Pentagon challenges Uber, Waymo in race over self-driving vehicles

Forget Uber and Waymo: the next big name in self-driving vehicles could be the Pentagon. The stakes are high -- 52 percent of combat casualties can been attributed to logistics.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180430/MOBILITY/180439954/pentagon-mulls-self-driving-military-vehicles

JM Family Enterprises names Burns as CEO

JM Family Enterprises has named Brent Burns as its new CEO, effective July 1, with current CEO Colin Brown to remain chairman of the diversified concern.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180430/RETAIL/180439957/jm-family-execuitve-ceo-cfo-change

Google takes aim at engineer left untouched by suit against Uber

Uber's settlement of Waymo's trade-secrets lawsuit in February left a key piece unresolved: the role played in the alleged theft by engineer Anthony Levandowski.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180430/MOBILITY/180439958/google-uber-litigation-levandowski

GM going dark on monthly sales won't stop reporting shenanigans

A few years ago, BMW and Nissan were in heated races with their rivals, looking for buyers anywhere they could find. They found them alright -- in dealers' corner offices.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180430/RETAIL01/180439964/monthly-sales-gm-bmw-nissan-dealers

DS 7 net pricing on par with Audi Q3, CEO Bonnefont says

The DS 7 Crossback, the first SUV of the PSA's near-luxury brand already, has hit its pricing target in Europe, said Yves Bonnefont, DS Automobiles CEO.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180428/ANE/180429851/ds-7-net-pricing-on-par-with-audi-q3-ceo-bonnefont-says

U.S. likely to back freezing fuel economy standards from 2020 through 2026, report says

The Trump administration is likely to propose freezing fuel economy standards from 2020 through 2026, according to three people briefed on the matter told Reuters.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180427/OEM05/180429773/trump-fuel-economy-cafe-debate

Subaru opens new U.S. headquarters

Subaru of America employees have begun moving into a new United States headquarters, with the majority of them set to start there on May 7.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180427/RETAIL01/180429777/subaru-of-america-new-headquarters

Renault's push to grow outside Europe is off to a mixed start

Carlos Ghosn is betting that Renault's sales outside of Europe will drive revenues over the next six years.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180427/BLOG15/180429788/renaults-push-to-grow-outside-europe-is-off-to-a-mixed-start

Honda sees lower annual profit as firm yen offsets higher sales

Honda forecast a 16 percent drop in operating profit for the current financial year, as it expects a firmer yen to offset cost reductions and a slight rise in global sales of cars and scooters.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180427/OEM/180429791/honda-profit-drop-fiscal-year

Volvo Q1 profit rises nearly 4% on China, U.S. demand

Volvo reported a rise in quarterly operating earnings as growing sales in China and a recovery in the United States offset increased development and marketing costs.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180427/COPY01/304279941/volvo-q1-profit-rises-usa-china

Volvo Q1 profit rises nearly 4% on China, U.S. demand

Volvo reported a 3.6 percent rise in quarterly operating earnings as growing sales in China and a recovery in the U.S. market offset increased development and marketing costs.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180427/COPY01/304279941/volvo-q1-profit-rises-nearly-4-on-china-u-s-demand

Valeo sales growth slows on U.S., China auto production dip

Valeo said revenue growth slowed to 3 percent in the first quarter, held back by a strong euro and a contraction in Chinese and U.S. car production.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180427/ANE/180429792/valeo-sales-growth-slows-on-u-s-china-auto-production-dip

Volvo Q1 profit rises nearly 4% on China, U.S. demand

Volvo reported a 3.6 percent rise in quarterly operating earnings as growing sales in China and a recovery in the U.S. market offset increased development and marketing costs.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180427/ANE/180429794/volvo-q1-profit-rises-nearly-4-on-china-u-s-demand

Porsche expects electrified cars to make up half of sales by 2025

Porsche set one of the industry's most aggressive targets for selling plug-in hybrid and full-electric cars, predicting the vehicles will make up as many as half of its deliveries by 2025 in a sign the shift to electrified models is speeding up.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429840/porsche-expects-electrified-cars-to-make-up-half-of-sales-by-2025

Sonic's loss widens despite record Q1 revenue

Sonic Automotive's revenue rose to a first-quarter record on gains in FandI and new- and used-vehicle sales, but the retailer's net loss widened from a year earlier.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180426/RETAIL/180429823/sonic-dealer-q1-earnings

Sonic's loss widens despite record Q1 revenue

Sonic Automotive's revenue rose to a first-quarter record on gains in FandI and new- and used-vehicle sales, but the retailer's net loss widened from a year earlier.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180426/RETAIL/180429823/sonics-loss-widens-despite-record-q1-revenue

