- Renault, Nissan in board meetings before expected new Ghosn indictment – Reuters: Renault and Nissan directors were due to be updated on the investigation into suspected financial misconduct by alliance boss Carlos Ghosn at separate board meetings on Thursday, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
- Ghosn develops fever; faces further charges – Automotive News: Carlos Ghosn has developed a fever, prompting the Japanese authorities to stop interrogating the former Nissan chairman. Prosecutors are expected to indict the executive on two more charges of financial misconduct on Friday.
- Veoneer tech allows back seat drivers to steer the car – Automotive News: Being called a back seat driver may soon become a compliment rather than an insult. Veoneer’s autonomous test car, LIV, short for Learning Intelligent Vehicle, can be driven from anywhere in the car using a smartphone.
- Ford does not rule out plant closures in Europe as part of overhaul – Reuters: Ford cannot rule out plant closures as part of its efforts to return its European operations to profitability, Steven Armstrong, group vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said on Thursday.
- Jaguar Land Rover to cut thousands of UK jobs after China, diesel slump – Reuters: * Minister says no-deal Brexit would also hurt company
- Jaguar Land Rover clear they regard UK as home – May’s spokesman – Reuters: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has made clear they regard Britain as home and are investing in the future, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Thursday.
- U-M engineering graduates no longer flocking to automakers – Freep: The figures on University of Michigan graduates and where they find jobs could be just one small indicator of slower average growth for the state.
- Renault board to meet with fate of Ghosn in the balance – FT: Renault will hold an extraordinary board meeting on Thursday in Paris as its boss, Carlos Ghosn, remains in custody in Japan on allegations of …
- Ex-Porsche WEC boss Seidl joins McLaren F1 team as managing director – Yahoo: McLaren has appointed former Porsche World Endurance Championship boss Andreas Seidl as its Formula 1 team’s new managing director, in a …
- Opinion: is Ford finally taking action in Europe? – Autocar: Ford is pushing forward with a new European business strategy A move from MPVs to SUVs could reflect Ford’s realisation that it can’t survive in Europe on vans alone There were whispers among analysts and the business papers throughout last year…
- Rolls-Royce celebrates best year of sales in 115-year history – Autocar: Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös with the brand’s first SUV, the Cullinan The luxury car maker sold 4107 units in 2018; new UK dealerships push company to 10% domestic growth British luxury car maker Rolls-Royce is celebrating its best year of…
- Intel and Mobileye forge new partnerships with Volkswagen and Valeo at CES – Automotive News: Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary have devoted considerable resources to developing technologies to support fully self-driving vehicles. But they’re no longer waiting for an autonomous era to arrive before deploying them.Call it trickle-down…
- Ford to cut thousands of jobs; John Lewis staff bonus at risk – business live – Guardian: Ford to cut thousands of jobs; John Lewis staff bonus at risk – business live The GuardianJohn Lewis staff may not get a bonus this year, after a tough Christmas, as UK retailers update the City on their festive performance.
- Exxon mulling investing in electric-vehicle charging – Axios: “While this would be a small step, it would be a sign that Exxon – long the most bearish of the oil majors on electric vehicles – is capable of changing …
- BRIEF-Chongqing Changan Automobile Sells Less Vehicles In 2018 – Yahoo: BRIEF-Chongqing Changan Automobile Sells Less Vehicles In 2018 Yahoo Singapore NewsJan 10 (Reuters) – Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd : * SAYS IT SOLD 158136 VEHICLES IN DEC VERSUS 283655 VEHICLES YEAR EARLIER * SAYS …
- Ford Europe to slash thousands of jobs in turnaround plan – Reuters: Ford on Thursday said it will cut thousands of jobs, exit unprofitable markets and discontinue loss-making vehicle lines as part of a turnaround effort aimed at achieving a 6 percent operating margin in Europe.
- Tesla feature that gets car to follow you like a pet will ‘probably’ be available soon, Musk says – CNBC: Musk has said that Tesla vehicles operating with the feature will be able to “drive to your phone location & follow you like a pet.”
- Japan’s SESC files a fresh case against Ghosn, Kelly and Nissan – Nikkei:
- Volkswagen car sales reach record despite deteriorating growth – FT: The company said it sold 6.24m cars last year, rising 0.2 per cent from the record in 2017. The year ended with a whimper, as sales dropped 9 per cent …
- Jaguar Land Rover ‘to Cut 5,000 Jobs’ at U.K. Plants – Bloomberg: Jaguar Land Rover ‘to Cut 5,000 Jobs” at U.K. Plants BloombergThe carmaker employs 44000 workers at plants in the West Midlands and Halewood.
- Ghosn, Kelly and Nissan face fresh woes as SESC files new case – Nikkei:
- Volkswagen says sold record 6.24 million vehicles worldwide in 2018 – Reuters: German carmaker Volkswagen on Thursday said it had sold a record 6.24 million vehicles around the world last year, a 0.2 percent increase compared with 2017.
- Slovak car production rises in 2018, set for record 2019 – Reuters: Slovak car production rises in 2018, set for record 2019 ReutersOverall production at Slovakia’s car factories rose to 1.08 million vehicles in 2018 and should increase to a record 1.15 million units this year, the country’s car …
- CES 2019: Hyundai Elevate is Ready for Search and Rescue Mission – Yahoo: However, Hyundai wants to change that notion as it builds a machine that intends to rise above every roadblock. The Korean automaker said that its …
- Jaguar Land Rover to make ‘substantial’ job cuts after China, diesel slump – Reuters: Britain’s biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to announce “substantial” job cuts in the thousands, a source told Reuters, as the company faces double-digit drops in demand in China and a slump in sales for diesel in Europe.
