OEM Coverage

Toyota recalls 52,000 Avalons to fix potential wiring fire hazard

10:13 am U.S. ET | Jan. 29, 2015

Toyota Motor Sales USA said it plans to recall about 52,000 Avalon sedans from the 2011-12 model years for wiring that could cause a fire.... Read More »

Autoliv sees 2015 growth, better margins as Q4 beats forecast

7:25 am U.S. ET | Jan. 29, 2015

Auto safety products supplier Autoliv today said it saw slightly higher margins in 2015 as it posted fourth quarter earnings above market expectations, helped by strong sales in Europe and lower costs for raw materials.... Read More »

Bollore eyes Los Angeles in car-sharing expansion

Jan. 29, 2015 11:45 CET

Vincent Bollore is targeting Los Angeles and Singapore as the next markets for his electric-car sharing service after its debuts later this year in London and Indianapolis.The French car-sharing service currently has about 70,000 subscribers in Paris.... Read More »

Daimler, Schaeffler hit by German strikes

Jan. 29, 2015 11:21 CET

Daimler and parts supplier Schaeffler were among the companies affected when thousands of engineering workers on the night shift across Germany walked out over a wage dispute early on Thursday. Further warning stoppages are expected today and in the coming weeks.... Read More »

Renault expects to make 3,000 Alpine cars a year

Jan. 28, 2015 12:36 CET

A Renault executive has revealed the output expectations for the automaker's Alpine-badged sports car. "In terms of scale, on average [annual production] volume will be about 3,000 cars, with a peak of 5,000 initially due to the novelty factor," Alpine head Bernard Ollivier told Reuters in an interview.... Read More »

Marchionne has FCA on fast track to profit in Europe

Jan. 28, 2015 16:28 CET

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will be profitable in Europe a year earlier than expected, CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday. Previously, Marchionne said the automaker's regional operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) would break even this year and turn a profit in 2016.... Read More »

Auto bosses say billions in savings at stake if EU-U.S. trade deal fails

Jan. 28, 2015 19:41 CET

The CEOs of Germany's top auto companies said Wednesday that they could save roughly 5 billion euros in annual costs if the European and U.S. governments can agree on a landmark free trade deal.... Read More »

GM denies request by U.S. senators to extend ignition-switch claims deadline

4:05 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

General Motors today denied a request from two US senators to extend the Saturday deadline for victims of the company's defective ignition switch to apply for compensation. “Our goal is to be just and timely in compensating the families who lost loved ones and those who suffered physical injury," GM said in a statement. "We previously extended the deadline until January 31, and we do not plan another extension.”... Read More »

Bentley names industry veteran Winkler to head Americas unit

4:01 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Bentley said it appointed Michael Winkler as president and CEO of Bentley Motors in the Americas, replacing Christophe Georges, who will become director of product and marketing for Bentley’s global organization.... Read More »

Gentex Q4 sales gains lag forecasts; stock drops

11:53 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Gentex, a mirror, camera and electronic component supplier, said its fourth quarter net income rose a disappointing 2 percent while overall revenue jumped 7 percent from a year earlier. Gentex shares fell 6 percent.... Read More »

Over-the-air auto software updates opens market to acquisitions

2:47 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Over-the-air software updates -- a no-fuss, no-muss infotainment feature popularized by Tesla Motors -- is rapidly spreading to the entire auto industry, fueling high-price acquisitions in the segment.... Read More »

Fiat Chrysler's $4.1 billion operating profit in 2014 fueled by N.A.

8:51 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles met its full-year guidance as strong results from North America and improving operations in Europe managed to offset persistent weakness in Latin America.... Read More »

Japanese supplier Sanden agrees to $3.2 million fine in U.S. price-fixing case

6:33 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Japanese supplier Sanden has agreed to pay a US fine of more than $3 million and becomes the latest company tied to a wide-ranging auto supplier price-fixing prosecution for its brief role in setting the prices of air conditioning compressors for Nissan.... Read More »

Ford recalls 221,000 vehicles for door handle, seat belt problems

9:57 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Ford said it is recalling about 221,000 cars and vans for door handle and seat belt problems. Ford said it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the two recalls.... Read More »

Nissan recalls 768,000 crossovers and SUVs for separate problems

9:40 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Nissan is recalling about 768,000 vehicles, including its popular Rogue crossover and Pathfinder SUV, for separate problems, the company and federal regulators said today.... Read More »

Cost-cutting VW baffles experts with Phaeton plans

Jan. 28, 2015 10:05 CET

With VW having embarked on a big cost-cutting drive, industry experts are baffled why the "people's car" maker plans to spend millions of euros upgrading the money-losing Phaeton premium sedan. Analysts say the costly car should be axed.... Read More »

Auto industry drives comeback in aluminum prices

6:44 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

At a time when other commodities are slumping, aluminum is making a comeback as automakers under pressure to build more fuel-efficient cars increase their use of the lightweight metal.... Read More »

Automakers' push for fuel-efficiency boosts aluminum

Jan. 28, 2015 11:02 CET

Automakers, under pressure to build more fuel-efficient cars, are driving demand for aluminum, even at a time when other commodities are slumping. Automakers including Jaguar and Ford are using the lightweight metal in a bid to shed weight and meet emissions goals.... Read More »

CHRISTIAAN HETZNER

Zetsche done taking beating for Daimler double duty

12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2015

Dieter Zetsche has been the whipping boy of the German premium auto industry for years, but that should soon change.... Read More »

RICHARD TRUETT

Can Dodge rebuild Pontiac excitement?

11:00 am U.S. ET | Jan. 27, 2015

General Motors has no plans to revive Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn, CEO Mary Barra says. So where do longtime Pontiac and Hummer buyers go if they are in the market?... Read More »

Mercedes plans to move R-class production to AM General in Indiana

10:18 am U.S. ET | Jan. 27, 2015

Mercedes-Benz plans to shift production of the R-class crossover from its Alabama plant to contract manufacturer AM General in Indiana this summer. The German automaker said it needed to free up space in its assembly operations near Tuscaloosa, Ala.... Read More »

TI Automotive to be acquired by Bain for $2.4 billion, report says

8:36 am U.S. ET | Jan. 27, 2015

Global fuel systems supplier TI Automotive, after months of wrangling and speculation, said today it has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Bain Capital LLC. The deal is valued at $2.4 billion, sources told Bloomberg.... Read More »

Aston Martin gets cash backing to overhaul lineup

Jan. 27, 2015 13:06 CET

Aston Martin's main financial backer has pledged to provide cash for a refreshed model lineup that the supercar maker plans to reveal at the Geneva auto show in March. "If Aston needs capital, we're there," Investindustrial Chairman Andrea Bonomi said.... Read More »

Germany plans driverless-car pilot project on autobahn

Jan. 27, 2015 10:36 CET

Germany plans a driverless-car pilot project on a portion of the A9 autobahn between Munich and Berlin. The project would be one of the first to equip a stretch of public highway specifically for testing autonomous vehicles.... Read More »

NEWS ANALYSIS

Nissan steps back from cutting-edge offerings

12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26, 2015

Nissan and its luxury Infiniti sibling have mellowed in their message of cutting-edge future products as 2015 begins. Missing from talking points this month at the Detroit auto show was any discussion of recent racy concepts. The change in tone signals a desire to focus more intently, at least for now, on tried-and-true volume products.... Read More »

NEXT »