- Exclusive: VW, Ford far apart on investment in Ford autonomous unit – sources – Reuters: Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Co have been unable to reach agreement on whether or how much the German automaker will invest in Ford’s self-driving …
- Duggan to lawmakers: Michigan auto insurance system ‘morally indefensible’ – Detroitnews: Duggan to lawmakers: Michigan auto insurance system ‘morally … Michigan law requires auto insurers to pay “usual and customary” charges even …
- Ford recalls nearly 1.5 million F-150 pickups for sudden downshifts – Automotive News: Faulty transmissions in 2011-13 pickups could be linked to five accidents, the automaker said.
- Twitter appoints Google’s Guy Schueller as new industry director of automotive – Automotive News: In his new role, he will help automakers with marketing campaigns.
- GM, Amazon Deal May Give Electric Truck Maker Rivian a Spark – Bloomberg: The startup is in talks with General Motors Co. and Amazon.com Inc. about an investment that would value the company at $1 billion to $2 billion, …
- NHTSA’s Autopilot Claim That Tesla Touted Disputed in New Study – Bloomberg: The NHTSA’s original crash-reduction finding garnered broad attention as an apparent validation of Tesla’s Autopilot system from the U.S. …
- Daimler appoints Airbus CFO Harald Wilhelm to replace Bodo Uebber – Reuters: German car and truck manufacturer Daimler on Wednesday said it had appointed Harald Wilhelm as its new Chief Financial Officer to replace Bodo Uebber.
- Ford recalls 1.48 mln F-150 pickups in N. America over transmissions – Reuters: Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday it was recalling about 1.48 million F-150 pickup trucks in North America due to a potential transmission downshift issue that could increase the risk of a crash.
- The self-driving car is a marvel doomed by unpredictable humans – Guardian: Who’s liable if your self-driving car hits another self-driving car? You, the car, the manufacturer? Car insurance is tricky and complex enough without …
- Renault scraps Ghosn’s 30 million euro parachute with government backing – Reuters: Renault said it had scrapped 30 million euros ($34 million) in deferred and severance pay to former boss Carlos Ghosn, forced out last month following his arrest for suspected financial misconduct at Japanese affiliate Nissan.
- Corrected: Ford recalls almost 1.5 million F-150 pickups in North America for transmission issue – Reuters: Ford Motor Co on Wednesday said it was recalling about 1.48 million F-150 pickup trucks in North America due to a transmission issue that could increase the risk of a crash.
- Slowing car market puts brakes on Veoneer sales growth – Reuters: Swedish autoparts maker Veoneer forecast organic sales would not grow this year as it expects a downturn in Chinese and European car production to persist, …
- Toyotas and Chevys Are More Reliable Than BMW and Mercedes, JD Power Finds – Bloomberg: For the first time in its 30-year vehicle-dependability study, J.D. Power found that mainstream brands ranked higher than upscale ones, based on …
- Ford Says 7000 UK Factory Jobs at Risk in No-Deal Brexit – Bloomberg: Ford Motor Co. warned of dire consequences for U.K. factories employing more than 7,000 people if British politicians fail to agree on a plan to avert a …
- Renault scraps Ghosn payouts – Automotive News: He not only ran Renault, but also held the chairman post at Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, its alliance partners. He quit Renault last month, replaced as …
- Mercedes A220 asks ‘Who wants a $48K compact sedan?’ – Freep: The Mercedes A220 compact has slick new controls and a lovely interior, but does anybody want a $48,000 compact sedan?
- Former Renault boss Ghosn loses compensation, shares – Washington Post: French car maker Renault says it will not pay former Chairman Carlos Ghosn compensation following his resignation. Renault says in a …
- Nissan agrees joint venture to build Algerian car assembly plant – Reuters: Japan’s second-largest automaker Nissan Motor Co has signed a joint venture agreement with an Algerian private partner to build a car assembly plant at a cost of $160 million, the company said on Wednesday.
- Lexus tops 2019 dependability rankings, Fiat struggles – Reuters: Toyota Motor’s Lexus brand of luxury vehicles was the most dependable name for the eighth consecutive year, while Fiat Chrysler’s Fiat brand dropped to the bottom in an annual auto industry reliability survey published Wednesday.
- Bikes put spanner in works of Dutch driverless car schemes – Guardian: Bikes put spanner in works of Dutch driverless car schemes The GuardianReport highlights problems bicycles cause to self-driving cars’ detection systems.
- Mass-market brands outperform luxury marques in reliability, Power says – Automotive News: Lexus extended its reign as the top brand for long-term dependability while mass-market brands, led by Toyota, outperformed luxury brands for the first time in an annual J.D. Power study.
- Sean Parker is more worried about health care than Elon Musk’s ‘comic book vision’ for A.I. – CNBC: Sean Parker is much more worried by the state of the health care system than Elon Musk’s hellish predictions about artificial intelligence.
- Ford told May it could move business overseas because of Brexit – Reuters: Ford Motor Co told British Prime Minister Theresa May during a conference call on Tuesday that it may have to move some production out of Britain because of …
- Ford told UK PM May it could move business overseas because of Brexit – Reuters: Ford Motor Co told British Prime Minister Theresa May during a conference call on Tuesday that it may have to move some production out of Britain because of Brexit, according to a source on the call.
