Sorry, yesterday’s Morning Auto News didn’t make it due to my absence. I’ll make it up with more today. All back on schedule from now on.
- Senate to hold Nov. 20 hearing on self-driving cars – Automotive News: The hearing will come one day after the National Transportation Safety Board meets to determine the probable cause of a March 2018 Uber self-driving vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Arizona.
- Volkswagen Expanding Electric Vehicle Production in US – New York Times: Volkswagen is making Tennessee its North American base for electric vehicle production, breaking ground on an $800 …
- Mercedes-Benz Cars to slash 1 billion euros in costs by 2022 – Reuters: Daimler shares fell sharply on Thursday after the German carmaker said tougher emissions rules will hit earnings in 2020 and 2021 forcing it to seek more than 1 billion euros in personnel cuts at Mercedes-Benz Cars by end of 2022.
- German automation talent powers Musk’s battery move to Europe – Reuters: To unclog bottlenecks last year at his Tesla Inc plant in California, Elon Musk flew in six planeloads of new robots and equipment from Germany to speed up battery production for its Model 3.
- Daimler CEO Faces Showdown With Investors Amid Industry Shift – Bloomberg: Daimler AG’s new Chief Executive Officer Ola Kallenius is under … Profitability at Daimler’s sprawling commercial vehicle operations …
- Hyundai to make Santa Cruz pickups at Alabama plant in $410 mln expansion – Reuters: South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor will start making its Santa Cruz pickup trucks at its U.S. factory in 2021, with an investment of $410 million, as it seeks a foothold in the popular, but highly competitive, segment led by U.S. rivals.
- Uber launches new safety features in UK as it fights for new licence – Reuters: Uber launched a set of new safety features in Britain on Thursday as it battles to retain its taxi operating licence in the face of concerns about passenger safety.
- Uber adds new safety features in the UK as another decision on its London license nears – CNBC: whether they’re a rider or driver … TfL made the surprise decision in September to grant the ride-hailing giant …
- Boeing’s Humans Step In After Robots Fumble Assembly of 777 Jets – Bloomberg: Tesla Inc. famously tried to build a fully automated car factory in Fremont, California, before adding a tent outside of the facility to allow more work to be …
- Hyundai Plows Into Pickup Market by Expanding Alabama Plant – Bloomberg: Hyundai Plows Into Pickup Market by Expanding Alabama Plant
- Tesla wins approval for mass production at Shanghai Gigafactory – Nikkei:
- Discontinuance of compact cars challenges brand loyalty, Edmunds says – Automotive News: Former Focus and Cruze owners’ brand loyalty steadily declined over the last three years. In 2019, 23 percent of former Chevy Cruze owners and 31 percent of former Ford Focus owners bought a car from a competitor, Edmunds said in a report Wednesday.
- Forget saving the planet: Ford to Tesla tout monster horsepower, speed in high-performance EVs – CNBC: After spending billions on eco-friendly, all-electric cars that resulted in lackluster sales, automakers are shifting their target market from earthy environmentalists to gearheads and thrill seekers looking for speed.
- The Guardian view on trade after Brexit: a new cliff edge looms – Guardian: In a less frenzied climate, political debate might have dwelt, for example, on the declaration by Elon Musk, founder of carmaker Tesla, that Brexit has …
- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot accuses Uber of trying to pay black ministers $54 million to defeat her … – Chicago Tribune: Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday threw down the gauntlet in her fight with Uber, accusing the ride-share giant of offering to pay black ministers in …
- Musk regrets SolarCity acquisition, report says – Automotive News: Musk initially defended the $2.9 billion acquisition of the company, saying it was “blindingly obvious” and a “no-brainer.” But during a deposition last June, he said, “Hindsight is 20-20.”
