- SWEDEN: Volvo claims two safety firsts for XC90 – Just-auto: Volvo is claiming two world first safety technologies for its new XC90 large SUV due out next month: a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.
- SWEDEN: Volvo perks up park assist – Just-auto: New technology set to arrive with Volvo’s redesigned XC90 large SUV include ‘IntelliSafe’ features such as an extended park assist which now also offers automatic reversing into a parking bay as well as entering and exiting a parallel parking spot. The car can also display a Nissan-like digitally created bird’s eye view of the 360° area around the car on the large centre screen.
- UK: Rule change hits ‘free charger’ offers for EVs – Just-auto: Electric vehicle marketers are facing a new challenge now that the UK government’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles is reducing – from 1 September – home recharge point subsidies of 75% of the cost to a maximum of GBP900 from GBP1,000.
- GERMANY: Opel Group formed within Adam Opel – Just-auto: General Motors’ European unit Adam Opel AG has established Opel Group to assume full responsibility for General Motors’ business in Europe plus Russia (where Chevrolet continues) and Cadillac.
- Buick Regal, Volvo S60 join Consumer Reports’ list of top upscale, sports sedans – Automotive News: The Buick Regal, refreshed with a revamped powertrain for 2014, now ranks among the top upscale sports sedans tested by Consumer Reports, just behind the BMW 328i but high enough to easily top the magazine’s road test scores for the Cadillac ATS and…
- GERMANY: Opel budget line will replace Chevys – reports – Just-auto: Opel plans to build a range of entry-level cars to recapture the type of budget customer who in the past bought its Chevrolet brand, media reports said.
- Mercedes seeks to close gap in China with more dealers, new models – DetN: Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz expects to outpace the growth in industry sales of premium autos in China this year, after merging two competing sales networks and adding new models including its new C-class sedan.
- US: UAW says Tennessee Local 42 will aim for “German-style works council” – Just-auto: UAW officials say they expect Volkswagen to recognise its new Local 42 grouping at the German automaker’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant imminently, following its recent formation.
- INDIA: Nissan ends Maruti Suzuki OEM deals – Just-auto: No more Suzuki-built Nissan Pixos.
- Furtive e-GT electric supercar – exclusive pictures – Autocar: The boss of Exagon Motors, the company behind the £360,000 Furtive e-GT, reports significant interest in the carbonfibre battery-powered vehicle.
- US electric sales continue to expand – Via Google News: With a total new car market projected to reach close to 17 million units this year, we can easily see that the overall figure for the sales of electric …
- Ford Launches New Expedition in Small, But Stabilized Segment – Wards: The ’15 Expedition will be available for the first time in a Platinum trim level, which will slot above the previous top-of-the-line King Ranch edition.
- Indian Cars To Become Safer; Mandatory Crash Tests – Via Google News: In India, the motor vehicle population is growing at a faster rate than the economic and population growth. The surge in motorization coupled with …
- Chip manufacturers rise thanks to automobile use – Via Google News: Automakers already use both Qualcomm and Nvidia chips to keep their cars connected to the Internet and they will soon use them to allow the car to …
- Opel/Vauxhall to woo budget clients with low-end cars, report says – Automotive News: Opel plans to build a range of entry-level cars to recapture the type of budget customer who in the past bought Chevrolet cars, a report said.
- BMW Pushing to Maintain Sales Momentum in Korea – Wards: BMW Korea remains the country’s leading importer, with sales for the first six months up 19.3% to 21,972 vehicles.
- Volvo promises pioneering safety tech for all-new XC90 – Autocar: The new Volvo XC90 SUV, which is due to be revealed in August, will come packed with new safety tech including an advanced park assist package and accident
- Additional funds for new-energy vehicles from 2016 – Via Google News: China will launch more fiscal support policies for the new-energy vehicle industry from 2016 to 2020, according to a notice the State Council (cabinet) …
- Bermuda To Seize Cars Over Window Tint – Via Google News: Cars that smell bad or have dark window tint are subject to being impounded in … He may also seize a car that smells bad or has dark window tinting.
- Targeted digital video ads deliver preferred car colors – Automotive News: A New York digital marketing company is harnessing the power of the palette. Say, for instance, a car shopper builds a shiny red SUV in an automaker’s online configurator.
- Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Heck of a Car – Wards: Vehicle Test Drive The car breaks the 700-hp barrier but isn’t like a wild animal that turns on you.
- No Dollars, no cars . Venezuela’s auto industry in a free fall – Via Google News: Production at Ford has dropped to a trickle of cars a day, leaving its about 2,500 assembly workers in Venezuela with little to do. Ezequiel Minaya for …
- Foxx: No NHTSA officials fired, disciplined in GM probe – DetN: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says no one has been disciplined or fired as a result of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s handling of complaints related to General Motors Co.’s delayed recall of 2.6 million vehicles linked to at least 13 deaths.
