Archives for June 2017

Top News:

• Bosch created Volkswagen Dieselgate cheat software, study alleges – Autocar: Both Volkswagen and Fiat used the defeat devices, says the study; ‘real driving’ and ‘homologation’ modes were used to tweak the cars’ emissions
• German ministry orders probe of Porsche emissions – Reuters: The German Transport Ministry has ordered the KBA watchdog agency to examine the emissions of sports car maker Porsche , a unit of Volkswagen , a ministry spokesman said on Monday following a critical media report.
• BMW’s UK workers reject offer designed to end pension dispute – Reuters: British car workers at BMW have rejected a pension deal designed to end a long-running dispute over plans to close the German automaker’s final salary pension scheme, the Unite union said on Monday.
• China to clamp down on new car plants in fight against capacity glut, pollution – Reuters: BEIJING China’s top state planner said it would tighten regulations for building new factories for traditional petrol-burning vehicles, as the country cracks down on “zombie” firms and pushes automakers to convert to non-polluting electric vehicles.

• Lyft Raises $25 Million From Jaguar Land Rover for Self-Driving Cars – Fortune: based self-driving car startup nuTonomy. The two companies plan to incorporate autonomous vehicles into Lyft’s network through a limited pilot…
• Porsche emissions probe ordered by German authorities – Automotive News: Both Porsche and Audi are owned by Volkswagen Group. German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that diesel models of the Cayenne…
• Uber board adopts all recommendations from Eric Holder investigation – Reuters: The Uber Technologies Inc board of directors voted unanimously to adopt all recommendations from a report stemming from allegations of sexual harassment at the company and other employee concerns, a board representative said on Sunday.
• JLR unit invests $25 million in Lyft to help develop self-driving cars – Reuters: Britain’s biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover said its mobility services business, InMotion Ventures, would invest $25 million in U.S. ride services company Lyft Inc to help develop and test technology for self-driving cars.
• 2017 Fisker Emotion revealed with 400-mile-plus range – Autocar: Henrik Fisker’s latest project, the Emotion, has been revealed. The Emotion has been revealed by company founder Henrik Fisker. The model is claimed to feature ‘game-changing’ battery technology, with nine-minute fast charging capability
• UK’s Hung Parliament Raises Business Hopes for a Softer Brexit – Bloomberg: … such as a trade accord and the future of EU citizens working in the U.K., said Andy Palmer, CEO of luxury British carmaker Aston Martin Holdings Ltd…
• Jaguar Land Rover takes a stake in ride-share operator Lyft – CNBC: Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, is the latest automaker to take a stake Lyft, as the ride-share operator continues to expand Irma…
• Jaguar Land Rover tests upmarket ride-sharing with Lyft deal – FT: Jaguar Land Rover has become the latest carmaker to pair with a car-booking app by investing $25m with US group Lyft and agreeing to test…
• Lyft joining forces with Jaguar Land Rover in tech venture – Washington Post: NEW YORK – The next Lyft car you book may soon be a Jaguar or a Land Rover. The British company behind the two iconic car brands announced…
• China’s monthly vehicle sales post first back-to-back drop since 2015 – Reuters: The world’s biggest auto market got a shot in the arm in 2016, growing at its fastest pace in three years, after Beijing halved the purchase tax on …
• China May vehicle sales down 0.1 pct y/y -industry association – Reuters: … citing the rollback of a tax incentive for small-engine cars and economic pressures.
• Takata recommends re-electing board as search for rescue deal drags on – Reuters: Japan’s Takata Corp, the airbag maker at the centre of world’s largest automotive recall, has recommended reappointing its current board, underscoring slow progress in its efforts to to clinch a financial backer to overhaul the business.
• Jaguar Invests in Lyft, Forming Self-Driving and Car Rental Pact – Bloomberg: Lyft Inc. is expanding its roster of automotive partners as the second-largest U.S. ride-hailing company tries to capitalize on missteps by Uber…
• GM’s Alan Batey says automaker will keep rental cuts going – Automotive News: By selling still-fewer vehicles to Enterprise and Hertz, GM hopes to boost residual values and improve the economics of its leasing business.
• Hyundai’s US sales chief jumps to VW – Automotive News: LOS ANGELES – Six months after it pushed its CEO out for not meeting sales expectations, Hyundai Motor America lost its U.S. sales chief and…
• Why so many motorists are underwater – Automotive News: Negative-equity levels are at record highs as lengthening loan terms, rising transaction prices and falling used-vehicle values combine to take a toll on consumers and the industry.
