Top News:
- Carmakers eye more UK suppliers to handle hard Brexit – Reuters: * McLaren ready to source more UK components if there are tariffs
- Skoda will lead VW, Tata cooperation in India – Automotive News: By teaming up with Tata Motors, Volkswagen could plug a gap in its strategy. The maker of VW, Audi and Porsche cars has struggled for years to…
- Skoda and Tata Motors Indian product range to launch in 2019 – Autocar: The joint venture will allow Volkswagen Group and Skoda to make a bigger impact in the Indian market and save Tata Motors money in developing a new platform
- Volkswagen, Tata Motors plan to cooperate in India – Reuters: German carmaker Volkswagen said on Friday it had signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a partnership with India’s Tata Motors to jointly develop auto components and vehicles for the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
- Tamo Racemo revealed as new Mazda MX-5 rival – Autocar: ‘India’s first connected car’ uses a 190bhp turbocharged engine; it comes from Tata sub-brand
- Electric vehicles won’t depose stainless in nickel demand dynamics – Reuters: … However, out of 89 million cars sold last year roughly one percent or only about …
- Hong Kong Uber drivers found guilty of illegal car hire, latest blow to firm – Reuters: A Hong Kong court on Friday found five Uber drivers guilty of illegally offering ride-hailing services, the latest clamp down against Uber Technologies Inc’s [UBER.UL] operations in Asia and a rare case where drivers have been found criminally liable.
- Aston Martin plots mid-engined 488 rival for 2021 launch – Autocar: Set to take on the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren 720S, the supercar will follow in the footsteps of the mid-engined Valkyrie hypercar
- Volkswagen, Tata Motors Target Strategic Indian Car Alliance – Bloomberg: … Volkswagen AG plans to team up with Tata Motors Ltd. on joint projects in India, … Tata and the European carmaker’s Skoda division will initially work together on … The maker of VW, Audi and Porsche cars has struggled for years to create…
- Station Wagons Are Back to Cure SUV Fatigue – Bloomberg: The Porsche stand, a mecca for sports-car fiends, was crammed with its new hatchback Panamera Sport Turismo, which ships to dealers in the fall.
- Tesla’s Elon Musk offers to solve power crisis in South Australia – Reuters: * Calls flood in to support ambitious plan (Adds comment from Atlassian co-founder)
- Volkswagen, Tata Motors confirm to explore cooperation – Reuters: Volkswagen and Tata Motors said on Friday they had signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a strategic partnership in India, confirming a story from Thursday.
- UK factories, export data suggest Brexit boost from weaker sterling – Reuters: Workers assemble cars at the plant for the Mini range of cars in Cowley, … decline than the 0.6 percent fall forecast in a poll of economists.
- Tata Motors strikes up parternship with VW Skoda – FT: Tata Motors is to pursue a product development partnership with Volkswagen AG’s Skoda Auto, as it seeks to win back lost share in India’s…
- South Africa’s taxis block roads to main airport in Uber protest – Reuters: South African taxi drivers on Friday blocked roads to Johannesburg’s airport, holding up thousands of travellers in the latest protest against ride-hailing app Uber.
- Maruti Suzuki workers convicted over death at Indian factory riot – FT: An Indian court has convicted 31 Maruti Suzuki workers for their role in the 2012 death of a mid-level factory manager, who was killed in violent riot…
- Musk Bets He Can Fix Aussie Power Woes in 100 Days or It’s Free – Bloomberg: Billionaire Elon Musk bets he can solve a looming energy crisis in Australia within 100 days by deploying Tesla Inc. technology to plug a supply gap which has caused power blackouts. In a conversation on Twitter with Australian tech billionaire Mike…
- BMW group vehicle deliveries rose 3.1 percent in February – Reuters: … was an important month for us, with the market launch of the new BMW 5 Series.
- Elon Musk has offered to fix this region’s energy problems for free – CNBC: Billionaire Elon Musk has offered to fix South Australia’s energy issues within 100 days.
- Japan bats away U.S. complaint on autos – Reuters: Japan rejected U.S. demands for more access to Japan’s car market on Friday, casting doubt over whether it can avoid friction over autos and agriculture imports at high level bilateral talks on economic relations next month.
- Hitachi Eyes US Rail Expansion Amid Seismic Political Change – Bloomberg: Hitachi Rail USA will build 136 cars at the Miami factory to replace Miami-Dade County’s Metrorail fleet and the first new vehicles are scheduled go…
- China auto sales resilient despite tax incentive rollback – Reuters: BEIJING, March 10 China’s auto market grew 8.8 percent year-on-year in the first two months of 2017, its automakers association said on Friday, …
- China Feb vehicle sales up 22.4 pct y/y -industry body – Reuters: … from 13.7 percent growth in 2016 due to the roll back of a tax incentive for small-engine cars.
