- Geely Chief Denies Family Ties to China’s President – Detroit Bureau: Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd has moved to end speculation that its entrepreneurial chairman, Li Shufu, has benefited from political ties to China’s President for life, Xi Jinping. Li Shufu, who is increasingly active in the global automotive industry …
- Tesla Drops Self-Driving Option Buyers Have Been Unable to Use – Bloomberg: The electric-car maker has dropped from its online design studios the option to pay thousands of dollars more for what it called full self-driving, a higher-level feature for its Autopilot system. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk tweeted late Thursday …
- Tesla slips after Elon Musk announced lower-cost Model 3 (TSLA) – Yahoo: Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter on Thursday that a lower-cost Model 3 was immediately available for order on the company’s website. The electric car will have a base price of $45,000 and is eligible for federal and state tax rebates. Tesla …
- US-China trade feud dents American automakers – CBS News:
- Daimler Issues Fresh Profit Warning; Shares Fall Most in 2 Years – Bloomberg: The shares fell the most intraday in more than two years after the German maker of Mercedes-Benz cars said group earnings before interest and taxes will be significantly below market expectations. Daimler agreed in June to the recall of some 774,000 …
- Renault cuts price of Scenic, Grand Scenic and Koleos models – Yahoo: Renault has cut the price of its Scenic and Grand Scenic MPVs, as well as the Koleos SUV as part of a new-look model line-up. Under the French brand’s EasyLife scheme, which is already seen on the Clio, Captur and Megane ranges, the Scenic and Grand …
- Daimler issues profit warning on diesel woes, shares hit 5-year low – Reuters: FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German luxury carmaker Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) issued a profit warning on Friday, saying that costs arising from government proceedings and measures concerning its diesel vehicles were mainly to blame. The Daimler is seen …
- Axios Autonomous Vehicles – Axios: That EV “skateboard” will be the foundation for as many as 6 Rivian vehicles. They’ll have semi-automated (Level 3) capability at launch, but are already designed to support fully self-driving technology (Level 4), which is expected to come later. For …
- Morgan Stanley downgrades Ford and says dividend at risk – CNBC: The automaker is suffering from the appearance that it lacks transparency and decisive action.
- Toyota chief says no-deal Brexit must be avoided at all costs – FT: The president of Toyota has warned about the consequences for Japanese-owned car plants if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. Akio Toyoda, speaking as chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said “apprehension” …
- WTCC title winners Cyan Racing unveils TCR car for 2019 WTCR – Yahoo: The squad, which has skipped the first year of the new WTCR World Touring Car Cup era after clinching the final WTCC manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles, revealed last month it was working on a tin-top project with Geely automotive brand Lynk & Co for …
- Neodymium is in headphones, cellphones and electric cars – and China controls the world’s supply – CNBC: Neodymium is used in the powerful magnets that make an iPhone vibrate or a Tesla Model 3’s motor spin. And more than 80 percent of the world’s neodymium comes from China.
- The aging tech unicorn’s dilemma: An IPO during rough market conditions – CNBC: There’s been talk about some tech companies like Palantir and Uber going public, but if this market volatility continues into next year, they may have to drop their prices dramatically or postpone their IPOs.
- BRIEF-Chongqing Changan Auto’s New Energy Car Technology Unit To Bring In At Least Three Strategic Investors – Yahoo: Oct 19 (Reuters) – Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd : * SAYS ITS NEW ENERGY CAR TECHNOLOGY UNIT PLANS TO BRING IN AT LEAST THREE STRATEGIC INVESTORS TO BOOST ITS CAPITAL Source text in Chinese:
- German transport min – have not yet received approvable diesel retrofits – Reuters: Germany’s transport minister said on Friday that carmakers have not yet submitted retrofit kits for manipulated diesel cars for which his administration could grant approval.
