U.S., Japan eye possible small trade deal by Sept., report says

Foreign auto brands dominated the top spots in the first J.D. Power U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty Study.

Ford joins a number of other global automakers in ramping up production in Africa. 

Tesla denies claims made in a CNBC report by current and former workers, who cited poor working conditions and quality shortcuts at the California GA4 factory.

VW's American dealers will be wagonless for the first time since 1965 when output of the Golf SportWagen and Golf Alltrack wagons for the U.S. is discontinued at year end. The slow-selling two-wheel and all-wheel-drive wagons are victims of growing crossover sales, which now account for more than half of VW volume in the U.S.

Christian Struwe is a 22-year veteran of Daimler and will lead finance and operations for MBUSA, which is in transition as Nicholas Speeks will take over as CEO in September.

Renault, which has had a limited presence in China, is pushing ahead with an electrification strategy that includes a new battery-powered car and hybrid versions of three existing models.

Mike Borys begins his new role Aug. 12. He replaces Raj Juneja, who resigned from the dealership group in March.

About 90 percent of the engine blocks produced in Nemak's Windsor plant are destined for Cadillac vehicles at GM's Shanghai plant, CBC Windsor reported.

The agreement is part of a push by global automakers to secure batteries for a growing number of electric vehicles amid capacity constraints and limited access to raw materials

An auto industry official said the deal could involve Japan offering U.S. farmers new access to its market in return for Washington reducing tariffs on certain Japanese auto parts, Reuters reported. The talks remain fluid.