- Tesla Puts Stop to Production Line for Upgrades – thedetroitbureau.com: The sounds of robots and humans making new Teslas at the company’s plant in Freemont, California, has been silenced, and been replaced by the sounds of humans installing in $100 million in tooling and making other upgrades at the facility. Full production resumes on Aug. 4.
- Feds Push for New Laws to Speed Recalls, Raise Fines – thedetroitbureau.com: A record-setting year for recalls and high-profile problems with General Motors and Toyota are swirling together to create a cauldron of proposed laws aimed at making automakers be accountable or pay up in a significant way. The proposals include jail time for executives hiding significant problems. For all the details, go to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Tesla idles California plant to retool for electric SUVs – Automotive News: Tesla Motors today halted production at its sole assembly plant for the first time for a revamp the company said is necessary to speed Model S output and prepare it to make electric crossovers.
- Wonkblog: Why more companies want pensions off their books – Washington Post: Verizon has done it. General Motors has done it. And so have Ford and, recently, ketchup kingpin Heinz. These brand-name companies have all moved part of their pension obligations off their books and into annuities run by insurance companies. Read full article >>
- DealBook: In a Subprime Bubble for Used Cars, Borrowers Pay Sky-High Rates – NY Times: Millions of Americans are receiving auto loans they cannot possibly afford, in a lending climate marked by some of the same lack of caution seen in the housing industry before its 2008 implosion.
- Opel Group to manage GM’s European business – DetN: General Motors Co. said Monday it has given full responsibility for GM’s European business to a new entity called Opel Group that combines oversight of the Opel/Vauxhall brands, plus other operations including GM’s Russian business.
- GM Issues Stop Sale on Used Cadillac Models – thedetroitbureau.com: It’s become something of a regular occurrence for manufacturers to issue so-called “stop sales” if a new model may face a recall. But in an unusual move, GM has put a stop sale on used Cadillac CTS and SRX models. TheDetroitBureau.com explains why.
- US: More GM switch part number trouble – Just-auto: General Motors made changes to redesigned ignition switch parts on four models in 2003 and 2004 but did not ensure that older, potentially faulty parts were taken out of circulation, the automaker said in a filing with US safety regulators made public on Friday.
- UK duo’s dream car draws wealthy car fans – FT: Priced at £95,000 plus VAT, the Mono – dubbed by one reviewer as ‘part art installation, part race car’ – has 200 orders, with most for export
- US: Ignition switch leads to Cadillac ‘stop sale’ orders – Just-auto: Ignition switch problems are continuing to plague General Motors. Over the weekend, it was reported the automaker had earlier this month ordered Cadillac dealers to stop selling some versions of the CTS model range because it does not have a fix yet for cars recalled in late June over an issue where engines can be shut off if the driver’s knee bumps the ignition key.
- BMW defends plan to build bigger SUV – FT: Chief executive says there is no contradiction between the company’s carbon emission goals and its decision to build a bigger SUV
- Video: Driving Bentley’s new 206mph Continental GT Speed on the track – Autocar: Can we max out Bentley’s new Continental GT Speed on track? Matt Burt takes it for a spin We take Bentley’s new £156,700, 206mph Continental GT Speed to an airfield to see if we can reach its claimed top speed, with Matt Burt behind the wheel.Read the full Bentley Continental GT Speed first drive
- Feds want faster pace for auto recalls – DetN: The Obama administration and some members of Congress want to give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sweeping new authority to get unsafe cars off the road quickly. And they want higher fines to deter automakers from delaying recalls.
- GM eyes budget range for Europe – FT: US carmaker wants to recapture sales lost to budget marques such as Kia, Hyundai and Dacia, as it fights to return to profitability in Europe
- Nissan cars seen self-parking by 2016 as autos go driverless – DetN: Nissan Motor Co. will introduce cars that park themselves by 2016, as the Japanese carmaker rushes to be among the first to offer automated driving.
- Maserati Ghibli Targets the Mainstream – WSJ: Maserati is being transformed from a niche maker of sporty, exclusive Italian machines into a mass-class competitor/alternative to Porsche. Will it work?
- Production VW Golf R400 leads new Ford Focus RS rivals – Autocar: Ford’s upcoming high-performance Focus set to battle Volkswagen’s new 395bhp flagship Golf, as well as rivals from Mercedes, Audi and Honda.
- Dispatch: Using Maps vs. GPS – NY Times: Listening to a GPS takes all the action and serendipity out of travel.
- GM waited more than 10 years to recall 6.7M cars after first report of stalling – DetN: General Motors disclosed today that it first received a report of stalling in 2003. It said it improved ignition switches in 2004 in some older cars, but didn’t recall the cars for more than a decade.
- General Motors Resists Expanding Victims’ Fund – NY Times: The company maintains that a distinct difference exists between its recall of 2.6 million older Chevrolet Cobalts and other cars, and has refused to expand a compensation fund, infuriating safety advocates.
- 5 compelling reasons not to buy that new car – Bankrate: Sure, auto loan rates are low, but you still may want to steer clear of buying a new car.