Lamborghini's Egoista concept highlights edgy designMay 23, 2013 06:01 CET  The Lamborghini Egoista concept shown earlier this month at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in Bologna, Italy, isn't planned for production, but it does have a purpose: countering critics who think Lamborghini has lost some of its design edginess.... Read More »
Daimler may sell company-owned German dealerships to cut costsMay 22, 2013 13:19 CET  Daimler may sell four company-owned Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Germany to cut costs and help close a profitability gap with rivals BMW and Audi. Daimler owns 98 Mercedes car showrooms that account for about half of its car sales in Germany, the brand's second-biggest market after the United States.... Read More »
German brands enjoy sales boom in KoreaMay 21, 2013 06:01 CET  South Korea has become a growth market for BMW, Mercedes and Audi as lower tariffs make their cars cheaper and local buyers abandon a decades-long preference for domestic brands.... Read More »
Toyota overtakes BMW as most valuable global car brandMay 21, 2013 01:15 CET  Toyota has overtaken BMW as the world's most valuable automotive brand, an annual ranking of the world's top brands shows. Toyota's 2013 brand value rose 12 percent to $24.5 billion largely because of its significant inroads in the hybrid market, according to the study.... Read More »
GABE NELSON Audi gripes, but Tesla could be en route to niche-brand success 3:59 pm U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Audi wants to be clear: Just because the Tesla Model S is outselling Audi's flagship A8 in the U.S. luxury sedan market, it does not mean Tesla Motors is beating Audi.... Read More »
CARS & CONCEPTS Sporty Bentley models in the works 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 Bentley plans to launch a 650-hp Continental Supersports as early as 2014, featuring carbon-fiber panels and a stiffer chassis, sources told Autoweek.... Read More »
CARS & CONCEPTS Lambo's design exercise 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  The jet fighterlike Lamborghini Egoista concept shown this month at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in Bologna isn't planned for production, but it does have a purpose: countering critics who think Lambo has lost some of its design edginess.... Read More »
PRODUCTION LINE Q&A: AUDI'S BERND MARTENS Audi plans 90% local sourcing in Mexico 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  In September, Bernd Martens took over Audi purchasing as a member of the Audi management board. Martens, 47, gave Automotive News' German-language sibling publication, Automobilwoche, a look at how he and his team explored sourcing in Mexico.... Read More »
Hyundai, Kia losing ground to luxury imports at home as tariffs fall 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 19, 2013  Foreign brands have seen their share of South Korea's market for premium vehicles surge to 41 percent from 28 percent in the past two years, according to Korean industry groups, as lower tariffs make their cars cheaper and local buyers abandon a decades-long preference for domestic brands.... Read More »
Audi overtakes BMW as India's top-selling premium brandMay 18, 2013 06:01 CET  Audi has overtaken BMW as India's top seller of luxury vehicles, and Audi executives say the success is due to the automaker's rapid expansion outside large urban centers, as well as the Q3 SUV introduced last year.... Read More »
European car sales post 1st gain in 19 months 5:19 am U.S. ET | May 17, 2013  European car sales rose for the first time in 19 months as a gain in consumer sentiment in countries using the euro led to rebounds in Germany and Spain. Still, the European auto market is at a two-decade low, and industry executives are forecasting a drop of about 5 percent for 2013 amid a recession in the 17-nation euro zone.... Read More »
In boost to GM and VW, China resumes incentives for foreign auto investment 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 17, 2013  A surprise policy shift in China is expected to give a boost to GM, Volkswagen Group and other foreign automakers planning to expand in the world's largest car market.... Read More »
VW Group sales increase 7% in AprilMay 17, 2013 12:06 CET  Volkswagen Group's global monthly sales picked up pace again in April after growing at their slowest rate in more than three years a month earlier. VW Group said on Friday that deliveries to customers rose 7 percent to 784,600 vehicles last month.... Read More »
VW, GM, others get unexpected boost in ChinaMay 17, 2013 06:01 CET  A surprise policy shift in China is expected to give a boost to VW Group, GM and other foreign automakers planning to expand in the world's largest car market.... Read More »
Tariff played a role in Mexico winning Audi plantMay 17, 2013 06:01 CET  At the groundbreaking for the Q5 plant in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler offered another explanation for deciding not to locate in the United States: The European Union slaps a 10 percent tariff on U.S.-built vehicles.... Read More »
Audi Q7 will shed weightMay 17, 2013 06:01 CET  The redesigned Audi Q7 that debuts next summer in Europe will weigh about 363kg less than the current model, company insiders said, adding that Audi is also planning a hybrid version of the next-generation large SUV.... Read More »
Audi shifting to high-performance models to propel salesMay 16, 2013 10:34 CET  Audi is counting on bigger sales of high-performance cars like the RS5, as well as the new version of the A3 compact, to propel volume this year amid intensifying economic headwinds.... Read More »
Audi shifting to high-performance models to propel sales 4:34 am U.S. ET | May 16, 2013  Audi is counting on bigger sales of high-performance cars like the RS5, as well as the new version of the A3 compact, to propel volume this year amid intensifying economic headwinds.... Read More »
Skoda's global April sales hit by switch to new OctaviaMay 16, 2013 16:10 CET  Skoda said today that its global sales fell 4.6 percent to 77,600 in April due to a switch to a new Octavia compact model and continued weak demand in some European markets.... Read More »
Volkswagen starts construction of 300,000-vehicle plant in ChinaMay 16, 2013 09:04 CET  Volkswagen has begun construction of a new factory in Changsha, China, with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles, the company said in a statement today. The plant is one of seven factories being built by the company as it seeks to expand annual capacity in China to 4 million vehicles by 2018 in order to meet growing demand.... Read More »
Revamped Mercedes S class strives to set new luxury mark 2:00 pm U.S. ET | May 15, 2013  Mercedes-Benz is heralding the redesigned 2014 S class as a flagship that will set new benchmarks for luxury sedans with its packaging of technology, safety gear and opulence.... Read More »
VW brand sales rise 5.4% in April as China demand offsets Europe dropMay 14, 2013 14:41 CET Volkswagen Group said sales of its core VW brand rose 5.4 percent in April, powered by gains in China which helped offset weaker global markets including the U.S. and Europe.... Read More »
Volkswagen said to favor China's FAW for budget brandMay 14, 2013 15:34 CET  Volkswagen favors launching a planned budget brand in China with local joint-venture partner FAW, sources said. VW aims to introduce the low-cost marque in about three years and may eventually expand it to more than one model.... Read More »
Audi sales in China exceed BMW, Mercedes on demand for SUVsMay 14, 2013 11:04 CET  Audi saw the fastest sales growth among German premium marques in China last month after deliveries rose 13 percent to 38,710 vehicles in China and Hong Kong, the company said today. BMW, the world's largest premium automaker, reported an 11 percent gain in core-brand sales to 30,311 units, while Mercedes-Benz said brand sales increased 11 percent to 16,241 units.... Read More »
Porsche SE to seek dismissal of legal claims filed in GermanyMay 14, 2013 12:04 CET  Porsche SE says legal claims by plaintiffs in Germany seeking more than 1.36 billion euros ($1.77 billion) in connection with its failed attempt to takeover Volkswagen in 2008 are unfounded. The family-controlled holding company that owns a majority of VW, says it will file a motion to dismiss the claims.... Read More »
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