- VW Is Setting Up Electric Car Charging Stations in China – Yahoo: Global manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Ford Motor Co. are shifting their focus to electric cars as waning sales of gas guzzlers led to the first …
- Carlos Ghosn Comes Down With Fever in Jail, Halting Interrogation – Bloomberg: After spending more than a month in a prison room in Tokyo, Carlos Ghosn has developed a fever, prompting the Japanese authorities to stop …
- Exclusive: Volkswagen, China spearhead $300 billion global drive to electrify cars – Reuters: Global automakers are planning a $300 billion surge in spending on electric vehicle technology over the next five to 10 years, with nearly half of the money targeted at China, accelerating the industry’s transition from fossil fuels and shifting power…
- ‘Sahara’ bronze tapped as automotive color of the year – Freep: Sahara, a warm bronze is named auto color of the year as autoamkers and tastes move away from small vehicles and basic black
- The New Hot Rods Are Vintage Classics With Electric Motors – Bloomberg: The New Hot Rods Are Vintage Classics With Electric Motors BloombergOsamu Furukawa’s garage is full of gorgeous electric cars, but none of them is a Tesla. There’s a yellow 1977 Volkswagen Beetle alongside a rare …
- Technology, frugality overtakes glitzy glam of Detroit auto show – Detroitnews: This month”s show is a diminished husk of its former grandeur, abandoned by European automakers, sparsely attended by executives, bypassed by media
- SK Innovation Eyes $10 Billion Battery Bet After Major VW Order – Bloomberg: SK Innovation Eyes $10 Billion Battery Bet After Major VW Order BloombergSK Innovation Co. is weighing a $10 billion plan to invest in battery cells, a move that would transform the supplier to Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG into a …
- Ghosn sought $30m Nissan loan to Saudi friend, say sources – Nikkei:
- Nissan Note takes 2018 sales crown in Japan – Nissan-global: The Nissan Note was Japan”s best-selling car in 2018 as customers embraced its innovative e-POWER electrified powertrain, which also helped make the Nissan Serena the most popular minivan.The Nissan Note e-POWER Medalist Black Arrow. The e-POWER system…
- China Wants Elon Musk to Help Promote Stable Ties With the US – Bloomberg: What’s the bigger challenge for Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk: Helping thaw frosty relations between the U.S. and China, or getting the …
- Elon Musk tweets: Tesla to stop selling lowest-priced versions of Model S and X vehicles on Monday – CNBC: Elon Musk wrote in a tweet late on Wednesday that Tesla will stop selling the lowest-range versions of its Model S sedan and Model X SUVs on Monday.
- UPDATE 1-Mexico fuel shortage worries industry as lines in capital grow – CNBC: Gasoline shortages in Mexico sparked by a … Alfredo Arzola, director of the automotive industry hub in the state of …
- Vehicle screens go super-sized at CES as tech catches up – Automotive News: Take a glance at the vehicle displays shown at CES and you could be forgiven for thinking you are at the movies. “This is not science fiction!” announced the head of Byton, an electric vehicle startup earlier this week.
- Ford Launches Leaner Explorer SUV After First Redesign in a Decade – Bloomberg: Ford Launches Leaner Explorer SUV After First Redesign in a Decade. By … Ford Motor Co., losing ground in the sport utility vehicle business it helped … Rivals such as the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Chevrolet Traverse all …
- After 20 Years, China’s Auto Sales Sputter Into Reverse – Bloomberg: After 20 Years, China’s Auto Sales Sputter Into Reverse BloombergThe growth engine for the world’s car industry has been thrown into reverse. China recorded its first yearly fall in auto sales in more than two decades, the victim …
- 2020 Ford Explorer debuts with more technology, room performance – Freep: 2020 Ford Explorer uses new rear-drive architecture for better acceleration, towing capacity, room and fuel economy. rssfeeds.freep.com/~/i/591396756/0/freep/business
- Ford debuts all-new 2020 Explorer – Detroitnews: Ford debuts all-new 2020 Explorer The Detroit NewsThe sixth-generation Explorer is based on a rear-drive platform. It hits showrooms this summer.
- Fiat Chrysler to pay more than $700 million over U.S. diesel emissions claim – Reuters: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will pay more than $700 million to resolve lawsuits from the U.S. Justice Department and diesel owners over claims it used illegal software to allow 104,000 diesel vehicles to emit excess emissions, three people briefed on…
- For Rolls-Royce, the Future Is Customization, Not Electric – Bloomberg: Cullinan is conquering buyers who might be tempted to buy Bentley’s Bentayga ($200,000) or Lamborghini’s Urus ($200,000) instead. More than half …
- Carmaker Rolls-Royce urges May to avoid a hard Brexit – Reuters: Carmaker Rolls-Royce called on the British government to avoid a disorderly Brexit and said it was building up some stock, expanding warehouse capacity and training suppliers for customs changes in case Britain leaves the EU without a deal.
- Brexit Could Paralyze Rolls Royce Plant If One Part Is Missing – Bloomberg: Brexit Could Paralyze Rolls Royce Plant If One Part Is Missing BloombergUltra-luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce’s plant in southern England risks being paralyzed in the event of a hard Brexit if just one component becomes unavailable …
- Bentley powers up Bentayga for flagship Speed model – Autocar: Bentayga Speed will benefit from engine and chassis revisions 650bhp 6.0-litre W12-powered Lamborghini Urus rival will be unveiled in the first half of this year Bentley will crown its Bentayga range with a flagship Speed version later this year,…