News
First Shift: Quiet Tesla makes noise in Beijing
April 25In Beijing: BMW previews Chinese export; Nissan juices up Sentra; Lexus redesigns ES; Audi Q5 goes long; 'Sensuous' Hyundai; Quiet Tesla draws a crowd; Alibaba's automotive AI partners.
GM banks on Chinese vehicle family to boost Brazil sales
April 25GM is planning for long-term profitability in South America built on the back of draconian cost cutting during Brazil's recession and the same low-cost vehicles it is developing for Chinese markets.
Ford simplifies vehicle distribution network in China, names new leaders
April 25Ford said it's reorganizing its operations in China by simplifying its distribution network and appointing new leaders to replace the CEO who abruptly left in January.
AutoNews Now: GM adding 3rd shift at Tenn. crossover plant
April 25GM adding shift at crossover plant; Ram offers dealers spiff to buy loaners; Bosch diesel breakthrough?; Tesla teardown; Hall of Fame picks AutoNation's Jackson, Magna's Stronach.
Customers want F&I information upfront
April 25Feature F&I information online to increase F&I product sales, suggests Eric Fifield of EFG Cos. "Give consumers more control by highlighting the F&I products and benefits online so they can research in a no-pressure environment," he said. "Videos are tailor-fit for this use."
Treat consumer complaints like ransom notes
April 25Dealers can prevent costly investigations by taking consumers' complaints seriously. Treat them like ransom notes, says Reynolds' Terry O'Loughlin.
AutoNation names 1st academic to board
April 25AutoNation added the first academic and second woman to its board composed entirely of outside directors under CEO Mike Jackson.
Tesla teardown uncovers tech prowess, production shortcomings
April 25Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company was building advantages in the ability to make electric cars cheaply and efficiently. Those claims keep looking more questionable.
Ford brand sedans to be nixed in N.A. under deeper cost targets
April 25Ford plans to stop selling all Ford brand sedans in North America and is nearly doubling its cost-cutting target from a plan laid out only six months ago. The automaker said it will either fix or eliminate unprofitable global operations.
AutoNation's Jackson, Magna's Stronach named to Automotive Hall of Fame
April 25AutoNation's Mike Jackson, Toyota's Kiichiro Toyoda, Magna's Frank Stronach and Car Talk's Ray and Tom Magliozzi will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Want to know what customers really think? Google yourself
April 25Dealers invested in addressing consumer complaints should Google themselves to stay ahead of compliance issues.
Lithia Q1 net rises 2.6 percent
April 25Lithia Motors' first-quarter net grew on strong service and parts and finance results, despite a drop in new-vehicle sales and narrowing gross profit margins.
Penske Q1 net soars behind broad gains
April 25First-quarter net income at Penske Automotive Group soared 31 percent to $108 million, powered by profit gains across all areas of the auto retailer's business.
GM to reinstate 3rd shift in Spring Hill, plans Holden version of GMC Acadia
April 25GM plans to reinstate a third shift at its assembly plant in Tennessee to meet growing demand in the United States for crossovers and add production of an all-new Holden version of the GMC Acadia.
Bosch claims a 'breakthrough' that could save diesel engines
April 25Bosch said its engineers have developed a diesel exhaust system that cuts emissions far below legal limits and can help automakers avoid potential driving bans in Europe.
FCA spiffs dealers to spin Ram through loaner fleets
April 25FCA US, battling a decline in demand for Ram pickups, is offering added April incentives to dealers in the United States who add new trucks to service loaner fleets and count them as sales.
VW reaches $33.5 million diesel emissions settlement with Maryland
April 25Volkswagen has reached a $33.5 million settlement with Maryland over state claims related to the German automaker's excess emissions, court documents show.
BMW's iX3 concept heralds electric expansion
April 25BMW previewed the expansion of full-electric cars into its core product lineup with the iX3 concept at the Beijing auto show.
BMW will export iX3 electric SUV to Europe, U.S. from China
April 25BMW will export its first full-electric SUV, called the iX3, to global markets after it goes into production in 2020 at its joint-venture plant in China.
Bank of America's online auto traffic doubles
April 25The number of customers using Bank of America's online shopping and auto financing portal has doubled since the end of 2017, less than a year after the company launched a pilot of the platform.
Aston Martin says China spurring another horse-to-cars moment
April 25China's policies to cut pollution are driving a rapid move toward electric vehicles in the world's biggest market and causing upheaval in the global auto industry, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said.
