- Self-driving technology adds pressure on carmakers – FT: “Our model at Waymo isn’t to be a car company,” said John Krafcik, chief executive of Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent Alphabet. “Our role in the world we see clearly is to build …. “As Waymo grows, you’ll see a diversity of [car manufacturer]…
- Tesla shares are tanking for several reasons including a big recall and more questions about Autopilot – CNBC: Tesla shares are falling on Monday after the company revealed more details about the Model X fatal crash last month.
- Toyota: autonomous driving levels are causing confusion – Autocar: Toyota previewed its vision of autonomous transport with the Concept i-Ride With six levels of autonomy available now, the system’s already becoming confusing for some
- Subprime New-Car Buyers Suddenly Go Missing From US Showrooms – Bloomberg: … of a U.S. auto market in its second year of decline after a historic run of gains. Automakers probably will report sales in March slowed to the most sluggish pace since Hurricane Harvey ravaged dealerships across the Texas Gulf Coast in August,…
- Infiniti’s attack on BMW, Audi fueled by shift to electric – Automotive News: Nissan’s premium brand wants to use the structural changes enabled by the industry’s shift toward electric and self-driving cars — such as a larger cabin and fewer components under the hood — as a chance to inject a Japanese touch of simplicity and…
- Uber-Killer Grab, Go-Jek Aren’t Just Tech Firms, Indonesia Says – WSJ: JAKARTA, Indonesia-The Indonesian government said Monday that ride-hailing firms Grab Inc. and PT Go-Jek Indonesia must be registered as transportation … The companies dominate the ride-hailing market in Southeast Asia’s largest economy and have made…
- DealBook Briefing: Elon Musk’s April Fool’s Joke – New York Times: Good Monday morning. The Trump administration is expected to announce this week the list of Chinese products that will be hit with tariffs. The Chinese government this morning retaliated to the steel and aluminum tariffs that have already been…
- Maruti Suzuki sales stay on fast lane in March – Nikkei:
- Elon Musk Is Trying to Laugh His Way Out of Tesla’s Worst Month in 7 Years – Fortune: Tesla just had its worst month in more than seven years, but Elon Musk isn’t letting that keep him from his fun. On Sunday Musk tweeted an April Fools joke indicating Tesla (tsla) had gone bankrupt. Tesla Goes Bankrupt Palo Alto, California, April 1,…
- Philippines, Malaysia put Uber-Grab deal under anti-competition scrutiny – Reuters: Philippines and Malaysia said on Monday they will look into whether Uber Technologies’ [UBER.UL] move to sell its Southeast Asian business to ride-hailing rival Grab hinders competition, days after Singapore began a probe into the deal on similar concerns.
- Waymo Isn’t Going to Slow Down Now – Bloomberg: Waymo spent the last year suing over Uber’s driverless technology before settling in February, and now that technology is being scrutinized by politicians, investigators, and even Uber’s own suppliers. Can Waymo really be so sure its own technology is…
- US safety agency criticizes Tesla’s Model X crash data release – CNBC: The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Sunday it was “unhappy” that electric car maker Tesla made public information about the crash of its Model X vehicle on Autopilot that killed the driver last month. The agency “needs the cooperation …
- Tesla, Uber Deaths Raise Questions About the Perils of Partly Autonomous Driving – WSJ: Two recent fatal crashes of cars with varying levels of autonomous-driving technology are focusing attention on vehicles that vest control in both humans and machines. U.S. investigators are still completing their probes of an Uber Technologies Inc….
- Carmakers’ March sales rise 0.68 pct on demand recovery – Yonhap: The combined sales of South Korea’s five carmakers rose 0.68 percent last month from a year earlier mainly on the back of recovering demand and new models, corporate data showed Monday. The five automakers — Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM…
- Tesla Makes Last-Ditch Model 3 Delivery Push as Pressures Mount – Yahoo: epa05238726 An undated handout photo made available by Tesla late 31 March 2016 shows the Tesla Model 3 electric car that was unveiled in Hawthorne, California, USA, 31 March 2016. According to the Tesla media relations website, ‘the Model 3 should be…
- GM Korea’s March sales dive; seeks to halt one shift at Bupyeong plant – Reuters: General Motors Co’s South Korean unit has proposed suspending one of two shifts at a plant near Seoul, an internal union newsletter seen by Reuters showed, increasing uncertainty about the fate of the factory as the U.S. automaker grapples with…
- Audi aims to double China sales over six years: executive to paper – Reuters: Volkswagen’s (VOWG_p.DE) premium …
- Audi aims to double China sales over 6 years -exec to paper – Reuters: Volkswagen’s premium brand Audi aims to double sales in China over the coming six years, sales chief Bram Schot told … The dispute stemmed from a long-term collaboration between Audi and SAIC Motor Corp that had riled Audi store operators in China,…
- Philippines competition watchdog says examining Uber-Grab deal – Reuters: The Philippines competition watchdog said on Monday it is looking at whether the deal by Uber Technologies to sell its Southeast Asia business to rival Grab will substantially reduce competition.
