- Self-driving cars could change the way you get around in retirement – CNBC: And by the end of this year, those streets are slated to have a new service to help its residents – ages 55 and up – get around: a ride-sharing service using self-driving cars. “Retirement villages are just the perfect first place we see for …
- Toyota and SoftBank are teaming up to target self-driving car services – CNBC: Toyota Motor and SoftBank are teaming up to develop self-driving car services, signaling deepening alliances between top automakers and tech firms as the global race to develop autonomous cars intensifies. Japan’s biggest automaker and its most …
- China car dealers push for tax cut as auto growth stalls, report says – Automotive News: China car dealers push for tax cut as auto growth stalls, report says
- BMW Is Plowing $4.1 Billion Into Its Chinese Joint Venture as Trump’s Trade War Heats Up – Fortune: The policy change also gives carmakers such as Daimler AG, Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co. a chance to obtain a bigger control over their businesses in China. The world’s biggest car market is fast becoming a major development and production …
- Walgreens Sales Growth Falls Short – WSJ: Walgreens Boots Alliance shares slid in premarket trading as weaker sales of non-pharmacy items put a damper on the drugstore chain”s sales growth.
- The Key to Autonomous Driving? An Impossibly Perfect Map – WSJ: That self-driving cars-and eventually, all other forms of autonomous robots-require such a map has big implications for who will need to partner with whom in the autonomous driving space. It implies a great deal of collaboration, or at least …
- General Motors, Ram built secret storage spaces into new pickups – Freep: Ask buyers of the redesigned 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, 2019 GMC Sierra or 2019 Ram pickups what makes them so cool and one answer will be the added storage. From snug, hidden cubbyholes inside the pickups to extended boxes and beds outside, …
- Asian stocks slump after Wall Street rout spooks investors – Nikkei: China’s Great Wall Motor slid 6.4% in Hong Kong after reporting a 15% decline in September sales volume to 86,723 units, while Dongfeng Motor …
- Tough CO2 targets ‘could cost 100000 jobs’: VW chief – Yahoo: Frankfurt am Main (AFP) – Setting European Union targets for reducing cars’ greenhouse gas output that are too ambitious could backfire with the loss of 100,000 jobs, Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess said Thursday. If ministers aimed to slash …
- Jaguar I-Pace pedestrian alert system gets charity approval – Autocar: I-Pace is the first electric car to feature an audible pedestrian alert system tuned specifically for the visually impaired It has been revealed that the Audible Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) fitted to the Jaguar I-Pace electric car is the first to have…
- German IPO Rush Signals Listing Window Is Starting to Close – Bloomberg: Volkswagen’s rival Daimler AG, the world’s largest truckmaker by revenue, is adopting a new corporate structure that will grant its truck business more independence, leading investors to speculate about a possible IPO of a minority stake. “We are a bit …
- Elon Musk, Tesla reaffirm settlement with SEC despite snarky tweets, Murdoch report denied – Automotive News: Tesla and the Securities and Exchange Commission have put aside tweets insulting the agency to ask a judge to accept a proposed settlement in a fraud suit against the automaker and its outspoken CEO.
- Breakingviews – BMW writes China JV owner manual for its rivals – Reuters: Watching on the sidelines are Daimler, which has the same U.S. production headache as BMW, and a similarly beat-up JV partner in BAIC, plus Nissan, paired with Dongfeng Motor. With markets in free fall they might wait a while longer. BMW, though, has …
- LeasePlan pulls IPO plans as stock markets wobble – FT: LeasePlan, the private equity-backed car leasing group that announced plans to go public last week, has abruptly pulled its initial public offering citing “market conditions”. Long term rentals for new cars has become big business in Europe, while …
- University of Michigan researchers to use algae to make diesel fuel – Freep: With $2.5 million, researchers want to show how algae could make diesel fuel to fight climate change.
- Hong Kong stocks slump 3.5% as rout spreads from US through Asia – Nikkei: Great Wall Motor slid 6% after reporting a 15% decline in September sales volume to 86,723 units, while Dongfeng Motor Group fell 5.7% following a …
- SEC, Tesla support approval of settlement – Reuters: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla Inc and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk filed a submission late on Wednesday in support of the approval and resolution of civil matters, saying the terms were in the best interest of investors.
