Archives for November 2019

• PSA to sell stake in smaller Chinese tie-up as sales slide – Reuters: Peugeot maker PSA Group said it is preparing to sell its 50% stake in an eight-year-old joint venture with Chinese partner Chongqing Changan Automotive which has struggled with falling sales.
• PSA says China’s Baoneng potential buyer for its 50% Capsa stake – Reuters: PSA says China’s Baoneng potential buyer for its 50% Capsa stake
• Renault-Nissan plans to reboot alliance with new overseer – Automotive News: A new alliance general secretary has already been recruited, a source told Reuters. Establishing a common platform for EVs will be one of the executive’s key tasks, the source said.
• New electric Mini models to be built in China – Autocar: New BMW Group and Great Wall plant will produce Mini EVs – but Oxford will “remain the heart” of o…
• BMW, Great Wall to open 160,000-capacity China plant – Automotive News: BMW and Great Wall will build EVs for Mini and models for the Chinese automaker at a new factory near Shanghai.
• Daimler to cut thousands of jobs worldwide by end of 2022 – Reuters: Daimler on Friday announced plans to cut thousands of jobs across the globe by the end of 2022.

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• Peugeot looks to leap over rivals with high-tech 208 – Automotive News: Peugeot looks to leap over rivals with high-tech 208
• Nissan to roll out high-tech production system amid pressure to cut costs – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co. is introducing a new, higher-tech production system globally to try to boost efficiency as it looks to reverse a slide in profitability.
• Elon Musk jokingly admitted that he is actually Hank Scorpio, the maniacal, world domination … – Businessinsider: Elon Musk embraced comparisons of him and “The Simpsons” supervillain Hank Scorpio on Twitter. “Ok fine I’m Hank Scorpio,” Musk tweeted in …
• Ford Ranger Raptor to be trialled by UK Police forces – Autocar: Rugged pick-up targeted at rural pursuits, while new Focus ST Estate is also being considered as f…
• Citroen C4 Cactus successor to get battery power – Automotive News: Citroen C4 Cactus successor to get battery power

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Wednesday Morning Auto News, Nov 27, 2019

• Feuding Korean battery suppliers risk disrupting EV production – Automotive News: SK Innovation and LG Chem have hit each other with U.S. lawsuits for battery patent infringements in a dispute that threatens to disrupt the production of EVs by automakers including Ford, GM, VW, and Kia.
• Mazda Europe starts selling first electric car – Just-Auto: Mazda has begun taking ‘pre-orders’ in select Europe markets for its first production electric car, the MX-30. The model, launched at the Tokyo motor …
• What Ford F-150 owners think of the Tesla Cybertruck – The Detroit News: Battery range and reliability are a real concern to truck owners
• Judge: Uber drivers who make airport runs may be exempt from arbitration – LATimes: California won a minor ruling against Uber Technologies Inc. that stands to open up a bigger front in the fight by drivers for better benefits – especially …
• BMW management and labour reach agreement to cut costs – Reuters: BMW management and labour reach agreement to cut costs
• Uber’s London Ban Marks Global Backlash for Ride-Hailing Giants – Bloomberg: Uber Technologies Inc. and its rivals disrupted global transport, riding on a lack of regulation to drive exponential growth.

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• Audi to cut 9,500 jobs by 2025: source – Reuters: Audi to cut 9,500 jobs by 2025: source
• Audi gives job guarantees in Germany until 2029 – Reuters: Volkswagen’s luxury car unit Audi has agreed to give employment guarantees until 2029 in its home-market Germany, two people close to the matter said.
• Audi shakes up leadership ahead of new CEO’s arrival – Automotive News: Audi named new finance, procurement and personnel chiefs ahead of the April 1 arrival of new CEO Markus Duesmann.
• Volkswagen’s Audi making progress in talks on cost cuts – spokesman – Reuters: Volkswagen’s Audi making progress in talks on cost cuts – spokesman
• Uber’s carpool pricing strategy revealed by Chicago fare data – Reuters: How much ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft charge customers throughout a day is one of the most closely held secrets in Silicon Valley.
• FCA, PSA tell employees they will sign merger agreement in coming weeks – Automotive News: Nine working groups of Fiat Chrysler and PSA executives are working to finalize a merger between the two automakers.
• VW efficiency and environment measures go better than planned – Just-Auto: Volkswagen Group claims to have sped progress towards sustainable and efficient production while reducing production costs.

