- Breakingviews – Fiat Chrysler might gain from M&A waiting game – Reuters: Already the subject of interest from Peugeot of France, the …
- China to Reduce the Juice for Electric-Car Sales – WSJ: China is slashing subsidies for electric vehicles, which will test the resilience of a fast-growing EV market that government support helped create.
- Ford Joint Venture to Exit Russia Passenger Car Market – WSJ: Ford Motor said that its Russian joint venture with Sollers PJSC will stop selling passenger vehicles in the country as part of a broader restructuring.
- Former Nissan chairman Ghosn was too powerful, report finds – FT: … to improve its much-criticised governance standards has concluded that too much power was concentrated on its former chairman, Carlos Ghosn.
- The Car Giants Are Getting Pretty Desperate – Bloomberg: Ghosn was head of the giant Renault-Nissan carmaking alliance and one theory … In fairness, the alliance now has a new boss, the understated Renault … does the Renault-Nissan alliance (which includes Mitsubishi Motors Corp.) …
- Fisker wants another shot at Tesla with a new Model Y fighter – CNBC: In light of Fisker Automotive’s spectacular meltdown, the former designer’s new venture has raised some skepticism.
- Ford closes 3 factories in Russia in broad overhaul – Washington Post: Ford is closing three factories in Russia as it pulls out of passenger vehicle manufacturing in the country, causing heavy job losses.
- Ford, Great Wall see opportunity in growing pickup demand in China – Automotive News: A growing number of drivers in China are keen on pickups – either for leisure or just because they like them – expanding the market beyond traditional demand for farm, construction and maintenance work.
- Nissan committee says facts point to private use of company funds by Ghosn – Reuters: An external committee tasked with improving governance at Nissan Motor Co said on Wednesday there were sufficient facts to suspect violations of laws and the private use of company funds by ousted chairman Carlos Ghosn.
- Speed Limiters and Built-In Breathalyzers May Soon Be Mandatory in All EU Cars – Fortune: … physically impaired. All this should enhance public trust and acceptance of automated cars, supporting the transition towards autonomous driving.” …
- Millions of Electric Cars Needed in Germany’s War on Pollution – Bloomberg: A strong car lobby, around 800,000 automotive sector jobs and a nation in love with home-built combustion-engine cars have made politicians wary of …
- New Tesla chairman: Musk uses Twitter ‘wisely’ – Automotive News: Elon Musk received high-level support for a social media habit that’s set him and the company on a collision course with U.S. regulators.
- BMW to launch i2 EV on joint platform with Daimler, report says – Automotive News: BMW plans a small battery-powered car called the i2 as the first model based on a new electric platform developed with Mercedes-Benz maker …
- DealBook Briefing: The F.A.A. Takes a Washington Hot Seat Over Boeing – New York Times: Regulators testify before Senate subcommittees today on Boeing safety, while the plane maker seeks to ease the concerns of airline executives.
- GMR Infra sells $1.16 billion stake in airports arm to Tata, GIC, SSG – Reuters: GMR Infrastructure said
- Geely set to buy major stake in Smart from Daimler – Autocar: Chinese car maker is seeking 50% shareholding in Mercedes-Benz”s city car division, according to a British report Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler is in talks to sell up to 50% of its Smart city car division to Chinese car maker Geely, according…
- Nissan Gave Carlos Ghosn a ‘Highly Unusual’ CEO Perk: Fully-Paid Stanford Tuition for His Four … – Fortune: Nissan Motor Co. paid tuition for all four of ousted chairman Carlos Ghosn’s children … Renault made at least one charitable donation to Stanford.
- French govt – will not comment on Fiat rumour, priority is Renault-Nissan alliance – Reuters: will not comment on Fiat rumour, priority is Renault-Nissan alliance Reuters UKFrench government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said France would not comment on a media report that Renault was eyeing a bid for Fiat, and reiterated that …
- Seat to add six electrified models by 2021 after record 2018 – Autocar: Spanish firm targets sub-£20,000 price for forthcoming entry-level electric car; recorded a profit of £253m last year Seat will introduce six electric and plug-in hybrid models by 2021 and lead development on an entry-level electric car following a…
- Lincoln Rolling Out Another New SUV in Tilt Toward Moneymakers – Bloomberg: For the third year in a row, Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln luxury line will introduce a sport utility vehicle at the New York International Auto Show, as the brand …
- Beijing Gives Electric-Vehicle Makers A Long-Term Power Surge – WSJ: China is paving a better road ahead for its electric-car industry. … Beijing said Tuesday it will cut subsidies for electric-vehicle purchases by at least … Shares of major Chinese EV makers fell after the news: BYD fell 2.4% while NIO …
- Three Pioneers in Artificial Intelligence Win Turing Award – New York Times: … way technology is built, accelerating the development of face-recognition services, talking digital assistants, warehouse robots and self-driving cars.
