Auto News 5

Porsche Cars North America has officially opened its new US$100m Experience Centre (PEC) and headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Japan's Takata said today it expects to return to profit this financial year on higher Asian and US sales, but the troubled company made few provisions for possible costs related to a massive global recall of its exploding airbags.

A short week for us due to the first (of two) bank holidays has ended in a surprise majority win for the Conservatives overnight (along with the virtual elimination of Labour from parliamentary seats in Scotland) and we look forward to one party rather than (compromised) coalition rule for the UK. I doubt the autobiz has any problem with that.

Analysts are voicing concerns about Tesla Motors' cash, saying the maker of electric cars and energy-storage products may need to raise money.

News 8 May, 2015

Volkswagen will pull wraps of faster GTI Clubsport at Worthersee festival, and it'll go on sale in early 2016

Car sales in Western Europe grew by 6.7% in April, as the recovery to the region's car market benefited from a steadily improving economic picture.

Audi said vehicle sales rose 2.5 percent in April as robust volume in the U.S. offset slowing sales in Europe and China. Four-month deliveries were up 5.2 percent to 591,050 cars.

Jaguar Land Rover's local subsidiary has always been rather vague about what it will produce at its under-construction, BRL740m/$240m factory in Itatiaia, state of Rio de Janeiro, scheduled to start assembly of 24,000 units yearly of up to three models from the second quarter of 2016.

CAR Inc, China's leading car rental company formerly known as China Auto Rental, plans to significantly expand its rental fleet over the next three years with the purchase of "tens of thousands" of vehicles from Shanghai Volkswagen.

Goodyear Dunlop reportedly plans to dissolve its contract with 7,500 German employees. The contract, which has been in existence for the past 17 years, made sure that the company's seven German sites were retained, along with protecting employees from business-related layoffs.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) intends to commence a new round of discussions with Volkswagen for recognising it as the collective bargaining agent for the company's workers at the Chattanooga plant in Tennessee.

BMW has increased the amount of auto components sourced domestically to 50%.

Toyota's global net income jumped 19.2% during the 2015 fiscal year that ended 31 March, 2015.

News 8 May, 2015

Audi reveals bonkers 592bhp TT Clubsport coupe for Worthersee show, demonstrating new electric turbo tech

Uber Technologies has submitted a bid for HERE, Nokia's maps business, for as much as $3 billion, a report said.

News 8 May, 2015

Rupert Stadler says 40-45% of all Audis will be SUVs in next five years with tech and sexy styling key to brand’s future

Maserati will unveil a production-ready version of the Levante SUV at the Detroit auto show in January ahead of a manufacturing start in March, according to reports.

The maker of Subaru vehicles, Fuji Heavy Industries, reported a 21 percent surge in quarterly operating profit as advantageous exchange rates and surging U.S. sales delivered record earnings.

News 8 May, 2015

Our investigation reveals alarming variations in main dealer prices for replacing a car head light bulb