Archive for the ‘Asia Pacific’ Category
Second time for this repair.
by Michael Strong on Oct.05, 2018
The Toyota Prius has been recalled due to a problem with stalling.
Toyota is recalling 2.4 million Prius hybrids worldwide – including 807,000 in the U.S. – that could stall while driving.
The Japanese automaker said the action covers certain 2010 to 2014 Prius hybrids and certain 2012 to 2014 Prius V hybrids. The problem stems from the vehicle failing to move into “fail-safe driving mode” when the car’s hybrid system “faults.”
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While it issue happens rarely, “the vehicle could lose power and stall. While power steering and braking would remain operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash.” (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., Toyota airbag problem, Toyota computer glitch on Prius, Toyota issues recall for 2.4M Priuses, Toyota recalls Priuses, Toyota recalls Sequoias Tundras Avalons for airbag, auto news, michael strong, recall news, thedetroitbureau, toyota news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Europe, Financials, Hybrids, Markets, NAFTA, Pickups, Recalls, SUVs, Safety, Sedans, South America, Toyota, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Company testing verification prototypes in Sweden.
by Joseph Szczesny on Oct.05, 2018
The all-new Polestar 1 performance PHEV is taking another step toward production with verification prototypes being tested in Sweden.
The development of the battery electric vehicles from Polestar, Volvo’s emerging battery electric vehicle brand, has taken another step forward.
The development of the Polestar 1 has moved off the computer and drawing board “with the production of the first series of “road-going” verification prototype, or VP, cars in Sweden.
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“The assembly of the VP cars means that the Polestar 1 has taken its next step towards production,” says Thomas Ingenlath, chief executive officer of Polestar. (more…)
Tags: Polestar 1, Polestar growth, Polestar news, Polestar vehicle testing, Polestar verification prototypes, TheDetroitBureau.com., Volvo EV brand, Volvo's Polestar brand, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, volvo news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Polestar, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Volvo | No Comments »
Look for it to target markets outside SE Asia. Europe could follow.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.04, 2018
VinFast CEO Jim DeLuca, center left, unveils the company's two offerings with Miss Vietnam, left, and David Beckham, right.
The world’s newest automaker is rapidly ramping up its plans.
Little more than a month ago, during a visit to the new VinFast headquarters and manufacturing complex in Haiphong, an hour outside Hanoi, company officials told TheDetroitBureau.com they were set to focus on the fast-growing Vietnamese automotive market, though they hinted they might look beyond the country’s borders at some time in the future.
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That future has apparently come fast. Following a well-reviewed debut of its first two products at the Paris Motor Show earlier this week, VinFast CEO Jim DeLuca revealed in an exclusive interview that “within a year we’ll be able to announce markets outside Vietnam and outside ASEAN (a trade bloc of Southeast Asian nations), to be clear. We’ve got our sights set both domestically and beyond.” (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., VinFast ASEAN sales plans, VinFast CEO Jim DeLuca, VinFast looking beyond Vietnam, VinFast news, VinFast plans, VinFast plant capability, auto news, paris motor show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Executives, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Trends, VinFast | 2 Comments »
Shares slide on opening day over concerns about long-term growth.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.04, 2018
Andy Palmer, Aston Martin's CEO, expressed optimism for the longer term run of the company's newly issued stock offering.
When they laid out plans to take the company public, Aston Martin executives clearly hoped to replicate the success rival Ferrari had with its own 2015 IPO, but things didn’t quite work out as expected, at least on opening day, with shares falling by day’s end to nearly a pound below the opening price of £19.
The decision to sell shares in the carmaker was described by Aston CEO Andy Palmer as “a historic moment” for a company best known for its long association with cinema spy 007. Indeed, it marked a major turnaround for a company that, early in the decade, seemed to many destined to face its eighth bankruptcy since being formed 105 years ago.
