Top News:
- Startup company Zoox gets OK to test self-driving cars in Calif. – Automotive News: Zoox, a relatively unknown startup with the goal of building fully autonomous vehicles, was granted permission by California to test self-driving cars on public roads in the state.
- Volkswagen Committed to Launching Two New SUVs in U.S. – WSJ: Volkswagen dealers in the U.S. said Tuesday that the German car maker has committed to launching at least two new sport-utility vehicles for American consumers.
- Mercedes-Benz GLC Cabriolet under consideration – Autocar: A drop-top Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV is being discussed by top Mercedes-Benz engineers, to rival the Range Rover Evoque Convertible
- S. Korea again rejects Volkswagen’s recall plan – Yonhap: South Korea’s environment ministry said Wednesday that it has again rejected Volkswagen’s plan to recall its vehicles…
- Nissan boosting European Qashqai capacity – Just-auto: Nissan Europe on Wednesday said it would increase Qashqai capacity at its Sunderland, north-east England factory and “further enhance its position…
- Russia won’t ‘boss’ auto sector – Deputy Industry Minister – Just-auto: Senior Russian politicians say they are not going to start “bossing” the domestic automotive sector around as debate swirls as to whether or not Moscow should do more to boost the industry.
- China’s Changan Auto to Send Driverless Car on 1200-Mile Test – Bloomberg: Changan Automobile Group, Ford Motor Co.’s partner in China, plans to send a self-driving test car on a 1,200-mile road trip next month, underscoring…
- Renault-Nissan’s plant in Chennai to operate 24 hours a day to meet demands for Kwid – Ibtimes: The arrival of the third car from Nissan’s low cost brand Datsun adds to the burden. The new car is expected to be redi-Go and the launch is likely in…
- ANALYSIS – 2016 Infiniti Q50 range – Just-auto: In a fresh bid to enliven sales of the Q50 range, Infiniti has given this C-Class sized sedan new turbocharged V6 engines, including a 400hp unit.
- Uber Sues Ola Claiming Fake Bookings as India Fight Escalates – Bloomberg: … Uber has faced major setbacks including the recent incidents of Uber vehicles being seized by government authorities,” Ola said in its statement.
- China’s Urban Consumers More Optimistic Even Amid Slowing Growth – Bloomberg: Khan also cited strength in car sales, retail sales, rail travel, international travel, as well as surging sales of movie tickets and Apple iPhones. Extremely…
- 2016 New York Preview: The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth is what the company … – Egmcartech: When Fiat introduced the Mazda MX-5 Miata-based 124 Spider at the 2015 Los Angeles International Auto Show, it received mixed reviews.
- Jaguar Brings Back the 1957 XKSS – Detroit Bureau: Nearly 60 years after a fire nearly destroyed Jaguar and ended plans for building nine early supercars, the British maker is bringing back the legendary XKSS — for a “severe” $1.4 million. From the NY Auto Show, TheDetroitBureau.com has the story.
- Subaru Looking to Impress with New Impreza – Detroit Bureau: Subaru is planning to launch an all-wheel-drive replacement for the Impreza, the company’s popular, five-door compact sedan. Get a look at TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Carmakers drive northern Morocco’s manufacturing industry – FT: A special train takes cars assembled in Renault’s factory in northern Morocco to Tanger-Med port, half an hour away. It is then a short trip on a car…
- GM to Use External Reports to Strengthen Cybersecurity – WSJ: General Motors has received “three dozen or so” external reports of potential information-security vulnerabilities in its vehicles as part of a new cyberdisclosure program.
- Big Corn finds unlikely allies in US biofuel push: carmakers and drivers – Reuters: Reuters’ analysis of vehicle sales and government data shows that almost a fifth of the vehicles on U.S. roads can safely handle E-15 fuel, a gasoline …
- Mazda Miata Fastback: Mazda’s Elegant, Refined Convertible Hardtop – Forbes: The last-generation Mazda Miata offered a retractable hardtop, but when up it looked like an old school detachable hardtop from the 1960s, the sort…
- Jeep Expands Grand Cherokee Offerings – Detroit Bureau: Jeep continues to mine the Grand Cherokee line-up for more gold with two new editions for 2017: the Trailhawk and the Summit. Details at TheDetroitBureau.com.
- Lincoln aims for anti-Cadillac style with Navigator concept – Automotive News: After overhauling the core of its lineup, Lincoln is remaking its biggest vehicle, the Navigator, into a more understated, serene alternative to the high-flying Cadillac Escalade.
- Grand Cherokee gets the Trailhawk treatment – Detroitnews: Fiat Chrysler is to unveil the off-road 2017 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and a refined Summit luxury model of the full-size SUV today at the New York…