- Renault Samsung March sales rise 7.0 pct on exports – Yonhap: Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of French carmaker Renault S.A., said Monday its March sales rose 7.0 percent from a year earlier on increased exports. Renault Samsung sold 27,059 vehicles in March, up from 25,281 units the previous…
- Malaysia puts Grab on anti-competition watchlist after Uber stake buy – Reuters: Malaysia said on Monday that it will monitor ride-hailing firm Grab for possible anti-competitive behavior, after rival Uber Technologies Inc offloaded its Southeast Asian operations to the Singapore-based firm.
- Hyundai Motor’s March sales rise 1.6 pct on recovering demand – Yonhap: Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s top automaker, said Monday its March sales rose 1.6 percent on-year on recovering demand for its vehicles. Hyundai Motor sold a total of 397,041 vehicles in March, slightly up from 390,603 units a year earlier helped by…
- GM Korea’s March domestic sales slump 58 pct as restructuring weighs – Reuters: * Local sales had tumbled 48 pct in Feb (Adds bullets, background)
- GM Korea proposes halting one shift at No.2 plant in Bupyeong: internal union letter – Reuters: General Motors’ South Korean unit has proposed suspending a second shift at its No.2 plant in the city of Bupyeong, an internal union newsletter seen by Reuters showed.
- BRIEF-Hyundai Motor India March Domestic Sales Up 7.3 Pct – Reuters: FY DOMESTIC SALES OF 5,36,241 UNITS COMPARED TO 5,09,707 UNITS IN 2016-17 Source text – Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the number one car exporter since inception achieved highest Financial Year…
- Indonesia says Go-Jek, Grab need to register as transport businesses – Reuters: Another official said once a ride-hailing company obtained a license it needed to follow the rules of a public transport provider. The minister also pledged that the government would ensure competition in the ride-hailing sector after Uber Technologies…
- Indian shares rise on global cues; automakers gain – Reuters: Indian shares rose on Monday, the first trading day of the new financial year, tracking gains in global equity markets, while auto stocks such as Tata Motors Ltd led gains after posting strong sales numbers for March. Asian stocks began the new quarter…
- Honda Korea chief to represent foreign carmakers – Yonhap: Chung Woo-young, president of Honda Korea Co., has been appointed as chairman of an industry association which represents the makers of imported cars in South Korea, the industry lobby said Monday. Chung will serve as chairman of the Korea Automobile…
- Toyota partnership keeps STEM growing – Automotive News: “Toyota is committed to playing a role in building the future STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] work force. Exposing children to engaging programs like the M-STEP Prep Field Trip supports the concepts they are learning in school…
- BMW Group looks into a Rolls EV – Automotive News: A Rolls-Royce electric vehicle is on the table as parent BMW Group explores how to position its vehicle portfolio to meet growing demand for EVs. “At the end of the day, we are also thinking that Rolls-Royce may be electrified because there is demand…
- Mercedes-AMG’s 35 line to debut with A class – Automotive News: After the A35, Mercedes-AMG will launch an A45 variant of the A-class sedan. The 45 line gets AMG’s top-of-the-line “one man, one engine” treatment, powered by a hand-built 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that will produce more than 400 hp, Moers said….
- Mercedes-AMG will stop selling V-12s – Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz will continue to sell vehicles with V-12s, but the use is likely to be limited to the Maybach ultraluxury subbrand, Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers told Automotive News last week at the New York auto show. Maybach and AMG use the V-12s, and…
- Mercedes subscription pilot starts in June – Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz USA confirmed to dealers that it will launch a U.S. subscription service pilot in two cities in June. The announcement at the brand’s make meeting at the NADA Show was short on certain details. The cities and planned length of the pilot…
- Audi focus: CPO tweak, new product – Automotive News: Audi’s streak of monthly year-over-year sales gains in the U.S. hit 100 as of February, and dealers came away from its NADA Show make meeting confident the brand can continue it while improving dealer profits. New product, including the Q8 crossover…
- Lexus sells $235 mugs to promote test drives – Automotive News: Lexus has opened a lounge near Tokyo’s swanky Ginza neighborhood that is part new-car showroom, part gourmet’s delight and part upscale boutique. Its strategy is to lure in high-rolling housewives and beautiful people with a panoply of designer goods,…
- GM dealers air grievances with using CDK – Automotive News: CDK Global, General Motors’ preferred provider and manager of dealership websites, was among the few areas of concern raised by Buick, Chevrolet and GMC dealers during their combined make meeting at the NADA Show. The troubles they cited include…
- What the Altima reveals about future Nissan design – Automotive News: Nissan made the Altima lower, longer and wider, and brought down the hood. Designers adopted what looks like a thinner roof, with slimmer side pillars to make the car lighter and airier inside. That look will influence other models, Lee said. Expect a…