- China threatens to sideline US automakers in booming EV tech – Freep: China accounted for 60 percent of global electric vehicle sales and … U.S. and Chinese statistics for EVs frequently combine fully-electric vehicles and …
- Volkswagen to improve production with Amazon cloud to network its factories – Reuters: Volkswagen on Wednesday said it has teamed up with Amazon Web Services to link up and integrate the data from 122 VW …
- German court rejects second investor group action against VW and Porsche SE on diesel scandal – Reuters: A German court on Wednesday said it won’t allow a second investor group action against Volkswagen AG and its …
- EU agrees new car safety rules – FT: Brussels has agreed a batch of new auto safety rules including speed limit notification systems and new designs for lorries that are safer for cyclists and …
- Renault seeks merger with Nissan and FCA, report says – Automotive News: Renault is seeking to restart merger talks with Nissan as the first step toward the creation of a bigger auto conglomerate that will involve a bid by both companies for Fiat Chrysler, the Financial Times reported.
- A Tesla rival in China wants at least $500 million funding, and may try a US IPO – CNBC: Xpeng Motors, a Chinese rival to Tesla, is looking at a public listing, possibly in the United States, its CEO He Xiaopeng told CNBC on Wednesday.
- Hyundai PH Opens First Commercial Vehicle Dealership in Metro Manila – Yahoo: Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), one of the country’s fastest growing automotive firms, marked another milestone with the inauguration of Hyundai Trucks …
- RPT-German finance minister wants to extend electric car incentives – Reuters: German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said he wants to extend tax incentives for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids for …
- Nikkei drops as ex-dividend stocks weigh; automakers, banks down – Reuters: * Companies going ex-dividend take off about 180 points off Nikkei – analysts
- BMW interested in buying Honda Swindon factory – Autocar: The X1 SUV accounts for over 1/10 of BMW’s global sales Success of X1 SUV and lack of extra capacity at Oxford Mini plant could see the German car maker move some production to Wiltshire BMW is said to be looking at transferring more car production to…
- Uber spat with Taiwan could force exit from market – Nikkei:
- Renault aims to restart Nissan merger talks within 12 months: FT – Reuters: France’s Renault SA intends to restart merger talks with Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co Ltd within 12 months, after which it will set sight on a bid to buy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
- Amazon, Volkswagen agree strategic partnership for ‘industry cloud’: report – Reuters: German carmaker Volkswagen and Amazon.com Inc have agreed on a strategic partnership to create a kind of “industry cloud”, for which details will soon be announced, Germany’s Sueddeutsche newspaper reported on Wednesday.
- FOCUS-Great Wall, Ford hitch up to burgeoning Chinese demand for pickup trucks – Reuters: * New model will be one of five new Great Wall pickups planned
- China’s Closing the $6 Trillion Electric-Car Gap – Washington Post: China is moving to close the $6 trillion cost barrier to the widespread adoption of electric cars. As part of its much-awaited new energy policy, China on Tuesday …
- Ford launches pilot site to shop used vehicles online – Detroitnews: Find Your Ford currently pulls inventories from six Metro Detroit dealers
- Judge sets date for Elon Musk contempt showdown with SEC – Axios: A federal judge confirmed Tuesday she would soon hear oral arguments in the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit asking Elon Musk be …
- FCA will idle its Ontario plants for two weeks each in April – Automotive News: The shutdowns are to allow the automaker to align production with demand. FCA Canada has already idled its minivan plant three times this year.
- Hyundai wavered on next Sonata, then decided to make a splash – Automotive News: Hyundai promises that the redesigned, eighth-generation Sonata for the 2020 model year is packed with “Four News,” which will differentiate the stalwart sedan from rivals.