Please pardon the absence of the Morning News Roundup while the DailyKanban was in Shanghai at the auto show. No Google wreak havoc with any rounding up ....
Top News
- Mazda quarterly profits fall on currency losses while sales rise – Automotive News: Profits fell at Mazda in the January-March quarter, undercut by higher outlays for marketing and factory startups and foreign exchange losses, despite rising sales.
- AeroMobil – the incredible flying car – FT: But tucked in the boxes that Klein carried home from his student digs was a thesis on a flying car. Two and a half decades later, his idea could change…
- JAPAN: MMC unveils full-year net sales of US$18.2bn – Just-auto: MMC has posted full-year 2014 net sales of JPY2,180.7, (US$18.2bn), a 4% rise compared to the same period last year.
- Strong sales boost Renault shares as tensions with France simmer – Reuters: including alliance partner Nissan and … in the alliance with Nissan and fuller cooperation between the two carmakers.
- CANADA: Canadian finance aims to lure VW work for local firms – Just-auto: Export Development Canada (EDC) has announced financing of EUR400m for Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen).
- US: Gas prices slow compact sales, Ford axes a shift – Just-auto: Lower petrol prices in the United States has reduced demand so Ford is reducing output of compact and compact hybrid model by cutting a shift and laying off 700 workers.
- CHINA: Volvo to target Asia-Pacific from China – Just-auto: Volvo Cars China (VCC) will take on a leading role in the Asia-Pacific region in an effort to grow the brand’s sales.
- CHINA: Volkswagen and Great Wall may collaborate on low-cost SUVs – Just-auto: Volkswagen is considering collaborating with China’s Great Wall Motors on new entry-level models for China, according to reports in Germany.
- CHINA: Mercedes-Benz fined for price fixing – Just-auto: China’s Jiangsu provincial authorities said they fined Mercedes-Benz CNY350m (US$56.5m) for business practices with its dealers in violation of China’s anti-monopoly laws.
- Meet Project N, China’s $60000 Smart Car – WSJ: Car designer Jet Zhang sits in a sporty silver-and-black car and, with the flick of an eye, a steering wheel emerges from under the instrument…
- Mazda projects modest 3.5 pct rise in FY op profit amid forex headwinds – Reuters: Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp on Friday forecast a modest 3.5 percent rise in operating profit in the year ahead, as losses…
- CompaniesRenault shares zoom 6% ahead after sales beat – FT: Renault reported first quarter figures after the close of markets on Thursday, saying that its sales jumped to EUR9.39bn during the period from a year…
- Howes: Marchionne’s merger pot-stirring grabs attention – Detroit News: Industry’s shrewdest deal-maker enunciates what Detroit peers ignore: enormous capital demands are an increasing strain
Other news, rumors and, gossip
- General Motors: Cars software belongs to us, even if you buy this car – Pravda: Of course, lots of car companies are against this bill, including GM, which argues that all hell will break loose if people can diagnose problems in their…
- Nissan Renault outlines its driverless car journey – Techworld: Nissan Renault CEO Charles Grosn has confirmed its driverless car … Nissan and Renault’s chairman has outlined its plans to have driverless cars…
- Tesla Motors Inc: Plenty of Challenges in Near Term – Learnbonds: Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) biggest enigma is how to scale the business having already faced some strings of hurdles in the sale of already…
- Romanian Dacia, no longer a growth engine for Renault – Romania-insider: However, Dacia had a decline of 12.6% on the French market, the biggest market for Renault group, reports local Mediafax. Thus, Dacia was no…
- FAW-Toyota Ranz E50 EV launched on the Shanghai Auto Show – Carnewschina: This is the FAW-Toyota Ranz E50, a new electric vehicle unveiled in China on the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show. Ranz is a sub-brand of the FAW-Toyota…
- Guangzhou-Toyota Leahead i1 EV concept launched on the Shanghai Auto Show – Carnewschina: This is the new Guangzhou-Toyota Leahead i1, an electric concept car unveiled on the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show. Leahead is a new sub-brand under the Guangzhou-Toyota joint venture focused on making cheap electric cars for the masses. It should not be confused with ‘Ranz’, which is another similar Chinese Toyota brand.
