Industry
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Prior to its diesel emissions cheating scandal, the Volkswagen Group was focused on reaching the number one spot in auto sales and had even set a date of 2018 as a target. However, the growth at any cost mentality has blown up quite spectacularly in the face of the German auto giant, so now it’s back to the drawing board for the management team which will need to come up with a new set of goals. Under the guidance of new CEO Matthias Müller, VW will formulate a new plan dubbed Strategy 2025, full details for which will be announced no later than mid-2016. Müller states that...
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Bob Lutz asks: Is Tesla doomed?Bob Lutz has never been shy about speaking his mind, and now he has something to say about Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] that's likely to start some heated conversations. Despite the praise its products have received from the media and customers, the former auto industry executive thinks the Silicon...
Stephen Edelstein -
Ferrari Deliveries Up 21 Percent In Q3, Chairman Targets 9,000 Annual Figure By 2019Ferrari’s [NYSE:RACE] listing on the New York Stock Exchange on October 21st went off without a hitch, with the company’s share price opening at $53 and almost immediately rising to $55. Since then, the initial euphoria has worn off, with the share price closing yesterday at $51.87. And...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Toyota Regains Lead In Global Sales From VolkswagenAfter briefly leading the industry in global vehicle sales this summer, Volkswagen has now lost the crown to perennial leader Toyota which looks set to remain the world’s largest automaker by sales—and likely profits, too—in 2015. Toyota said it sold 7.49 million vehicles through...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
New Video Highlights Potential Danger Of Replica Wheels: VideoAs an auto enthusiast, it’s easy to be tempted by deals for OEM-style wheels that cost a fraction what the dealer or authorized reseller may be asking. But there are often good reasons why you should consider paying the premium for genuine wheels, as highlighted in this video from...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Lexus starts production in the US: VideoLexus has been talking about starting production in the United States for years, and this week it finally happened. The first Lexus to be built on local soil was a 2016 ES 350. It rolled off the line at a plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Toyota’s first plant in the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
A year after Ferrari parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] first announced that the storied Italian sports car manufacturer and race team would be spun off and its shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the initial public offering is finally complete and the shares ready to start trading. ALSO SEE: This Mysterious Truck Has Ferrari's Five Flagship Supercars Tucked Away: Video Ferrari’s shares, which are listed under the apt ticker symbol RACE, start trading later today, with FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne set to ring the opening bell together with founder Enzo...
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Saab Owner NEVS Licenses 9-3 Tech To Turkey For New National Car ProjectFresh from securing a deal with state-owned Chinese automaker Dongfeng to help stave off bankruptcy, Saab’s struggling parent company National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) has now announced a new partnership with the government of Turkey. Tübitak, Turkey’s science and research...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW to recall 8.5 million diesel cars in Europe; Lamborghini offices raided by policeIn compliance with regulators in Europe, namely Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, the Volkswagen Group will recall approximately 8.5 million vehicles across 28 European nations due to the ‘defeat device’ software used on the vehicles to fool emissions testing equipment...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Aston Martin Slashing 15 Percent Of Workforce As Part Of Turnaround PlanAston Martin, under the stewardship of former Nissan exec Andy Palmer, is in the midst of a turnaround plan that will hopefully see the automaker become financially stable for the first time in its century-long history. The plan includes new platforms and technology as well as the development of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW's new North American CEO Winfried Vahland resigns after two weeksFormer Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland, who was just announced as the CEO of the Volkswagen Group's new North American Region, has stepped down, the company confirmed this morning. Vahland held the position for just over two weeks, and no successor has been announced. Martin Horn, President and CEO of...
John Coyle -
Klaus Zellmer Named Chief Of Porsche Cars North AmericaPorsche Cars North America has a new chief following the reshuffle of senior managers at many Volkswagen Group brands as a result of the automaker’s diesel emissions scandal. The new chief is Klaus Zellmer, who takes over from Detlev von Platen on November 1, 2015. ALSO SEE: VW Doubles Down...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
In the wake of its diesel emissions scandal, the Volkswagen Group has decided to double down on electric car development and promote a future of zero emission vehicles. In this regard, the VW Group will accelerate plans for a new modular electric car platform and develop an all-electric version of its next-generation Phaeton flagship sedan. The modular electric car platform, or MEB for short, will be for compact cars and should offer a driving range anywhere between 155 and 310 miles. It will be a multi-brand platform suitable for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and it will...
