- GERMANY: Daimler tops off li-ion battery plant expansion – Just-auto: Daimler is expanding production capacity for lithium-ion batteries and plans to spend another EUR100m on its Deutsche ACCUmotive subsidiary which supplies lithium-ion batteries for the current Smart Fortwo electric drive and the hybrid Mercedes S-, E- and C-Class. It has delivered over 50,000 battery packs to date.
- GM Recall Number Hits 79 with Headlight Problem – thedetroitbureau.com: General Motors issued its 79th action this year for more than 273,000 midsize SUVs and Buick sedans for headlight problems. The company is recalling the vehicles because the low-beam headlights can shut off without warning.
- BELGIUM: ‘Genk finished’ says union as national industrial unrest boils – Just-auto: Belgian union leaders are expressing fears unemployment in Genk will soar following Ford’s imminent closure of its plant in two weeks and against the background of concerted industrial unrest in the country boils to the top of the political agenda.
- Ram, Jeep drive Chrysler to 20% gain – Automotive News: Chrysler Group’s November U.S. sales rose 20 percent to 170,839, kicking off reports from automakers on what is forecast to be a stellar month for the industry.
- Takata to comply with U.S. order to expand regional recall, Japan report says – Automotive News: Takata is preparing to comply with an order in the United States to expand a region-specific recall nationwide, Japan’s Nikkei said today, a move that’s likely to add millions more to the tally of cars called back to replace potentially deadly…
- Airbag explosion in scrapyard has Japan weighing more recalls – Automotive News: Japan’s investigation into dangerous airbags is leading to a remote scrapyard in the central Gifu prefecture, where the explosion of a car model not included in current recalls suggests automakers may have to yet again expand their safety.
- SWEDEN: New NEVS application as Mahindra rumours swirl – Just-auto: National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) says it has applied for a three month extension to its reorganisation with speculation, Indian automaker, Mahindra & Mahindra, is waiting in the wings with a bid.
- German car sales return to growth in 2014, grow further 2015 -VDA – Yahoo: Germany’s auto market will return to growth for the first time in three years in 2014 and may expand further next year, the VDA industry association said on Tuesday. New car registrations in Europe’s biggest …
- Merkel Backs Incentives in 1 Million Electric Cars Push – Yahoo:
- Nissan, Honda China car sales fall further – Via Google News: Honda also reported a 12% drop in its China sales to 72,973 cars for last … to the industry group China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
- Future of driving just around the corner – FT: Technology to transform journeys may sound like science fiction but is already being trialled
- Honda says November China auto sales down 12 percent on year – Reuters: Honda Motor Co Ltd and its two Chinese joint ventures sold 72,973 vehicles in China in November, down 12.1 percent from a year earlier, the Japanese automaker said on Tuesday.
- Chevrolet, VW brag while Kia, Dodge jam – Automotive News: 2014 is almost over, and that means it’s time for the annual car company boasting ritual.
- Govt plans to make crash tests mandatory for cars – Via Google News: India is one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world. … Earlier this year, five popular small cars did not pass crash tests conducted by…
- Oil Prices: Where’s The Bottom? – Forbes: It?s amazing how quickly attitudes change. OPEC, once cock of the walk, is now seen as helpless and hopeless, all for not implementing a minor production cut. Mere weeks ago, some were talking about $150 as a target for next year, and now a $30 prices is being bruited about
- Business Briefing: G.M. Recalls Vehicles for Headlight Problem – NY Times: General Motors is recalling 316,357 vehicles in North America because their low-beam headlights or daytime running lamps could stop working.
- India’s big car makers post higher sales – Via Google News: Some of the biggest car makers in India posted higher sales in November, brightening prospects of a revival in Asia’s third-largest automobile market this year. … Falling oil prices have also made it cheaper to own cars.
- Claims in GM ignition-switch program up slightly, another death eligible – Reuters: Claims related to a faulty ignition switch in General Motors Co vehicles rose slightly in the last week, including an additional death attributed to the defect, according to an official report on Monday.
- UAW presses Daimler at Alabama plant after NLRB victory – Reuters: The United Auto Workers union said on Monday it will press managers of the Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Alabama to respect the right of workers to discuss organizing a local union while on the factory floor.
- Government to bring in mandatory crash tests to cut road accident deaths – Via Google News: India is one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world. … The entry-level basic variants of most of the small cars don’t come equipped with…
- Car Seat Maker Graco Under Investigation for Delayed Reporting of Defect – NY Times: The defect under study is the buckle of the Graco children’s car seats, which were recalled this year.