Archives for January 2019

• VW revives American beach buggy as EV concept for Geneva – Automotive News: VW aims to spur interest in its upcoming lineup of full-electric cars with a modern version of an American beach buggy from the 1960s.
• Ride-hailing companies suspend Barcelona services after new regulations – Reuters: Ride-hailing companies Uber and Cabify are to suspend their services in Barcelona in response to the regional government’s imposition of limits on how they operate in the city.
• Stock futures mixed | Facebook surges 11% | Tesla’s CFO leaves, again – CNBC: Tesla (TSLA) was 5 percent lower in premarket after it missed on earnings. Revenue did beat Street forecasts, however, and CEO Elon Musk …
• UK Auto Industry Already Feeling the Brexit Pinch – New York Times: Automakers like Jaguar Land Rover and BMW have already said that they would briefly pause production after Britain’s scheduled leaving date at the …

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• Carlos Ghosn Says He’s the Victim of ‘Plot and Treason’ by Rivals at Nissan – New York Times: The embattled auto executive told Nikkei Asian Review that leaders at the company had sought to have him removed because of his plans to “integrate” further …
• Hyundai releases Super Bowl commercial starring Jason Bateman – Automotive News: Jason Bateman plays an elevator operator in Hyundai’s Super Bowl ad that pitches its “Shopper Assurance” program, which seeks to modernize the car-buying experience.
• VW Group’s sales of electrified vehicles grow 30% – Automotive News: VW Group’s sales of electrified vehicles rose 30 percent to about 100,000 last year. About one-third were full-electric vehicles, while the rest were plug-in hybrids.
• Bosch sees ‘huge’ market for electric, self-driving services – Automotive News: Bosch plans a push into parking, charging and maintenance services for electric and self-driving vehicles, a market the supplier expects to become “huge.”

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• Indonesia plans EV incentives for foreign automakers – Automotive News: Indonesia is finalizing a new electric vehicle policy that will offer incentives to foreign automakers, as it ramps up efforts to become a lithium battery hub.
• Sweden’s Autoliv delays 2020 targets on car market slowdown – Reuters: Sweden’s Autoliv forecast lower-than-expected organic sales growth this year and delayed its 2020 sales and margin targets, blaming a slowdown in car production and sales as well as an increase in raw material prices.
• Tesla Has Just 4 Weeks to Rally 21% or Pay $920 Million on Bonds – Bloomberg: Tesla can dodge the payout by exchanging the note for a mix of cash and stock — but only if the shares jump about 21 percent from their current level, ..
• The World’s Biggest Carmaker Is Getting Into Politics – Bloomberg: The World”s Biggest Carmaker Is Getting Into Politics BloombergVolkswagen AG made an impassioned foray into politics by vowing to mobilize its workforce to vote in upcoming European Parliament elections and calling for …

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• Nissan receives SEC inquiry on executive pay – Nikkei:
• Madrid taxis block major road in biggest anti-Uber protest yet – Reuters: Hundreds of taxis blocked a central traffic artery in Madrid during Monday’s morning rush hour, in their biggest show of strength yet as a protest seeking tighter regulation of Uber and other ride-hailing services entered its second week.
• Lotus and Williams partner up to develop ‘Omega’ hypercar – Autocar: Lotus announces “strategic technical partnership” with Williams Advanced Engineering to develop electric powertrains Lotus has announced that it’s collaborating with Williams Advanced Engineering to develop and research “advanced propulsion…
• Tata Power quarterly profit dives nearly 79 percent – Reuters: India’s Tata Power Co Ltd’s quarterly profit plunged nearly 79 percent, well below market expectations, dented by higher expenses.

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• Nissan’s Saikawa, following Ghosn resignation, says he plans to step down as CEO – Automotive News: Hiroto Saikawa has said he will step down as Nissan CEO, shortly after former Chairman Carlos Ghosn resigned as chairman and CEO of Renault. The move will give the strained union between the automakers a fresh start.
• New Porsche Cayenne Coupe seen ahead of summer on-sale date – Autocar: Porsche’s upcoming BMW X6 rival hits the cold weather testing routes, with a debut in the next few months likely Porsche is building up to reveal a coupe version of the Cayenne SUV in the coming months, and another prototype has been caught winter…
• automakers would take part in productive talks.
• Saudi Aramco, Air Products agree to build first hydrogen vehicle fueling station – Reuters: Saudi Aramco and Air Products and Chemicals Inc said on Friday they agreed to jointly build the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fueling station in Saudi Arabia.
• Volkswagen to create battery production unit in push for e-cars mass production – Reuters: Volkswagen said it would create a unit to manufacture electric car batteries, as it prepares to mass produce electric cars and overhaul its components division which currently makes engines, gearboxes and steering components.

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• Renault confirms Senard as new chairman, Bollore as CEO – Reuters: French carmaker Renault on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Michelin’s Jean-Dominique Senard as its new chairman and Thierry Bollore as new chief executive.
• Ford, Hackett feel Wall Street’s pain over slow-motion turnaround – Automotive News: Ford needed to stop the bleeding before it could start showing gains from herculean efforts to turn the company around.
• Bugatti CEO: There will be no SUV – Autocar: An Autocar car image of a possible Bugatti four-door saloon, based on the Galibier concept. Stephan Winkelmann has shut down rumours of an SUV from the hypercar maker Bugatti will not make an SUV, its CEO Stephan Winkelmann has stated, reacting to…
• Here’s what everyone will be talking about at Davos in 2020 and beyond – CNBC: These are the themes that will dominate the Davos gatherings of the future, says General Atlantic’s Bill Ford.
• Volvo says electric car unit Polestar could list one day – Reuters: Volvo Cars, which is owned by China’s Geely, could in future seek …

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• Boeing takes next step in developing Uber Air with first successful test flight of air taxi – CNBC:
• Tesla downgrade by RBC means more analysts on Wall Street have ‘sell’ ratings than ‘buy’ on stock – CNBC: Eight analysts say “buy,” seven say “hold” and nine now say “sell,” according to TipRanks.com.
• Subaru halts bulk of global output over part defect – Automotive News: Subaru’s sole vehicle factory in Japan, accounting for roughly 60 percent of global production, could be out of action for almost two weeks after the company discovered a suspected defect in a power-steering component.
• New Peugeot 2008 to be offered with all-electric variant – Autocar: Peugeot’s Nissan Juke rival is seen for the first time in prototype form, sporting styling heavily inspired by the 3008 Peugeot will follow up the imminent launch of its new 208 supermini with a new 2008 crossover, due to be revealed in the autumn….
• German carmakers, suppliers eye autonomous driving alliance – magazine – Reuters: German carmakers Daimler , BMW and Volkswagen, and some of their major suppliers are in talks about developing a joint system for autonomous driving, manager magazine reported on Wednesday, citing company sources.

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