- BMW, Great Wall sign letter of intent for electric Mini JV in China – Reuters: Great Wall said in a separate statement a joint venture with BMW would greatly improve its technology level and brand premium, better meet the needs of consumers and further tap into the new energy vehicle market at home and abroad. Automakers and…
- Big Buys in GM, Sirius, Waste Management – Barrons: It bulked up on General Motors (ticker: GM) and sold more than half of its investment in Intel (INTC). The asset manager also bought more Waste Management (WM), Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI), and, unfortunately, General Electric (GE). APG Asset…
- Suzuki Ignis suspension upgraded to enhance ride quality – Autocar: Suzuki has tweaked its Ignis with new suspension components Dinky SUV-styled hatchback is said to be smoother over bumps when fully loaded thanks to new components
- BMW plans to build battery electric Minis in China – Washington Post: German automaker BMW says it’s in talks to build battery electric models of its Mini cars in China, which would be the first time the iconic cars have been made outside Europe. BMW said in a statement Friday it has signed a letter of intent with…
- Toyota Aygo update brings more power and improved refinement – Autocar: Toyota has updated its Aygo city car for 2018 Updated Hyundai i10-rivalling city car will be on show at Geneva motor show and go on sale in Britain this summer
- BMW, Great Wall in talks to manufacture battery-powered Mini in China – FT: BMW is in advanced talks with China’s Great Wall to manufacture a battery-powered Mini in the country as the German carmaker accelerates its electric vehicle plans in the world’s largest car market. The vehicle, due out in the early 2020s, would be…
- Auto Makers Race to Build a Cheaper Electric Car for India, Other Growing Markets – WSJ: There are currently fewer than 10,000 electric vehicles on Indian roads. Car companies need to bring down the relatively high price of EVs, because most consumers in India and other emerging markets won’t pay extra to go green, according to EV-Volumes,…
- BMW, Great Wall sign letter of intent for electric Mini JV – Reuters: German premium carmaker BMW (BMWG.DE) and Great Wall Motor Co. (601633.SS) have signed a letter of intent to set up a joint venture for the production of electric Mini vehicles in China, BMW said on Friday.
- Easy Ride trial to mark Nissan’s first stop on road to taxi services – Reuters: Self-driving vehicles, based on Nissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV), for Easy Ride service, developed by Nissan and mobile gaming platform operator DeNA Co, are seen during its media preview in Yokohama, Japan, February 21, 2018. Picture taken February…
- The Spanish Company Stamping Its Way Into Electric Cars – Bloomberg: Gestamp Automocion SA will be largely insulated from the car industry’s high investment costs to develop electric autos after taking steps years ago to … Gestamp’s leadership in hot-stamping technology already enables it to supply lower-weight steel…
- Renault picks Sweden for first EV-only showroom – Automotive News: Renault is opening its first showroom dedicated to electric vehicles. The store will be in a shopping center in Sweden. The Renault Electric Vehicle Experience center will take orders, offer test drives and provide experts who can answer customers’…
- Nissan is taking on Uber with its own self-driving taxi service – CNBC: Nissan said Friday it would conduct a field test of the service, called Easy Ride, in the Minatomirai district of Yokohama. The development marks a challenge from a major auto manufacturer to ride-hailing upstarts like Uber. Nissan and DeNA look to…
- Establishment vs. Tesla: Volvo’s Polestar joins EV race – Detroitnews: The brand will explore new technologies like a continuously-controlled electronic suspension and twin-rear, torque-vectoring electric motors. Like Tesla, Polestar will also pioneer new sales strategies. It’s looking at a subscription-ownership…
- With Easy Ride trial, Nissan takes new step toward being Uber competitor – Reuters: Facing a future in which self-driving cars may curb vehicle ownership, Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) is taking its first steps to becoming an operator of autonomous transportation services, hoping to break into a segment set to be dominated by Uber…
- GM Korea seeks to trim benefits, wages: internal letter – Reuters: General Motors Co will propose a base wage freeze and no bonuses this year along with a suspension of some worker benefits at its … GM executives have complained that South Korea’s relatively high wages and unyielding unions have contributed to its…
- GM to propose wage freeze, no bonuses for South Korean workers this year – Reuters: GM Korea has paid about 10 million won ($9,285.83) in bonuses to each worker almost every year, company officials have said. To improve the manufacturing competitiveness of GM Korea, GM will propose freezing base wages this year and limit future wage…
- Holden Equinox vs Nissan X – Xcellent Family Affairs – Autocar:
- Hyundai’s Genesis brand tops Consumer Reports luxury carmaker ranking – Yonhap: Hyundai Motor Co.’s premium Genesis marque topped Consumer Reports’ 2018 ranking for luxury auto brands, the company said Friday. The Genesis took the No. 1 spot in the U.S. magazine’s ranking scale followed by German rivals Audi and BMW, a Hyundai…