Asia

VW suspends ties with some Indian suppliers after expose of child deaths in mica mines

German carmaker Volkswagen has stopped buying mica from some suppliers in India, following a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation that found child workers were dying in illegal, unregulated mines, a company official said.

Honda reports another Takata airbag rupture in fatal Malaysia crash

Honda said today that the driver-side airbag inflator ruptured during a fatal crash in Malaysia, in the fourth death this year in the Southeast Asian country linked to airbags from supplier Takata Corp.

Self-driving car startup NuTonomy in talks to raise new funds

NuTonomy, a self-driving car startup backed by Ford Motor Chairman Bill Ford and Singapore's government, is in discussions with potential investors for a new round of funding as it works toward a full commercial launch in 2018.

China has an appetite for European talent

When Mini chief designer Anders Warming abruptly bid his employer goodbye in July, it was a surprise -- and it stung.

Takata's search for a savior could drag into next year

The plan to sell beleaguered Takata to a rescuer, slated by year-end, is likely to extend into next year as some bidders want to drag the airbag maker through bankruptcy to wipe out most of its debt, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Hyundai union stages first full strike in 12 years

Hyundai Motor's South Korean labor union staged its first full nationwide strike in 12 years today over stalled wage talks, putting the automaker's earnings and sales targets at risk.

Nissan returns to Japan's most exclusive address

Nissan's flagship showroom has returned to Japan's most exclusive, priciest address -- Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district, flush with department stores and geisha clubs. A sleek new two-story showroom sits at the shopping district's main neon-soaked intersection.

Toyota's Japan ad agency Dentsu to repay advertising overcharges

Ad agency Dentsu will pay an estimated 230 million yen ($2.3 million) back to customers, including Toyota, that it overcharged for Internet advertisements in a case likely to stoke concern that digital media transactions have lacked transparency.

Toyota says ad agency Dentsu disclosed 'irregularities' around transactions in Japan

Toyota says its longtime advertising partner, Japanese agency giant Dentsu, has informed it of "irregularities" related to some digital media business transactions. Reports have said the problem was about a division of Dentsu in Japan overcharging the automaker.

Tesla fixes software bug that exposed hacking vulnerabilities

Tesla released a software update to fix bugs that allowed Chinese "white-hat hackers" to remotely break into the Model S' control system and disrupt actions including turn signals, seat positions, displays and the door lock system.

Chinese web-video tycoon raises $1.08 billion for electric car

China's Le Holdings Co. has raised $1.08 billion to develop its electric sports car that has drawn comparisons to the Batmobile, the latest in a series of alternative energy vehicle investments even as the industry is set for a Chinese government shake-up.

Takata pushes ahead with sale by taking bids this week, report says

Takata is said to be moving forward with an auction of the company as private equity groups and suppliers line up offers. Bidders for the troubled firm have been asked to submit their proposals by early this week, with Takata aiming to shortlist two to three candidates by October, Bloomberg reported.