Archive for the ‘Asia Pacific’ Category
New report: sticking point centers around autonomous vehicle program.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.14, 2019
Ford CEO Jim Hackett, left, and VW AG CEO Herbert Diess downplayed the immediate impact their new deal.
When Volkswagen and Ford announced a joint venture focused on light commercial vehicles last month, the two automakers also confirmed they were looking at a variety of other possible partnerships – including autonomous and electrified vehicles – but there are growing signs that the negotiations aren’t going as well as expected in several areas.
As TheDetroitBureau.com reported earlier this week, talks on aligning VW and Ford electric vehicle programs are faltering because of significant differences in strategy – and now, reports the Reuters news service, there may be serious challenges surfacing that could prevent them from teaming up on the development of autonomous vehicles, as well.
News Now!
The key issue, the news service says, is Ford’s demand that the German carmaker invest at least $500 million in its own autonomous vehicle program. That would be in line with the investment Honda recently made when it decided to partner up with General Motors on autonomous vehicle research. (more…)
Tags: Ford VW autonomous vehicles, Ford VW news, Ford VW partnership talks, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW Ford agreement, VW Ford discussions, Volkswagen Ford partnership, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Europe, Executives, Ford, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, South America, Technology, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | 1 Comment »
Expected to be one of 12 all-electric models from luxury brand.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.14, 2019
Audi's newest addition to its EV family is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and the company gave us a peek a the new Q4 e-tron.
The Volkswagen Group last week confirmed plans to roll out “50+” battery-electric vehicles by 2025 and, it seems, fully a dozen of those will be sold through its high-line luxury brand.
The first of these, simply dubbed the Audi e-tron, is set to go on sale later this year, while a production version of the e-tron GT Concept unveiled at last November’s L.A. Auto Show will hit the road next year. And now, ahead of next month’s Geneva Motor Show, we’re getting a first look at the Audi Q4 e-tron that will follow by no later than the first half of 2021.
Product News!
As the Q4 name suggests, the next all-electric model will be a crossover, reflecting the fact that battery-electric vehicles won’t be immune from the rapid shift from cars to light trucks sweeping across the global auto industry. (more…)
Tags: Audi e-tron line-up, Audi teases Q4 e-tron, Audi using MEB, Audi's dozen EVs, TheDetroitBureau.com., audi electric vehicles, audi geneva motor show, audi news, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Audi, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Events, Executives, Geneva, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, South America, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Former Nissan chief cuts legal team; likely to lose Renault payout.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.13, 2019
Carlos Ghosn fired his legal team, replacing them with a lawyer known as "the razor."
Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chairman facing charges of financial corruption, has shaken up his legal team in an effort to reverse a series of setbacks that have resulted in his being held in solitary confinement in a Tokyo prison since last November.
Ghosn is replacing his lawyers with a new team led by a high-profile defense attorney known in Japan as “the razor,” for his ability to win acquittals in a number of high-profile cases. That’s relatively rare in Japan where prosecutors claim conviction rates of more than 90%.
News You Can Trust!
Separately, Renault is ready to scrap about $34 million in deferred pay and severance Ghosn stood to collect after tendering his resignation last month. Nissan’s French alliance partner is also expected to drop a two-year non-compete clause, which would free up Ghosn to join another automaker once released from Japanese prison, Reuters news service reported. (more…)
Tags: Carlos Ghosn hires new attorneys, Ghosn fires legal team, Ghosn gets a "razor", Ghosn hires "the razor", Ghosn news, Renault Ghosn court battle looming, Renault cutting Ghosn's severance pay, Renault cutting most of Ghosn's $34 million, TheDetroitBureau.com., nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, renault news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Europe, Executives, Investors, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Nissan, Personalities, Politicians, Renault | No Comments »
Automakers, regulators continue fix slowed by lack of replacement parts.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.12, 2019
Takata's faulty airbag inflators have been linked to 24 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Nearly 2 million vehicles have been recalled this month to replace airbag inflators blamed for dozens of deaths around the world, but millions more are expected to be targeted in the U.S. alone by early next year.
