- JAPAN: Industry ministry summons Takata chief – report – Just-auto: Japan’s industry ministry has summoned Takata chairman and CEO Shigehisa Takada to explain what the company is doing to resolve a crisis over potentially deadly air bags, two informed sources have told the Reuters news agency.
- Daimler to pick Mercedes sales chief for management board role: report – Reuters: Daimler plans to appoint Mercedes sales chief Ola Kaellenius to its management board as the German carmaker lines up potential candidates to succeed chief executive Dieter Zetsche, Bilanz magazine reported on Wednesday.
- BELGIUM: Ford “committed” to finding Genk future as Punch rumours continue – Just-auto: Ford says it remains committed to finding a viable future for the Genk site in Eastern Belgium, slated to close in two weeks as part of the US manufacturer’s European restructuring plan.
- Takata Mexico airbag plant inspection finds safety shortcomings – Automotive News: Takata, the airbag supplier at the center of a recall crisis, was told by Mexico’s government to take 171 measures to improve health and safety at a plant tasked with making millions of replacement air bags.
- Australia to Follow UN Rules on Vehicle Standards – Wards: The first two regulations in the reform program are UN guidelines on front fog lamps and rear-vision devices.
- Takata poised for clash in Congress after rejecting U.S. recall – Automotive News: Airbag supplier Takata’s rejection of demands to recall vehicles across the United States sets the stage for a confrontation with members of Congress critical of its response to potentially deadly defects.
- Toyota Foundation to Recruit Women Into Tech World – Wards: The foundation will draw upon female tech workers’ experiences to promote the rewards of such careers to high school students thinking about what university course to follow.
- U.S. House panel considers airbag defect – Freep: Subcommittee looks at Takata air bags even as company promises indepedent audit.
- GM says Opel minicar will cost less than $12,300 – Automotive News: General Motors said Opel will launch its entry-level Karl minicar next summer at a starting price of less than 10,000 euros ($12,300) in Germany. Opel today released pictures and details of the Karl.
- Mustang Ponies Up – Regains Lead Over Camaro – thedetroitbureau.com: The all-new Ford Mustang is back in full gallop, and has corralled its long-time rival, the Chevrolet Camaro. After five years lagging its Chevy rival, the all-new Mustang outsold Camaro 2-1 last month and Ford is hoping to widen the gap going forward.
- Takata Poised for Clash After Snubbing U.S. Recall – Yahoo:
- Takata balks at US-wide airbag recall – FT: Japanese airbag maker’s response ‘disappointing’, says US traffic agency
- GM China Wuling Car Sales Fall for Second Straight Month – Via Google News: Total sales of passenger and commercial vehicles this year will likely be about 23 million units, the state-backed China Association of Automobile…
- China Dealers Ask BMW to Hit Brakes on Sales Targets – Via Google News: ?Many dealers are buying many more cars than consumers want,? said Li Jinyong, president of Pangda Automobile Trade Group Co., China’s…
- Toyota to Cut 2,600 Jobs in Australia – WSJ: Toyota Motor Corp. said it would lay off 2,600 workers in Australia, as the Japanese auto giant moves forward on plans to stop producing cars in the country by 2018.
- GM says November China auto sales up 5.3 percent year-on-year – Reuters: General Motors Co and its Chinese joint ventures sold 310,094 vehicles in China in November, up 5.3 percent from the same month a year earlier, the U.S. automaker said on Wednesday.
- Gas Approaching $2 Could Help U.S. December Car Sales – Yahoo:
- Takata poised to defy U.S. regulators over exploding airbags – Yahoo:
- Vietnam transport minister asks to regularize Uber – Via Google News: He also asked to ?strengthen crackdowns on car drivers that charge passengers but do not comply with automobile transport regulations,? according to…
- U.S. auto regulator calls Takata response to nationwide recall order “disappointing” – Reuters: U.S. auto regulators called Takata Corp’s response to its demand for a nationwide recall “disappointing” after its chief executive stopped short of admitting a defect in its air bags and left the decision for a recall up to automakers.
- Nader: Keystone XL Is Boondoggle & Environmental Disaster – Yahoo:
- Black Friday Deals and Low Interest Rates Increase November Auto Sales – NY Times: The manufacturers estimated sales of 1.3 million vehicles in November, and were on pace to turn in their best annual performance since 2007.
- Honda’s finance arm to be charged with fair lending violations – Reuters: American Honda Finance Corp, the U.S. lending arm of carmaker Honda Motor Co Ltd, said on Tuesday that American law enforcement agencies are preparing to charge the finance company with discriminatory pricing of loans made through auto dealerships.
- Dow Industrials Climb Higher on News of Strong Sales at G.M. – NY Times: After losses a day earlier, the stock market moved higher, with deal reports and solid earnings from General Motors buoying investors.
- New Vauxhall Viva revealed ahead of spring 2015 launch – Autocar: Set to go on sale in the UK next spring, Vauxhall’s all-new five-door entry-level Viva will cost around £7500. Vauxhall’s new Viva city car is claimed to be “full of character” and is likely to be priced from about £7500 when it goes on sale next Spring.It will come in a five-door body style with one engine option.The 3.68m-long Viva is said by Vauxhall parent GM to provide “more than enough room for five people”.