Auto News 5

Google's self-driving car team is expanding and hiring more people with automotive industry expertise, underscoring the company's determination to move the division past the experimental stage.

U.S. regulators are reopening a proposal to boost fuel efficiency of medium and heavy duty trucks through 2027, asking for additional public comments on the planned move.

Volkswagen's former CEO was alerted to US diesel emissions tests problems in 2014, but the issue "did not initially receive particular attention at the management levels," Reuters reported the carmaker as saying.

News 4 Mar, 2016

Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier tells us that SUVs will play an important role in the brand's future

Britain's Freight Transport Association (FTA) is urging the British and French governments to adopt a five-point plan it has suggested to solve the continuing migrant situation at the Port of Calais, which it estimates cost the logistics industry GBP21m (US$30m) last summer alone.

Continental has unveiled improved 2015 net income of EUR2.7bn (US$2.9bn), with sales climbing 14% to EUR39.2bn.

The average amount financed and average monthly payment for new vehicles in the fourth quarter rose to their highest level since Experian Automotive began tracking the data in 2008, the company said today.

Australians bought 96,443 new passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles in February 2016, just over 6,000 (or 6.7% more) than in February 2015. The strong start to the year has seen new car sales increase 4.8% year-to-date.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is to merge its media and publishing business Itedi with Italian media group, GELE, and focus on the core business of making cars.

News 3 Mar, 2016

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer says brand’s next seven cars are “crystal clear” – but affordable Boxster rival isn’t on the cards

US deputy assistant Secretary for Transportation, Reuben Sarkar, has announced more than US$12m will be available for three new cost-shared projects focused on the research, development, and demonstration of plug-in electric powertrain technologies for medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

Bank of America is making a big push into auto lending just as regulators are sending warning signals, losses from auto loans are rising, and rivals are growing more cautious after years of strong returns.

Maxwell Technologies has announced the appointment of Jörg Buchheim as senior vice president and chief sales officer, effective 7 March.

News 3 Mar, 2016

All-electric SUV to be launched in 2018, but Audi is becoming VW Group centre for hydrogen development

News 3 Mar, 2016

After all of the official unveils and press conferences, we take a look at the stuff you might have missed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show

Bosch is to embark on a huge recruitment programme with plans to take on 14,000 university graduates worldwide this year.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has said the automaker this year will spend more than EUR3bn on 20 new or revised models "and push forward with electrification and digitisation". It will also hire an additional 1,200 workers dubbed "experts".

News 3 Mar, 2016

Brexit or Bremain? Research by the SMMT shows over three quarters of its members want Britain in the EU

BMW Group has written to its Rolls-Royce employees to warn about the risks the company would face if the UK votes to leave the European Union at the upcoming referendum, the BBC reported today.

British trade organisation, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), is backing the decision of French authorities to dismantle much of the migrant camp at Calais.