Latest Auto news from Automotive News
Magna gets Q4 boost from higher Europe, N.America vehicle output
Magna reported a rise in fourth quarter sales, excluding the impact of a strong U.S. dollar, helped by healthy vehicle demand and output in Europe and North America.
GM tries again with big hybrid pickups
GM plans to build 700 hybrid pickups — 500 Chevrolet Silverados and 200 GMC Sierras — and market test them in California.
Audi’s ballad for a teardrop
The latest spot to make our viral video rankings follows the tale of a lone hero bravely making its way in the world. The unlikely hero is a single teardrop.
Ford recalls 51,500 Transit wagons for rear seat-belt glitch
Ford is recalling 51,470 Ford Transit wagons in North America for a potential problem with rear seat-belt buckles.
Tesla blocks GM’s challenge to direct sales in Indiana
A Senate committee in Indiana on Thursday effectively tabled a controversial proposal to prevent Tesla from selling cars in the state under its direct-sales business model.
Nissan, citing security risks, disables Leaf app
Nissan disabled an app for the Leaf that left the electric car vulnerable to hackers, allowing someone to see the car’s driving history and other data.
VW faces March deadline to disclose diesel emissions fix
A federal judge turned up the heat on VW on Thursday, setting a March deadline for the German automaker to disclose whether it has found an emissions fix for 600,000 diesel vehicles that is acceptable to U.S. regulators.
Ford recalls 51,500 Transit wagons for rear seat-beat glitch
Ford is recalling 51,470 Ford Transit wagons in North America for a potential problem with rear seat-belt buckles.
Uber to expand self-driving car research, tech center
Uber is expanding its research operations in Pittsburgh, where the company conducts randd on self-driving cars and other technology.
VW talks with U.S. over diesel settlement advance
A lawyer for VW told a federal judge today the company is making progress in senior level settlement talks with the Justice Department, the EPA and California to reach a resolution over excess emissions in nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles.
February U.S. sales pace may be highest for month since 2000, analysts say
U.S. auto sales, after being slowed last month by winter storms, are on pace to reach the highest level for any February since 2000, some forecasters say.
Visteon swings to Q4 profit on 2.7% revenue gain
Visteon swung back to profitability while posting a 2.7 percent rise in fourth-quarter revenue, handily beating analysts’ profit expectations.
Zipcar to offer one-way trips within some N.A. markets
Zipcar is set to offer one-way trips within some North American markets as part of a larger push to increase flexibility in its offerings.
CDK buys RedBumper, NewCarIQ
Dealership software company CDK Global has acquired two inventory-management platforms: NewCarIQ and RedBumper.
VW hearing on diesel suits may provide clues on settlement progress
A federal judge will hold a hearing Thursday that may offer the first details on any progress in settling over 500 lawsuits filed against VW, supplier Bosch and many current and former top executives over excess emissions in 580,000 U.S.
Audi supplants Lexus in Consumer Reports’ 2016 report card on reliability, road tests
Audi, in the midst of a scandal over parent company Volkswagen AG’s diesel engines, took the top spot in Consumer Reports’ annual report card on brand reliability and performance.
GM, Ford have underestimated vulnerability to recession, analyst warns
A Morgan Stanley analyst says profits at General Motors and Ford are more at risk in a recession than the automakers have estimated.
Chevrolet wants Facebook ‘love’ for new Malibu
Chevrolet wants the Facebook crowd to not just ‘like’ the new Malibu — it wants people to ‘love’ it.
U.S. senators urge NHTSA to accelerate Takata airbag recall
U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal today renewed their call for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to accelerate the recall of potentially defective Takata airbags.
Tesla battles GM over right to sell cars in Indiana
Tesla, which has battled dealers over its practice of selling cars directly to U.S. consumers, is accusing GM of being the driving force behind a bill to kick Tesla out of Indiana.
More subprime borrowers fall behind on auto loans
More borrowers with spotty credit are failing to make monthly car payments on time, a troubling sign for some lenders, automakers and dealers.
Tesla offers free towing for up to 500 miles in N.A.
Tesla said it would tow its customers’ cars for up to 500 miles to its nearest service center in North America for free.
Lithia Q4 net rises 16% on 11% revenue gain
Lithia Motors’ net income rose 16 percent to $47.7 million in the fourth quarter on strong sales across all operations, the nation’s eighth-largest dealership group said today.
Aston Martin made for Bond ‘Spectre’ film sells for $3.5 million
An Aston Martin DB10 car designed for the latest James Bond film “Spectre” has sold for some $3.5 million at auction, far exceeding its reserve price.
Ram beefs up commercial van digital marketing
Ram is adding some pep to its commercial-vehicle division’s marketing with a new digital sketch-comedy series. Ram’s ‘This Old Van’ series launched Thursday with two videos.