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But while Aston’s backers praise the aggressive “Second Century Plan” put together by Palmer, skeptics raised concerns about whether the company could deliver on a goal of launching seven new core models, as well as an assortment of specialty models, such as the reproduction of the DB5 used in one of the James Bond franchise’s most iconic films, “Goldfinger.” (more…)
Tags: Aston Martin IPO, Aston Martin officials optimistic, Aston Martin stock falls Day One, Aston Martin stock sale underwhelms, Aston's stock offering, TheDetroitBureau.com., aston martin news, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Aston Martin, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Europe, Investors, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, South America, Sports Cars, U.S./North America | 3 Comments »
New model offers improved ride and handling.
by Michael Strong on Oct.03, 2018
The 2019 Lexus RC 300 couple ensure the brand has at least one compelling offering from a design perspective.
Lexus designers have been charged with the task of creating more emotion-evoking vehicles in recent years. However, the RC has always been that buzz-generating offering from Toyota’s luxury brand and the 2019 model shown in Paris continues that trend.
The exterior of the coupe gets an evolutionary upgrade rather than wholesale redesign with tweaks to the sporty look that also give it an elegant feel. However, those changes include updates to the aerodynamics to give it a“sharper and more refined” drive philosophy that was introduced by the LC, officials note.
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The changes include a new front bumper corner that flows down from the headlamps and a grille mesh pattern comprising shapes which gradually transform from top to bottom, creating an intriguing visual tension, Lexus says. The vertical arrangement of the extra-small triple LED headlamps and new L-shaped LED clearance lamps add to the car’s elegance. (more…)
Tags: 2019 Lexus RC coupe, Lexus new model, Lexus sports coupe, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, lexus news, lexus rc 300h, lexus rc 350, michael strong, new Lexus coupe, paris motor show, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Europe, Lexus, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, Paris, Product Reveals, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Asian automaker set to launch production by mid-2019.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.02, 2018
The VinFast Lux A 2.0 is based on the prior-generation BMW 5-Series platform.
There have been a few surprising moments at an otherwise lackluster 2018 Paris Motor Show, and several of them came from sources you wouldn’t expect, notably the debut of the first two new models from Vietnam’s first real carmaker, VinFast.
Of course, it didn’t hurt to have European football star David Beckham on the stand when the Lux A sedan and Lux SA sport-utility vehicle rolled out on Tuesday morning. The two will go into production by the third quarter of 2019 at an all-new factory build largely upon land reclaimed from Haiphong Harbor. Giving real meaning to the second part of its name, VinFast plans to add two more models, one all-electric, to its line-up by the end of next year.
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“Our ultimate goal is to become a world-class automobile manufacturer with a footprint in markets around the world,” said the start-up’s CEO Jim DeLuca, a former General Motors Asia hand who came out of retirement to help launch the company in 2017. (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., Vietnam automaker, Vietnam's first automaker, VinFast David Beckham, auto news, first-ever Vietnamese automaker, former GM executives lead Vietnamese automaker, paris motor show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vinfast
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Celebrities, China, Events, Executives, First Look, Markets, Paris, Personalities, Product Reveals, Sales, Sedans, VinFast | No Comments »
Two supercars will mark a limited run – and you’ll have to be invited to buy one.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.02, 2018
Ferrari plans to sell just 499 of its first two "Icona Ferrari" models like the SP1. No prices were announced, but assume well into seven figures.
Ferrari has a long and glorious history, its many fans are quick to point out, and the carmaker now plans to mine that heritage for a new line of retro-futuristic models that will be sold through a new collection dubbed “Icona Ferrari.”
That will start off with the Monza SP1 and SP2 supercars making their formal debut at the Paris Motor Show today. Ferrari said at its news conference that it plans to build just 499 of them. It will offer them, it suggested, “to our best customers.” In fact, potential buyers will have to be invited just to stand in line.
Retro cars!