- Finding lots of fun on the social scene – Automotive News: Courtship begins for Chinese brands . A pickup VW needs — and how it could be a winner . Caddy dealers gain role in subscriptions . New Altima stirs Nissan’s plan for a sedan comeback . RAV4 reaches for a broader market . Reality check for suppliers…
- Honda cuts back Accord output to reduce inventory – Automotive News: Honda may have built its best sedan ever in the 2018 Accord, but the automaker must face a tough reality: Sales are down and some in its vocal dealer network are sounding the alarm. In response, Honda said it’s trimming Accord production in Marysville,…
- New QX50 factors big for Infiniti dealers – Automotive News: “Profitability” was the big word at Infiniti’s NADA Show make meeting, with factory executives outlining several steps to help dealers shore up their operating margins. The key will be this month’s launch of the redesigned QX50 crossover, which the…
- Volvo plans to focus on used sales, service – Automotive News: Volvo aims to help its U.S. dealerships become more profitable in 2018 in part by focusing on improving the used-vehicle and service businesses. With the most updated product portfolio in the brand’s history, “it’s time to deliver” on profitability…
- Diesels may not be done just yet – Automotive News: It is noteworthy, however, that at the Geneva auto show, VW CEO Matthias Mueller predicted the diesel’s “renaissance” and Mercedes exhibited a preproduction plug-in hybrid version of its OM 654 diesel engine, part of a more than $3 billion investment…
- Hyundai tells Genesis castoffs: Don’t lose hope – Automotive News: Genesis General Manager Erwin Raphael tried to put a positive spin on the frustration among many Hyundai dealers who will lose the right to carry Genesis products. The brand put together a compensation package for those dealers that was designed to be…
- Startup aims to channel Chinese brands to US – Automotive News: If GAC Motor wants to be the first Chinese auto company to enter the U.S., it might have some competition. Duke Hale, a former vice president at Mazda and Volvo in the U.S., is heading an automotive startup – Haah Automotive Holdings – that plans to…
- BMW store uses Genius program as career builder – Automotive News: Several employees, in their early 20s, have graduated from the program at BMW Portland to become salespeople and service writers. General Manager Andrew Clark, who took over the Lithia Motors Inc. store four years ago, saw Genius as an opportunity to…
- Toyota dealers get a peek at new products – Automotive News: Toyota briefed dealers on product updates, including the fifth-generation RAV4 compact crossover that was presented days later at the New York auto show and a redesigned Corolla compact in hatchback form that the brand expects to attract younger…
- Mercedes-Benz boss: customers are still confident in diesel – Autocar: “More than 50% of our sales are diesels” says Zetsche Dieter Zetsche also states that the fuel is crucial to reducing the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere
- TV and radio listings: April 2 – Washington Post: 10 a.m. WTA Volvo Car Open, early rounds » Tennis Channel. SOCCER. 2:50 p.m. Spanish league: Real Betis at Getafe » beIN Sports. 0. Comments. Share on FacebookShare . Share on TwitterTweet; Share via Email. The Post Recommends. Analysis. Despite porn…
- Morning News Call – India, April 2 – Reuters: ANALYSIS-Uber seen girding for battle with Ola in India ahead of IPO Uber’s decision to exit Southeast Asia, where it was bleeding money, should give the global ride-hailing giant more firepower to focus on India, where it’s locked in a fierce battle…
- Yachiyo Aims to Develop New CFRP Roof – Japanautomotivedaily: Yachiyo Industry Co. Ltd. (TYO:7298) is looking to commercialize automotive parts made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) by as []
- Toyota Launches Sora FC Bus – Japanautomotivedaily: Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) announced on March 28 that it has begun sales of the Sora, the first fuel cell []
- Hino Motors Aims for New Electric Truck Launch in Early 2020s – Japanautomotivedaily: Hino Motors Ltd. (TYO:7205) aims to launch an electric vehicle (EV) based on its light-duty truck Dutro at some point []
- Denso Announces Israeli R&D Project for AI, Autonomous Driving, Cybersecurity – Japanautomotivedaily: Denso Corp. (TYO:6902) announced on March 28 that it will begin R&D in Israel for advanced technologies that will include []
- Nissan Infiniti Goes Zen in Fresh Attack on BMW and Audi – Bloomberg: The Nissan Motor Co. premium brand wants to use the structural changes enabled by the industry’s shift toward electric and self-driving cars — such as a larger cabin and fewer components under the hood — as a chance to inject a Japanese touch of…
- TMC Holds Ceremony to Welcome 1,812 New Employees – Toyota: Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) held its annual entrance ceremony for new employees today at 11:00 a.m. in Jimu Main Hall at TMC headquarters in Toyota City.
- In Rare Rebuke, NTSB ‘Unhappy’ With Tesla Over Crash Disclosures – WSJ: The agency expressed displeasure with Tesla”s disclosure that a semiautonomous driving system was activated before a fatal crash last month.
- NTSB ‘Unhappy’ With Tesla Over Crash Disclosures – WSJ: The agency, which dispatched a team last week to investigate the March 23 crash, said Sunday it is “unhappy” that Tesla revealed detailed information it had gleaned from vehicle logs about the collision, including its suggestion that the driver had…