Archives for June 2020

• Tesla Shares Climb Back Above $1,000 on Musk’s Break-Even Email – Bloomberg: Tesla Shares Climb Back Above $1,000 on Musk”s Break-Even Email
• New entry-level RWD Porsche Taycan launched in China – Autocar: Chinese market rear-driven Taycan touches down with up to 469bhp and a claimed 304-mile range Po…
• BMW to source battery cells produced using renewable energy – Reuters: BMW to source battery cells produced using renewable energy
• Tesla’s Musk calls on workers to help company break even in second quarter – Reuters: Tesla’s Musk calls on workers to help company break even in second quarter
• Ford Motor pulls social media advertising as part of Facebook boycott – Freep: The Dearborn-based automaker is now joining a growing list of global companies boycotting Facebook and other social media sites for the next 30 days.

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• Nissan shareholders skeptical of recovery under new midterm plan – Nikkei:
• Nikola Sells $5000 Reservations for a Truck With No Prototype – Bloomberg: … take a page from Tesla Inc.’s playbook, but they require would-be vehicle buyers to take an even bigger leap of faith than Elon Musk ever did.
• Toyota’s global output plunges record 54.4% in May on virus – Mainichi: Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday the coronavirus pandemic had caused its global output to plunge 54.4 percent to 365,909 vehicles …
• Nissan CEO repeats pledge to step down if he fails to deliver recovery – Reuters: Nissan CEO repeats pledge to step down if he fails to deliver recovery
• Clio topples Golf off Europe top sales perch in May – Just-Auto: According to JATO Dynamics, both Renault and VW models saw double digit declines, but the French model’s better availability supported its success.

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• Volkswagen eyes Europcar – report – Just-Auto: Volkswagen AG is in talks to acquire French car rental firm Europcar Mobility Group in a deal that would allow VW to better capitalise on its fleet, Reuters sources said.
• Toyota holds $293 million stake in Uber, governance report shows – Reuters: Toyota holds $293 million stake in Uber, governance report shows Reuters Canada
• Italy approves guarantees for $7.1 bln loan to Fiat Chrysler – source – Reuters: Italy approves guarantees for $7.1 bln loan to Fiat Chrysler – source
• Daihatsu Motor to sell foreign-made vehicles in Japan for 1st time – Mainichi: Daihatsu Motor to sell foreign-made vehicles in Japan for 1st time The Mainichi
• Ford’s new F-150 is on the way, and the stakes are high for this pickup to aid its turnaround – CNBC: The importance of a new F-150 pickup to Ford Motor has never been greater. The automaker needs its highly profitable flagship product to drive a global restructuring plan and pay off debt related to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Mercedes’s new small SUV a winner, despite goofy driver-assist feature – Freep: Mercedes got just about everything right with its second try at building a subcompact SUV, the quick and comfortable 2020 GLB250.

• Magna expands US seat manufacturing plant – Just-Auto: Magna is to up its investment at its Highland Park (Michigan) seat manufacturing facility, investing US$35.4m and creating 480 jobs.
• Geely Auto enters D-segment with brand’s biggest SUV to date – Just-Auto: Geely Auto enters D-segment with brand’s biggest SUV to date
• Groupe PSA reveals new Opel-Vauxhall Mokka – Just-Auto: The first Mokka was a GM Korea project but the new one is firmly part of the Groupe PSA family, employing not only the CMP and e-CMP architectures but PSA petrol, diesel and electric powertrains too.
• Kia reveals innovative new mild hybrid manual transmission – Autocar: Kia XCeed Korean firm says new system will boost fuel economy, reduce emissions and ensure dri…
• Japan car sales recovering after big fall in April, May – Nissan executive – Reuters: Japan car sales recovering after big fall in April, May – Nissan executive Reuters India
• Ford’s F-Series Cash Haul Ranks Near iPhone Among U.S. Products – Bloomberg: Ford”s F-Series Cash Haul Ranks Near iPhone Among U.S. Products
• Volkswagen Arteon gets Shooting Brake and 316bhp R variants – Autocar: New Arteon R takes its power from an uprated version of the Golf R’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engi…
• Vauxhall Mokka overhauled for new generation, gains EV model – Autocar: Bonnet and roof can be had in a different colour to body Crossover heralds a new look for the …
• BYD sues alleged mask counterfeiters – Reuters: BYD sues alleged mask counterfeiters Reuters.com

• Ford: Free-trade agreement critical for UK car industry’s survival – Autocar: Investment in electrification and autonomy relies on business being financially viable post-Brexi…
• Morgan Stanley thinks Tesla at $1,000 is ignoring the risks, stock set to plunge – CNBC: Morgan Stanley thinks Tesla at $1,000 is ignoring the risks, stock set to plunge CNBC
• Union agrees Vauxhall workers transfer to Luton van plant – Just-Auto: PSA Group said on Tuesday (23 June) unions had agreed to the voluntary temporary transfer of workers from its Ellesmere Port Astra plant and a parts centre to Luton to create a third shift to meet demand for vans.
• Tesla Makes Debut on ‘Most American’ Car Makers List – Barrons: Tesla Makes Debut on ‘Most American” Car Makers List Barron’s
• 1.3 million Renault, Nissan diesels cheat emissions, says UK law firm – Autocar: 1.3 million Renault, Nissan diesels cheat emissions, says UK law firm
• New Apple CarKey iPhone function to make debut on BMW models – Autocar: BMW Digital Key BMW customers will be able to use their iPhone to unlock and start their car a…

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• Elon Musk says Tesla shareholder meeting and ‘Battery Day’ tentatively set for Sept. 15 – CNBC: Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted late Sunday that the company tentatively plans to hold its shareholder meeting as well as a highly anticipated “Battery Day” on Sept. 15.
• Musk’s tweets enter the SEC – FT: Musk”s tweets enter the SEC
• Audi creates new model management division, loads CEO with more responsibilities – Just-Auto: Audi has created a new division to independently manage its line of 65 models plus the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) ‘project house’.
• Toyota sees July vehicle output down 10% on initial plan – Reuters: Toyota sees July vehicle output down 10% on initial plan
• Toyota Says Japan Factories Returning to 90% of Target Output – Bloomberg: Toyota Says Japan Factories Returning to 90% of Target Output
• Maharashtra stalls Great Wall Motor’s investment plan after China border clash – Reuters: Maharashtra has stalled a proposal by China’s Great Wall Motor to invest nearly $500 million, days after a deadly …
• BMW and Mercedes autonomous drive collaboration reset by COVID-19 – Just-Auto: BMW and Mercedes autonomous drive collaboration reset by COVID-19

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• BMW, Mercedes put automated driving alliance on hold – Reuters: BMW, Mercedes put automated driving alliance on hold
• Volkswagen in talks with rivals on making operating system for car of the future – Reuters: We are seeing that many non-automotive players are building up competence in this area,” Senger told Reuters.
• China’s Geely to take over debt-laden automaker Lifan as virus stokes shake-up – sources – Reuters: China’s Geely to take over debt-laden automaker Lifan as virus stokes shake-up – sources
• Exclusive: Nissan plans more shift cuts at Japan car plants due to low demand, sources say – Reuters: Exclusive: Nissan plans more shift cuts at Japan car plants due to low demand, sources say
• “We want to develop our own software platform” – Volkswagenag: The Car.Software organization within the Volkswagen Group is picking up speed. On July 1, 2020 it will switch from the start-up phase to operational mode. CEO Christian Senger explains the direction. …

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