Top News:
- Honda debuts upgraded 2-motor hybrid system – Automotive News: Honda has tweaked its hybrid system for large vehicles to deliver better power and fuel economy. The improvements debuted in a hybrid Odyssey minivan and build on the two-motor system currently deployed in the Accord Hybrid.
- AvtoVAZ alliance to aid supplier issues – analyst – Just-auto: Moscow analysts maintain AvtoVAZ’s involvement with the Renault-Nissan alliance will see it far less vulnerable to supply chain fluctuations as the Russian automaker looks to bounce back from disappointing recent results with a raft of new models and cost initiatives.
- Mexico Levies Penalties on Volkswagen – Detroit Bureau: Mexican authorities have cracked down on Volkswagen AG, dishing out nearly $9 million in fines for environmental certification issues.For more, go to TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Toyota tops Interbrand Japan rankings – Just-auto: Toyota has come out on top as Japan’s most valuable global brand for the eighth year in a row according to a list compiled by US consultancy Interbrand.
- Yahoo Junking Its Autos Website – Detroit Bureau: Yahoo announced yesterday it would eliminate its online magazines, including Yahoo Autos. The auto site’s last day is April 29.
- Ford develops ‘pothole mitigation technology’ – Just-auto: It sounds like an early April Fools Day joke press release but Ford has announced it has, seriously, developed ‘continuous control damping with pothole mitigation technology’ and it will soon be available firstin the US.
- Aston Martin signs MoU for EV by 2018 – Just-auto: China-based tech company LeEco and Aston Martin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the creation of a partnership that will develop a production version of the Aston Martin RapidE electric vehicle concept by 2018.
- Bentley considering all-electric model – Autocar: The Bentley board is weighing up offering an all-electric car but has confirmed the Bentayga SUV will get a plug-in hybrid option from 2018
- GKN demonstrates electric torque vectoring tech – Just-auto: GKN says automakers are test-driving its new torque-vectoring electric drive system that it claims will make hybrid vehicles more efficient and dynamic.
- Lexus details LC 500’s sporty hybrid drivetrain – Automotive News: Lexus is upgrading its hybrid drivetrain lineup with a new-generation system that adds a 4-speed automatic transmission and semi-manual…
- GM Powertrain renames to Global Propulsion Systems – Just-auto: General Motors is to rename its Powertrain division to GM Global Propulsion Systems.
- Facelifted Peugeot 2008 revealed – Autocar: Updated version of Peugeot’s compact crossover will go on sale this summer; it gains styling upgrades inside and out
- Lexus LC500h hybrid to go on sale in 2017 – Autocar: Lexus will show a hybrid version of its LC luxury coupe at next month’s Geneva motor show; the model is already earmarked for production in 2017
- Benz wins January sales champion again, lagging behind BMW for only several hundred units in … – Automotive News: BMW sells 43,400 units in China in January, increasing 8.4%, the largest growth in fourth months. In the meantime, Benz sells 42,700, increasing 52%…
- Geely’s Volvo sees record sales, higher earnings in 2016 – Reuters: STOCKHOLM, Feb 18 Volvo Car Group forecast record sales and higher profit this year, after strong demand for its cars in Europe and the United…
- Volvo Cars 2015 Profit Triples as XC90 SUV Exceeds Targets – Bloomberg: Volvo Car Group said earnings tripled last year after higher-than-expected sales of the revamped XC90 sport utility vehicle helped push deliveries…
- BMW Defends Its U.S. Sales Crown by Paying Dealers to Buy Loaners – Bloomberg: But BMW has been unusually assertive, according to people familiar with the matter — so much so, in fact, that it might have lost No. 1 bragging rights…
- Toyota Motor to Recall 2.87 Million Vehicles World-Wide Over Seatbelt Glitch – WSJ: In North America, Toyota is recalling 1.3 million vehicles including certain RAV4 crossover SUVs made between July 2005 and August 2014. It is also…
- Rising diesel demand in South Korea puts brakes on exports – Reuters: Appetite boosted by growing sales of diesel cars. * Means 2016 diesel exports likely to drop. * Good news for regional refiners battling diesel surplus.
- Hyundai Motor to unveil Ioniq Electric in June – Yonhap: South Korea’s top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. said Thursday that it will launch the Ioniq Electric, a pure electric vehicle…
- CompaniesToyota shares lose steam after announcing recall – FT: Toyota has announced its a recall of almost 2.9m sports utility vehicles owing to seats belts in the vehicle separating in the event of a crash.