- VW’s Skoda deliveries drop 16 percent in September as WLTP rules start – Reuters: Deliveries of Skoda Auto cars, part of the Volkswagen group, dropped 16 percent in September, largely in European markets due to conversions to conform to the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test (WLTP) anti-pollution rules.
- Tesla, SEC Reaffirm Settlement Despite Musk Snarky Tweet – Bloomberg: In a joint submission seeking judicial approval, the SEC, Tesla and CEO Elon Musk said the proposed deal — paying a combined $40 million to resolve claims that Musk misled the public by tweeting about his plan to take Tesla private — was in the “best…
- BMW to gain control of China venture in ‘new era’ for foreign carmakers – Reuters: * JV will spend 3 bln euros expanding Shenyang facility (Adds CFO comments from interview)
- BMW CEO Krueger on $4.1 Billion Bet on China – Bloomberg: BMW AG is accelerating its push into China with a 3.6 billion euros ($4.1 billion) deal to secure a majority stake in its Chinese joint venture. BMW Chief Executive Officer Harald Krueger discusses the deal and the escalating trade war in an exclusive …
- Exclusive: Reverse gear – China car dealers push for tax cut as auto growth stalls – Reuters: China’s top auto dealers’ association has asked the government to halve taxes on car purchases to revive faltering sales, sources said, as worries grow the country’s auto market could shrink this year for the first time in decades.
- Lions will surprise opponents at Suzuki Cup: Fandi Ahmad – Yahoo: With just under a month to go before the start of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, Singapore national football head coach Fandi Ahmad has on Thursday (11 October) fired off a bold declaration to opponents, “We will surprise them.” The …
- Mercedes plans advanced self-driving tech for next S class – Automotive News: The next Mercedes-Benz S class will offer the brand’s first … Kaellenius will succeed Dieter Zetsche as Daimler and Mercedes CEO in May.
- BRIEF-SAIC Motor Sells Fewer Vehicles In September – Yahoo: SAIC Motor Corp Ltd: * SAYS IT SOLD 610,734 VEHICLES IN SEPT, DOWN FROM 665,298 VEHICLES YEAR EARLIER Source …
- How BMW gained control of its China joint venture – Automotive News: BMW will take majority control of its main China joint venture for $4.2 billion, the first such move by a global automaker as Beijing relaxes ownership rules in the world’s largest auto market.
- UPDATE 1-German coalition parties spat over diesel car fines – CNBC:
- German coalition parties spat over diesel car fines – Reuters: Ministers from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives attacked on Thursday a proposal by the Social Democrats to fine carmakers who fail to offer diesel hardware retrofits, opening a new battle front in their fragile coalition government.
- Safety is key for Japan’s older drivers – Reuters: He’s trialing Daihatsu’s pint-sized Tonto with automatic emergency brakes and error detecting pedals, high tech mini cars like these were marketed towards young Japanese families. Instead they’ve gained a huge following in a very different market.
- Why did Nissan dealership not tell us our car had been stolen? – Guardian:
- Here’s Where Tesla’s Supplier Says the Lithium Market Is Heading – Bloomberg: The supplier to Tesla Inc. and BMW AG fell as much as 28 percent on its debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Thursday amid turbulence in the lithium and boarder markets. Its Shenzhen stock has notched a decline of 45 percent this year. In anticipation …
- German economy minister doubts constitutionality of diesel fines – Reuters: German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Thursday the government could run the risk of breaking the law if it imposed fines on carmakers who fail to offer diesel hardware retrofits.
