- Hyundai recalls 42,925 sedans in U.S. for possible brake light issue – Reuters: Hyundai Motor Co is recalling 42,925 sedans in the United States due to potentially faulty brake lights, according to documents filed with U.S. safety regulators.
- VW’s Audi says November sales up 11 percent to record 146,250 cars – Reuters: Audi increased sales of luxury cars 11 percent in November to 146,250 vehicles, its best-ever result for that month, bolstered by double-digit growth in the United States and China.
- Honda widens airbag safety probe globally – FT: About 13m vehicles to be recalled over concerns about Takata product
- BMW C.E.O. Norbert Reithofer to Step Down Earlier Than Expected – NY Times: The German carmaker said Mr. Reithofer would step down as chief executive in May and would be replaced by Harald Krüger, the head of production.
- RUSSIA: Volatile market and scrappage ease alarming decline – Just-auto: Exchange rate depreciation concerns and scrappage are driving Russian consumers to speed up purchases of new cars as political uncertainty combined with the threat of sanctions, contributes to the volatile market.
- UPDATE 1-Mazda says US recalls over Takata air bags to be expanded nationwide – Reuters: Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp will soon expand a recall of vehicles in the United States involving potentially defective air bags from Takata Corp , it said on Tuesday.
- Lincoln Intent on Growth in China – Wards: Even though Lincoln is just getting started there, the brand has something many premium makers lack: a rich history of celebrities and American presidents as customers. Still, the brand president says sales in China will not rival Audi anytime soon.
- Tesla stock tumbles as low fuel prices raise concerns over EV demand – Automotive News: Tesla shares have dropped 14 percent in seven trading days on growing concern that the cheapest gasoline in more than four years will dampen consumer enthusiasm for the company’s luxury electric cars.
- Mazda says US recalls over Takata air bags to be expanded nationwide – Reuters: Mazda Motor Corp will soon expand a recall of vehicles in the United States involving potentially defective air bags by Takata Corp, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
- U.S. judge stalls Takata class action as jurisdiction gets decided – Automotive News: Consumers can’t immediately pursue a lawsuit against Takata and multiple carmakers claiming loss of vehicle value tied to airbag recalls while awaiting a decision that would combine more than 50 cases before one judge.
- German carmakers unveil surprise changes in top management – Reuters: In a surprise move, BMW said on Tuesday its long-time chief executive Norbert Reithofer would step down in May, one year early, and hand the reins of the Munich-based luxury carmaker to 49-year-old production chief Harald Krueger.
- SEAT’s Russian Exit Not Slowing Spain Plant’s Output – Wards: SEAT union officials hope to make up the capacity shortfall at Martorell by landing both a smaller version of an upcoming CUV awarded to a Czech Republic plant and the new Audi A1 now being assembled in Brussels.
- Honda planning worldwide recall for Takata airbags, Ito says – Automotive News: Honda President Takanobu Ito said his company is planning to launch a worldwide investigative airbag recall, just days after extending a similar callback in the United States.
- GERMANY: Production chief Krueger to replace Reithofer as BMW chairman – Just-auto: BMW said on Tuesday management board chairman Norbert Reithofer would move to chair the supervisory board while production chief Harald Krueger would become CEO and management board chairman.
- Volkswagen Poaches BMW Executive – WSJ: Volkswagen has poached a senior BMW executive in a reshuffle of senior management aimed at bolstering the German car
- BMW research and development boss moves to Volkswagen – Autocar: Incumbent BMW R&D boss, Herbert Diess, to head up Volkswagen passenger car brand operations from October 2015. Volkswagen has announced the appointment of Herbert Diess to its board of management, where he will assume a new function as chairman of the Volkswagen passenger car brand.It’s a function previously overseen by Volkswagen Group chairman Martin Winterkorn.
- BMW Appoints New Chief Executive – WSJ: BMW has shaken up its management and supervisory boards, appointing a new chief executive and management board member, while the German car maker’s current CEO is moving to lead the supervisory board.
- Car Shopping Frenzy: Russians Invests in Porsches, Audis to Maintain Personal Wealth vs Falling … – Via Google News: Russians are going car shopping frenzy these days, purchasing every grand automobile brand — Porsche, Audi, Lexus and Mercedes available on the…
- BMW names Krueger as new CEO; Reithofer to be chairman – Automotive News: BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer will step down from his post and be replaced by Harald Krueger, the company’s 49-year-old production chief. Reithofer is slated to succeed Joachim Milberg as chairman of the company’s supervisory board, BMW said.
- SINGAPORE: Electric car sharing trials planned – Just-auto: Singapore has invited electric car manufacturers worldwide to take part in a trial of a major electric-car sharing scheme scheduled to start in early 2016.
- Tesla’s stock forms bearish head-and-shoulders pattern as 200-day MA turns down – Yahoo:
- Testing of next-gen Mercedes-Benz E-class gets underway – Autocar: German manufacturer starts work on the fifth-generation of its executive car in preparation for an anticipated launch in mid-2016. The next-generation Mercedes-Benz E-class has been spied testing on public roads once again, with the latest pictures giving a glimpse at the interior of the car.
- China Internet Company to Build Electric Cars to Fight Pollution – Via Google News: ‘The automobile industry is facing a revolution in the era of mobile … China is lagging behind its own target for putting eco-friendly cars on the road…
- Honda, Mini offer videos for young parents, canine lovers – Automotive News: Which one of these stars in our newest viral videos appeals to you?
- Honda to expand investigative air bag recall globally – Reuters: TOKYO (Reuters) – Honda Motor said it will expand an ‘investigative’ recall to replace potentially lethal Takata Corp air bag inflators across the globe, taking the total Takata-related recall tally of all brands to more than 19 million since 2008.
- Lender group says CFPB rule would burden smaller players – Automotive News: In seeking to extend its jurisdiction over ‘nonbank’ auto lenders — including captive finance companies and independent finance companies — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is reaching for lenders that are too small, the…
- FG, Japan Partner on Recycling Initiatives for Auto Industry – Via Google News: ?For each new car in Nigeria, we have 20 used cars. … to develop curriculum along value chain on automobile for higher institutions in the country.
- Japan industry min: Up to Takata, automakers to handle air bag recall – Reuters: TOKYO, Dec 9 (Reuters) – Japan’s industry minister said on Tuesday it was up to automakers and supplier Takata Corp to handle a ballooning safety crisis that has led to the global recall of over 19 million vehicles equipped with Takata’s air bags.
- Honda to expand investigative recall of Takata-made air bags globally -source – Reuters: TOKYO, Dec 9 (Reuters) – Honda Motor Co will expand an investigative recall of vehicles with air bag inflators made by Takata Corp globally, a person familiar with the matter said.
- UAW gains partial recognition at VW plant in Tenn. – Automotive News: The UAW gained a partial and unconventional recognition from Volkswagen AG after proving to the company that it represents at least 45 percent of workers at the company’s plant in Tennessee, the union and a company spokesman said Monday.
- All-new Jaguar XF to arrive in 2015 – Autocar: Jaguar’s new XF features lightweight aluminium platform and XE-like styling, and will feature sportier handling. The all-new Jaguar XF will be unveiled at the New York motor show next April, before going on sale in the early autumn, as Jaguar seeks to accelerate its new model launches and capitalise on the sales momentum generated by the smaller XE.With the XE expected to more than double Jaguar’s global sales next year to about 160,000 units, the firm is keen to roll out new models and build a range of cars that sit together to offer a more cohesive line-up.