- Volkswagen could save much more than five billion euro at core brand: labor chief – Reuters: Volkswagen ought to be able to cut costs at its troubled passenger-car brand by “substantially more” than the 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) planned by the carmaker’s top management, VW’s works council chief said.
- Ally Financial Profit Surges – Yahoo:
- British Millionaire Buys Holy Trinity of Hybrid Supercars – thedetroitbureau.com: British multi-millionaire Paul Bailey apparently just couldn’t decide on just one hybrid supercar so he bought all three of the holy trinity: McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 Spyder, and the Ferrari LaFerrari at a price tag of about $4 million.
- Harman revenue rises on strong car audio sales – Reuters: Jan 29 (Reuters) – Harman International Industries Inc , maker of JBL and Harman Kardon audio systems, reported an 18.8 percent rise in quarterly revenue as increasing auto sales led to strong demand for the company’s car infotainment products.-
- Tesla co-founder doubts electric car potential – Via Google News: Tesla co-founder doubts electric car potential … skeptical that electric vehicles have the potential to dominate the automobile business as many others…
- Oil giant Shell cuts spending by $15 billion – CNN: Royal Dutch Shell is cutting investment by $15 billion over three years, joining the ranks of energy companies who are being forced to adapt to the oil price collapse.
- Honda puts 2 on list of vehicles with lowest death rates – Yahoo:
- New Vehicle Designs Make Zero Highway Deaths a Real Possibility – thedetroitbureau.com: The highway death toll has been plunging rapidly in recent years, and a new study credits improved vehicle crash-worthiness and advanced features like forward collision warning. In fact, a record nine 2011 models had zero death rates.
- GM Declines to Extend Compensation Fund Deadline – thedetroitbureau.com: Despite the pleas of two U.S. Senators, General Motors will not extend its deadline – for a second time – for victims of the maker’s ignition-switch vehicles to file for compensation benefits. The current deadline is Jan. 31.
- ITALY: FCA sees black ink ahead – Just-auto: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles expects to turn profits in all regions this year but needs to make more in North America to fund Alfa Romeo and Maserati brand overhauls.
- Ford 4th-quarter earnings fall on Venezuela trouble – Yahoo:
- Ford Motor profit beats street, maintains 2015 profit forecast – Reuters: DETROIT, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co’s quarterlyearnings beat Wall Street earnings expectations on Thursday, and. the automaker maintained its 2015 profit forecast.
- New Jaguar F-Pace SUV spied testing – Autocar: Development work is well underway on British firm’s first crossover, which retains the look of the C-X17 concept and hints at a new cabin
- CHINA: Shanghai Volkswagen launches investigation into Sumitomo tyres – reports – Just-auto: Chinese media reports say that Shanghai Volkswagen has reportedly launched an investigation into tyres produced by Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ China plants after claims that sub-standard tyres may have been fitted to the China-made Passat.
- BRAZIL: Gloomy (non) growth forecasts abound – Just-auto: According to JATO Dymanics, Brazil remained the world’s fourth largest auto market in 2014, staying ahead of Germany by a mere 67,000 units.
- What BMW’s Super Bowl ad tells us about the gas tax – Yahoo:
- US: Ford recalls 220,000 vehicles – Just-auto: Ford is recalling around 220,000 vehicles in the US with most coming back because a door could fly open in a crash due to a handle issue.
- Increasingly empty road ahead for Russia car industry – Via Google News: Journalists visit the Moscow International Automobile Salon. … When they do buy cars, Russians have for years chosen foreign car brands over…
- Lexus RC 350’s style is distinctive – Freep: Sporty coupe raises Lexus’ curb appeal despite awkward controls.
- UK: “Bumps and dents” for some driveable Hoegh Osaka cars – Just-auto: BMW says it is waiting for the full report of its inspectors before deciding what to do with its 65 Minis and one Rolls-Royce Wraith currently on board the Hoegh Osaka docked in Southampton Port.
- BRIEF-Cortus Energy: Patent in USA for hydrogen production approved – Reuters: * Approved patent in USA for hydrogen production
- Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s Senior Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer, honoured at the International Automobile Festival in Paris – Nissan:
- China Adds 17 Million New Cars in 2014 – Via Google News: At least 17 million new cars were added on the Chinese road last year, further cementing China’s reputation as the world’s largest automobile market,…
- Hotter Ford Fiesta could be RS – Autocar: A hotter Fiesta than today’s ST model is in the pipeline, and Ford refuses to deny that it will be an RS version from its new Ford Performance division.