TrueCar hires executive to ‘strengthen’ dealer relationships
TrueCar named its first executive vice president of dealer sales and service as the company adapts following last year’s exodus of franchised dealerships.
Turnaround firm Conway MacKenzie becomes Conway vs. MacKenzie
Van Conway, a well-known Michigan-based corporate turnaround expert, is suing the firm he co-founded after its board of directors removed him from his position as chairman, CEO and president.
Musk gets Tesla.com domain name after waiting years
Elon Musk has finally gotten his hands on the Tesla.com domain name that has been owned by a Silicon Valley engineer and virtually unused for 24 years.
GM ignition-switch plaintiffs ask to revise early trial plan
Lawyers for plaintiffs suing GM over a faulty ignition switch are seeking alternatives to a plan to try five more early test cases in federal litigation against GM over the issue, after a first trial fell apart unexpectedly.
Maserati releases first photos of Levante crossover
Maserati revealed its first undisguised production images of the new Levante, the first crossover in the luxury brand’s 100-year history.
Suppliers’ forecast: Sunny days ahead
While U.S. economists nervously scan horizons for signs of a recession, North American automotive suppliers are preparing for a couple more good years of record production.
Chevy brings menace to its movie marketing
Moviegoers are being treated to a dose of Chevy horror at theaters across the country.
Will Calif. drive out the self-driving vehicle?
California was the cradle of the self-driving car. Yet when such vehicles are offered to the public for the first time, they may be off limits in the state.
VW led auto randd spending in ’15
Volkswagen AG claimed bragging rights as the auto industry’s top randd spender last year, according to an annual study compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
GM could cancel $1.6 billion investment plan in Brazil, Ammann says
General Motors will reconsider plans for new investment in Brazil if the economic and political situation does not improve, GM President Dan Ammann said in an interview published on Sunday.
Hyundai Ioniq targets Prius, but not in sales
Hyundai’s modest sales target of 77,000 units a year globally for the new Ioniq hybrid shows the Korean carmaker grasps the challenge ahead in taking on the Toyota Prius.
High-performance vehicles will be on parade at Geneva
Supercars and SUVs will take center stage at this year’s Geneva auto show, with the Bugatti Chiron — billed as the world’s fastest production sports car — likely to be the showstopper.
Dealership group, staff split costs of tablets
By splitting the cost of tablets with sales staff, Hyundai of Kirkland and Ford of Kirkland, Wash., boosted lead response time and close ratios, improved employee retention and lowered IT costs.
Mini uses TV to cultivate ‘mature brand’ image
Mini spent more than half of its record marketing budget last year on TV to build awareness. It’s part of the new strategy to portray Mini as a more “mature brand” and attract new buyers.
Calif. dealers, JLR fight over exports
Illegally importing a car is a common way for foreign buyers to evade taxes that drive up prices for new vehicles overseas.
Cadillac pledges makeover money, ends holdback
Cadillac is rolling out a new image program for its dealerships, just as some of its stores are putting the finishing touches on the last remodel.
Forget Internet marketing, many dealers still prefer traditional media
Car dealers are holding fast in the new age of digital marketing. Even as the industry rushes into a more Internet-based reality, big money still is going into legacy media.
Dealership: Nissan’s at odds with Fla. franchise law
Nissan North America’s practice of providing millions in financial support to selected dealers is at the center of a court case in Florida, with a dealer saying Nissan is violating state franchise laws.
Wounded TrueCar outlines recovery steps
Looking to put a punishing 2015 firmly in the rearview mirror, TrueCar CEO Chip Perry struck a familiar tone for the online car-shopping site: We know our weaknesses and we know we need to fix them.
Soaring on the wings of the snowbirds
For Rick Case and other Florida dealers, the massive influx of consumers known as snowbirds every winter represents a business opportunity. But they have to compete for it.
Suits target price-fixing parts makers
Auto dealers and consumers are suing parts makers, saying they paid more for their vehicles due to price-fixing by the suppliers. In a procedural move that came in December, many suits seek to be consolidated into one case centered on Japan’s Denso.
Alfa Giulia models to debut in Geneva
Alfa Romeo will unveil the long-delayed mainstream versions of its Giulia midsize sedan at the Geneva auto show next week.
Honda prepares to recall 2016 Civics over possible engine failure
Honda Motor Co. is preparing a recall for the 2016 Civic compact in the U.S. and has ordered dealers to stop selling some versions of the car, months after beginning sales of the crucial new model.
Takata may be forced to recall up to 90 million more airbag inflators in U.S.
U.S. auto safety regulators are examining whether an additional 70 million to 90 million Takata Corp. airbag inflators should be recalled because they may endanger drivers, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Biggest 2017 Pacifica innovations are in back seats
When designing the interior of a new vehicle, stylists often focus on the driver’s seat, the one spot where someone will always be sitting.
