Note: Ed and Bertel are traveling in Europe. The morning news may arrive later, or not at all. Your indulgence is appreciated.
Top News:
- Skoda electric SUV under development – Autocar: Skoda’s first electric model is planned for launch in 2020, based on Volkswagen’s new MEB electric vehicle platform
- A Tesla bull, citing risk from SolarCity deal, cuts outlook on EV maker – Automotive News: Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas, one of the most bullish analysts on Tesla Motors, joined the ranks of those who have panned Elon Musk’s $2.86 billion proposal to combine the automaker with solar-panel provider SolarCity.
- The Fiat 124 Spider: Now, That’s Not Italian – WSJ: Second, this new Fiat 124 Spider, this Mazda with Italian chest hair pasted to it, is less than fantastic, styling-wise. And not because Fiat is invoking the…
- Volkswagen kills Jetta Hybrid citing low demand – Just-auto: A spokesman for Volkswagen of America has told just-auto that the Jetta Hybrid is being discontinued. The car was built at Puebla in Mexico, mainly for the US market.
- Safety group head calls for ‘drugged driving’ standards, tests – Automotive News: As more states legalize marijuana, states need a standard test for driving under the influence of that drug, to match the tests they have for driving under the influence of alcohol, said the head of the National Safety Council.
- VW Said to Pay Diesel Owners Up to $7000, Fund Clean-Air Grants – Bloomberg: Volkswagen AG will pay owners of its polluting diesel cars up to $7,000, and agree to fund a grant program to offset air pollution, under a $10 billion…
- August 5th Options Now Available For Tesla Motors (TSLA) – Forbes: Investors in Tesla Motors Inc (NASD: TSLA) saw new options begin trading today, for the August 5th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our…
- Venezuela Said to Look to Dollarization to Save Auto Industry – Bloomberg: Fiat-Chrysler is said to have inked an agreement with the government last week for the sale and production of vehicles in dollars, according to people…
- Mitsubishi Expecting Major Profit Hit from Mileage Scandal – Detroit Bureau: Slammed over false fuel economy numbers, Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors is anticipating a sharp financial hit for the current fiscal year, as much as $1.4 billion. Find out more at TheDetroitBureau.com.
- 2018 BMW 3 Series tests on the Nurburgring – Autocar: The G20 generation of BMW’s mid-size saloon has been spotted testing on track and European roads
- Fiat Chrysler recalls 13000 Maserati cars for rollaway issue – Reuters: The new recall covers 2014 Maserati cars with an eight-speed transmission. The company didn’t immediately respond to questions about whether the …
- Vinasun adds Vcar app to compete with Grab, Uber – Nikkei:
- Tesla takes its place in history at the 2016 Festival of Speed – Autocar: One stand is busier than any other at Goodwood today – and it belongs to a firm with next to no history or heritage
- BRIEF-Avtovaz shareholders don’t agree RUB 20 bln loan from Renault due to lack of quorum … – Reuters: Avtovaz shareholders did not approve 20 billion rouble ($312.26 million) loan from Renault due to lack of quorum – Russian news agencies cite …
- Mercedes to launch all-electric brand to rival BMW i this year – Autocar: Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo concept
- Renault Twingo GT revealed at Goodwood Festival of Speed – Autocar: The hottest version of Renault’s rear-engined city car sends 108bhp to its rear wheels; a Renault Sport-fettled chassis should make it more agile
- Elon Musk Just Lost His Biggest Fan on Wall Street – Bloomberg: Adam Jonas, who’d had an overweight rating on shares of the electric vehicle company since September 2012, is lowering the stock to equal weight…
- Nissan ‘on track to deliver further growth in fiscal 2016’ – Just-auto: Nissan Motor chief competitive officer Hiroto Saikawa told the annual general meeting in the company’s home city of Yokohama, Japan, the automaker…