The problem was caused by faulty airbags produced by Japanese auto supplier Takata Corp., the inflators potentially failing over time. When that happens, they can inflate too aggressively, sending shrapnel spewing into the passenger compartment. So far, at least 23 people are known to have died due to the defect – most of them in the U.S. – with hundreds more injured.
News You Can Trust!
The Takata airbag recall is not only the largest safety-related service action in U.S. history, but also the longest-running recall, with the first advisories going out to vehicle owners back in 2001. It took years for industry leaders, regulators and safety experts to agree on the extent of the problem, but it is now dragging out due to a shortage of replacement inflators. (more…)
Tags: Takata deadly airbags, Takata millions of airbag recalls, Takata news, Takata recall efforts, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, paul a. eisenstein, takata airbag recall, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Executives, Markets, Minivans, Personalities, Pickups, Recalls, Safety, Sedans, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Automaker downgrades future earnings forecast.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.12, 2019
Nissan is taking an $83.2 million charge against earnings due to the scandal surrounding Carlos Ghosn.
Nissan Motor Co. warned that its earnings for the fiscal year ending March 31, could be about the lowest the carmaker has seen in six years.
Nissan now expects to earn 410 billion yen, or $3.7 billion, for the fiscal year, a 45% year-over-year decline. It originally projected a 500 billion yen, or $4.5 billion profit.
Global News!
The second-largest of the Japanese automakers put most of the blame on sliding sales in the U.S. and China, its two largest markets. But it also revealed that it has logged an $83.2 million charge related to the scandal that began with the arrest last November of its former Chairman Carlos Ghosn. (more…)
Tags: Nissan $83.2 million Ghosn charge, Nissan Ghosn scandal, Nissan U.S. and China sales down, Nissan earnings warning, Nissan says earnings to fall, Nissan takes $83.2 million charge for Ghosn scandal, Nissan's earnings worst in six years, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, nissan earnings, nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Earnings, Europe, Executives, Financials, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, NAFTA, Nissan, Personalities, Sales, South America, Trends, U.S./North America | 1 Comment »
T. Rowe Price halves stake from 10.12% to 5.2%.
by Michael Strong on Feb.11, 2019
The mad rush to blow out Model 3s at the end of the year has left Tesla with very few Model 3s to deliver.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently said that the company would face some stiff headwinds in the early part of this year, and now some of those issues are now coming to light … as are the consequences.
The company’s last recent round of layoffs were unexpected, but were initially seen positively as analysts suggested the company would need to find ways to cut costs. However, according to Reuters, one of the teams that were cut significantly should have raised alarm bells sooner.
Subscribe Now!
Reuters reports that Tesla’s delivery team saw 150 of 230 employees lose their jobs. The Las Vegas-based group was largely responsible for delivering the company’s savior vehicle: the Model 3. (more…)
Tags: T. Rowe Price cuts Tesla stake in half, Tesla Model 3 news, Tesla Model 3 problems, Tesla Model 3 stock empty, Tesla T. Rowe Price, Tesla out of cheaper Model 3s, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, michael strong, tesla news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Investors, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, Sedans, South America, Technology, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America | 1 Comment »
What else could you want for $141,700?
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.11, 2019
Alpina is going where the folks at BMW fear to tread by producing its own version of the M7 named the B7.
There’s long been a yawning gap in the BMW line-up. While virtually everything the automaker now offers is available with an “M” option, the Bavarians have resolutely refused to offer an M7 model. But that’s where Alpina, a German tuner with a long relationship with BMW comes in.
And it’s about to launch its own take on a performance version with the debut of the latest-generation Alpina B7. The sixth-generation sedan – and the third generation of Alpina B7s to make it to the U.S. – starts out from where the newly updated 2020 BMW 7 Series leaves off.
News You Can Trust!