- Ghosn reaffirms Renault-Nissan roadmap for autonomous driving – Automotiveit: Carlos Ghosn reaffirmed his commitment to have “a complete package of autonomous drive technologies” on Renault and Nissan vehicles by 2020,…
- Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf hits the Shanghai Auto Show in China – Carnewschina: The majestic Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf appeared on the Shanghai Auto Show in China, looking big and very expensive, and thus almost assured of success in the Chinese super sedan market. Production of the Lagonda Taraf is limited to 200 units worldwide, and China will get about 50 cars.
- Mazda Motor FY Profit Rises – Quick Facts – Rttnews: Mazda Motor Corp. (MZDAF.PK) reported that its net income for the fiscal year ended march 31, 2015 amounted to 158.8 billion yen, an increase of…
- Volkswagen Golf R420 confirmed for production – Paultan: In November last year, we reported that an uber Golf, dubbed the R 400, was mooted for production. Now, as understood by CAR UK, the Volkswagen…
- Volkswagen mulls budget car venture with Great Wall – Paultan: According to reports, Volkswagen is weighing the idea of cooperating with Chinese automaker Great Wall to build a new budget car. German…
- Made in Singapore: Fast-charging electric taxi launched – Channelnewsasia: The new carbon fibre-structured vehicle, purposed to function as a taxi, will … Wireless charging for the electric car is also installed, but the capability…
- Volvo prepares to send ‘Made in China’ cars to US – Yahoo:
- Startech Range Rover Pickup Truck hits the Shanghai Auto Show – Carnewschina: Meet the completely crazy Startech Range Rover Pickup Truck, unveiled in China on the Shanghai Auto Show.
- Police say Apple Watch is a mobile phone – Carsguide: The new Apple Watch threatens to create a grey area for traffic law amid … Insp Kameniar said the watch, therefore, should not be used in a vehicle…
- Alibaba drives new deal with automotive giants – Marketing-interactive: Under the terms of agreement, the two parties will develop car financing credit products to allow consumers to get credit for loans and purchase…
- Honda Touts Business Jet’s Arrival – Theledger: A HONDAJET IS DISPLAYED at a news conference at Haneda international airport Thursday in Tokyo. Honda is showing its new business jet in…
- BYD Motors could regain Long Beach Transit’s electric bus contract – Presstelegram: Workers at the BYD factory in Lancaster with one of the all electric busses under construction on Thursday, February 20, 2014. The company produces…
- Vencer Sarthe debuts at the Shanghai Auto Show in China – Carnewschina: The super speedy Vencer Sarthe supercar was launched on the Shanghai Auto Show in China, showing off its race car body, scissor doors and dazzling ‘Thursday Morning Blue’ body. The Vencer Sarthe is an old-school ‘analogue’ supercar manufactured in the great town of Vriezeveen (wiki) in Overijssel Province in the Netherlands.
- Mercedes-Benz fined $56.5m for price fixing – Ecns: Shanghai General Motors, a joint venture between General Motors Co and SAIC Motor Group that manufactures and sells Chevrolet, Buick and…
- Toyota Mirai takes to the track at RIR: irst hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle to pace a NASCAR race – Augustafreepress: nascar Toyota today announced the 2016 Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, will pace the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup…
- BMW i3’s Tires More Important Than You’d Think – BMW Blog: BMW worked with Bridgestone on development of a special tire, designed exclusively for the i3. The i3 is the only car on the market with this tire size of…
- Nissan Australia boss frustrated with uninformed politicians – Caradvice: Allowing the private importation of new or near-new cars will hardly decimate established factory-backed car distributors – but that doesn’t mean last…
- Honda Lauds Tesla, Outsiders, Says Industry Should Meet Silicon Valley Challenge – Wardsauto: Honda’s vision for future mobility includes an idea that one-ups Tesla founder Elon Musk’s hyperloop concept of a train traveling in a vacuum tube…
- ford to lay off 700 workers due to slow car sales – Saharasamay: But even during that visit, the plant was temporarily shut down to prevent overproduction of the slow-selling cars. The plant also makes electric…
- Shanghai Auto Show: Alibaba’s Big Auto Push Gains Speed With Jaguar, BMW Agreements – Forbes: Alibaba Group’s high-profile push into online auto sales and service expanded on Wednesday with agreements with BMW Mini and Jaguar Land..
- Fiscal Year Ended March 2015 Financial Results Announcement – Mazda:
- Obama chides Democrats criticizing trans-pacific trade deal: ‘I take that personally’ – Rawstory: President Barack Obama delivers remarks at an Organizing for Action summit in Washington on April 23, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Ernst for Reuters.