- CHINA: Companies fear unfair targeting in regulatory clampdown – Just-auto: Foreign companies are protesting that Chinese authorities involved in an antitrust crackdown are abusing their power through intimidation tactics.
- Pope bestows halo on Kia’s Soul – Automotive News: Pope Francis is helping to elevate the profile of the Kia Soul beyond that of the car of choice for dancing hamsters.
- China to fine Audi $40 million for breaking monopoly law, paper says – Automotive News: China will fine Audi about 250 million yuan ($40 million) for violating anti-monopoly laws, the 21st Century Business Herald, an influential business daily, reported on Thursday.
- GM’s soccer sponsorship has game – DetN: In the midst of seemingly endless product recalls, General Motors could do with a lift. And a positive event involving the giant automaker, rescued from bankruptcy by taxpayers just a few years ago, happened recently in an unlikely venue.
- Chinese anti-monopoly regulators investigate Shanghai-GM – CarNewsChina.com: Shanghai GM, General Motors’ main China joint venture has been contacted by Chinese anti-monopoly regulators as part of an investigation of the industry. GM’s announcement follows government announcements that Audi and Chrysler will face unspecified penalties for violating the country’s anti-monopoly law. Mercedes Benz, Toyota’s Lexus luxury brand and Japanese parts suppliers also are under […]
- Best car deals: Nissan Qashqai, Vauxhall Mokka, Hyundai ix35, BMW 5-series – Autocar: The best new car deals and new car leasing deals for this week, including offers on the Nissan Qashqai, Vauxhall Mokka, Hyundai ix35, BMW 5-series and Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster.…
- Subprime auto loans’ risk is acceptable, analysts say – Automotive News: The rising number of subprime auto loans doesn’t represent a disaster waiting to happen, akin to the mountain of subprime mortgages that went bad and set off the Great Recession, Moody’s says.
- Bits Blog: Accusations Fly Between Uber and Lyft – NY Times: Uber has countered attacks by Lyft with some of its own, including an implication that Lyft is airing accusations because Uber will not buy the company.
- Honda consolidates digital media work – Automotive News: American Honda is consolidating its digital marketing business for both the Honda and Acura brands with a team drawn from Razorfish and siblings at Publicis Groupe.
- Daimler in drive to end holiday email traffic – FT: German employees encouraged to relax on vacation and can choose to return to an empty inbox at work
- An Epic Road Trip in an Electric Tuk Tuk – NY Times: Naveen Ravelli, a 33-year-old electrical engineer from Bangalore, India, hopes to drive his custom-built electric auto rickshaw from India to England.
- GM will invest $174 million in Lansing stamping operation – Automotive News: General Motors is investing $174 million in a new stamping line at its Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Mich.
- Europe in backlash against Chinese crackdown – FT: European Chamber of Commerce in China claims foreign groups being targeted by antitrust probes and subjected to ‘intimidation tactics’
- New Dodge Charger Getting Hellcat Treatment – thedetroitbureau.com: For those who want more power – and two more doors – Dodge is slipping its new supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi Hellcat engine under the hood of the 2015 Charger. TheDetroitBureau.com has more on the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
- GM to Invest $174 Million at Lansing Complex – Wards: A 225,000-sq.-ft. stamping facility will start production in 2016 and the automaker expects that making the parts locally will save $14 million annually in material handling costs.
- G.M. to Build $174 Million Cadillac Stamping Plant in Michigan – NY Times: General Motors will start construction this fall on a $174 million stamping plant in Lansing, Mich., that will make components for the nearby Lansing Grand River assembly plant, the company said on Wednesday.
- ITALY: Fiat ‘won’t raise merger cap’ – Just-auto: Fiat will not raise the EUR500m (US$668m) cap it has set to pay shareholders who object to the company’s merger with Chrysler.
- SWEDEN: NEVS disputes Saab insolvency claim – Just-auto: NEVS, the owner of Saab Cars, says it is not insolvent but admits in a 13 August media statement that it “does not have enough cash to pay all outstanding debt”.
- US: GM to halt production at Lansing plant for three weeks – Just-auto: General Motors plans to temporarily stop production at its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, reports say.
- GERMANY: Volkswagen Passenger Cars’ July deliveries rise 4% – Just-auto: The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has delivered 3.56m vehicles (January-July 2013: 3.43m; +3.8%) in the first seven months of the year.