Top News:
- Canada’s auto industry may need to accept concessions in Pacific trade talks, prime minster says – Automotive News: Automakers with assembly plants in Canada might not be happy with some of the conditions in a proposed 12-nation Pacific trade pact, but the nation must be part of the sweeping deal, Prime Minister Harper says.
- Marchionne Promises More Money in Employee Letter – Detroit Bureau: In a letter to the employees of FCA’s Sergio Marchionne said the new tentative labor deal can put more cash in employees’ pockets. Find out how at TheDetroitBureau.com.
- US/CANADA: Tesla signs deal for lithium supply – Just-auto: Tesla Motors has signed an agreement with Pure Energy Minerals for the development of a lithium mine in Clayton Valley, Nevada.
- FRANCE/CHINA: PSA, Dongfeng to co-develop EV by 2020 – Just-auto: PSA Peugeot Citroen plans to work with Dongfeng Motor to develop an EV by 2020.
- Mercedes pickup won’t be a ‘fat cowboy truck’ – Automotive News: The Mercedes-Benz pickup that isn’t a Unimog is coming, and it’ll share some underpinnings with the Nissan NP300 Navara pickup, Automotive News…
- 2017 Toyota GT86 facelift spotted testing for the first time – Autocar: Toyota is set to give its affordable GT86 sports car a series of light cosmetic enhancements ready for the 2017 model year
- Volkswagen faces fourth quarter provision for Brazil restructuring – Deutsche – Reuters: Volkswagen has been adjusting production capacity at its plant in Taubate, Brazil, about 90 miles (150 kilometres) northeast of Sao Paulo, where it…
- What people are saying about Honda’s 2016 Civic – Automotive News: Honda says the 2016 Civic underwent ‘the most radical redesign’ since the model debuted in 1973. A look at what journalists, analysts and others are saying about the retooled sedan:
- Peugeot kills off diesel hybrid – Autocar: Diesel hybrid is not part of Peugeot’s future plans, as it concentrates on petrol-electric and plug-in hybrids Peugeot has confirmed it no longer plans to offer a diesel hybrid engine, concentrating on plug-in hybrids and petrol-electric hybrids in the future.
- European shares fall as Fed paints downbeat picture on economy – Reuters: European shares fell on Friday as the U.S Federal Reserve’s downbeat comments on the state of the global economy…
- China’s Strategy in US Car Market: Make Parts First – WSJ: Chinese auto makers haven’t made that first step in mature auto markets like the U.S. When Zhejiang Geely Automobile Co. displayed a car at the…
- GM’s recall settlement frees Barra to confront new challenges – Automotive News: Hours after GM agreed to pay $900 million to settle criminal charges related to bungled recalls, CEO Mary Barra said the crisis that has shadowed her for nearly two years was “a catalyst for meaningful change.”
- Corporate ‘siloing’ an obstacle to charging GM employees, prosecutor says – Automotive News: The chief U.S. prosecutor in Manhattan blamed gaps in federal law and “siloing” within General Motors for the failure so far to charge any individual employees who may be responsible for faulty ignition switches linked to 124 deaths.
- Tesla Asked Women What They Wanted and Came Up With Model X SUV – Bloomberg: Though women buy just 40 percent of cars in the U.S., they purchase 53 … Schwartz’s order of priorities will be familiar to many female car buyers: a third … two-thirds male,” Musk said in an interview with Bloomberg earlier this year.
- GM’s cooperation in probe key to early resolution – Detroit News: Automaker agreed to a $900 million fine, no guilty plea and a resolution in 18 months in delayed ignition switch recall
- Howes: Exoneration elusive in GM ignition-switch deal – Detroit News: Whatever the technicalities, the scandal could stand as Exhibit 1 in an unofficial indictment of corporate skulduggery.
- Canada must be part of Pacific pact, automakers might suffer: PM – Reuters: Canada and Mexico, both home to major auto plants, are angry that the … “What I say to the auto sector in particular – I am not suggesting they will…
- FCA to put $5.3B in U.S. plants; cars to move to Mexico – Detroit News: Domestic car production would move to Mexico so U.S. workers can focus on trucks, SUVs
- U.S. details $900M GM ignition settlement – Detroit News: The U.S. Attorney’s Office outlined the details of its $900 million, 3-year deferred prosecution agreement with GM