- GM ordered new switches months before recall: WSJ – Reuters: General Motors Co ordered half a million replacement ignition switches almost two months before it alerted federal safety regulators of the issues that prompted a recall of millions of vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing email exchanges between the automaker and its supplier Delphi Automotive Plc .
- Barra pinning GM’s transformation on small changes that add up – Automotive News: Instead of a broad culture shift, General Motors CEO Mary Barra is pressing employees for small changes; singular moments of candor and more-decisive action; that over time will add up to the cultural transformation that has eluded so…
- Mini: Retro brand battles fresh sales slump – Automotive News: For most of the past 12 years, Mini has lived a charmed life in the United States. Not lately. Critics say BMW’s small-car brand should use its sales slump to rethink its ways.
- Republican wins could mean oil and gas boom – Automotive News: The Republican victory in last week’s midterm elections is lifting hopes of a shift in U.S. energy policy to higher production of oil and gas — a move that could provide a tailwind for the auto industry.
- Ford’s new global sales boss has a world of challenges – Automotive News: Mark Fields’ biggest management shuffle since taking over as Ford Motor Co. CEO involves a job swap for two key deputies — Jim Farley and Stephen Odell — who bring very different strengths to their new roles.
- Nissan pushes quality initiatives for ‘flawless’ Murano launch – Automotive News: Nissan threw the switch last week to begin building its prestige vehicle in the United States for the first time, moving the Murano’s global export base from Japan to its plant in Mississippi.
- Volkswagen’s marketing boss Shahani tunes into dealers for ad suggestions – Automotive News: As Volkswagen rides out a U.S. product drought, marketing chief Vinay Shahani is giving restive dealers a larger and more formal role in setting advertising strategy.
- Mazda’s next big challenge – Automotive News: Mazda’s recovery is in a fragile state and the automaker is facing challenges in keeping products competitive with the first round of Skyactiv redesigns already halfway over.
- Toyota’s bold bid to remake Camry’s image – Automotive News: The truest measure of good car advertising is whether it moves the merchandise. And the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in the country for more than a decade. So some marketing experts are wondering about the newest Camry ad campaign.
- Honda CEO says to prioritize quality over sales target – Reuters: Honda Motor Co’s CEO said he would prioritize quality improvements over the company’s target of selling 6 million cars in the year starting April 2016, as the automaker recalls millions of cars to fix potentially defective air bags.
- GM ordered new ignition switches months before recall, report says – Automotive News: GM ordered a half-million new replacement ignition switches nearly two months before it told federal safety regulators about the safety issues which prompted a recall of millions of vehicles this year, The Wall Street Journal reported.
- UPDATE 1-GM ordered new switches months before recall – WSJ – Reuters: General Motors Co ordered half a million replacement ignition switches almost two months before it alerted federal safety regulators of the issues that prompted a recall of millions of vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing email exchanges between the automaker and its supplier Delphi Automotive Plc.
- Saudi automobile industry setting new standards – Via Google News: The automobile industry has been gaining momentum across Saudi Arabia and … The cars worth making, we believe, are not only those that provide …
- Catalan independence hopes high after symbolic vote on split from Spain – Reuters: Millions of Catalans voted on Sunday in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.
- GM-Supplier Teijin Targets Mass-Produced Carbon-Fiber Cars – Via Google News: A quarter of all ?eco cars? will use carbon fiber within six years as … He declined to comment on whether the automobile company’s projections match …
- General Motors ordered new switches months before recall -WSJ – Reuters: General Motors Co had ordered a half-million new replacement ignition switches nearly two months before it told federal safety regulators about the safety issues which prompted a recall of millions of vehicles this year, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
- Uber ties up with M&M, Maruti, Tata Motors, Toyota, financiers to fund drivers in buying cars – Via Google News: Taxi hailing app Uber is partnering with financial services firms and automobile manufacturers to launch a vehicle financing program …
- Volvo to Build Popular SUV in China – WSJ: Volvo, which plans to start exporting vehicles from its new Chinese factories in the beginning of next year, said it has expanded production in the country with its best-selling XC60 crossover model.
- New UAW president vows to be more open to members, public – Automotive News: As the UAW faces what many observers say will be the most difficult contract talks with the Detroit automakers in decades in 2015, its new president said more open communication with union members and the public will help at the bargaining table.
- A harsher light on Takata – Automotive News: Reports that Takata executives suppressed information about a potentially deadly airbag defect as far back as a decade ago mark a turning point in the case.
- Tuner guru sees hope for really young buyers – Automotive News: RJ de Vera’s auto industry resume is as free-form and hard to read as a graffiti wall in urban L.A.
- The New Ford Mustang Proves Muscle Cars Aren’t Dead – WSJ: Automakers like Ford, Chevy and Dodge have found they can achieve blazing performance and still meet higher environmental standards, writes Dan Neil. Get ready to burn rubber responsibly.