Top News:
- Toyoda says sexiness is in, utility is out for Lexus vehicles – Automotive News: Lexus is entering a new phase symbolized by the LF-FC concept, pictured, an elegant fuel cell sedan, and the RC coupe launched last year.
- Tesla ends $100 flat fee service promise – Automotive News: When the sleek, electric Tesla Model S went on sale in 2012, Tesla Motors Inc. promised an unmatched customer experience, even if the car broke…
- CZECH REPUBLIC: Bernhard Maier new Skoda CEO – Just-auto: Bernhard Maier has taken over as the Skoda brand’s new CEO effective from today. He succeeds Dr Winfried Vahland, who has decided to leave the VW Group.
- Toyota, Honda May Report Higher Profits After Nissan Leads The Way For Japanese Carmakers – Ibtimes: Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., two of Japan’s big three carmakers, may report rising earnings this week, following the lead of Nissan Motor…
- Nissan says concerned about French state’s bigger say in Renault – Reuters: “The French state is having a greater say (in Renault) from the standpoint of governance. This is a big issue, and from Nissan’s stance this is a concern…
- Hyundai’s China Sales Increase for First Time in Seven Months – Bloomberg: Hyundai Motor Co.’s deliveries in China rose for the first time in seven months in October, helped by sales of its new Tucson sport utility vehicle and a…
- Nissan raises full-year profit forecast on stronger Q2 North America sales – Reuters: … trillion yen ($76.37 billion), Nissan reported, dwarfing the 9.34 billion euro ($10.30 billion) revenue for the same period at parent company Renault,…
- Dongfeng-Honda’s 2015 Plan failed and third plant construction postponed to 2017 – Automotive News: Gasgoo.com (Shanghai Nov 2)- Bad news came out in Honda’s another joint-venture branch in China the day after Guangqi-Honda’s announcement…
- Jeep Sales Keep Soaring as Shoppers Dismiss Poor Quality Ratings – Bloomberg: “Jeep reminds me of the European sports cars of the late ’50s and ’60s,” … will probably be 17.6 million, the average of 13 estimates in a Bloomberg…
- Renault Samsung Oct. sales shrink 9.3 pct. – Yonhap: Renault Samsung Motors Co., the local unit of French auto firm Renault S.A., said Monday that its October sales shrank 9.3…
- Afghan Filling Station’s $43 Million Cost to U.S. Condemned – Bloomberg: That included converting 120 Afghan vehicles to compressed natural gas so they could use the station. Sopko said converting a car costs $700 to…
- In changing times, Honda’s Hachigo says he’s open to partnerships – Automotive News: The shift in attitudes begins with an unlikely ally in General Motors, which is partnering with Honda on fuel cell technology for 2020. But Honda is also…
- Honda moves to increase diversity of supplier base – Automotive News: Early last month, gasoline trucks owned by Hightowers Petroleum Co. started refueling a Honda Motor Co. in-house service…
- Can Mazda team spin rotary vision into viable reality? – Automotive News: Mazda Motor Corp.’s racing-mad executives want a sports car to replace the iconic RX-7 and RX-8. And with the RX-Vision concept from the…
- Nissan’s Ghosn says missing margin goal carries consequences – Automotive News: Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn warns that heads could roll if the company misses his target of an 8 percent global operating profit…
- Nissan plans to load up US stores with Titans – Automotive News: Bouyed by dealer enthusiasm, Nissan wants to stock up U.S. retailers as heavily as possible with the long-awaited redesigned Titan pickup…
- Toyota to take staid taxi to new heights by 2018 – Automotive News: If you’ve ever set foot in Tokyo, you know the ubiquitous, straight-laced Toyota Crown Comfort three-box sedans that are as archetypal of Japanese…
- Subaru chief seeks to limit sales growth – Automotive News: Subaru sales keep growing. But global head Yasuyuki Yoshinaga says there is such a thing as too big. He wants to keep sales in the 1 million unit-plus range to preserve the brand’s niche appeal.
- Japan Inc.’s 2020 vision: Self-driving cars on the road – Automotive News: Japan’s big automakers, long known for their fondness for automation, finally are ready to make a big push into self-driving cars. Honda, Nissan and Toyota used the stage at last week’s Tokyo Motor Show to outline their next steps.
- GM’s ‘told ya so’ small pickups – Automotive News: GM was estimated to have sold 95,000 Chevrolet Colorados and GMC Canyons this year through October, surpassing experts’ full-year sales estimates in just 10 months.
- AutoNation will be biggest FCA retailer – Automotive News: When its latest acquisition is complete early next year, AutoNation Inc. will become the largest retailer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles vehicles in the U.S.
- Pickup-based Ram SUV is a ‘no-brainer’ for FCA chief – Automotive News: Fiat Chrysler is studying whether to produce a new full-sized SUV based on the Ram pickup. The vehicle is possible because the Ram 1500 is moving to a larger, more modern plant.
- Mitsubishi plans to add small crossover in U.S. – Automotive News: Mitsubishi, aiming to continue its double-digit sales growth in the U.S., plans to add a five-seat small crossover to its lineup, slotted between the midsize Outlander and compact Outlander Sport, the automaker’s CEO said.
- Nissan plans to load up U.S. stores with Titans – Automotive News: Nissan’s U.S. dealers are pushing for more new Titans. In response, the automaker is delaying the pickup’s Canadian-market launch and diverting those vehicles to the U.S.
- Honda’s exotic powertrain tech – Automotive News: Honda is readying a number of exotic powertrain technologies: from a new generation of plug-in hybrids and ultra-lean burning engines, to 10-speed transmissions and hydrogen fuel cells.