- Hong Kong Uber drivers found guilty of unlawful commercial car hire – Reuters: Five Hong Kong Uber drivers were found guilty of illegally using their vehicles for commercial purposes by a local court on Friday, dealing a potential blow to Uber Technologies Inc’s operations in the Asian financial hub.
- Elon Musk: I can fix South Australia power network in 100 days or it’s free – Guardian: Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of electric car giant Tesla, has thrown down a challenge to the South Australian and federal governments, saying he can solve the state’s energy woes within 100 days – or he’ll deliver the 100MW battery storage system …
- Lithium enjoys the Tesla effect – FT: And it is not just Reno that is enjoying the Tesla effect. The average price of lithium, the raw material used to make electric vehicle batteries, has risen dramatically, up 60 per cent last year and threefold since 2014 according to an index by …
- Howes: Techy talking cars need federal road rules – Detroitnews: Without standards to govern the mobility space, automakers face prospect of producing metal that mostly talks to itself
- Peugeot takeover of Opel sparks intense debate over consolidation – FT: When Carlos Tavares addressed Opel workers at their Russelsheim headquarters this week, he opened with a few short lines in German – a…
- Toyota, Suzuki Chiefs Meet Modi in India as VW Eyes Tata Tie-Up – Yahoo: Toyota Motor Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. discussed their partnership and future technological developments with Indian Prime Minister Narendra…
- Bentley showcases its first-ever EV – Guardian: … ahead of the 2017 Geneva Auto, Bentley shocked guests on Tuesday, with its first ever electric vehicle (EV).
- 2017 BMW M5 to get 600bhp and four-wheel drive – Autocar: BMW will turn 32 years of rear-wheel-drive performance car tradition on its head this year with the introduction of its first four-wheel-drive M5.
- Baidu Will Spin Off Self-Driving Car Unit When Mature, CEO Says – Bloomberg: Chinese internet search giant Baidu Inc. intends to spin off its autonomous cars division when it’s reached maturity and needs to attract more funding…
- Japan says no barriers to auto imports after US fires trade salvo – Reuters: “We do not impose import tariffs on cars, and we do not impose any non-tariff barriers,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.
- 2019 Mercedes GLB to face Audi Q3 with G-Class styling – Autocar: Mercedes-Benz has accelerated development of its long-mooted GLB, a heritage-themed SUV that will rival the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 more directly…
- VW plans to scrap bonuses for supervisory board members – Reuters: Volkswagen plans to scrap bonus payments for members of its supervisory board, it said on Thursday, the latest sign of belt-tightening as the German carmaker grapples with the cost of its emissions scandal.
- Opinion: Does the Ferrari 812 Superfast have too much power? – Autocar: This new Ferrari’s 789bhp output is shocking, but only for now
- Study warns of higher consumer prices, job losses under current mpg rules – Automotive News: As President Donald Trump weighs easing U.S. fuel-economy rules, an automaker-funded study offered support based on looming cost increases for consumers and a short-term drop in industry employment.
- Trump Gets Ammo for Easing Rules Spurring Costly Cars, Lost Jobs – Bloomberg: As President Donald Trump weighs easing U.S. fuel-economy rules, an automaker-funded study offered support based on looming cost increases for…
- VW set to plead guilty in U.S. emissions case – Automotive News: Volkswagen is set to plead guilty on Friday to three felony counts in the Justice Department’s diesel emissions investigation, as the German automaker seeks to move past widespread environmental violations.
- GM, Honda name top management for fuel cell venture – Automotive News: General Motors and Honda Motor Co. named the top management that will oversee their newly formed Fuel Cell System Manufacturing joint venture..
- How a Craigslist post landed me my first job at Tesla – CNBC: The year was 2008. You may have omitted this year from memory, like a hotelier omits Floor 13 from an elevator control panel. The pain at the pump…
- China’s Great Wall rethinks Mexico plant under Trump threat – Automotive News: China’s biggest SUV maker is reconsidering a plan to build an assembly plant in Mexico that would have made its best-selling vehicles for the U.S., joining a growing list of automakers reviewing investments after tax threats by President Trump.
- Mazda, Nissan enrich tech for gasoline engines – Nikkei: The automaker aims to turn this technology into the mainstay for Nissan engines in the future. Fuel efficiency will rise by up to 27% from Nissan’s…
- BMW’s Struggles in the US Hit Overall Earnings – WSJ: The self-proclaimed ultimate driving machine has hit a pothole in the world’s most important luxury market. BMW AG’s U.S. operation helped fuel the…
- Volkswagen and Tata agree to explore cooperation in India: sources – Reuters: By Andreas Cremer and Aditi Shah | BERLIN … VW has pared costs for its MQB mass-market platform, sources told at the Geneva auto show.
- Lexus Is Feeling Sexy For A Change; Can It Keep The Sizzle Alive With Two New Sedans? – Forbes: It’s one thing to be dependable; Lexus has got that down pat. It’s another to be exciting. That’s what the brand has been working on — hard. This year…