- Self-driving cars need a new kind of map – Axios: Self-driving cars currently lack the common sense needed to navigate using a traditional human map. Since they can’t interpret context, they need to rely on …. The big picture: As an alternative to personal car ownership, self-driving cars will allow …
- Lynk & Co reveals 493bhp concept car based on TCR race car – Autocar: The car maker and Cyan Racing have announced a partnership which includes a performance concept car and entry to the TCR Lynk & Co has revealed a 493bhp concept car, which is based on a TCR touring car built with leading team Cyan Racing. The car…
- Volvo CEO Says Emissions Probe Going Well, Doesn’t Expect Fine – Bloomberg: …
- Can Bryan Cranston Fix Ford’s Image Issues? – Bloomberg: Cranston dryly intones: “Contrary to what you’re about to see, the Ford Motor Company does not condone, nor build, flying cars.” “We’re honest about the cultural context we’re operating in,” said Matt VanDyke, Ford’s director of U.S. marketing. “There …
- Ford gets snarky with new ad campaign – Detroitnews: Ford Motor Co. debuts a new ad campaign that, company officials say, cuts through the hype about the distant future and focuses on what Ford can sell you today. Dubbed “Built Ford Proud”, a series of four television spots and multiple print and social …
- ‘Built Ford Proud’: New ad campaign elicits emotion, takes shot at Tesla – Automotive News: … debut a new ad campaign, titled “Built Ford Proud,” in a series of print ads and television commercials that play up the company’s 115-year history and family heritage while taking shots at rival automakers, including Tesla, General Motors and Fiat …
- Ford seeks to allay dealers’ worries with ‘comeback story’ – Detroitnews: Las Vegas – The expectations hadn’t been this high in a decade. Nor had the questions facing Ford Motor Co. been so numerous. Some 4,000 dealers from around the country gathered here this week looking for answers inside the same ballroom at the …
- UK should bring forward new petrol and diesel car ban to 2032 – lawmakers – Reuters: (Adds reaction from energy, auto maker groups). By Susanna Twidale. LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Britain should bring forward a ban on the sale of …
- Can Tesla Drive Out of the Slow Lane in China? – WSJ: Tesla is stuck in traffic in China. Its plan to move into the fast lane may not go smoothly. The electric car maker has been one of the biggest victims of China-U.S. trade tensions, ever since Beijing raised the tariff on cars imported from the U.S. to …
- Tesla Has Finally Released Its Long-Promised $35000 Model 3. Sort Of – Fortune: Tesla’s Model 3 was originally supposed to be the company’s mass-market offering, with prices starting at $35,000 before incentives. But that hasn’t happened yet. The version on sale for the last year-the long-range version-costs between $49,000 and…
- ZF takes 35 percent stake in autonomous driving specialist ASAP – Reuters: Car parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen said on Friday it acquired a 35 percent stake in ASAP, a Germany-based maker of software and testing systems for autonomous driving applications and electric vehicles.
- Volvo optimistic on truck demand after profit surge – Reuters: Swedish company Volvo has raised forecasts for truck demand in Europe for the current year after producing strong third-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations.
- No-deal Brexit must be avoided at all costs, says Toyota president – Guardian: Companies such as Toyota, Nissan and Hitachi have invested more than £40bn in the UK since the 1980s. More than 1,000 Japanese firms together employ about 140,000 people in Britain in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and financial services.
- SAIC VW starts work on $2.5 billion China plant in Audi pivot – Reuters: Volkswagen AG’s China venture with SAIC Motor Corp Ltd has started building a $2.5 billion new energy vehicle (NEV) plant in Shanghai, which will make VW’s luxury Audi AG brand cars, a possible first for the venture.
