GKN exec sees signs of electrification going mainstream

As GKN Driveline's senior vice president for engineering, Ray Kuczera is at the forefront of the supplier's electrification plans as the industry moves toward mainstream acceptance of the technology.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180331/ANE/180329816/gkn-exec-sees-signs-of-electrification-going-mainstream

AutoNews Now: March blew in higher U.S. sales, experts say

March blew in higher U.S. sales, experts say; VW's plan for diesel bans; Chinese EV for U.S.; On 'The Closer': Nissan's designer bunny, Parking dogs, Honda's help for the hapless?

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180330/VIDEO/303309977/autonews-now-march-blew-in-higher-u-s-sales-experts-say

Tesla returned to German EV subsidies list, ending row

Tesla buyers in Germany can apply for subsidies again because a government agency has ended its dispute with the U.S. automaker over whether its Model S was too expensive to qualify for an EV incentives scheme.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180329/ANE/180329621/tesla-returned-to-german-ev-subsidies-list-ending-row

Volvo chairman calls for caution in move to self driving

Volvo Cars Chairman Li Shufu says that the autonomous driving industry should move forward prudently in the wake of a deadly accident in the U.S. this month. "One accident can kill the whole industry ... So we must move with caution," Li said.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180328/ANE/180329662/volvo-chairman-calls-for-caution-in-move-to-self-driving

Six states team up to encourage ZEV purchases

A half-dozen Northeast states have agreed to help automakers boost sales of electric vehicles, which have remained at ultra-low levels in the region despite government-mandated sales quotas designed to improve air quality.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180328/RETAIL/180329635/states-promote-zev-purchases

March U.S. auto sales expected to rise

New-vehicle sales in the United States are on pace to reach the highest March volume since at least 2001, according to three forecasts issued this week, marking a solid start to the closely watched spring selling season.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180328/RETAIL/180329641/march-auto-sales-us-retail-forecast

Daimler, BMW to combine ride-sharing businesses

Daimler and BMW have joined forces to expand their businesses in new services such as car-sharing and electric vehicle charging, raising their full-year guidance to reflect the deal.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180328/COPY/303299993/bmw-mercedes-merger-carsharing-service-mobility

Honda shows off the WR-V for India

Honda Cars India highlights its WR-V subcompact crossover in one of this week's most popular viral videos.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180328/VIRALVIDEO/303289999/honda-shows-off-the-wr-v-for-india

Daimler, BMW agree to combine ride-sharing businesses

Daimler and BMW have joined forces to expand their businesses in new services such as car-sharing and electric vehicle charging, raising their full-year guidance to reflect the deal.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180328/MOBILITY/180329654/bmw-mercedes-merger-carsharing-service-mobility

Nissan will return to Pakistan with Datsun brand

Nissan will resume building and selling cars in Pakistan next year, with its entry-level Datsun brand becoming the latest global automaker to operate in a market tipped to expand in coming years.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180328/ANE/180329655/nissan-will-return-to-pakistan-with-datsun-brand

Daimler, BMW agree to combine ride-sharing businesses

Daimler and BMW have agreed to combine their ride-sharing businesses Car2Go and DriveNow, a person familiar with the deal said.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180328/MOBILITY/180329654/daimler-bmw-agree-to-combine-ride-sharing-businesses

Volvo Chairman calls for caution in self-driving tech after fatal collision

Volvo Cars Chairman Li Shufu says that the autonomous driving industry should move forward prudently in the wake of a deadly accident in the U.S. this month. "One accident can kill the whole industry ... So we must move with caution," Li said.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180328/COPY01/303289963/volvo-chairman-calls-for-caution-in-self-driving-tech-after-fatal

Volvo Chairman calls for caution in self-driving tech after fatal collision

Volvo Cars Chairman Li Shufu says that the autonomous driving industry should move forward prudently in the wake of a deadly accident in the U.S. this month. "One accident can kill the whole industry ... So we must move with caution," Li said.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180328/ANE/180329662/volvo-chairman-calls-for-caution-in-self-driving-tech-after-fatal

Ford exec Jim Farley says dealerships must 'evolve in a meaningful way'

Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets, envisions a future with smaller showrooms, less conquesting and a more personal relationship between dealers and customers.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180327/RETAIL/180329669/ford-farley-dealerships-evolve-success-new-york-auto-show

AutoNews Now: Waymo adding electric Jaguars to fleet

Waymo to add as many as 20,000 electric Jags; BMW sued over diesel emissions; NTSB probes Tesla crash; New Lexus UX offers connectivity, subscriptions; Hyundai union raps trade move.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180327/VIDEO/303279971/autonews-now-waymo-adding-electric-jaguars-to-fleet