Porsche, Geely set deals for Internet-connected cars
ATandT entered into a multiyear contract to help Porsche provide Internet connectivity in its cars in the United States, beginning with some 2017 models.
FCA gets in on the ‘Batman v Superman’ action
When chaos ensues in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne hops in a Jeep Renegade to confront it.
Uber defends driver screening process in wake of 6 fatal Mich. shootings
Uber says there was nothing it could do to prevent six murders allegedly committed on Saturday by a company driver in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Cadillac’s De Nysschen pitches virtual stores
Cadillac chief Johan de Nysschen has floated a plan to have the smallest 400 Cadillac stores convert to virtual showrooms and draw inventory from regional hubs, rather than stocking new cars.
Jitters over Faraday Future’s $1 billion EV factory
Is a planned $1 billion electric-car factory in North Las Vegas the savior for an economically ravaged community — or just a desert mirage?
Mini’s 5th ‘superhero’ could be a compact sedan
BMW’s Mini is considering a premium compact sedan as its fifth volume model — one of several options to grow the brand.
Audi’s ballad for a teardrop
The latest spot to make our viral video rankings follows the tale of a lone hero bravely making its way in the world. The unlikely hero is a single teardrop.
Rolls-Royce to replace Phantom after 13-year run
Rolls-Royce is replacing the $386,000 Phantom limousine, the brand’s first model built under BMW AG’s ownership, after a 13-year run as the maker of ultraluxury cars switches to building vehicles with lighter aluminum frames.
Michigan, in battle for autonomous-car test dollars: ‘We’ve got real potholes’
Michigan and California, vying for control of our driverless future, are each proposing crumbling World War II military sites as ideal locations to test robot cars. Michigan’s secret weapon? Better potholes.
BMW to revive 8 series in 2020, report says
It looks like we finally know what the 2013 BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe concept was all about; Autocar reports that BMW will resurrect the 8 series, dormant since 1999, in four years.
Sonic Q4 net rises 19% despite oversupply pressuring margins
Auto retailer Sonic Automotive’s fourth-quarter net income rose 19 percent from the same quarter a year ago despite margin pressure on new vehicles, particularly in the luxury segment, because of oversupply, executives said.
Manheim to open Cleveland auction site in March
The nation’s largest auction company is getting bigger and expanding its reach, especially among small franchise dealers, with the opening of Manheim Cleveland on March 2.
GM ignition-switch test trials to move forward, U.S. judge says
A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday said he does not intend to alter, for now, a plan to try five more early test cases this year in federal litigation against GM over a faulty ignition switch linked to nearly 400 injuries and deaths.
Buick’s next-gen Regal to get bigger footprint
The next-generation Buick Regal sedan is likely to be longer than its predecessor but won’t adopt the fastback styling of its corporate cousin, the Opel Insignia, according to new spy photos.
Takata airbag ruptures caused by mix of 3 factors, investigators find
A consortium of 10 automakers investigating the root cause behind exploding airbag inflators made by Takata Corp. has fingered the ammonium nitrate propellant as a key factor in the deadly ruptures — but not the only one.
Mercedes-AMG packs speedier 2017 C43 coupe with new 9-speed
Mercedes-Benz provided its first look at the 2017 C43 coupe, a rebadged version of the C450 AMG Sport.
Takata documents show warnings about fudged data
Congressional staffers released internal Takata emails and other documents that they say show Takata manipulated test results on airbag inflators before and after its massive recalls began.
Cadillac CT6’s e-mirror receives NHTSA blessing
When the Cadillac CT6 goes on sale in March, GM won’t have to worry about regulatory blowback from one of its most eye-catching features: a rear-view mirror that doubles as an electronic rear-view display.
Audi supplants Lexus in Consumer Reports’ 2016 survey of reliable brands
Audi, in the midst of a scandal over parent company Volkswagen AG’s diesel engines, took the top spot in Consumer Reports’ annual report card on brand reliability and performance.
Honda to retool product development, randd
Honda President Takahiro Hachigo, still battling quality problems after nearly a year in office, aims to strengthen the company’s production footprint, streamline randd and focus more on electrified cars to reboot the automaker.
Honda CEO to shift gears, distance sales staff from styling
Nearly a year into his job, Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo plans a back-to-the-future shift at the Japanese automaker, driving clearer demarcation lines between those who develop cars and those who sell them, two senior company insiders told Reuters.
Acura preps MDX for major 2017 facelift
Acura is promising a heavy refresh of the third-generation, three-row MDX crossover that will be based on the Precision Concept sedan introduced at the Detroit auto show in January.
Lexus tops J.D. Power dependability rankings for 5th straight year
Lexus, for the fifth year in a row, is the auto industry’s most dependable brand after three years of ownership, while Buick is the highest-ranking marque among domestic and nonluxury brands for the second consecutive year, according to J.D. Power.
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