- Volkswagen brand reports “strong increase” in global sales in October – Xinhua | English.news.cn – Xinhuanet: Volkswagen brand reports “strong increase” in global sales in October
- Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory will bolster profit margins, Morgan Stanley says – CNBC: With such a reduction in costs, Tesla could sell its vehicles at a low to mid-30% profit margin, comparable to that of luxury auto manufacturer Porsche, according to research from Morgan Stanley.
- Brexit drove Tesla to pick Berlin over Britain for new factory – report – Reuters: Britain missed its chance to host the first European factory of U.S. electric vehicle pioneer Tesla because of Brexit, Chief Executive Elon Musk said in remarks reported on Wednesday.
- FCA extends 3rd shift at Canada minivan plant through Q1 2020 – Automotive News: The automaker has changed the shift”s end date four times since it first announced its planned demise during the summer. After March 2020, FCA “will review the business case for maintaining the third shift on a month to month basis going forward,” says Unifor, the union representing workers there.
- McLaren’s Elva roofless roadster gives occupants an ‘elemental’ driving experience – Automotive News: McLaren will build 399 units of the Elva, which will cost 1.42 million pounds ($1.82 million) in McLaren’s UK home market.
- Brandenberg premier: Any support for Tesla will be in accordance with EU rules – Reuters: The premier of the Brandenburg state that surrounds Berlin said on Wednesday any support for U.S. electric vehicle pioneer Tesla – which has said it will build its first European factory near Berlin – would be in accordance with EU rules.
- Germany welcomes Tesla’s Berlin move as boost to e-car shift – Reuters: The German government on Wednesday welcomed Tesla’s decision to set up shop in Berlin, a move it believes will turbo-charge the country’s shift into the electric car era even as costs of running a business in Europe’s largest economy remain high.
- Elon Musk’s German Factory Started With Love Letter From Berlin – Bloomberg: Elon Musk”s German Factory Started With Love Letter From Berlin
- Tesla’s ‘Made in Germany’: Musk sets up shop in Berlin – Reuters: Tesla will build its first European factory and design centre near Berlin, giving the U.S. electric car pioneer the coveted “Made in Germany” label just as local rivals Audi, BMW and Mercedes prepare to launch competing cars.
- VW adds battery pack plant to Tenn. expansion plans – Automotive News: The automaker said it will add a 198,000-square-foot plant near its expanding assembly operations in Tennessee to assemble battery packs for its coming BEV line.
- Bonuses Ford, GM retirees have received for years vanish in new UAW contracts – Freep: Bonuses Ford, GM retirees have gotten for years vanish in new UAW contracts.
- Nio taps China auto analyst for chief finance post – Automotive News: Nio taps China auto analyst for chief finance post Automotive News
- China’s biggest automaker SAIC aims to triple overseas sales by 2025 – Reuters: China’s largest carmaker SAIC Motor wants to triple its overseas auto sales to 1 million units by 2025, a senior company official said on Wednesday, as more Chinese auto manufacturers seek sales growth globally.
- Why General Motors stopped selling the Hummer in America – CNBC: Why General Motors stopped selling the Hummer in America CNBC
- GM killed the Hummer, then SUV sales surged – CNBC: GM killed the Hummer, then SUV sales surged CNBC
- Peugeot brand to return to Le Mans 24 hours motor race from 2023 – Reuters: Peugeot brand to return to Le Mans 24 hours motor race from 2023
- In Bid for Survival, Fiat Bringing New 500X Sport Model to US – Detroit Bureau: In Bid for Survival, Fiat Bringing New 500X Sport Model to US Paul Eisenstein
- California pulls back clean-vehicle rebates to point them at lower-income buyers – LATimes: Changes in incentives probably won’t influence sales of high-priced vehicles being introduced by brands such as Porsche. The Porsche Taycan …
- Elon Musk blames Brexit for decision to build new Tesla factory in Germany instead of UK – CNBC: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has blamed Brexit as the reason why the firm chose … Musk told trade magazine Auto Express that uncertainty over the U.K.’s …