AutoNews Now: Waymo to add 20,000 electric Jags to fleet

Waymo to add 20,000 electric Jags; BMW hit with diesel-emissions lawsuit; NTSB probes Tesla crash; New Lexus UX offers connectivity, subscriptions; Hyundai union raps trade move.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180327/VIDEO/303279971/autonews-now-waymo-to-add-20000-electric-jags-to-fleet

Waymo, Jaguar Land Rover partner on all-electric, self-driving fleet

Waymo and Jaguar Land Rover are partnering to create a new fleet of full-electric, self-driving vehicles.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180327/COPY/303309992/waymo-jaguar-land-rover-electric-autonomous-fleet

Waymo, Jaguar Land Rover partner on all-electric, self-driving fleet

Waymo and Jaguar Land Rover are partnering to create a new fleet of all-electric, self-driving vehicles.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180327/MOBILITY/180329682/waymo-jaguar-land-rover-electric-autonomous-fleet

Lynk and CO expands crossover lineup with 02

Lynk and CO is previewing its latest model, the 02, and announced plans to begin sales of the crossover in Europe in 2020. The 02 will share its underpinnings with the 01 crossover and the Volvo XC40.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180327/COPY01/303279966/lynk-co-expands-crossover-lineup-with-02

Self-driving testers pause to rethink after fatality

The death of an Arizona woman was "uncomfortably soon in the history of automated driving," said one analyst.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180327/COPY/303309995/self-driving-testers-pause-rethink

BMW chooses Tennessee to launch subscription service

BMW plans to begin a car-subscription pilot in the U.S. next week, joining other automakers experimenting with new ownership models as ride hailing and smartphones upend traditional retailing.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180326/COPY/303269916/bmw-subscription-service-retail-tennessee

John Krafcik says Waymo driverless tech could have avoided fatal Uber crash

John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, Google's self-driving car project, the company has "a lot of confidence" its own self-driving vehicle technology could have detected the pedestrian who was struck and killed earlier this month by a self-driving Uber in...

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180325/COPY/303259989/waymo-john-krafcik-self-driving-uber-crash

BMW chooses Tennessee to launch subscription service

BMW plans to begin a car-subscription pilot in Tennessee next week, joining other automakers experimenting with new ownership models as ride hailing and smartphones upend traditional retailing.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180326/RETAIL/180329704/bmw-subscription-service-retail-tennessee

Lynk and CO expands crossover lineup with 02

Lynk and CO has unveiled its latest model, the 02, and announced plans to begin sales of the crossover in Europe in 2020. The 02 will share its underpinnings with the 01 crossover and the Volvo XC40.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180326/ANE/180329717/lynk-co-expands-crossover-lineup-with-02

Volvo subsidiary Lynk and CO expands crossover lineup

Lynk and CO, the Chinese-backed startup and sister brand to Volvo, has unveiled its latest model, the 02, and announced plans to begin sales of the crossover in Europe.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180326/ANE/180329717/volvo-subsidiary-lynk-co-expands-crossover-lineup

OnStar rebranding efforts put safety first

GM plans to relaunch the OnStar brand in a national ad campaign, directing focus back to safety and security from connectivity. This is the first national marketing campaign for OnStar in six years.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180326/RETAIL03/180329715/onstar-marketing-advertising-safety

Hyundai dealers grapple with Genesis selection process

There's a contingent of Hyundai dealers who are upset that they won't be one of the 100 or so operations that get a stand-alone Genesis store as the fledgling luxury brand charts its path forward.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180325/RETAIL06/180329721/hyundai-genesis-dealers-franchise-standalone

Volvo's 'time to deliver' for dealer profitability

Volvo aims to help its dealerships in the United States improve profitability in 2018 in part by focusing on used cars and customer service.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180325/RETAIL06/180329722/volvo-nada-dealers-profitability

Volkswagen's Woebcken says, 'There is no winner with protectionism'

VW of America's CEO took an unambiguous stand against protectionist trade policies being put forth by the Trump administration and said he personally lobbied on the subject just three weeks ago.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180325/RETAIL06/180329723/volkswagen-hinrich-woebcken-mike-pence-trump-protectionism-tariffs

GM dealers raise concerns regarding CDK Global

CDK Global, General Motors' preferred provider of dealer websites, has become a concern for some U.S. retailers.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180325/RETAIL06/180329734/gm-dealers-nada-cdk-management-systems

AutoNews Now: CEO: Waymo's Krafcik on Uber AV fatality

At NADA: Waymo's Krafcik on Uber AV fatality; Honda to cut Accord output; Make meetings: Lincoln Continental suicide doors?, Mazda ad push, VW profit quest; Puppy love at Subaru.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180325/VIDEO/303259996/autonews-now-ceo-waymos-krafcik-on-uber-av-fatality

BMW hikes U.S. marketing outlays amid product push

With more new and updated vehicles to launch this year, BMW is increasing its overall U.S. marketing outlays in 2018.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329736/bmw-hikes-u-s-marketing-outlays-amid-product-push

John Krafcik says Waymo driverless tech could have avoided fatal Uber crash

John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, Google's self-driving car project, said Saturday the company has "a lot of confidence" its own self-driving vehicle technology could have detected the pedestrian who was struck and killed earlier this month by a...

