- LA motor show proves our hydrogen future is coming up fast – Autocar: Volkswagen, Audi and Toyota all showed off their near production-ready hydrogen-powered cars in LA, and now all that’s needed is the infrastructure to support them. It was interesting to see how much of a splash hydrogen made at this week’s Los Angeles Motor Show. This really seemed like the event where the technology entered the mainstream, with Audi and VW both announcing projects and Toyota revealing the production version and name of its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai. I drove a test mule…
- GERMANY: Opel announces management changes – Just-auto: Opel Group has appointed current executive chief engineer, vans, light commercial vehicles and Alliance Programmes, Charlie Klein, as VP vehicle engineering Europe.
- US: BMW tests Google Glass eyewear for quality checks in production – Just-auto: BMW is testing Google Glass eyewear for use in quality assurance in production at its Spartanburg plant in the US.
- GERMANY: Volvo Car and DHL close in on remote parcel service – report – Just-auto: Deutsche Post’s DHL unit is in talks with Volvo Car Group on a partnership that would allow the parcel delivery service to remotely deliver to Volvo Car customer’s cars according to reports.
- GUANGZHOU SHOW: China replaces US as Volvo Car’s biggest market – Just-auto: China is poised to replace the US as Volvo Cars largest market in 2014 with sales of at least 80,000 cars, up from 61,146 in 2013.
- BMW Plays Catch-Up in China – WSJ: In China, BMW is finding that catching up is hard to do. It has spent $2.51 billion to compete in what is expected to become the No. 1 luxury-car market in coming years.
- Chinese SUV sparks JLR claims of copycat – FT: Landwind’s X7 bears a striking resemblance to Jaguar Land Rover’s wildly successful Evoque
- GM shuffles top managers, including high-ranking women – Reuters: General Motors Co reassigned four senior executives, including two high-ranking women, and announced the departure of another on Thursday.
- Gas powered: Sewage may help power cars in the future – Via Google News: In a story by Julia Pyper and ClimateWire on Scientific American, the bathrooms of America may be a new frontier for automobile gas in the future.
- GM shuffles top execs for quality, purchasing, powertrain – Automotive News: GM said Grace Lieblein will replace Alicia Boler-Davis as head of global quality as the company caps a year of record recalls.
- Ferrari names Edwin Fenech head of N.A. unit – Automotive News: Ferrari has named 14-year employee Edwin Fenech as CEO of the premium sports car maker’s North American unit.
- Refreshed Nissan Juke Debuts in L.A. – Wards: 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show A lower maximum torque peak, friction-reduction measures, and the addition of exhaust-gas recirculation improve the small CUV’s fuel economy for ’15.
- Takata Claims No Need for National Recall Despite Rising Death Toll – thedetroitbureau.com: Takata Corp. executives during a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing today said there is no need to expand its recall of 7.8 million vehicles with faulty airbag inflators from a regional action to a national effort, despite a rising number of deaths and injuries due to the airbags.
- GM names Stephen Carlisle to head Canada unit – Automotive News: General Motors today named Stephen Carlisle the new president and managing director for GM Canada as the company’s current chief for Canada, Kevin Williams, prepares for retirement at year’s end.
- AT&T, LG to Collaborate on Connected Cars – Via Google News: AT&T already provides mobile Internet access in vehicles manufactured by both U.S. and non-U.S. automobile makers. AT&T entered the market with …
- Audi Pairs Hydrogen and Plug-in Power to Create A7 h-tron – thedetroitbureau.com: There’s a war of words underway between proponents of battery power and fuel cell devotees about the future of green technology. Audi suggests there is common ground in their effort to replace the conventional internal combustion engine with its A7 h-tron Sportback Quattro unveiled at the L.A. Auto Show.
- Mobileye, maker of collision-avoidance tech, reports 70% revenue hike for Q3 – Automotive News: Mobileye, which produces collision-avoidance technology, reported a 70 percent rise in revenue but posted a net loss for the third quarter.
- Commentary: Sleek hybrids are likely to be the future of motoring – at least for now – FT: The latest fleet of electric cars give supercars a run for their money
- Heads up on augmented reality displays – FT: Windscreens take on a life of their own and could increase people’s faith in driverless cars
- Strong relationships and solid records boost Asian battery manufacturers – FT: It can take years of testing before automakers are comfortable with new products
- Hydrogen and electric vehicles battle for supremacy – FT: Lack of recharging points poses threat
- Automakers spy hazards ahead – FT: Technological and regulatory demands force manufacturers to invest as vehicle sales face difficult times
- Arizona is first U.S. state to sue GM over delayed recalls – Reuters: In the first lawsuit brought by a state against General Motors Co over recalls relating to a defective ignition switch, Arizona has accused the company of putting the public at risk by concealing safety issues and delaying the recalls.
- Cheap Gas, Lots of Cars for Thanksgiving Getaway – Via Google News:
- Honda admits failures in Takata airbag fiasco – Automotive News: A Honda executive told Congress today that the company failed to properly notify federal regulators of some crashes in which airbags made by Takata exploded and to clearly warn customers of the danger some vehicles could pose.
- BMW i3 Named Green Car of the Year – thedetroitbureau.com: Squaring off with four tough competitors, the BMW i3 claimed victory as the Green Car of the Year, an award the maker says “validates” the costly development program behind the breakthrough battery-electric vehicle. Notably absent from this year’s finalists was a hybrid.
