Friday morning car news roundup, June 26, 2015
Top News:
- Takata Studying Possibility of Victims’ Compensation Fund: CEO – WSJ: The chief executive of Takata, the Japanese maker of air bags linked to at least eight deaths world-wide, said the company is studying the possibility of a compensation fund.
- 2016 Ford Focus RS – 345bhp power output confirmed – Autocar: The Focus RS will receive its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Third-generation all-wheel-drive Ford Focus RS will powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine producing 345bhp, and has been co-developed with racing driver Ken Block
- After rival Uber, China taxi app Didi Kuaidi showcases gains to investors – Reuters: … that values the company at $15 billion, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. … Didi Kuaidi said it has three million private car requests a day.
- Suzuki Says Four-Year Effort to End VW Pact Is Coming to an End – Bloomberg: Suzuki Motor Corp.’s four-year effort to end a failed partnership with Volkswagen AG is reaching an end, though the outcome remains uncertain.
- Suzuki Says VW Stake-Dispute Arbitration Proceedings Have Ended – Bloomberg: The goal was to cooperate on small, fuel-efficient cars for emerging markets. Relations soured over the next two years after each side accused the…
- JAPAN: Honda restates 2014/15 results due to Takata costs – Just-auto: Honda Motor on Friday (26 June) restated its financial results for the fiscal year to 31 March, 2015 to account for additional costs to cover an expanded recall of cars equipped with Takata airbag parts.
- Apple will have share of autonomous car market says co-founder Steve Wozniak – Ibtimes: It makes sense for Apple to enter the autonomous car market, claims company co-founder Steve Wozniak. The 64-year-old computer engineer also…
- French government files legal complaint against UberPOP – Reuters: On Thursday Cazeneuve ordered Paris police to issue a decree banning UberPOP and said cars defying the order would be seized. Uber France…
- Aston Martin collaborates with ad giant WPP – Automotive News: Aston Martin is collaborating with advertising giant WPP on the automaker’s global marketing communications in a step toward a formal working partnership next year, the British luxury automaker said today.
- We Want to Improve Technology for Electric Cars: Agag – Bloomberg: … Alejandro Agag discusses Formula E, the challenges he faces and the future of the sport. He speaks to Bloomberg’s Mark Barton on “Countdown.
- Stirling Moss Vintage Porsche Racer Within Reach, for $3 Million – Bloomberg: “It’s one of the star cars,” says Knight, standing in the Bonhams marquee at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. “He absolutely loved the car…
- Takata CEO compensation more than halves last financial year: filing – Reuters: Takata Corp Chief Executive Shigehisa Takada earned less than 100 million yen ($810,373) in the business year ended in March, or less than half of the 206 million yen ($1.67 million) he took home in the previous year, a regulatory filing showed on Friday.
- Hollande Calls Uber’s Ride-Hailing Service Illegal Amid Protests – Bloomberg: Photographer Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg … But we live by the rule of law and the state won’t seize the cars itself, it must be authorized to do so by a…
- Toyota’s Latest Virtual Crash Dummy Software Can Model Occupant Posture before Collisions – @ToyotaMotorCorp: Studies show that roughly half of drivers take defensive action (such as sudden braking or steering) to avoid collisions, with vehicle occupants commonly bracing themselves at the same time. Occupant posture-whether braced or relaxed-has a significant effect on body movement during a collision.
- Japan, US can reach agreement for July pan-Pacific trade deal: Japan official – Reuters: … Japan’s market for farm products including rice and the U.S. market for auto parts are among remaining bilateral issues, the official said told Reuters.
- 2 rival self-driving cars have close call in California – Automotive News: Two self-driving prototype cars, one operated by Google and the other by Delphi Automotive, had a close call on a Silicon Valley street earlier this week, a Delphi executive said.
- Sun Yat-sen’s Great Grandson Said to Join LG Scion in Fund – Bloomberg: The great-grandson of modern China’s first president is working with a member of the family behind South Korea’s LG Group to raise money for…