If anything, the 2020 Alpina B7 adds even more luxurious details to the latest BMW 7, while also boosting performance significantly, the full-size sedan now able to hit 60 in a mere 3.5 seconds before racing to a top speed of 205 mph – 12 mph faster than the prior-generation B7. (more…)
Tags: Alpina B7 models, BMW 7 Series update, BMW M7 substitute, BMW sports 7 Series, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw alpina, new Alpina offering, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, China, Europe, Executives, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, Sedans, South America, U.S./North America | No Comments »
It will enjoy a limited run of just 15 cars.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.11, 2019
The 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Italia will be a limited-edition vehicle this year with just 15 units.
Despite rumors floating around of its imminent demise, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will stay around for the 2020 model year, officials from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have confirmed.
Alfa Romeo unveiled the limited-edition 2020 4C Spider Italia for North America with its limited production run of only 15 vehicles, during the press preview at the Chicago Auto Show. In keeping with the special color and badges, each car will be numbered.
Product News!
Ben Lyon, FCA product expert, said the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Italia, which is hand-built in a factory in Italy, offers enthusiasts a chance to own a unique mid-engine design inspired by the brand’s legendary racing history and the essential sportiness embedded in the brand’s DNA. (more…)
Tags: 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, Alfa Romeo Chicago Auto Show, Alfa making 15 4C Spiders, FCA Alfa Romeo, FCA news, TheDetroitBureau.com., alfa news, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Alfa Romeo, Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Chicago, China, Europe, FCA, Markets, NAFTA, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Technology is going to lead, but old school rules will ensure success.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.08, 2019
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of Global Operations, meets with the media after the announcement that Ford would pump $1B into the Chicago plant.
As the auto industry stands on the cusp of a huge upheaval, Ford Motor Co. is pursuing a strategy that not only looks to new technology, but also relies on the deft use of the manufacturing skills that were instrumental in the company’s rise more than a century ago.
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, Global Operations, said the billion-dollar investment the company is making in its manufacturing operations in Chicago, where the company has some 6,000 blue-collar workers and plans to add 500 more in the few months, will depend utilize both the latest automation but also the human touch.
The Last Word!
“We’re going to have a new, highly-automated paint shop and body shop,” said Hinrichs talking about Ford’s future plans with reporters at the Chicago Auto Show. But Ford is also depending on the skill of its employees to build the new Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator.as well as specialty vehicles such as the police interceptor that is based on the Explorer. (more…)
Tags: Ford $1B Chicago investment, Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, Ford China plans, Ford future production, Ford's Joe Hinrichs, Hinrichs says manufacturing will set company's tone, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford exports to china, ford news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Business, Chicago, China, Europe, Executives, Ford, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Politicians, SUVs, Sales, South America, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
Carrot-colored 30th Anniversary Edition will start at $35,915.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.08, 2019
Mazda Motors North America President Masahiro Moro introduces the 30th anniversary limited-edition Mazda MX-5 Miata in Chicago.
February in Chicago isn’t normally what you’d call convertible season, but on a cold and blustery morning almost 30 years ago to the day, Mazda took ragtop fans and, indeed, the rest of the auto industry, by surprise with the debut of the original Miata roadster.
While never a major seller, the pint-sized two-seater also known as the MX-5 captured the hearts – and checkbooks – of those who wanted something that put the emphasis on pure driving fun, inspiring a wave of imitations from Mazda’s Japanese, German and U.S. rivals.
Product News!
On another cold and blustery day in the Windy City, Mazda pulled the wraps off a special, commemorative edition of the fourth-generation Miata Thursday. And to mark the occasion, it brought to its Chicago Auto Show news conference not only some of the roadster’s most loyal fans, but some of the folks who helped create the little car. (more…)
Tags: Mazda Miata 30th anniversary edition, Mazda creates special edition Miata, Mazda producing more MX-5 Miata aftermarket parts, Miata news, TheDetroitBureau.com., chicago auto show, mazda news, new special edition MX-5 Miata, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advocates, Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Chicago, China, Classic Cars, Designers, Europe, Executives, Markets, Mazda, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