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329739/waymo-john-krafcik-self-driving-uber-crash

Honda cuts U.S. Accord output as sales slip, supplies grow

Honda told dealers that production of the acclaimed 2018 Accord is being reduced at its Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant to combat

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329744/honda-cuts-u-s-accord-output-as-sales-slip-supplies-grow

Dealers battle pressure on used margins

Dealers depend on used-car profits to offset thinner new-car margins, but now used-car margins are under pressure, too, says Cox Automotive CEO Sandy Schwartz.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329747/dealers-battle-pressure-on-used-margins

Car dealer business model is changing

The fundamental business model for running a car dealership is changing.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/BLOG06/180329750/dealers-car-sales-business-model

Lincoln plans suicide doors on the Continental sedan

Lincoln plans to add suicide doors to a future version of the Continental sedan in a move that harks back to the nameplate's iconic past, dealers learned Saturday at the 2018 NADA show in Las Vegas.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329751/lincoln-suicide-doors-continental-nada-show

Kia: Customer care, product keys to profit

Focus on new product and customer satisfaction to improve profitability, Kia executives told dealers here on Saturday.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329753/kia-customer-care-product-keys-to-profit

GM tops in customer loyalty for 3rd year

For the third year in a row, General Motors finished as the top automaker in IHS Markit's Automotive Loyalty Awards.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329952/gm-tops-in-customer-loyalty-for-3rd-year

Ford doubles co-op advertising money for dealers

Ford told dealers at its annual make meeting at the 2018 NADA Show that, by June, they'd have roughly $270 million available annually in their advertising co-op, up from about $135 million today.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329758/ford-dealers-advertising-coop-nada-make-meeting

AutoNews Now: How auto industry can lose its sexist image

At NADA: How auto industry can shed its sexist image; Carvana's big challenge; A virtual aide named Nexi; Leadership tips from legendary football coach Nick Saban.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/VIDEO/303249996/autonews-now-how-auto-industry-can-lose-its-sexist-image

An important message that men need to hear

I've been attending NADA since 2003. I've never had cause to say that I wished I'd seen more male faces in the crowd -- until Friday.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/BLOG06/180329759/sexism-auto-industry-projectxx-automotive-news-nada-convention

New Acura RDX crossover creates buzz among dealers

Acura's Jon Ikeda hopes to see a "big transition" in how consumers think and feel about the brand in 2018. The brand's completely reworked 2019 RDX crossover will be a huge driver of that potential shift.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329762/new-acura-rdx-crossover-creates-buzz-among-dealers

(No heading)

Acura's Jon Ikeda hopes to see a "big transition" in how consumers think and feel about the brand in 2018. The brand's completely reworked RDX will be a huge driver of that potential shift.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329762/-no-heading

Mazda dealers promised ad blitz in April

Mazda will roll out a major advertising campaign to reposition the brand after talking with dealers who feel its marketing has been lackluster in recent months and the marque is losing its connection with consumers.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/RETAIL06/180329763/mazda-dealers-promised-ad-blitz-in-april

AutoNews Now: RDX launch critical, Acura dealers told

At NADA: RDX launch must succeed, Acura dealers told; Nissan vows to ease up; Jeep pickup due date; Sonic resists upgrade demands; BMW skipping Detroit; Time Dealer of the Year.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180324/VIDEO/303249995/autonews-now-rdx-launch-critical-acura-dealers-told

NADA economist expects 16.7 million sales in 2018

U.S. new-vehicle sales should be a healthy 16.7 million in 2018, then stay in a range of 16.5 million-16.7 million in the next couple of years, according to Patrick Manzi, NADA senior economist.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180323/RETAIL06/180329772/expect-a-sales-plateau-x2014-a-healthy-one

Nissan slows factory output as U.S. demand ebbs, stockpiles grow

Nissan is slowing production at several North American assembly plants to keep the supply of vehicles on U.S. dealers' lots in check after being caught off guard by weaker consumer demand.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180323/RETAIL01/303239904/nissan-slows-factory-output-as-u-s-demand-ebbs-stockpiles-grow

Sales are sexy but service is key to profits

I've heard the claim: "It all starts when you sell a car." But is that still true? Is it worth losing money on that sale in hopes of gaining a service customer?

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180323/BLOG06/180329774/sales-are-sexy-but-service-is-key-to-profits

'18 Time dealer is Salzman

North Carolina auto dealer Jack Salzman is the 2018 Time Dealer of the Year. He received the award Friday at the convention. Other finalists were Brent Brown of Utah, William Fenton of New Hampshire and Wally Sommer of Wisconsin.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180323/RETAIL06/180329775/18-time-dealer-is-salzman