- NHTSA tells Marchionne to speed up Jeep recall fix – Automotive News: Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne was sent a stern letter Thursday from federal regulators to speed up repairs of recalled Jeep SUVs that face a heightened fire risk.
- Henrik Fisker is back with a souped up Mustang – Via Google News: Fisker made a name for himself as the designer of sexy cars like the BMW Z8 … Henrik Fisker is now working in an even tinier niche of the automobile …
- Mini Bills New Cooper-Based Hardtop as 5-Door Hatch – Wards: 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show The hardtop “is more than just a Mini with two additional doors,” BMW board member Peter Schwarzenbauer says. “It’s a completely new Mini with a longer wheelbase, more space, more luggage volume, more functionality and flexibility and four doors.”
- Jaguar Sees Nothing But Gains in Future; Land Rover Discovery Unveiled – Wards: 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show More production to satisfy demand should help the British automaker achieve its goals for the States, sales chief Andy Goss says.
- SPAIN: SEAT adds jobs at Martorell to meet rising demand – Just-auto: SEAT is hiring 233 temporary workers at its Martorell facilities near Barcelona to cope with a one-off increase in demand for the Ibiza and Audi Q3 models.
- Carmakers blame Takata in airbag crisis – FT: Chrysler and Honda tell US Senate committee hearing Japanese parts supplier caused recall delays
- Nissan Juke gets a little Jukier, adds features – Automotive News: Nissan, surprised that one of its most polarizing cars has become one of its most successful, is turning up the Juke-iness of its Juke subcompact for 2015.
- Chevrolet Unveils Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo Concept in LA – Via Google News: Chaparral Cars were known for their pioneering applications of aerodynamics that are now common in performance automobiles. Not only did …
- Security Experts Warn Today’s Autos Easily Hacked – thedetroitbureau.com: automakers have been reluctant to speak about the hack attacks similar to those that have cribbed credit card information of millions of Americans that happened to go through the check-out lines at Target and Home Depot, but cyber security experts say the threat is real.
- US: GM shows off front end of next Chevy Volt – Just-auto: It won’t be fully revealed until January’s NAIAS, but the covers have been partially removed from a 2016 Chevrolet Volt at an event in Los Angeles.
- Takata quality chief shuns national air bag recall – Via Google News: More than 10 automobile manufacturers and 7.8 million vehicles in the United States have been affected so far by recalls of airbags made by Takata, …
- Acura retools ILX with more power, 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox – Automotive News: Acura is taking another shot at the small premium sedan segment by retooling the entry-level ILX. The Honda Civic-based compact has been re-engineered with a more powerful engine and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
- Fiat Betting on Mix of Style and Utility with New 500X – thedetroitbureau.com: “X” marks the spot for Fiat as it debuts its new 500X crossover-utility vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The third model in the maker’s U.S. line-up could become the brand’s best seller, although outperforming the 500L shouldn’t require much effort.
- Volkswagen won’t advertise during 2015 Super Bowl – Automotive News: Volkswagen, which made a huge splash with its ‘The Force’ Super Bowl spot in 2011, will be sitting out the big game this year, the company confirmed.
- Vauxhall confirms new flagship SUV in development – Autocar: General Motors boss Mary Barra reveals new flagship SUV will launch as part of 27-strong model offensive, and is due to appear by 2018General Motors boss Mary Barra has revealed that a range-topping Vauxhall SUV is in development. The new model, announced as part of Barra’s trip to Vauxhall parent Opel’s Rüsselsheim manufacturing plant, will sit alongside the Insignia and act as the firm’s second flagship model. The SUV forms part of Vauxhall’s long-term product plan, announced in June of…
- 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show World Debuts – Wards: Key new-model world introductions at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
- Takata Air Bag Recall: Sen. Blumenthal Says Loaner Cars Should Be Provided To Owners Of … – Via Google News: Executives from Japanese auto safety parts manufacturer Takata Corp., as well as … air bag in the steering wheel and dashboard — the automobile makers need to provide a loaner [vehicle]? while companies repair recalled cars.
- NHTSA’s decision to decline Takata documents spurs criticism – Automotive News: Five months after an exploding airbag killed a Virginia woman on Christmas Eve of 2009, the manufacturer offered the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration additional documents, but the agency said it was unnecessary because it has just…
- GM Cars that Remain Unrepaired Can Turn Deadly – Via Google News: Have you received a recall notice for your General Motors (GM) vehicle? Since February 2014, the company has recalled nearly millions of vehicles, …
- U.S. lawmakers plan bill to encourage auto employees to report faulty parts – Automotive News: Two US senators plan to introduce legislation today to encourage employees in the auto industry to report information on faulty parts to federal authorities, a spokeswoman for one of the lawmakers said.
- GM approves Opel SUV and engine investments in Germany, Poland – Automotive News: GM CEO Mary Barra said today Opel will add a flagship SUV to its lineup. The model will launch by the end of the decade. GM will also invest more than $627 million in the production of new engines and transmissions in Germany and Poland.
- Range Rover Evoque versus LandWind X7 copycat – which is better? – Autocar: Our man at the Guangzhou motor show compares the Chinese-market Evoque with LandWind’s cheaper, unauthorised and startlingly similar version. Today at the Guangzhou motor show in China, the controversial LandWind X7, a copycat of the Range Rover Evoque, was unveiled. Just one hall away Jaguar Land Rover was busy launching a locally made Evoque, the first product of its joint venture with Chinese manufacturer Chery.If the crowds around the authentic car on the JLR stand can be trusted, the real deal is the…