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Ferrari To Be Valued At Up To $9.82 Billion In IPO, Trade Under Ticker Symbol RACEIt was one year ago that Ferrari parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] announced that the storied Italian supercar manufacturer and race team would be spun off and its shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange via an initial public offering. Since then, it’s been revealed...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volvo, Mercedes And Google Accept Liability For Autonomous CarsAdvancements in the development of fully autonomous cars are accelerating at a rapid pace, but while the technology may be ready in the not too distant future it’s uncertain whether the regulatory and legal framework will have enough time to catch up. Based on independent statistics, over 90...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
As VW prepares for diesel emissions recall, CEO says cost cutting and efficiency drive won’t be painlessThe Volkswagen Group is expected to start recalling its diesel cars fitted with the ‘defeat device’ software designed to fool emissions testers most likely by January, 2016. Around 11 million vehicles are thought to be part of the recall, most of them in Europe, and the brands affected...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Oliver Blume Named CEO Of PorscheSports car manufacturer Porsche from today will be led by Oliver Blume. The 47-year-old was previously in charge of production and logistics and was promoted to the top job following last week’s announcement that Matthias Müller, Blume’s predecessor, is to lead the Volkswagen Group...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Automotive Safety Giant Autoliv To Help Develop Autonomous Systems With VolvoAutomotive safety systems giant Autoliv has joined Volvo in the Swedish automaker’s Drive Me autonomous car research project. The two companies will share their findings in order to accelerate efforts to get the active safety systems fundamental to autonomous driving into production. ALSO...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Last week, as part of the fallout from the developing dirty diesel scandal, the Volkswagen Group announced a company restructuring designed to delegate more responsibility to the brand's core platforms. Part of the administrative shift involved the creation of a new North America Region comprising the United States, Mexico and Canada. And today, Volkswagen's Supervisory Board announced that former Skoda Auto CEO Winfried Vahland will become President and CEO of Volkswagen NAR effective November 1st, 2015. ALSO SEE: Cramming A $4.5M Lamborghini Veneno Into A Transport Truck: Video Vahland...
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VW set to recall 11 million diesel cars worldwide: ReportThe Volkswagen Group will recall 11 million TDI diesel cars to fix 'defeat device' software which deliberately misleads emissions equipment, Reuters is reporting. The move is expected to cost at least $6.5 billion. Yesterday, it was revealed automotive supplier Bosch knew about the defeat device in...
John Coyle -
Bosch knew about VW's "defeat device" in 2007: ReportAccording to multiple German-language media outlets, automotive parts supplier Bosch knew about the Volkswagen Group's 'defeat device' software as early as 2007. Details come from Bild am Sonntag, which first reported that Bosch designed the software to be used in testing applications, and that it...
John Coyle -
VW dirty diesel scandal expands to Audi: 2.1m cars affectedThe Volkswagen Group's dirty diesel scandal continues to expand. In the wake of the company's bombshell admission that it used a software-based "defeat device" to fool emissions testing on its TDI diesels, we've seen the resignation of CEO Martin Winterkorn and a corporate restructuring. Now news...
John Coyle -
North American Car And Truck/Utility Of The Year Short List AnnouncedA total of 54 of the possible 57 member journalists from the United States and Canada have chosen the "Short List" of finalists for the 2016 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards. Each juror voted for as many as 15 cars in each of the two categories. The NACTOY awards, as they are...
Kirk Bell -
Tesla “Totally Cool” With Rivals Using Supercharger Network, Already In Talks With European FirmThis past week, Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] CEO and founder Elon Musk has been in Europe where he helped inaugurate a final assembly plant for the Model S in the Dutch city of Tilburg and presented at a business council meeting in Germany alongside Sigmar Gabriel, the German Minister of Economy &...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran