Auto News 5

The Volkswagen group 'emissions scandal' rumbled on this week as more skeletons were rattled out of closets. There's bound to be a few more when the automotive equivalent of the Spanish inquisition starts internally, following this week's report that "around 50" employees have come forward just ahead of the deadline to testify in the group's internal investigation into the emissions controls cheating scandal. Employees had been given until Monday to come forward to testify without fear of repercussions - on the part of VW.

Geely has plans for its own app to join the rush for China's ride-on-demand services, according to a Xinhua news agency report.

Sales of VW brand cars in the UK fell 20 percent in November in the wake of its emissions-rigging scandal, but strong gains for other brands contributed to an overall 4 percent rise in the market's monthly registrations.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn hopes to resolve a rift in the alliance caused by the French government by Dec. 11. Talks between the government and Nissan have made "significant progress," French media reports said.

Opel has strongly denied a German media report that suggested it has understated CO2 emissions on a diesel variant of its Zafira model range by 15%.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine goes live on Monday, Dec. 7. This month's edition looks at why Hyundai and Kia are shifting their focus in Europe.

Clarity Services, a subprime credit reporting agency based in Florida, agreed to pay $8 million in a consent order with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which said the company illegally obtained consumer reports.

Audi appointed VW Group CEO Matthias Mueller to replace Martin Winterkorn as chairman and Stefan Knirsch as development chief to succeed Ulrich Hackenberg.

Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen's suspended top engineer, has left the German group after 30 years, Audi said, as VW pushes ahead with the search for employees behind diesel emissions violations.

Honda has been spotted testing a CR-V mule that looked like it's flirting with a third row of seats for the next-generation model. But don't bet on that coming to the U.S.

Automakers can count on robust vehicle sales in 2016, but will be challenged to produce the right mix of cars and trucks as consumers gravitate to larger and roomier vehicles, Toyota executives said today.

McLaren said it will build a limited-production run of 675LT Spiders, the fastest open-top model the British marque has ever built.

Jonathan Halvorson, director of global media strategy and branded entertainment at General Motors, has left the company after only eight months in the role, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Volkswagen has told banks supplying a 20 billion euro ($21.1 billion) credit line that it would sell assets if it finds no other way of repaying the one-year loan, Reuters reported.

Jaguar Land Rover reportedly is negotiating to buy the historic home of British motorsport - the Silverstone racing circuit in Northamptonshire.

Tesla and Mini have joined Jaguar Land Rover in skipping the 2016 Detroit auto show next month.

News 3 Dec, 2015

Uk's network of numberplate recognition cameras lets the government store your journey data for up to two years

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has started the process of separating Ferrari off as a separate company by forming a new holding company and issuing shares in that to FCA shareholders.

Fifty U.S. auto dealers have been nominated by automotive trade associations for the 2016 Time Dealer of the Year award. The nominees were announced by Time and Ally Financial, the sponsor.