All you need to know about what’s happening in the auto biz, without further comment ….
- BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen Face Collusion Investigation in Europe – New York Times: The European Commission opened an inquiry on Tuesday into possible collusion among BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen to prevent the development of clean emissions technology. The investigation adds to a series of problems for the German auto industry, …
- Tata Motors’ Jaguar Land Rover to cut output in UK plant – Nikkei: MUMBAI (NewsRise) — Tata Motors’ luxury unit Jaguar Land Rover is cutting its production schedule at a plant in the U.K. starting next month, citing the uncertainties triggered by Britain’s exit from the European Union. “In light of the continuing …
- Saudi’s PIF invests more than $1 billion in electric carmaker Lucid Motors – Yahoo: By Tom Arnold. DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has agreed to invest more than $1 billion in Lucid Motors, adding to the emerging competition facing U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla. The funding will enable Silicon …
- UK Mini plant maintenance shutdown moved to just after Brexit in case of no deal – Reuters: German carmaker BMW said it will move the annual maintenance shutdown period for its British Mini plant to just after Britain is due to leave the European Union in April, in case there is no Brexit deal.
- Generate – Axios: The PIF is, of course, the same fund that Tesla CEO Elon Musk famously said was on the cusp of funding his quickly-aborted, take-private plan. Lucid Motors’ CTO Peter Rawlinson, a Tesla alum, went on a PR offensive yesterday to talk up what it hopes to …
- Jaguar Announces National Marketing Launch Plans For All-Electric Jaguar I-PACE – Yahoo: Reinforcing the company’s commitment to electrification, Jaguar Land Rover has previously announced that from 2020, all new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will be offered with an electrified powertrain option, giving customers even more choice.
- UBS says Audi’s new electric car shows industry has a long way to go to catch Tesla – CNBC: UBS believes Tesla’s lead in electric vehicle technology may last longer after seeing Audi’s latest offering.
- Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi lets Google’s Android into its dashboards – Automotive News: Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors announced a technology partnership that will make its vehicles among the first to use Google’s Android operating system in its dashboards to control navigation, infotainment and apps directly installed in…
- Careem Leaves Turkey Luxury Market to Uber Amid Merger Talks – Bloomberg: Dubai-based ride-hailing service Careem Networks FZ is abandoning its up-market car service in Turkey just one year after launching the product to …
- VW, BMW, Daimler face EU probe over collusion on emissions tech – Automotive News: The EU has opened a formal investigation into whether BMW, Daimler and VW Group colluded to avoid competition in the development of emissions technology, including allegedly limiting the rollout of systems to reduce NOx and particulate pollution.
- Indian Uber rival Ola reportedly valued at $4.3 billion as it expands into New Zealand – CNBC: News of Ola’s entry into New Zealand highlights the firm’s latest challenge to rival taxi-hailing app Uber.
- German Car Makers Investigated Over ‘Possible Collusion’ – WSJ: The European Union”s antitrust body has opened a formal investigation into “possible collusion” among Germany”s big car makers to limit the development of technology that would reduce harmful exhaust emissions.
- Collusion between BMW, Daimler and VW to be investigated – Autocar: Investigation will try to determine if the three brands colluded to stall development of emission control and reduction systems in the EU The European Commission has launched what it has termed an “in-depth investigation” to determine whether BMW,…
- VW’s MEB electric car platform: full details revealed – Autocar: Volkswagen details Modular Electric Drive Matrix platform in full ahead of its debut with the I.D. hatchback next year Volkswagen has given an in-depth technical preview of its all-new electric vehicle platform, making its production debut next year…
- The future is here with self-driving vehicles, but are we prepared? – Yahoo: The future of the transportation industry is definitely self-driving vehicles. As the number of autonomous vehicles on the road increases every year, this remarkable innovation is already igniting debate in several circles. The age when we will no …
- Ferrari plans to launch Monza retro-styled supercar – Automotive News: Ferrari’s latest special edition supercar will be called the Monza and will broaden the automaker’s offering of limited models that typically earn higher margins.
- EU probes VW, BMW, Daimler over alleged emissions collusion – Reuters: EU antitrust regulators are investigating whether BMW , Daimler and Volkswagen colluded to restrict the rollout of clean emission technology, a move that could lead to hefty fines for the German carmakers.
- The Saudi wealth fund bought Tesla stock. Now it’s investing in Lucid, a Tesla competitor – Latimes: Earlier this year, the Saudi fund bought Tesla shares on the open market totaling between 3% and 5% of the company, the Financial Times has reported. In August, when Elon Musk flirted briefly with the idea of taking Tesla private, he identified the …
- Here Come Tesla’s Challengers With All-Electric SUVs – WSJ: “We are targeting current Tesla owners” as well as others interested in luxury electric vehicles, said Kim McCullough, vice president of marketing for Jaguar Land Rover’s North America operations. “These buyers have options, they are affluent and they …
- TomTom shares crash as carmakers opt for Google Maps – Reuters: Shares in Dutch digital mapping company TomTom lost over a quarter of their value on Tuesday, as carmakers Renault, Nissan and Mitshubishi announced a partnership with rival Google.