- Next-gen Renault Zoe targeting 250-mile range for 2019 – Autocar: Renault’s next step in its electrification plans after the all-new Clio is a second generation Zoe EV, and disguised prototypes have been caught on the road for the first time. Set to arrive after the Clio towards the end of next year or early in 2020 …
- BMW’s Pricey China Ride Can Handle a Bumpy Road – Bloomberg: While mass-market sales have fallen sharply, BMW Brilliance and Beijing Benz have managed to push up the average industry-wide pretax margin to 10 percent. Exclude those two and margins fell to 8.7 percent in the first half. In the first three weeks of …
- Hong Kong stocks sink as Wall Street tumble spills over – Nikkei: Great Wall Motor slid 7.2% after reporting a 15% decline in September sales volume to 86,723 units, while Dongfeng Motor Group fell 6.1% following a …
- Chipmaker Nvidia to supply computer for Volvo’s upcoming vehicles – Yahoo: SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Graphics chipmaker Nvidia Corp said on Wednesday that Swedish automaker Volvo would begin using its artificial intelligence computer to deliver low-level autonomous features in all its next-generation vehicles. The deal …
- BMW to raise stake in China joint venture to 75% in €3.6bn deal – FT: BMW will pay €3.6bn to increase its stake in a Chinese joint venture to 75 per cent by 2022, following Beijing’s relaxation of investment restrictions in the automotive sector, which will hand foreign companies more control in the world’s largest car …
- Auto consumers feel pinch as interest rates rise – Detroitnews: Interest rates for car loans are a full percentage point higher than a year ago, and are expected to rise
- Uber-funded research project pushes new ways to measure safety of driverless cars – Washington Post: But a new study by the Rand Corp., funded by Uber’s autonomous vehicle division and released Thursday, tries to map out what independent tests of driverless safety might look like and how they might be implemented. One key element, the authors say, …
- BMW to gain control of China venture in milestone deal for foreign carmakers – Reuters: Germany’s BMW said it will take majority control of its main China joint venture for 3.6 billion euros ($4.2 billion), the first such move by a global carmaker as Beijing starts to relax ownership rules for the world’s biggest auto market.
- Suzuki GSX-R1000 Gets Smart Upgrades for 2019 – Yahoo: Suzuki Motors unveiled the 2019 GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R supersport bikes at the Intermot Motorcycle Show in Germany, showcasing the smart upgrades imbued in each bike for the upcoming model year. First introduced in 2016, the latest added …
- BMW Makes $4.1 Billion Push for Control in China’s Car Market – Bloomberg:
- Elon Musk Denies Report James Murdoch Poised to Be Tesla Chairman – Bloomberg: Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk denied a report in the Financial Times that James Murdoch is poised to replace him as chairman, prolonging the uncertainty over leadership at the electric-car maker after a deal with the U.S. securities …
- BUYER’S GUIDE: 2018 Hyundai Accent Hatchback – Yahoo: A plethora of features it may not have; and neither does its strength lie in its safety amenities. But what it lacks for modern conveniences, it more than makes up for performance and efficiency, because at the end of the day, the Hyundai Accent …
- BMW to gain control of China venture for $4.2 billion in milestone deal – Reuters: Germany’s BMW said it will take majority control of its main China joint venture for $4.2 billion, the first such move by a global carmaker as Beijing starts to relax ownership rules for the world’s biggest auto market.
- (LEAD) Hyundai to launch new large-size SUV next month – Yonhap: (ATTN: ADDS new SUV’s reported name in 3rd para; ADDS new info in 5th para). SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) — Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest carmaker by sales, said Thursday it plans to launch a new large sport utility vehicle in the domestic …
- 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTI – GT-Icon – Autocar: 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTI – GT-Icon. While the Golf GTI might not have been the first hot hatch, it’s probably the most significant. Here we meet a Kiwi-new example that has been given a revival. Words: Kyle Cassidy | Photos Tom Gasnier. Share on Facebook.
- BMW raises stake in main China JV with $4.2 billion deal – Reuters: German luxury carmaker BMW will take majority control of its main China joint venture, BMW Brilliance Automotive, the first such move by a foreign carmaker as Beijing sets to relax ownership rules on foreign auto ventures in the market.
- GM Korea union to vote on strike against R&D entity – Yonhap: SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) — Unionized workers at GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., will cast a vote next week on a possible strike to protest against the company’s plan to establish a separate R&D corporation, the union said …
- FT says James Murdoch is in line for Tesla chair. Elon Musk’s reply: Wrong – CNBC: Outgoing Twenty-First Century Fox Chief Executive James Murdoch is the lead candidate to replace Elon Musk as Tesla chairman, the Financial …
- BMW Group increases stake in its joint venture with China’s … – Reuters: The BMW Group said on Thursday it plans to increase its stake in its Chinese joint venture with partner Brilliance Automotive <1114.HK> from 50 percent to 75 …