- GM Korea OKs R&D separation plan amid union opposition – Yonhap: In a shareholders meeting Friday, General Motors Co. and SAIC Motor Corp. gave the go-ahead to the plan despite objections raised by the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB). GM holds a 77 percent stake in GM Korea, with the KDB and SAIC Motor …
- Porsche CEO downplays IPO, expects record sales – Automotive News: Earlier this week Automotive News Europe reported comments from Porsche Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke where he said the sport car maker …
- Volkswagen Will Use Virtual Test Drive to Make New Safety Tech – Yahoo: Volkswagen wants to develop more driver assistance systems to make its vehicles even safer. To achieve this, the German automaker will use virtual test drives to develop such assistance technology and integrate it to its production cars faster. The new …
- China minister projects US$14 billion domestic market for intelligent, connected cars by 2020 – Yahoo: Companies include Baidu are testing self-driving vehicles in real-world conditions and building interactive car operating systems. Alibaba confirms self-driving car tests, joining Baidu and Tencent in China’s autonomous car race. The first fully self …
- On the stock market floor with Aston Martin’s Andy Palmer – Autocar: LSE laid on a special car park for a handful of Astons Aston Martin floated its shares on the stock market earlier this month. Steve Cropley joined Aston”s top brass to see it happen While standing on the first floor of the London Stock Exchange (LSE)…
- Mars is barred: why we shouldn’t go to the red planet – Science Weekly podcast – Guardian: On Tuesday, 6 February 2018, SpaceX launched the first ever test flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket. On board was a red Tesla car complete with a …
- BRIEF-Huber+Suhner Becomes Tier 1 Supplier To Chinese Electric Vehicle Manufacturer Geely – Reuters: HUBER+SUHNER BECOMES TIER 1 SUPPLIER TO LEADING CHINESE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURER GEELY.
- Red Dot Awards Names Hyundai as 2018 Brand of the Year – Yahoo: Hyundai has another reason to celebrate as Red Dot Awards named the Korean automaker as the 2018 Brand of the Year. This award adds to Hyundai’s accolades this year for its creative and innovative design. The Red Dot Award is one of the respected …
- Hyundai taps growing EV market with Kona SUV – Automotive News: The Hyundai Kona Electric SUV is off to a fast start in Europe. The automaker says it received 7,000 orders just in Norway for its battery-powered small …
- Tesla Model 3 offered for $45,000, but base $35,000 model still not available – Automotive News: Tesla has started taking orders for a mid-range battery Model 3 that goes about 260 miles between charges for $45,000.
- Tesla starts taking orders for shorter-range Model 3 and drops ‘full self-driving’ feature – Latimes: While Tesla is making the Model 3 more accessible to some buyers, the starting price for sedans with the long-range battery is rising to $54,000. This iteration of the car boasts 310 miles of driving range, plus a faster top speed and zero-to-60 time …
- China Electric Scooter Maker Raises $63 Million in Downsized IPO – Bloomberg: . Nio Inc., a Chinese electric-car maker that started trading in the U.S. last …
- Suzuki Introduces Limited Edition GSX-R1000R BSB Replica with Exclusive Package – Yahoo: Suzuki has re-signed Bradley Rey and will once again race for the team onboard a Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the next season of the British Superbike Championship (BSB). To celebrate this, Suzuki introduced a limited edition GSX-R1000R BSB replica that …
- Hyundai launches Lafesta compact in China – Yonhap: SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) — Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s biggest carmaker by sales, said Friday it has unveiled the Lafesta, a compact sedan built exclusively for Chinese customers, to expand it presence in the world’s largest automobile market.
- Tech Startups Stoke Market for IPOs – WSJ: After years on the stock market”s sidelines, a number of highly valued Silicon Valley companies are gearing up to go public as soon as next year. Among the IPO candidates are ride-sharing companies Uber Technologies and Lyft, and data-mining specialist…
- Hyundai to launch i30 N Line model later next week – Yonhap: SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) — Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s biggest carmaker by sales, said Friday it will launch its i30 N Line model in the domestic market next week as part of its diversification strategy. The i30 N Line, mated with a 1.6-liter …
- Tesla launches new $45,000 Model 3 – Reuters: Tesla Inc on Thursday introduced a new $45,000 version of its Model 3 sedan on its website, launching the car as U.S. tax breaks for Tesla cars are about to decrease. According to the website, the rear-wheel-drive model has a “mid range” battery, a…
- Volkswagen offers more incentives to unload old diesels – Yahoo: FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – German automaker Volkswagen says it is offering more incentives to trade in older diesel models in an effort to improve air quality. The company said Thursday it would offer trade-in incentives for people who want to replace …
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk just introduced a ‘lower-cost, mid-range’ Model 3 via Twitter – CNBC: Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter that a new variant of the company’s Model 3 electric sedan is going on sale today. He wrote, “Costs $35k after federal & state tax rebates in California, but true cost of ownership is closer to $31k after gas …