- $34K to repair a car? High-tech features mean higher repair bills – Freep: As more safety features and new materials are used for vehicles, repair costs will go up. All those add-ons should, however, mean fewer crashes.
- Volkswagen’s truck unit Traton plans JV with China’s Sinotruk – Reuters: HANOVER, Germany (Reuters) – Volkswagen’s (VOWG.DE) truck unit Traton plans a joint venture between its MAN brand and Chinese truck maker Sinotruk (3808.HK) (000951.SZ), Traton and Sinotruk said in a joint statement on Tuesday. Volkswagen AG …
- Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 leaked ahead of official premiere – Autocar: Ferrari’s latest special editions are called Monza SP1 and SP2 Single-seat and two-seat speedsters break cover at Ferrari”s invite-only Icona event; images show full and partial styling Ferrari”s latest limited-run cars, the Monza SP1 and SP2, have…
- In coup for Google, Renault-Nissan embraces Android infotainment – Reuters: The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi carmaking alliance said on Tuesday it will use Alphabet’s Google Android operating system in future vehicles – handing a victory to the U.S. tech giant which seeks to carve out a bigger share of the infotainment market.
- Lynk & Co set to go racing with ex-Volvo WTCC team – Yahoo: The Cyan Racing outfit behind Volvo’s 2017 World Touring Car Championship title successes is working on a new touring car racing project with Geely automotive brand Lynk & Co. As Polestar Cyan Racing, Volvo’s then motorsport partner, the squad entered …
- German Car Makers Investigated Over Possible Collusion Over Emissions – WSJ: BMW, Volkswagen and Daimler confirmed the investigation and said they were cooperating with the Commission. Daimler said the probe was limited exclusively to Europe. Both Daimler and BMW in statements stressed that the launch of a formal probe was …
- Ferrari Reveals Closest Thing to an F1 Racer Available for Sale – Bloomberg: Camilleri’s strategy for the race-car maker will be closely watched by investors, … The price will be released at the Paris auto show next month.
- Saudi Invests More Than $1B in Electric Vehicle Maker Lucid – Bloomberg: Saudi Arabia has agreed to invest more than $1B in electric car startup Lucid. This comes just weeks after it emerged that the kingdom’s public …
- German auto body optimistic about truck, van market – Reuters: Germany’s VDA automotive association is optimistic about the outlook for global sales of trucks and vans, with the …
- VW, BMW, Daimler Face EU Probe Over Clean-Car Collusion – Bloomberg: Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG and BMW AG face a European Union antitrust probe into suspected collusion on the development and roll-out of clean emissions technology for cars. The probe, which could lead to heavy fines, focuses on technical talks to …
- EU probes German carmakers over clean emissions – Reuters: The European Commission opened a formal investigation on Tuesday into whether German carmakers BMW , Daimler and VW Group had colluded to avoid competition in developing clean emission technology.
- Is an Aston Martin Valkyrie being ‘flipped’ for profit already? – Yahoo: Prior to that that though Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer vowed to cancel any reservations found to be being ‘flipped’ for profit. Replying to a tweet asking about the sale of Valkyries that had yet to be built, the former Nissan executive said: “I doubt …
- Honda warns no-deal Brexit would cost it tens of millions – Guardian: The warning from Honda on the challenges posed by the prospect of a no-deal Brexit comes a day after Jaguar Land Rover – the largest manufacturer of cars in the UK – announced that about 2,000 staff will move to a three-day week at its Castle Bromwich …
- Audi packs e-tron crossover with interconnected goodies – Automotive News: It recaptures energy to charge the battery as it is coasting as well as during … a standard Audi phone box to allow for inductive cellphone charging.
- Only BMW Comes Close to China’s Electric-Vehicle Heavyweights – Bloomberg: All the major players in the global auto industry envision a big electric tomorrow-and almost everyone outside of China is making their profits today …
- Volkswagen PH Announces Availability of New Santana, Lamando Variants – Yahoo: The local arm of German marquee Volkswagen announced three additional variants for its new, recently-launched lineup come November this year. Volkswagen Philippines revealed that following the introduction last May of the Santana 1.4 MPI Manual …
- Google to provide Renault-Nissan next-generation media system: Wall Street Journal – Reuters: The Renault-Nissan alliance has picked Google’s Android operating system to power its next-generation media system, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
- Google to provide Renault-Nissan next-generation media system – WSJ – Reuters: The Renault-Nissan alliance has picked Google’s Android operating system to power its next-generation media system, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
- Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance signs in-car tech deal with Google – FT: Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi are to install technology into their cars that will allow motorists to use Google Maps, control music by speaking and even predict breakdowns. The technology partnership between Google and the three-group Alliance, the …
- Renault-Nissan Teams With Google and Lets Android Into the Dash – Bloomberg: “We’re merging our forces to build a better system,” said Kal Mos, global vice president of connected vehicles for the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. “If you forget your phone, it will work perfectly fine in the car,” he said of Google’s system.