The forward-into-the-past design of the two Monza models is meant to harken back to one of the most glorious eras of racing, back in the 1950s and 1960s, when Ferrari dominated the European motor sports circuit. (more…)
Tags: Ferrari SP1 and SP2, Ferrari offering just 499 Monza, Ferrari throw-back models, Icona Ferrari, Monza SP1, Monza SP2, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ferrari news, new old Ferraris, paris motor show, paul a. eisenstein, retro Ferraris, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, China, Classic Cars, Europe, Events, Executives, Ferrari, First Look, Markets, NAFTA, Paris, Personalities, Sales, South America, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Disappointment, again, in Paris.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.02, 2018
With each passing day, the Toyota Supra inches closer to reality, including this heavily camouflaged model at Goodwood.
Supra fans, rejoice!
Every major auto show during the last two years has brought with it a flurry of rumors suggesting the reborn Toyota sports car would finally make its debut, hopes only to be dashed when the Supra was a no-show. And that happened again in Paris, Toyota defying hope and speculation it would finally pull the covers off the production model.
Insight!
But now, it seems, we have official or, at least, semi-official word that the long wait will soon be over. Just stay patient until January when, according to the Facebook channel operated by Toyota’s German subsidiary, the Supra will make its appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. (more…)
Tags: Supra coming to Detroit Auto Show, TheDetroitBureau.com., Toyota Supra news, auto news, new Toyota Supra, no Supra in Paris, paris motor show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, toyota news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, China, Europe, Executives, Markets, NAFTA, Paris, Personalities, Product Reveals, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America | 2 Comments »
Mild hybrid system lets it hop out of trouble.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.02, 2018
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE hits the stage at the Paris Motor Show. The fourth-generation of the midsize luxury ute is loaded with convenience tech.
There are few things worse than finding yourself dug into sand and unable to move, but the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE will offer a novel way of getting out of that mess, literally hopping up and down until its wheels gain traction.
What the German automaker describes as “Free-Driving Mode” is just one of the new and sometimes novel features that will debut on its next-generation midsize sport-ute. Able to seat up to seven adults with an optional third row, the remake of the popular midsize SUV is both more luxurious and more capable, based on what was shown when the 2020 Mercedes GLE made its debut at the Paris Motor Show this morning. At least some of the credit goes to the new 48-volt mild-hybrid technology built into the GLE 450 on display at the show.
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Originally known as the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, the midsize model helped touch off one of the most dramatic transformations in the luxury automotive market when it debuted in the 1998 model-year. There were plenty of skeptics who questioned the idea of a high-line SUV but, today, conventional sport-utility vehicles and crossovers dominate the market, with even Aston Martin, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce set to join the club. (more…)
Tags: Mercedes midsize sport-ute, Merecedes SUV, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto show, fourth-generation Mercedes GLE, mercedes m-class, mercedes news, mercedes-benz gle, new Merecedes GLE, paris motor show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Europe, Infotainment, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Mercedes, Paris, Product Reveals, SUVs, Safety, Sales, Sales, South America, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Gorlier takes over supervision of European operations.
by Michael Strong on Oct.01, 2018
FCA CEO Mike Manley handed out new assignments to his executive team including naming Pietro Gorlier to COO with oversight of European operations.
After just about six weeks as CEO, Fiat Chrysler’s Mike Manley has shuffled the company’s top managers to his liking, with one appointment in particular drawing attention.
He announced the changes in an email sent to employees.
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“The next five years will continue to be extremely challenging for our industry, with tougher regulations, intense competition and probably slower industry growth around the world,” he wrote. (more…)
Tags: FCA leadership changes, FCA news, Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley, Manley reassigns FCA executives, Manley shuffles Fiat Chrysler leaders, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, fiat chrysler news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Alfa Romeo, Asia Pacific, Automakers, Business, China, Chrysler, Dodge, Europe, Executives, FCA, Fiat, Jeep, Markets, Maserati, NAFTA, Personalities, Ram, South America, U.S./North America | Comments Off
