- Musk hits send too soon on Tesla forecast, corrects himself – Automotive News: His earlier tweet that Tesla would make about 500,000 cars in 2019 was greeted with some skepticism.
- British PM May says Honda plant closure can’t be blamed on Brexit – Reuters: British Prime Minister Theresa May said Honda’s announcement that it would close its factory in England in 2021 was deeply disappointing, but could not be blamed on the country’s upcoming departure from the European Union.
- VW South Africa targets record production in 2019 -official – Reuters: AfricaGerman carmaker Volkswagen’s South African unit expects to produce a record number of vehicles this year despite a sluggish domestic economy, power …
- GM launches ‘Vehicle Locate’ app this week – Automotive News: GM is officially launching the service this week through the owner’s vehicle app for each of its four brands, following a beta release in mid-December.
- Ghosn’s new lawyer: Case against my client ‘is not normal’ – Automotive News: Attorney Junichiro Hironaka, nicknamed “The Razor” for his cutting questions – blamed Nissan for his client’s legal troubles.
- Ghosn’s new lawyer: This prosecution ‘is not normal’ – Automotive News: Attorney Junichiro Hironaka, nicknamed “The Razor” for his cutting questions – blamed Nissan for his client’s legal troubles.
- Tesla safety rating labelled ‘implausible’ in new report – Autocar: EV pioneer’s Autopilot system might not have reduced serious accidents by as much as previously stated The regime for assessing the safety of self-driving car systems is under scrutiny after consultants discovered errors in an analysis of Tesla…
- Ghosn’s new lawyer slams Nissan’s ‘strange’ handling of case – Nikkei: Carlos Ghosn’s newly appointed defense lawyer has come out swinging against Nissan, saying any allegations against the former chairman …
- Southwest cuts unit revenue outlook; sees $60 mln hit from U.S. govt shutdown – Reuters: Southwest Airlines Co on Wednesday cut its forecast for first-quarter revenue per seat mile and said it expects a hit of $60 million to sales from a U.S. government shutdown.
- New 400bhp Audi RS Q4 caught testing ahead of reveal – Autocar: Audi’s BMW X2 rival is expected to be unveiled in next couple of months, with Geneva debut possible Audi will bolster its six-strong SUV range with the new Q4 – and the range-topping 400bhp RS version has been spotted testing for the first time. The…
- Slack demand, car woes cause Germany’s industry share to slip – Reuters: Slackening international demand for German goods and its car industry’s difficulties meeting new emissions standards have led to the share of manufacturing in Germany’s economic value creation falling in 2018 for the first time since 2013.
- BRIEF-Beiqi Foton Motor Receives New Energy Car Subsidies, To Set Up Auto Parts JV – Reuters: Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd: * SAYS IT RECEIVES NEW ENERGY CAR SUBSIDIES OF 316.6 MILLION …
- Tesla to reportedly offer to lease Model 3s to boost demand – CNBC: Tesla is preparing to launch its leasing products for Model 3, news website Electrek said on Tuesday, citing an email sent to employees.
- Honda closure fallout to hit scores of companies – FT: Before the shutters are pulled down on Honda’s Swindon factory for the last time, the impact of the closure will have rippled out far and wide. While the …
- Bank Audi studies buying National Bank of Greece’s Egypt unit – Reuters: Bank Audi SAE has begun due diligence on buying National Bank of Greece’s branches in Egypt, …
- German prosecutors start penalty proceedings against Daimler in diesel probe – Reuters: German prosecutors in the city of Stuttgart have opened penalty proceedings against carmaker Daimler linked to suspected manipulation of diesel cars, the …
- BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe spotted winter testing head of launch – Autocar: BMW’s more practical 2 Series will arrive later this year and come with next-generation infotainment technology The upcoming BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe has been pictured undergoing winter testing ahead of a planned reveal later this year. The more…
- Ghosn’s New Lawyer Says Jailed Titan Is a Victim of Conspiracy – Bloomberg: who brought Nissan and Renault together with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in the world’s biggest auto alliance — has lost two …
- Governance panel opposed to Renault chairman being named Nissan head – Reuters: An external committee tasked by Nissan Motor Co to help improve corporate governance at the Japanese firm is opposed to the idea of Renault’s chairman being appointed to lead Nissan’s board, two people familiar with the matter said.