- Ferrari’s targets and SUV plans in spotlight as Camilleri takes the wheel – Reuters: Ferrari’s new boss will explain on Tuesday how he intends to deliver on mid-term targets, aiming to convince investors the supercar maker can maintain the pace set by his illustrious predecessor.
- Audi Holds California E-Tron Party as It Takes Aim at Tesla – Bloomberg: Audi’s first fully electric auto will be made in Brussels and will arrive in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2019, the company said in an emailed …
- India’s Ola forays into New Zealand in latest overseas push – Reuters: Indian ride-hailing platform Ola said on Tuesday it plans to launch operations in New Zealand, and expand its overseas rivalry with U.S.-based peer Uber Technologies Inc.
- Audi’s 2019 e-tron crossover priced from $75,795 – Automotive News: When it arrives in U.S.
- Audi packs 2019 e-tron crossover with interconnected goodies – Automotive News: When it arrives in November, the Audi e-tron will boast a 95-kilowatt-hour battery, full-time all-wheel drive and a host of …
- Opinion: What do people want electric cars to look like? – Autocar: We consider the different approaches car makers are taking when it comes to electric vehicle design There are two schools of thought in the car industry at the moment: those who want to create radical design for electric vehicles (think the Volkswagen…
- Audi unveils e-tron, the latest model to challenge Tesla’s luxury EV dominance – CNBC: In a city where Teslas are a common sight – and just a few minutes from the factory where Elon Musk’s company is cranking out a record number of electric vehicles – Audi rolled out an all-electric SUV it hopes will cut into Tesla’s dominance of the …
- Google to Partner With Biggest Car Alliance – WSJ: Google is making a major push into the auto industry, partnering with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance to use the Android operating system to power media display that will eventually be sold in millions of cars world-wide.
- Audi E-tron launches as brand’s first electric-only model – Autocar: Audi’s first standalone electric model offers 249 miles of range, the same as the Mercedes EQC The Audi E-tron is the third electric premium SUV to be revealed this year, taking on the Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC, as the bid to rule the…
- Renault, Daimler to showcase self-driving tech – Automotive News: The future of vehicles will be electrified, autonomous and connected — but trucks and vans might get there before passenger cars. Commercial vehicle …
- Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to be SpaceX’s first tourist to moon – Nikkei:
- Japan fashion guru Maezawa lands first SpaceX moon flight – Reuters: SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space transportation company, on Monday named its first private passenger on a voyage around the moon as Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the founder and chief executive of online fashion retailer Zozo.
- Trump’s tariffs ‘will be painful,’ Republican governor warns – CNBC: on Tuesday. The state is home to three of the country’s largest automakers – General Motors, Ford Motor and …
- SpaceX’s First Moon Tourist Is a Japanese Billionaire – WSJ: SpaceX”s first paying passenger will be Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who is to blast off from earth in 2023, circle the moon and return, Elon Musk announced Monday.
- Elon Musk to launch Japanese billionaire on Space X rocket to the moon – Guardian: Elon Musk plans to launch Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on a rocket around the moon, the embattled SpaceX CEO announced on Monday.
- SpaceX’s first private passenger is Japanese fashion magnate Maezawa – Reuters: SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space transportation company, on Monday named its first private passenger as Japanese businessman Yusaku Maezawa, the founder and chief executive of online fashion retailer Zozo.
- Japan calls for early solution to US-China trade war – Reuters: Japanese policymakers on Tuesday called for an early … if Trump decides to raise tariffs on automobile and auto parts imports.
- Musk Names Japanese Billionaire for Around-the-Moon Space Trip – Bloomberg: Musk, who’s also chairman and chief executive officer of electric-car maker Tesla Inc., is a master showman who’s been adept at inspiring a massive …
- Meet the passenger who’s paying SpaceX to fly around the moon and back – Latimes: Japanese e-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the first paying customer to travel around the moon on SpaceX’s yet to be developed BFR …
- SpaceX will fly Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as the first ever private tourist to the moon – CNBC: Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the first ever private tourist to fly to the moon, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed on Monday.
- 2018 Suzuki SV650X – X Factor for Suzuki’s Cafe Racer? – Autocar: Suzuki had a busier year in 2017 (launch of GSX-R1000) while 2018 has been tomb-like. But for 2019 who knows? The firm has been teasing us mercilessly with a turbocharged middleweight Recursion to take on the likes of nothing in particular, given there …
- Trump slaps tariffs on $200 bln in Chinese goods, spares some consumer tech – Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with China on Monday, imposing 10 percent tariffs on about $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, but sparing smart watches from Apple and Fitbit and other consumer products such as bicycle helmets…
- Chinese-Swedish brand Lynk & Co set to go racing – Yahoo: As Polestar Cyan Racing, Volvo’s then motorsport partner, the squad entered the WTCC at the start of 2016 and last year clinched the drivers’ title with Thed Bjork and the manufacturers’ crown. Volvo’s parent company Geely announced in March that it …