- BMW increasing production at South Carolina plant, says North American CEO – CNBC: BMW North America CEO Bernhard Kuhnt joins CNBC’s Phil LeBeau to discuss the company’s increase in U.S. production, a new luxury SUV, the tariffs against …
- Renault Scraps Some $12.4 Million Worth of Payouts to Ghosn – Bloomberg: Renault SA plans to scrap a golden parachute of about 11 million euros ($12.4 million) for jailed former chief Carlos Ghosn, avoiding a politically explosive …
- Carmaker Renault to strip Ghosn of €30m ‘golden parachute’ – FT: Renault, which reports full year results on Thursday, declined to comment. Mr Ghosn is charged with financial malfeasance at alliance partner Nissan.
- Mark Blundell to compete in 2019 BTCC – Autocar: Ex-Formula 1, IndyCar and Le Mans racer has signed a deal to compete in touring cars for the first time Mark Blundell will make a return to frontline motorsport this year having signed to compete in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship….
- Ford could move production out of UK due to Brexit – Autocar: American-owned company warns of no-deal Brexit, saying it will take “whatever action is necessary” to protect its European business Ford has warned the Prime Minister that it’s working on plans to move production out of the UK due to Brexit, according…
- Ford planning to move production out of UK due to Brexit – Autocar: American-owned company issues warning in private call to Prime Minister over move that could affect 13,000 staff Ford has warned the Prime Minister that it’s working on plans to move production out of the UK due to Brexit, according to reports. The…
- Ford executive raises doubts about VW deal for electric vehicles – CNBC: Ford and VW’s electric car programs are out of sync, “almost like snowboarding and skiing,” said Ford’s president of global markets.
- Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn replaces lawyer – Nikkei:
- Ghosn confirms has replaced lawyer Otsuru with Hironaka – Reuters: Ex-Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn confirmed he had hired lawyer Junichiro Hironaka to replace Motonari Otsuru as he defends himself against accusations of financial misconduct.
- Ghosn changes lawyer team, adds hotshot attorney, in change of strategy – Reuters: Carlos Ghosn’s chief defence attorney Motonari Otsuru resigned and was replaced by a team that includes hotshot lawyer Junichiro Hironaka, in a change of strategy from the ousted Nissan Motor chairman three months after his arrest.
- Renault poised to scrap Ghosn’s $34 million golden parachute, report says – Automotive News: … for suspected financial misconduct at Nissan, Renault’s alliance partner. … Ghosn, 64, was arrested in Japan and ousted as Nissan chairman last …
- SenseTime Backer Raises $500 Million to Rev Up IPO Train – Bloomberg: Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing, online finance platform Lufax, health-care player WeDoctor, SenseTime and home-sharing service Tujia are …
- Honda Urban EV: interior revealed ahead of Geneva debut – Autocar: Production version of Honda’s electric, retro-themed Renault Zoe rival is due for a global unveiling next month Honda is readying the production-spec Urban EV for its Geneva motor show unveiling, and the car’s interior has been previewed in the…
- GM, Amazon in talks over stake in US electric pickup maker, report says – Automotive News: Amazon and General Motors are in talks to invest in Rivian Automotive in a deal that would value the U.S. electric pickup maker at between $1 billion …
- It’s May’s deal or long Brexit delay, UK’s chief negotiator overheard saying in bar – Reuters: * May determined to avoid no-deal, business (Adds Ford, business and MI6 chief)
- China’s Changan offers discounts to car buyers in rural areas – Reuters: China’s Chongqing Changan Automotive said on Wednesday it would offer discounts to buyers in rural areas, the first …
- Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn’s chief defence lawyer resigns; no reason given – Reuters: Ex-Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn’s chief defence lawyer, Motonari Otsuru, has resigned, his law office said Wednesday, a stunning twist to the nearly three-month case over alleged financial misconduct by the one-time saviour of Nissan.
- Exclusive: Iran-backed groups corner Iraq’s postwar scrap metal market – Reuters: The wrecks of vehicles used by Islamic State militants as car bombs and other metal debris left by the war in Iraq are now helping fund their Iran-backed enemies, industry sources say.
- Carlos Ghosn’s Japanese Lawyers Ask to Be Removed From Case – Bloomberg: Carlos Ghosn’s Japanese lawyers, hired after the former Nissan Motor Co. chairman was sent to jail in November, have asked to be removed from the …
- Japanese self-drive cars map developer to buy rival U.S. startup for $200 mln – Reuters: * Dynamic Map Platform is backed by Toyota, Nissan, Honda, others
- Renault v Nissan: Ghosn arrest exposes alliance’s secret strains – FT: But the news that Renault is investigating what it calls “a personal benefit” worth €50,000 in 2016 at the former French royal seat for its then chairman …
- Japanese carmaker consortium to acquire US-based map platform Ushr – FT: A map platform developer backed by Japan’s biggest carmakers has agreed to acquire Detroit-based rival Ushr amid a global race to develop digital …
- 40 car markets agree to make automatic brakes mandatory – Nikkei: Last March, a self-driving car operated by U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies killed a pedestrian in Arizona — the first known fatality involving an …
- Jaguar announces new twincharged hybrid straight-six – Autocar:
- Amazon, GM in talks to invest in electric pickup truck maker Rivian – Reuters: Amazon.com Inc and General Motors Co are in talks to invest in Rivian Automotive LLC in a deal that would value the U.S. electric pickup truck manufacturer at between $1 billion and $2 billion, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
- Tesla Rushes Model 3s to China Before Trade-War Truce Expires – Bloomberg: If tensions flare up again, Elon Musk risks getting hit from both sides.
- New Range Rover Sport HST gets JLR’s new straight-six petrol – Autocar: First JLR mild hybrid on sale is 3.0-litre straight-six Ingenium petrol engine making 395bhp, and is only available in special edition trim Land Rover has added a new straight-six mild hybrid Ingenium petrol engine to the Range Rover Sport line-up,…