Auto News 5

More details are emerging about accidents involving Takata airbags -- and the horrific injuries and subsequent lawsuits that resulted from them.

Johnson Controls has reported fourth quarter net income from continuing operations of US$311m with US$11bn in revenues, up 3% from US$10.7bn.

Videos 30 Oct, 2014

From 1 November, all cars and light commercial vehicles registered in European Union member states, with a GVW of fewer than 3.5 tonnes, must have ESP as standard equipment. The regulation will take effect for all other vehicles on 1 November 2015.

News 29 Oct, 2014

Ford has released full specs and pricing of the new Focus ST hot hatch, revamped for 2014 and featuring a new diesel option.

India's automotive sector has suffered tougher times lately as the domestic economy has turned down. In this month's management briefing, Tony Pugliese examines the latest developments. This second instalment looks in a little more detail at domestic market trends by marque and exports [includes data tables].

Hankook Tire has posted third quarter operating profit of US$261m, with global consolidated sales of KRW1.72tn.

News 30 Oct, 2014

VW has announced a racier StreetUp! special edition of its city car, as a teaser to the eagerly anticipated hot Up! GT

Visteon has developed a Human Machine Interface (HMI) concept based on eye movement.

The low cost green cars (LCGC) policy is set to be a game changer for the Indonesian automotive market, according to the analysts at Frost & Sullivan.

Volkswagen has booked profit up 55% to EUR2.8bn (US$3.5bn) with sales revenue rising 1.4% to EUR147.7bn for the first nine months of this year.

VW Group posted higher-than-expected operating profit in the third quarter, boosted by strong demand for Audi and Porsche models in Europe and China. Earnings rose 16 percent to 3.23 billion euros ($4.07 billion), VW said.

VW Group posted higher-than-expected operating profit in the third quarter, boosted by strong demand for Audi and Porsche models in Europe and China. Earnings rose 16 percent to 3.23 billion euros ($4.07 billion), VW said.

BMW has now confirmed the world premieres of the X5 M and X6 M for November's LA international auto show.

James Verrier, BorgWarner CEO since January 2013, is working to double the size of the powertrain parts supplier to $15 billion in revenue by 2022.

From GMM

Organisers of the US grand prix face an embarrassing explanation after botching the details above Daniil Kvyat's garage at Austin.

Observers at the Austin circuit in the days before the US grand prix this weekend have noticed that the Russian driver's name is accompanied by the wrong national flag on the pit building.

Kvyat's name is actually shown with the Dutch horizontal tricolour, featuring the colours red, white and blue from top to bottom.

The Russian flag is remarkably similar, but with white at the top followed by blue and then red.

Grid girl at Sochi with the Russian flag. (Photo: WRi2)

The family of Jules Bianchi issued the following statement October 30th, by way of an update on Jules' medical condition. The Marussia F1 Team is supporting the family by facilitating its communication.

“It will be four weeks this coming Sunday since Jules' accident and he remains in the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. His condition continues to be classified by the medical professionals here as critical but stable. Although we have no new information to give, we recognise that there are a huge number of people all around the world who are supporting Jules and willing him on in his fight. We owe it to his many fans to acknowledge the continued outpouring of messages, and to provide some information, however brief it may be.

“Jules does indeed continue to fight. Although there have been some reports suggestive of plans for Jules' treatment, at this time his fight will continue here in Yokkaichi. We are taking things step by step.

“Once again, we would like to offer our sincere appreciation for the patience and understanding being shown towards our family at this very difficult time. We also continue to be comforted by the knowledge that Jules is receiving the best possible care at the Mie General Medical Center, with the doctors here remaining in constant contact with the neurosurgeons at the University La Sapienza of Rome, and Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission.

“We will provide a further update when it is appropriate to do so. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who continues to keep Jules in their thoughts and prayers.”

From GMM

F1 looks set to end its controversial clash with a Nascar race in the same state of Texas for the 2015 season.

This weekend, the United States grand prix is taking place at the same time as the Texas 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, some 3 hour drive away.

"They (F1) are going up against us, we're not going up against them," said the Nascar venue's disgruntled president Eddie Gossage, according to the local Star-Telegram newspaper.

"This is our date and has been since 2005. (But) people are being forced to choose and some are going to come to us and some are going to choose them.

"I can be told I don't understand the world schedule all day long, but I do," he added. "Funny how this turns out to be the only day they can be in Austin. How Funny.

"And in 2015, I see where they are running on another date."

Indeed, the provisional F1 calendar for 2015 shows that the Austin race will be held a week earlier in October than this year's edition.

From press release

Honda Indy Toronto is returning to the streets of downtown Toronto in 2015 and will take place June 12-14, instead of its traditional July dates.

Contrairy to the rumour, the race will not be moved to the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport).

The announcement comes after an extended period of negotiations and coordination between all major supporters and partners of the annual event including Honda Canada, INDYCAR, the City of Toronto, Exhibition Place, Tourism Toronto and Green Savoree Toronto, promoters of the race.

In the end, organizers were successful in working with the City of Toronto, Exhibition Place and the 2015 Pan-American Games to accommodate both events next summer.

The 2015 Honda Indy Toronto will mark the 28th running of the annual event in downtown Toronto.

Start of the 2013 IndyCar race at Toronto. (Photo: IndyCar)