Auto News 5

British driver Pippa Mann will be back behind the wheel of an Indy car in May as she will contest de 2014 Indy 500.

Mann will drive the pink and white Honda-powered No. 63 Dale Coyne Racing car in the 500 Mile Race.

A cause-oriented idea sparked a promotional proposal that mushroomed into a pink platform for Pippa Mann and the Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organization.

“I've closely guarded my helmet design and colors. You don't see me change often,” said Mann, who will don a pink firesuit, too. “I thought wouldn't it be cool to change it for a really good cause and then donate it to (the Indianapolis Komen organization) after the race to auction. I'm really proud to be involved with this program and raise money for Susan G. Komen.”

The pledge site - www.racewithpippa.com -- will be available through May 25.

Pippa Mann, Dale Coyne Racing. (Photo: IndyCar)

A California startup headed by former Hyundai and GM marketing executive Joel Ewanick plans to install 19 hydrogen fuel filling stations for fuel cell vehicles starting next year in California.

Audi's entry in the expanding sub-$30,000 luxury-car segment helped the Volkswagen AG unit post record April sales in the United States. Mercedes led the luxury segment with a narrow lead over BMW.

Fourteen nameplates from Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. posted double or triple-digit U.S. sales gains in April, and the company said its Toyota Division was the industry's top-selling brand among retail customers for a fourth consecutive month.

Strong demand for crossovers helped American Honda bounce back from three straight monthly sales declines, with sales rising 1 percent to 132,456 vehicles in April from a year earlier.

Automakers rode higher incentives to an 8 percent gain in U.S. auto sales in April. It's the latest sign that the industry is on pace to top 16 million units this year, but not by much.

It was a joyous day at Ford's headquarters as Bill Ford sat between the man who saved the family company -- outgoing CEO Alan Mulally -- and Mark Fields, the man charged with leading Ford into the future.

Dealer Bob Boyte hunkered down Monday evening as a tornado barreled toward his home in suburban Jackson, Miss. Boyte said he was happy that no one was hurt, but the job of fixing the dealership has just begun.

A General Motors new-vehicle incentive offered only to owners of GM vehicles plagued with defective ignition switches might have helped the automaker's new-car sales in April.

Volkswagen launched its revamped consumer website on Thursday. It looks more like OK Cupid or Plenty of Fish or Match.com.

Automakers reported solid Canadian vehicle sales in April, with a 4 percent overall gain on a year ago, as demand for truck and luxury brands buoyed the industry.

Even though the gas-powered Mercedes-Benz B-class has been out in Canada for a few years now, long enough to receive a facelift, we Americans will be getting the compact MPV in electric form only. Sales of the

Chrysler Group sales jumped 14 percent in April as strong Jeep and Ram sales more than offset losses from the automaker's soon-to-be-replaced mid-sized sedans.

Ford's UK Bridgend and Dagenham engine plants both have new managers following the retirement of Dagenham plant chief, Dave Parker, after almost 36 years with the company.

After a US$1.1bn spend and the creation of 2,000 jobs, Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant has begun Transit van production, heralding the eventual end of the long-running domestic E-series line.

I was with Magna International this week at its 'Bumper to Bumper' Innovations Day in Munich, where the global supplier was showcasing some of its technology including powertrain, exteriors, interiors and active safety among other elements.

News 1 May, 2014

Ford's CEO of nearly eight years, Alan Mulally, will step down on July 1 to make way for current COO Mark Fields

BorgWarner, which makes a variety of fuel efficient components such as dual-clutch transmissions, raised its 2014 earnings forecast after posting a better-than-expected first-quarter profit.

GM is recalling about 56,400 model year 2013 Cadillac SRX crossover vehicles because of possible delays in acceleration linked to a computer program that controls the transmission, federal regulators said today.

It's finally official - 'the man from Boeing', Alan Mulally, widely acclaimed as one of Ford's best CEOs, will hand the reins to groomed successor, COO Mark Fields, from 1 July. Mulally has been president and CEO since September 2006.