Headlines for Friday, January 25, 2013

Customer Incentives

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AutoNews Now: Hyundai-Kia's $412M goof

South Korean automakers tally the cost of mileage overstatements; why Group 1 picked Brazil; Lapham's pick-me-up. Read More »

Daimler said to be in talks with Ford, Renault-Nissan to share fuel cell technology

Daimler has delayed plans to launch a fuel-cell powered variant of its B-class compact and is now in talks with possible partners Renault-Nissan and Ford on sharing the technology and reducing costs. Read More »

Opel sales chief Rieck quits after half year in job

Opel named Duncan Aldred as the automaker's acting sales and marketing chief after Alfred Rieck quit after just six months in the post. Aldred, 43, is chairman and managing director of Vauxhall, Opel's UK sister brand. Read More »

Hewlett-Packard bid to query 2 GM defectors denied by judge

Hewlett-Packard lost a bid for a Texas court order allowing it to question under oath two former information technology workers who were among 18 people that quit the company in November to join GM. Read More »

GM plans Super Bowl pre-game ads after eschewing game

GM, which isn't advertising during CBS' telecast of the Super Bowl, plans to air commercials during the network's pre-game programming on Feb. 3. Chevrolet will air four spots during the pre-game telecast, Chris Perry, vice president for Chevy marketing, said Friday. Read More »

North America car and truck production - 01/28/2013

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Ford launches deals to spur Focus EV sales

Ford, responding to soft sales for the Ford Focus EV and recent moves by rivals, has launched a wave of discounts and special lease deals to spur demand for the alternative-powered compact car. Read More »

Hyundai teams up with rock band Flaming Lips for Super Bowl ad

Hyundai has teamed-up with psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips for the brand’s 60-second Super Bowl commercial running prior to kickoff. Read More »

Former Ford executive Kenneth Merrill dies at 82

Kenneth Merrill, a former Ford Motor and Ford Credit executive, died Jan. 22 in Livonia, Mich. He was 82. Read More »

57 dealers nominated for Time magazine award

Fifty-seven auto dealers have been nominated by automotive trade associations for the 2013 Time Dealer of the Year award. The nominees were announced by Time magazine and Ally Financial, this year’s sponsor. Read More »

VW plans Golf push in Americas with shift to Mexico

Volkswagen plans to produce its Golf hatchback in Mexico as part of a push for market share in North America, where it trails global rivals. Read More »

Strong January auto sales boost 2013 outlook

Auto sales in the United States have been unexpectedly strong in January, adding to optimism about the industry's growth potential in the year ahead, analysts said. Read More »

First Shift: Super Bowl spoilers?

Some say social-media ad teasers are ruining the surprise, Group 1 makes big splash in Brazil, Mexico-made VW Golf. Read More »

Volkswagen plans Golf push in Americas with shift to Mexico

Volkswagen plans to produce its Golf hatchback in Mexico as part of a push for market share in North America, where it trails global rivals. Read More »

VW mulls launching low-cost subbrand in China, executive says

Volkswagen may build its first low-cost car in China, development chief Ulrich Hackenberg said, as the automaker considers a move into no-frills vehicles to compete with Renault's Dacia and Nissan's Datsun Read More »

Fiat gets union agreement for layoff scheme at Melfi plant

Fiat has received trade unions' go-ahead for a layoff scheme at its Melfi plant in southern Italy that will allow it restructure the plant before producing a new Jeep and a Fiat model there. Read More »

Kia Motors earmarks $187 million in costs on false U.S. mileage claims

Kia Motors has set aside provisions of about 200 billion Korean won ($187.13 million) to compensate drivers in North America for its overstated fuel-economy claims, Joo Woo-jeong, a director at the automaker, said today. Read More »

Porsche extends CEO Mueller's contract

Porsche will extend the 3-year contract of its CEO, Matthias Mueller, by one year to October 2014. Mueller, 59, took over the top job at the sports car maker from Wendelin Wiedeking in 2010. Read More »

Russian car market sales value up 21.9% in 2012, Ernst & Young says

Russia's car market increased in value by 21.9 percent to 2.33 trillion rubles ($77 billion) in 2012, according to data from auditing firm Ernst & Young. Read More »

Daimler starts production of Mercedes CLA in Hungary

Daimler has begun production of a coupe-styled Mercedes compact alongside the B class in Hungary. The CLA is one of three new compacts that the automaker is planning to launch before 2015. Read More »

Saab hometown with 32% youth out of work prays for China

Saab is raising fresh hopes in its Swedish hometown as the mothballed brand gears up for another revival, more than a year after it went bankrupt. Read More »

Mercedes to add 2 models to S-class range

Mercedes-Benz's redesigned S-class range will grow from three vehicles to five with the addition of a convertible and an ultraluxury sedan. Read More »

Compact is 'top priority' for Jaguar

Jaguar wants to re-enter the compact segment and is considering multiple body styles, said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's global brand director. Read More »