fire hazard while 500,000 2004-2007 Ford Crown Victorias, Mercury Grand Marquis and Marauders are being investigated for steering problems.
- First Tesla crashes in China – CarNewsChina.com: Tesla doesn’t ride easy in China. The company is getting sued from all sides, has impatient customers smashing windows, only slowly expands its dealer network, competes with the gray guys, and now they got their first car crashed. It happened earlier today in the Chaoyang District in Beijing.
(Note: In a previous version, it was already Tuesday. The hazards of travels between foreign time zones.)
