- BMW i among the first automotive brands to offer an augmented reality app using Apple’s ARKit with iOS 11 – Bmw: Real-size 3D products can be visualised and explored on your iPhone or iPad +++ New functionality directly links to online configurator in 17 BMW i markets +++ App available in 21 languages – access for millions of consumers
- Provident Plunges as FCA Starts Probe Into Car Finance Arm – Bloomberg: Moneybarn provides car and van financing to customers who have struggled to access money elsewhere because of a poor credit score or the lack of a borrowing history, according to its website. The division contributed about 9 percent of Provident’s…
- Western European car sales rise 5.4 percent despite UK woes – Reuters: Western European car registrations rose 5.4 percent in November, with France and Germany doing the heavy lifting as UK sales sagged, according to industry data compiled by LMC automotive. Registrations rose to 1.144 million cars from 1.085 million a…
- VW Beetle could be reborn as electric car – Automotive News: Volkswagen bosses are considering the future of the brand’s iconic Beetle. Small, impractical two-doors coupes are losing favor with buyers, so the …
- Malaysia wins MotoGP’s best Grand Prix of 2017 – Reuters: Italian Andrea Dovizioso won the rainy race at Sepang in October in a Ducati one-two finish with Spanish team mate Jorge Lorenzo. The circuit has been a fixture on the calendar since 1999 and is also used for pre-season testing. While the country’s…
- GM enables US drivers to order espressos, donuts from the road – Automotive News: General Motors is launching a new in-vehicle app named Marketplace in the U.S. that will allow drivers to pay for goods such as gasoline, coffee or food and schedule service through their infotainment systems. The automaker expects the free technology,…
- New WLTP real-world emissions test adds 15% to Volkswagen Up GTI’s official CO2 output – Autocar: More stringent testing regime, which replaces the NEDC this year, also decreases the hot city car’s official fuel economy from 49mpg to 42mpg
- Diesel registrations down 31% in November as UK market shrinks – Autocar: Overall market drops by 11% last month, with industry experts pointing to confusion over recent Government tax changes
- German sales rise 9% but diesel sales hit hard – Automotive News: FRANKFURT –New-car sales in Germany rose 9.4 percent to 302,636 in November with Peugeot and Dacia showing strong growth, data from the KBA motor transport authority showed. Peugeot brand’s registrations jumped 72 percent, while Dacia sales increased…
- Daimler Strengthens Setup of its Truck Business in China – Daimler: Daimler is strengthening the focus of its truck organization for the Chinese market by implementing a dedicated responsibility within the divisonal board of Daimler Trucks.
- Super-luxury Range Rover two-door coupe under consideration – Autocar: The 2004 Range Stormer concept was a two-door concept prelude to the Range Rover Sport Exclusive SVO-built two-door Range Rover could be on the way, hints Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern
- Mercedes Sees a New Bumper Year in China After Edging Out Audi – Bloomberg: The company earlier this year agreed with partner BAIC Motor Corp. to start making the EQ crossover in China in 2020. Separately, Daimler is in talks with potential partners to extend its car-sharing ambitions in China, after starting a pilot project…
- Chinese EV start-up WM Motor says to get funding from group led by Baidu Capital – Reuters: Freeman Shen, who left Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd [GEELY.UL] to establish WM Motor, said the investors also include …
- FCA investigates Provident Financial’s car finance firm Moneybarn – Guardian: Nearly 20% has been wiped off the value of Provident Financial after the the City watchdog revealed it has launched an investigation into Moneybarn, a company controlled by the subprime lender that provides car loans to people with poor credit history….
- UK diesel new car sales plummet 30% in November after disastrous year – FT: UK diesel new car sales plummet 30% in November after disastrous year … The drop contributed to an 11.2 per cent decrease in overall new UK car … April next year, and existing drivers in company car schemes facing higher taxes.
- Group led by Baidu Capital to invest in EV start-up WM Motor: MW exec – Reuters: WM Motor, one of China’s electric car startups, will receive a sizable investment from a group of investors led by Baidu Capital, …
- Rare Mercedes-Benz classics: “H” registration plate for 190 E 2.5-16 and 560 SE from 2018 – Daimler: Three decades ago, two exclusive Mercedes-Benz models celebrated their premiere: The 190 E 2.5-16 (201 series) prepared the way for the then compact class to become a star performer, while the 560 SE (126 series) combined the top performance of the…
- Nissan to Test Robot Taxis, Aims to Begin Service in Early 2020s – Bloomberg: The trial is the first concrete step in Nissan and DeNA’s joint robot taxi project, which was announced in January. The cars will be more advanced than Nissan’s current semi-autonomous system known as ProPilot, which enables single lane automated…
- BMW may expand EV range with iX-badged SUVs – Automotive News: BMW may expand its electric range by adding smaller and high-end cars and SUVs as it seeks to benefit from the industry shift toward battery-powered cars. The automaker has secured naming rights for the badges i1 to i9 and iX1 to iX9, CEO Harald…
- Ford ramps up electric vehicle push in China amid slowing sales – Reuters: Ford’s sales in China have been weak in recent months, and the company is scrambling to come up with electric and hybrid vehicles to comply with strict Chinese quotas over production and sales for so-called new energy vehicles, or NEVs. The U.S….