- Donald Trump’s $25 Billion Problem With Germany’s Carmakers – Bloomberg: The home of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche generated a surplus of 22 billion euros ($25 billion) in automotive trade with U.S. last year, according …
- Ghosn’s new lawyer says he should be released on bail – Reuters: The new lawyer for ousted Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn said his client should be released on bail while awaiting trial and that Japan was out of step with international norms.
- Trump’s car tariffs would hit eastern Europe – Automotive News: Volkswagen builds VW Touareg, Audi Q8, and Q7, and Porsche Cayenne large SUVs for the U.S. market in Bratislava alongside the VW Up, Seat Mii …
- Vietnam Jan auto sales rise 27 pct y/y to 33484 units – industry body – Reuters: Vietnam’s total vehicle sales rose 27 percent to 33,484 units in January from a year earlier, the Vietnam Automobile …
- ‘Fanciful’ to say Honda didn’t consider Brexit when closing Swindon – Guardian: Claims that Brexit had nothing to do with Honda closing its only UK manufacturing plant are “fanciful”, according to a former British ambassador to …
- Bugatti builds $25m one-off hypercar for former boss – Yahoo: The one-of-a-kind vehicle will be revealed at the 2019 Geneva International Motor show, along with another 20 special-edition 110Ans Bugatti’s – also …
- S.Korean prosecutors raid Hyundai’s office in recall probe: Chosun Biz – Reuters: South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday raided the office of Hyundai Motor Co’s quality division in southern Seoul as part of a probe into how the automaker and affiliate Kia Motors Corp handled vehicle recalls over engine defects, online media Chosun…
- Honda decision stokes anger in Brexit-voting Swindon – FT: Shortly after 8am on Tuesday, cars and cyclists poured out of Honda’s factory in Swindon, a dramatic reversal of the usual morning pattern.
- Nissan to oppose having same chair as Renault: FT – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co Ltd’s independent committee on governance is expected to recommend against the company having the same chairman as Renault SA, the …
- Electric Cars Are China Auto Industry’s Lone Bright Spot – Bloomberg: Electric cars are holding their own in China, the world’s biggest auto market where the industry has seen a slump in overall sales for seven straight …
- South Korean prosecutors raid office of Hyundai’s quality division: Chosun Biz – Reuters: South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday raided the office of Hyundai Motor Co’s quality division in southern Seoul as part of a probe into how the automaker …
- China’s Geely to buck Brexit trend with UK design center – Nikkei: Geely Auto Group, which includes Lynk & Co., accounted for about 1.5 million vehicles, while Volvo numbered about 640,000 and Lotus around 1,630.
- Aston Martin teases ‘Project 003’ – Autocar: NZ Autocar
- Tesla prepares to offer Model 3 leasing to boost demand: Electrek – Reuters: Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc is preparing to launch its leasing products for Model 3 to boost demand, news website Electrek said on Tuesday, citing an email sent to employees.
- Audi expanding regions where drivers can ‘ride the green wave’ – Automotive News: Audi says it’s expanding a new technology that will allow drivers to adjust their speeds to catch green lights at intersections.
- Tesla to offer Model 3 leasing products to boost demand: Electrek – Reuters: Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc is preparing to launch its leasing products for Model 3, news website Electrek said on Tuesday, citing an email sent to employees.
- Tesla to Make About 500,000 Cars This Year, Musk Says in Tweet – Bloomberg: Tesla Inc. plans to make about 500,000 cars this year, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said in a Twitter posting. The comments are in line with Tesla’s previous …
- Calls for Japan justice reforms as Ghosn detention enters fourth month – FT: … to address “serious flaws” in the country’s justice system in the wake of the three-month detention of ousted Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn. Japan’s …
- Tesla’s Self-Driving Cars Are Almost Ready to Pick You Up – Fortune: Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the electric car company will have the technology for a fully self-driving car by the end of 2019. Though, he added, rollout …
- Alfa working on Renegade-based crossover? – Autocar: Alfa Romeo could be about to reveal a compact crossover based on the Jeep Renegade. The crossover, which would sit below Stelvio in the range, …