Congress to seek VW CEO's testimony in new cheating probe
April 25A House committee has begun a new investigation into allegations of overseas emissions cheating by Volkswagen and was seeking testimony from VW CEO Herbert Diess.
CFPB's regulation by enforcement halts -- for now
April 25Regulation by enforcement is over at the CFPB, at least while Acting Director Mick Mulvaney leads the bureau, he told members of Congress.
Bosch seeks to restore diesel reputation with new staff rules
April 25Bosch said it would teach 70,000 staff a new code of conduct by the end of this year in an effort to change the "mindset" of the supplier. Prosecutors are probing several automakers and Bosch for their suspected roles in using an engine control unit to cheat exhaust emissions tests.
Nissan to bring Sentra EV, Leaf to China in electrification blitz
April 24Nissan is accelerating its global electrification blitz by adding a full-electric version of the Sylphy small car in China as it chases global sales of 1 million electrified vehicles in five years.
Mercedes-Maybach bets on a hybrid SUV-sedan
April 24Mercedes is betting on a hybrid SUV-sedan to attract wealthy Chinese buyers to its Maybach ultraluxury brand.
Melrose gets green light from UK for GKN takeover
April 24UK Business Minister Greg Clark said there were no national security grounds to intervene in turnaround specialist Melrose's takeover of British auto supplier GKN.
Ford's 2019 Focus ST will pack 2.3-liter EcoBoost motor
April 24The next generation Ford Focus ST, which is expected to debut at the 2019 Geneva motor show, will use a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, a British media report says, up from the current 2.00-liter turbo.
Once an industry joke, electric buses start to dent oil demand
April 24Suddenly, buses with battery-powered motors are a serious matter with the potential to revolutionize city transport -- and add to the forces reshaping the energy industry.
A farewell toast to the Jeep 'JK' Wrangler
April 24The two-door Jeep Wrangler JK and four-door Wrangler Unlimited JKU represent the bookend of a game-changing, if initially flawed, vehicle that was far successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams and unmatched by rivals.
First Shift: Amazon launches in-car deliveries with GM, Volvo
April 24Amazon, GM, Volvo launch in-car deliveries; Historic shift in dealer ad spending; In Beijing: Ultraluxury from Mercedes, a new platform for Infiniti; Something to buzz about at Toyota.
Ferrari pushes possible EV launch beyond 2022
April 24Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne says the supercar brand will not launch a full-electric car until after its next business plan ends in 2022.
PSA first-quarter revenue jumps 42% on Opel-Vauxhall acquisition
April 24PSA revenue rose 42 percent to 18 billion euros ($22 billion) in the first quarter, lifted by its acquisition of Opel-Vauxhall last year.
GM, Volvo team with Amazon to deliver packages to customers' cars
April 24General Motors and Volvo have partnered with Amazon to offer customers in-vehicle delivery of packages in the United States.
Lexus ES redesign goes sportier with F Sport edition
April 24Lexus is so confident in the performance chops of its redesigned ES sedan that it is giving the remake of one of its frumpiest nameplates an F Sport version for the first time.
Mercedes seeks to keep China luxury lead with stretched A class
April 24Mercedes aims to widen the brand's appeal to Chinese buyers with a long-wheelbase version of its latest A class.
Asbury's Q1 net jumps 18 percent
April 24Asbury Automotive's first-quarter profits jumped 18 percent, driven by F&I and parts and service gains, on a revenue increase approaching 4 percent.
Calif. pension plan urged to divest automakers that skirt emissions rules
April 24A group of congressional Democrats representing California urged the state's pension system to divest stock from any automaker that follows the Trump administration's plan to relax light-vehicle emissions standards.
AutoNews Now: Mercedes A class stretches out in China
April 24From Beijing: Benz stretches out, VW, partners boost tech spending, Uber rival Didi seeks a fleet; Fire risk in some Audis; Ford, VW safety probes; Mini, Fiat designer takes a flier.
Flying taxi start-up hires designer behind modern Mini, Fiat 500
April 24Lilium, a startup with ambitions to put electric "flying taxis" in the air next decade, has hired Frank Stephenson, the designer behind several iconic cars such as the Mini, Fiat 500 and McLaren P1.
Audi recalling 1.16 million vehicles worldwide over coolant pump issue
April 24Audi said it was recalling more than a million vehicles worldwide because of concerns that an electric coolant pump could overheat or short-circuit from moisture within the pump and pose a fire risk.