- Toyota’s November China vehicle sales dip 1.3 pct y/y – Reuters: Toyota Motor Corp’s sales in China fell 1.3 percent in November from a year earlier to 109,600 vehicles, following a 13.5 percent gain in October, the company said on Tuesday. The Japanese automaker’s sales during the first 11 months of the year…
- Ford to launch 50 new vehicles in China by 2025 – Reuters: Ford Motor Co (F.N) will launch 50 new vehicles in China by 2025, including 15 electrified vehicles, Peter Fleet, head of Ford Asia Pacific … Ford’s sales in China have been weak in recent months, and the company is scrambling to come up with…
- GM Enables Drivers to Order Espressos, Pancakes From the Road – Bloomberg: General Motors Co. is about to enable drivers to buy coffee, find gas or parking and make restaurant reservations with just a touch of the dashboard. … “The average American spends 46 minutes per day on the road,” Santiago Chamorro, GM’s vice…
- UK new car sales fell 11 percent in November – data – Reuters: New car registrations in Britain fell by around 11 percent in November, the eighth consecutive month that sales have declined, according … Britain will increase tax on diesel cars that do not meet more stringent emissions standards, finance minister…
- Nissan, DeNA to start ‘robo-taxi’ public tests in March – FT: Nissan Motor and Japanese software maker DeNA will commence public tests of their “robo-taxis” project from March next year. The announcement …
- Volkswagen’s rapid shift to electric raises earnings questions – Nikkei: VW surprised the auto world in June 2016 by announcing its “Together – Strategy 2025” plan to introduce over 30 EV models and raise their sales ratio …
- Nissan, DeNA schedule public tests of self-driving car service in Japan next year – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co and Japanese gaming software maker DeNA Co said on Tuesday they would begin public tests of their …
- Infiniti unveils breakthrough engine in new QX50 – Autocar:
- Hyundai workers to stage strike this week in push for higher wages – Yonhap: Workers at Hyundai Motor Co. will stage a partial strike at the carmaker’s main domestic plants this week in a push for …
- Dearborn, Ford aim to make area a destination – Detroitnews: Dearborn and Ford Motor Co. updated the public Monday on development plans for the automotive giant’s campus n the community. Much of the presentation at Henry Ford College centered on Ford’s 10-year plan to transform its local campus. The efforts are…
- Hyundai overseas salespeople to discuss ways to boost sales this week – Yonhap: South Korea’s top carmaker Hyundai Motor Group will hold a meeting with representatives from its overseas sales …
- This CEO Sees Robot Taxis and Delivery Cars Coming in 2018 – Bloomberg: Self-driving vehicles will be ready to roll next year, though the work to make them affordable to individual consumers is still “in the first inning,” …
- LEVC TX London black cab now certified to carry fare-paying passengers – Autocar: Up to 90% of buyers expected to opt for £177 per week finance deal; range-extender black cab is capable of zero-emissions driving
- BMW Guns for a 50% Increase in Electric Vehicle Sales Next Year – Bloomberg: BMW AG is targeting another ambitious hike in plug-in hybrid and battery car sales next year to defend its position in the electric-car shift as …
- BMW expects jump in electric car sales in 2018 – R&D chief – Reuters: BMW (BMWG.DE) expects its sales of electric and hybrid vehicles to jump next year, its research and development chief said as …
- BMW to launch more luxury models to fund future tech developments – Autocar: A production version of this 8-Series concept will be one of the luxury cars helping profits for BMW With a strong focus on electrified, autonomous and connected technologies, BMW says profit from new luxury models is key to success
- Toyota will decide on new US plant location in early 2018: executive – Reuters: Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) should decide by the first quarter of 2018 on a location for a new U.S. vehicle assembly plant it will …
- Amid rising discounts, Nissan seeks ‘fair share’ of pie in US: executive – Reuters: Facing a glut of late-model 2017 vehicles and rising consumer discounts by competitors, Nissan Motor Co Ltd (7201.T) will continue to target a fair … Wheeler spoke to Reuters after Nissan posted an 18.1 percent spike in U.S. sales for November versus…
- BMW says exhaust systems do not shut off in road conditions – Reuters: A BMW logo is seen on a car at the International Auto Show in Mexico City, Mexico November 23, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero … The Tagesspiegel report said DUH’s test showed that the vehicle, whose engine has a euro-6 diesel emissions standard, emitted…
- Audi’s SQ5 3.0 T Quattro has it all – including a stratospheric price tag – Washington Post: It is not enough to tell consumers they’ve “been waiting” for a product that is “all new” from a vehicle manufacturer once considered exotic in the U.S. market, or “waiting” because it is a new model in a vehicle segment long crowded with many of its…
- Lamborghini races after new customers with first SUV – Reuters: Lamborghini unveiled its first sport-utility vehicle (SUV) on Monday, as the Volkswagen-owned (VOWG_p. … Lamborghini, one of Volkswagen’s stable of super-luxury brands along with Bentley and Bugatti, has …
- Toyota Expects US Auto Sales to Fall to Levels Last Seen in 2014 – Bloomberg: “We’re seeing indications that automakers could close 2018 in the mid-to-upper 16-million mark,” Jack Hollis, group vice president of U.S. sales for the Toyota brand, said in prepared remarks for an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit….