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• Renault ends battery leasing for electric Zoe – Autocar: Renault ends battery leasing for electric Zoe
• Uber stripped of London operating licence, again – Reuters: Uber was stripped of its London operating licence on Monday for the second time in just over two years as the city’s regulator said the taxi app was not “fit and proper”, having put passenger safety at risk.
• China’s BAIC signaled willingness to increase its stake in Daimler: sources – Reuters: China’s BAIC signaled willingness to increase its stake in Daimler: sources
• Paperwork threatens compensation of VW ‘Dieselgate’ customers – FT: Hundreds of thousands of German drivers who were sold Volkswagen cars fitted with software to cheat diesel emissions tests are in danger of missing …
• Elon Musk Tweets That Tesla Already Has 200,000 Cybertruck Orders—Breakable ‘Armor Glass’ and All – Fortune: Elon Musk Tweets That Tesla Already Has 200,000 Cybertruck Orders-Breakable ‘Armor Glass” and All Fortune
• Uber to appeal London license loss decision – Reuters: Uber will appeal Monday’s decision by London’s transport regulator to strip the firm of its license in the city, saying it has taken steps to change its business model and sets the standard on safety.

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• Panasonic has no plans for new Tesla battery plant in China -CEO – Reuters: Panasonic Corp has no plans to build a new battery plant for Tesla Inc in China, the Japanese company’s chief executive said, as it struggles to make money from its existing battery business with the electric vehicle (EV) maker.
• Tesla Truck Demo Goes Awry as Shatterproof Windows Shatter – Bloomberg: Elon Musk has a new pickup line for investors. He unveiled an electric powered cybertruck at a high-octane event in Los Angeles as he looks to tempt …
• Great Wall gets approval for car plant with BMW – Reuters: Great Wall gets approval for car plant with BMW
• Opinion: Is the Tesla Cybertruck too extreme? – Autocar: Tesla Cybertruck The EV firm’s new pick-up is its boldest design yet – but it arguably didn’t n…
• FCA and UAW negotiators must be transparent in light of GM lawsuit – Freep: General Motors claims Fiat Chrysler Automobiles corrupted labor talks since 2009. FCA calls the case meritless.
• Ghosn allowed to speak with wife after 7-month ban – Automotive News: Indicted former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn is finally allowed to talk with his wife, seven months after a Japanese court banned direct contact between the two.
• BMW X4 M Competition – Autocar: Divisive ‘sports activity coupé” is meant to drive like an M3 on stilts. So, does it? The subject…

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• Tesla picks a fight with Detroit by going after the pickup market – Reuters: Tesla picks a fight with Detroit by going after the pickup market
• Germany fines BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen for forming steel cartel – Reuters: Germany’s cartel authority said on Thursday it was fining the country’s three major carmakers – BMW (BMWG.DE), Volkswagen …
• Strong deliveries for Volkswagen Group in October | Automotive Industry News – Just-Auto: Strong deliveries for Volkswagen Group in October | Automotive Industry News
• BMW, Samsung SDI sign battery supply deal worth about $3.2 bln – Reuters: German carmaker BMW said on Thursday it has signed a supply contract with South Korea’s Samsung SDI to secure electric vehicle (EV) …
• Volkswagen making new software organisation independent – Just-Auto: Volkswagen’s new Car.Software organisation will operate as an independent business unit from 1 January, 2020, the automaker said.
• Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 arrives to rival Bentley Bentayga – Autocar: Super-luxury SUV makes debut at Guangzhou with mild-hybrid V8 power Mercedes-Benz has extended it…
• UAW workers look at $60,000 bonus and reasons to retire – Freep: GM hourly workers have up until Dec. 14 to decide if they’ll take advantage of retirement incentives in the UAW-GM contract, ratified on Oct. 25.

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