• Lynk & CO’s Visser to speak at Europe Congress – Automotive News: Visser, who has held top jobs at Ford, General Motors and Volvo, has been the key executive driving Lynk & CO. The brand is expected to begin sales…
• Uber woes lead to high executive turnover – Automotive News: Since the start of the year, 13 high-profile executives have departed, and Uber has not filled many of those roles.
• Toyota mixes new flavors for Camry – Automotive News: When Toyota engineers and designers started work on the eighth-generation Camry, they were asked to create two distinct versions that would help…
• Honda gets busy on EVs, autonomous drive – Automotive News: UTSUNOMIYA, Japan – They might be only prototypes, but the tire-squealing electric sports car and two self-driving sedans on display at Honda’s…
• Ford wants service bays to be ride-share-ready – Automotive News: The automaker believes repair shops will need to move faster to get revenue-generating cars back on the road.
• Inventory rises as GM stockpiles – Automotive News: U.S. light-vehicle supply stood at near record levels on June 1 as General Motors stockpiled ahead of lower production planned for later this year.
• Subaru adds 2 STI models for ’18 – Automotive News: Subaru of America is adding two limited-run performance variants for the 2018 model year.
• Audi plots crossover alternatives – Automotive News: To create the A5 Sportback, Audi used the wheelbase of the redesigned A4 “to give this car stretch, to give it additional rear seat legroom and cargo…
• Opel is not giving up on internal combustion – Automotive News: … then still part of General Motors, should switch to electric vehicles exclusively within 13 years. But the plan to turn Opel into a “Tesla for the masses”…
• GM to end foundation, redirect its charitable giving – Detroitnews: General Motors Co. is overhauling its $30-million-a year philanthropy efforts to … GM’s giving arm wants to use its dollars to more closely align with its…
• Nissan to make advanced braking standard – Automotive News: NASHVILLE – Nissan Motor Co. will make advanced automated braking standard on most of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. in the 2018 model year.
• Silicon Valley meets Motor City – Automotive News: General Motors CEO Mary Barra, right, chats with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who was in Detroit last week to forge closer ties between the…
• GM sees more room to cut rental sales – Automotive News: DETROIT – General Motors plans to keep reducing the flow of vehicles from its plants to U.S. rental lots at least through 2018, continuing a strategy…
• Aston Martin plans Ferrari 488 rival – Automotive News: Aston Martin plans a midengine supercar that will challenge the likes of the Ferrari 488 and Lamborghini Huracan, Aston CEO Andy Palmer told the…
• Honda outlines bold autonomous goals – Automotive News: UTSUNOMIYA, Japan – Honda Motor Co., long soft-spoken about its strategies for electric cars and autonomous driving in a world of raucous rivals,…
• Upside-down buyers’ next moves vary by brand – Automotive News: Toyota brand purchasers were below the industry average not only in the percentage they were upside down, at 35 percent vs. the industry’s 37…
• Negative equity just 1 factor for credit risk, lenders say – Automotive News: “We don’t track [negative equity] specifically,” said Frank Churchill, general manager of sales operations and planning for Toyota Financial Services.
• The pope’s white ride is green – Automotive News: The push to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in Vatican City got a helping hand last week from Opel. The former General Motors unit now owned…
• Ford must curb the infighting – again – Automotive News: Given Ford’s long history of palace revolts, the big concern when ex-Boeing executive Alan Mulally arrived in 2006 was that he would become the…
• Hyundai Capital: Burying buyers in debt is dangerous – Automotive News: It’s no secret that customers with a lot of negative equity can present huge risks for lenders. But there are steps brands and dealers can take in some…
• The exodus at Uber – Automotive News: Anthony Levandowski Vice President of Engineering The self-driving engineer at the center of Waymo’s intellectual property lawsuit against Uber,…
• Uber board adopts all recommendations of the Holder report, no word on CEO Kalanick, other executives yet: Sources – CNBC: Former Uber engineer Susan Fowler alleged the company failed to act on sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints
• GM Pushes Up Nationwide Release of Bolt EV as Tesla Model 3 Deliveries Approach – Fortune: General Motors is moving up the national debut of its Bolt electric car to August, a month earlier than originally planned in what may be a counter move…
• Volkswagen looks at rehiring Opel CEO: source – Reuters: Karl-Thomas Neumann, CEO of Opel Group poses with the Car of the Year award next to the Opel Astra during the presentation ahead …