- Lamborghini Urus revealed: full specs of new 641bhp super-SUV – Autocar: All-new model uses shared underpinnings with the Bentley Bentayga; it’s claimed to offer ‘unrivalled performance’ for an SUV
- Peugeot teams up with Nidec to produce electric vehicle motors in France – Reuters: Peugeot carmaker PSA Group (PEUP.PA) is to bring the development and production of its electric motors back to France after …
- Canadian auto sales could hit 2 mln in 2017- industry group – Reuters: Canadian auto sales dipped 1.2 percent in November from last year but could hit the two million milestone for the first time, according to data released by an automotive industry research firm. About 158,653 vehicles were sold in the month, bringing…
- Direct Line offers 5-percent Tesla ‘auto-pilot’ incentive – Reuters: Crash rates across all Tesla models have fallen by 40 percent since the introduction of the autopilot system … However, when owners seek to insure their Tesla vehicles, this is not reflected in the pricing of premiums, Daniel Pearce, Financial …
- Deals, light-truck demand push US sales up in November – Automotive News: Toyota Motor, ending a streak of five straight monthly gains year over year, said volume dropped 3 percent in November on a decline of 2.4 percent at the Toyota division and 6.7 percent at Lexus. FCA US, with sales down 4 percent last month, continues …
- First Porsche, Now Lamborghini Adds a Luxury SUV in Its Range – Bloomberg: Seeing limited appeal for Lamborghini Huracans and Aventadors in markets like China and Russia, German parent Volkswagen AG pushed to expand the lineup with a model capable of taking on trickier road conditions. Lamborghini last year sold only 188 cars…
- Subaru to launch first EV in 2020 as variant of existing car – Autocar: New Global Platform-based model will feature combustion and electric powertrain options
- BRIEF-Nissan Group Reports Total US Sales For Nov. 2017 Of 135985 Units, Up 18.1 Pct – Reuters: BRIEF-Nissan Group Reports Total U.S. Sales For Nov. 2017 Of 135,985 Units, Up 18.1 Pct. Reuters Staff. 1 Min Read. Dec 4 (Reuters) – Nissan Motor Co Ltd: * NISSAN GROUP REPORTS TOTAL U.S. SALES FOR NOV. 2017 OF 135,985 UNITS, UP 18.1 PERCENT Source…
- Sleeping driver crashes into home near Orlando – Washington Post: A woman who says she fell asleep while driving crashed into a Florida home. Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes says 60-year-old Ana Perez was cited for careless driving on Monday morning. She told troopers that she fell asleep while driving…
- Lamborghini joins the super-luxury SUV race – CBS News: The Urus enters a luxury field crowded with the Mercedes G-Class, the Bentley Bentayga and the trailblazing Porsche Cayenne — and soon to be joined … for Lamborghini, which as part of the VW group shares luxury SUV platforms with the Bentley Bentega…
- VW aims at ride-pooling market with all-electric minibus – Reuters: Volkswagen has unveiled an all-electric minibus to target urban customers who prefer to pay for use rather than own a vehicle, furthering the German company’s push into new forms of online-controlled personal transport services. Volkswagen’s (VW) new…
- Toyota Auris diesel ditched due to low sales – Autocar: Black pump model goes in model update, but Toyota says the decision isn’t linked to the impending tax hikes