Auto News 5

Volkswagen will need to perform significant engine repairs on 540,000 cars in Germany, highlighting the complicated task the company faces after disclosing further emissions irregularities.

Volkswagen of America will offer $500 to owners of 2.0-liter diesel vehicles with illegal emissions test-rigging software, part of a 'goodwill' package aimed at calming customers affected by the company's deception.

An environmentalist group protested at VW headquarters in Germany today in the wake of the automaker's emissions scandal by displaying a large banner reading 'Das Problem,' a play on VW's 'Das Auto' slogan.

Skoda's global vehicle sales fell 2.7 percent in October as a slump in the brand's key market of Russia erased gains in China and Central Europe.

The redesigned Clubman has taken BMW's English brand into new territory where Mini previously dared not tread - would you believe C segment? That'll add fuel to the fire for the numerous 'Bini' haters out there (at least on my Facebook page) who, 14 years on, have still not grasped the idea that Mini is now a brand and not a model description. Now just 2mm shorter than a Volkswagen Golf, the latest Clubman - insiders call it the longest and biggest Mini - is 27cm (almost a foot) longer than the five-door hatchback version on a wheelbase 100mm larger, and 7cm lower with 81 litres more luggage space. And it now has four 'proper' doors. Overall length is 4,253mm, width 1,800mm and height 1,441mm. The wheelbase measures 2,670mm (D segment territory in the 1980s!) while the track is 1,564mm front and 1,565mm rear.

Union sources in Northern Ireland insist exorbitantly high transportation costs are hurting manufacturers' ability to remain competitive.

The UAW said at the weekend it had "secured big gains and job security protections in a proposed tentative agreement with Ford".

Mercedes-Benz achieved record unit sales in October with worldwide sales of 155,189 vehicles and growth of 10.1% year on year. In the first 10 months of the year, 1,531,541 vehicles were delivered, up 14.6%.

Continental said its third-quarter earnings rose 11 percent as Europe and the U.S. offset slower growth in China's car market.

BMW named Olaf Kastner to oversee the automaker's business in China where it has been losing some ground to rival Mercedes in recent months. Kastner replaces Karsten Engel, who will return to Germany.

Nissan will no longer use Takata airbag inflators containing ammonium nitrate.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has reportedly launched project Leap 4.5, which aims to cut costs by GBP4.5bn (US$6.8bn) and manufacture 1m cars each year by 2020.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) reportedly will enter into an agreement with Slovakia by the end of 2015 to set up a car manufacturing plant there.

Ssangyong Motor reported sales of 34,074 cars (23,833 domestic, 10,241 exports including CKD), revenue of KRW819.5bn (US$709.6m), an operating loss of KRW3.6bn and a net loss of KRW27.1bn in the third quarter of 2015.

VW Group's supervisory board was meeting today to discuss the automaker's emissions crisis, which has now widened after the company said it had understated the CO2 emissions of 800,000 cars sold in Europe.

Tesla has cracked the ranks of top-performing OEMs in a survey that measures carmakers on their ability to foster innovation and adopt new technology from suppliers. BMW again ranked first.

Titus-Will Automotive Group revamped its recruiting process almost two years ago. Since the change, the retailer has hired 28 women for sales and service jobs, nearly tripling the number of women in those departments.

President Akio Toyoda is shifting Toyota Motor Corp. into expansion mode after years of dealing with crises and rebuilding.

Rather than opening posh, exclusive showrooms and choosing a new name to distance its luxury cars from the existing brand - as Honda, Nissan and Toyota did when they formed Acura, Infiniti and Lexus in the late 1980s - Hyundai intends to keep...

Automotive News Europe needs your help to identify the Rising Stars in the European automotive industry. The award honors executives with a pan-European profile who have driven change, fostered innovation and made courageous decisions.