At yesterday’s shareholder conference in Yokohama, Nissan said it is already testing an electric vehicle that will provide the same range as today’s gasoline-driven cars. In front of a blue Nissan Leaf acting as a test mule for the new technology, Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn said that “in the near future,” Nissan will offer EV mobility “comparative to today’s conventional vehicles.” According to Ghosn, Nissan is testing “new materials and chemistry solutions in order to make thinner, lighter weight and less costly batteries.” [ There is more … ]
Archives for June 2015
Wednesday morning car news roundup, June 24, 2015
Top News:
- FRANCE/JAPAN: Renault-Nissan Alliance sells 250,000th EV – Just-auto: The Renault-Nissan Alliance has sold its 250,000th electric vehicle: a white Renault ZOE to a French engineer.
- Ford Outlines Plans for Autonomous Vehicles – Detroit Bureau: Ford Motor Co. is joining the growing list of manufacturers planning to put an autonomous vehicle on the road. The maker is fast-tracking its self-driving vehicle program to get a vehicle on the road in the near term.
- Toyota President Earns $10.3 Million, Surpassing Ghosn – Bloomberg: Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda became the highest-paid auto executive in Japan after dividend payouts pushed his total compensation…
- Alfa Romeo rebirth continues with new sedan – Detroit News: The unnamed Alfa Romeo sedan is a pinnacle part of Fiat Chrysler’s $6 billion plan to grow the brand globally.
- Ford Motor launching car-sharing pilot in U.S., London – Detroit News: Ford is launching a car-sharing program in six U.S. cities and London
Tesla Battery Swap: CARB’s Bridge To Nowhere
Tesla and California’s Air Resources Board are standing by the controversial “fast refueling” credits that are directing as much as hundreds of millions of dollars to the California-based electric car maker for its little-used battery swap capability. At the same time, both Tesla and CARB admit that battery swap has not shown much promise and CARB staff tell Daily Kanban that they tried to completely eliminate the credits out of concern over Tesla’s “gaming” of the system only to be overruled by board members. The tension between Tesla and CARB’s defense of ZEV credits earned by Tesla’s battery swap capability and their apparent lack of optimism about the technology going forward confirms the fundamental concerns that surfaced in Daily Kanban’s initial investigation: battery swap credits seem to have done nothing to advance the cause of ZEV adoption, Tesla appears to have gamed the credit system for huge financial gain, regulators show little interest in ending Tesla’s obvious abuse and the public remains under-informed about the entire situation.
Tuesday morning car news roundup, June 23, 2015
Top News:
- Toyota Europe’s new sales boss faces challenge to hold off surging Nissan – Automotive News: Toyota’s new European sales and marketing boss, Matt Harrison, faces the challenge of defeating Japanese rival Nissan’s goal of becoming Europe’s…
- CHINA: Hyundai starts on fifth plant – Just-auto: Hyundai Motor has broken ground for its fifth Chinese manufacturing plant – in the Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing.
- RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ lauds Decree 166 – Just-auto: AvtoVAZ is urging the Russian government to stick with its Decree 166 programme mandating local content in vehicles as the automobile market continues to struggle under intense economic pressure.
- Renault Kwid Spied Testing Again; Launch, Price and Other Details You Need to Know – Ibtimes: Renault’s small car Kwid will be making its much-awaited entry into the Indian market during the festive season this year. The car, which is currently…
- Hyundai Motor to release more SUVs in China to regain momentum – Reuters: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co on Tuesday said it began construction on its fifth plant in Chongqing, China, to regain lost momentum in the largest auto market with a new compact car and higher production of sport utility vehicles.
Nissan shareholders question executive pay, extend Ghosn’s contract by a landslide
Discussing what carmakers pay their CEO is a sacred tradition, and it is being observed without fail at every annual shareholder meeting of Nissan. Today was no exception. Nissan shareholders went home believing that management is grossly underpaid. Or maybe not. [ There is more … ]
Monday morning car news roundup, June 22, 2015
Top News:
- Bumps in Toyota’s road to diversity – Automotive News: Stumbles with two high-profile foreign executives at Toyota cast a pall over what had been a bold move forward in the internationalization of the world’s biggest automaker.
- Amidst Safety Crackdown, NHTSA Comes Under Fire – Detroit Bureau: In the wake of a series of fatal safety problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has promised to crack down on the auto industry. But NHTSA itself is expected to come under fire for its own lapses. An audit set to be released this week will warn that “Significant safety concerns (are) being overlooked,” reports TheDetroitBureau.com.
- MOROCCO: PSA plans car factory – Just-auto: PSA Peugeot Citroen has announced plans to build a EUR557m (US$630m) factory in Morocco as it seeks to Both reduce production costs and its reliance on Europe following a brush with bankruptcy.
- Honda confirms eight Takata fatality – Just-auto: Honda Motor has confirmed an eighth fatal victim of a ruptured Takata airbag inflator after completing the investigation of a September crash in Los…
- Video: The Audi RS3 gets sideways at Anglesey (promoted) – Autocar: Precision stunt-driver Mauro Calo, the Audi RS3, and the car’s designer Stephan Fahr-Becker spent a day by the sea. But not a relaxing one
Julie Hamp did not require pain medication, reports say
Today, the steady drip of leaks from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police says that Toyota’s PR chief Julie Hamp was not in any pain before she received the package of contraband painkillers. An “investigative source” told Kyodo News that Julie Hamp did not have a health condition requiring the use of painkillers. [ There is more … ]
Friday morning car news roundup, June 19, 2015
Top News:
- Toyota appeals $327 million tax bill in Thailand – Automotive News: Toyota said its Thailand subsidiary is appealing a Thai government order to pay additional taxes that the Nikkei business daily said would total more than 11 billion baht ($327 million).
- Toyoda defends ‘close friend’ Hamp after arrest – Automotive News: Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda defended his “close friend” and global communications chief Julie Hamp a day after her arrest for allegedly importing narcotic painkillers and promised the investigation will show that the company’s first upper-level female…
- Aston Martin DBX crossover – new pictures – Autocar: Aston Martin confirms production DBX is coming, with boss Andy Palmer releasing new pictures of the crossover
- Toyota President Stands by Arrested Executive – WSJ: Toyota, at a hastily scheduled news conference, declined to say whether Ms. Hamp had a prescription for oxycodone or a medical condition that would…
- BOE Says Driverless Cars May Transform Insurance as Risk Shifts – Bloomberg: Driverless cars developed by companies such as Google Inc. could transform the insurance industry if their accident-avoidance technology sparks a…
- Toyota: American exec did not intend to break Japan law – Detroit News: American executive Julie Hamp is accused of importing a controlled drug into Japan
- Toyota chief vows to stand by arrested executive – FT: Akio Toyoda, Toyota chief executive, on Friday apologised for the arrest of the company’s first female western senior executive, but vowed to stand by her for now. Julie Hamp, who was appointed the Japanese ..