- Tesla says China unit head Wu resigns – Reuters: U.S. electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc said on Friday its China president, Veronica Wu, has resigned, without giving a reason for her departure.
- Tesla’s China president resigns after less than 9 months in post – Automotive News: Tesla Motors said its top manager in China is leaving the company after less than nine months in the position.
- BELGIUM: Ford union vows to block “even a screwdriver” leaving Genk – Just-auto: Socialist union ABVV, says it will do everything its power to stop “even a screwdriver” leaving Ford’s Genk factory in Belgium, as news emerges of talks between the automaker and Punch Metals imploding.
- Ford Adds Former FCC Chairman Kennard to Board – Yahoo:
- Infiniti Teases Q60 Coupe Concept – thedetroitbureau.com: Despite a few classic show car details, like the microscopic sideview mirrors, we’re likely to be seeing the new Infiniti Q60 Concept again in the not too distant future as the planned replacement for the Japanese maker’s current two-door line.
- Car sales surge as Russians look to shield savings from crisis – Via Google News: After dropping by at least 10 percent in October 2014, car sales in Russia were back at … Experts attribute the sudden desire to buy cars to the falling ruble. … of the AEB’s Automobile Manufacturers Committee Joerg Schreiber said.
- Falling Oil Prices Push Venezuela Deeper Into China’s Orbit – Yahoo:
- Chrysler to add 179,000 vehicles to air bag recall – Freep: The automaker are acting after demands from U.S. safety regulator who say the air bags could explode with too much force.
- RUSSIA: Consumers flock to durable goods as rouble falls – Just-auto: Parts of the Russian market are disposing of their income through the purchase of goods in order to preserve financial value as the rouble comes under increasing pressure.
- Ford dumps Microsoft for Blackberry – CNN: Ford upgrades Sync system that spanned customer complaints, replacing Microsoft operating system with one from Blackberry.
- Rules rather than consumers drive fuel-efficiency gains – Yahoo: [at Financial Times] – When the annual North American International Auto Show starts next month in Detroit, the effect of falling fuel prices will dominate conversation. But executives presenting new models will still be touting …
- Cheap fuel powers big car sales in US – FT: Demand for SUVs and pick-up trucks surges but fuel economy worries take the back seat
- NYC & Chicago mull Uber-like taxi apps – CNN: Uber and Lyft could be getting some fresh competition from Chi-town, the Big Apple.
- Aston Martin raising £150m for new models – FT: UK-based carmaker plans sport utility vehicle in bid to redefine the luxury 4×4 market
- THAILAND: Volvo starts shipping UD brand trucks to South Africa – Just-auto: Volvo has started shipping UD brand trucks to South Africa from Thailand.
- SWITZERLAND: Nissan’s Europe sales reach 60,155 units in November – Just-auto: Nissan has announced European sales for November of 60,155 units, for a market share of 4.1%.
- SOUTH KOREA: Chrysler to launch Jeep Renegade in H2/2015 – Just-auto: Chrysler will launch its new Jeep Renegade in South Korea in the second half of 2015.
- Renault working on basic small hatchback concept – Autocar: Renault has created a secret concept that points to the future of its small car range, but it is unlikely ever to make it out of Renault’s innovation centre in Paris. Renault is working on a basic supermini in the same vein as the likes of the Citroën C4 Cactus.The concept car is called the ‘Value Up’ and adopts a similar cost-saving approach to the new SUV-like Cactus, aiming to be lightweight, efficient and cheaper to produce.It is built on a new platform, which is set to underpin Renault’s future small cars. At 3.8m long, the concept would sit between the Twingo and the Clio in the range.