PSA is fixing struggling China operations, Tavares says

PSA is seeing the first effects of its plan to turn around its China operations, CEO Carlos Tavares told investors and shareholders.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429826/psa-is-fixing-struggling-china-operations-tavares-says

Why Ford is killing most of its cars -- and why that's the right move

Where will new Ford customers turn for an entry-level offering when the automaker's North American dealerships no longer carry a single sedan? We're about to find out.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180426/BLOG06/180429825/ford-sedans-killed-hackett

Why Ford is killing most of its cars -- and why that's the right move

Last month on the NADA Show floor in Las Vegas, dealers expressed their satisfaction with some of the product decisions CEO Jim Hackett was making at Ford.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180426/BLOG06/180429825/why-ford-is-killing-most-of-its-cars-and-why-thats-the-right-move

Porsche says Chinese are falling for its classic sportscars

Porsche says its classic two-door sportscars are starting to take off in China, with demand for the 718 Cayman and Boxster growing well.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429827/porsche-says-chinese-are-falling-for-its-classic-sportscars

Porsche expects electrified cars to make up half of sales by 2015

Porsche set one of the industry's most aggressive targets for selling plug-in hybrid and full-electric cars, predicting the vehicles will make up as many as half of its deliveries by 2025 in a sign the shift to electrified models is speeding up.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429840/porsche-expects-electrified-cars-to-make-up-half-of-sales-by-2015

Hyundai's Q1profit halves on bleak U.S., China sales

Hyundai's first-quarter net profit halved as bleak U.S. and China sales, a strong South Korean currency and labor union strikes dragged on the automaker's earnings.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180426/COPY01/304269960/hyundai-profit-drops-first-half

VW's new CEO says company on right path despite 4% profit drop

VW Group posted a 3.6 percent drop in first-quarter operating profit but optimism over its new chief executive, Herbert Diess, and lower diesel emissions scandal provisions lifted its shares.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429848/vws-new-ceo-says-company-on-right-path-despite-4-profit-drop

VW first-quarter profit drops nearly 4%

VW Group posted a 3.6 percent drop in first-quarter operating profit as accounting changes, currency headwinds and technology costs weighed on results.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429848/vw-first-quarter-profit-drops-nearly-4

Hyundai's first-quarter profit halves on bleak U.S., China sales

Hyundai's first-quarter net profit halved as bleak U.S. and China sales, a strong South Korean currency and labor union strikes dragged on the automaker's earnings.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429847/hyundais-first-quarter-profit-halves-on-bleak-u-s-china-sales

VW Q1 profit drops nearly 4% on accounting, currency, tech-cost factors

VW Group posted a 3.6 percent drop in first-quarter operating profit as accounting changes, currency headwinds and technology costs weighed on results.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180426/ANE/180429848/vw-q1-profit-drops-nearly-4-on-accounting-currency-tech-cost-factors

AutoNation names 1st academic to board

AutoNation added the first academic and second woman to its board composed entirely of outside directors under CEO Mike Jackson.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL07/180429856/autonation-executive-board-member-jackson

Penske Q1 net soars behind broad gains

First-quarter net income at Penske Automotive Group soared 31 percent to $108 million, powered by profit gains across all areas of the auto retailer's business.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL/180429859/penske-q1-net-soars-behind-broad-gains

Penske Q1 net soars 31 percent on broad gains

First-quarter net income at Penske Automotive Group soared 31 percent to $108 million, powered by profit gains across all areas of the auto retailer's business.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL/180429859/penske-q1-net-soars-31-percent-on-broad-gains

GM to add third shift in Tennessee, plans Holden version of GMC Acadia

General Motors plans to resume a third shift at its assembly plant in Tennessee to meet growing demand for crossovers, including increased production for a Holden version of the GMC Acadia.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL/180429860/gm-tennessee-shift-added-holden-gmc-acadia

Ford shakes up China network, names new leaders

Ford said it's reorganizing its operations in China by simplifying its distribution network and appointing new leaders to replace the CEO who abruptly left in January.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL01/180429861/ford-china-distribution-management-shakeup

GM banks on Chinese vehicle family to boost Brazil sales

GM is planning for long-term profitability in South America built on the back of draconian cost cutting during Brazil's recession and the same low-cost vehicles it is developing for Chinese markets.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL/180429862/gm-china-brazil-sales

FCA spiffs dealers to spin Rams through their loaner fleets

FCA US, battling a decline in demand for Ram pickups, is offering added incentives to dealers in the United States who add new trucks to their service loaner fleets and count them as sales.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL01/180429872/fca-spiffs-dealers-ram-us-monthly-sales

Lithia Q1 net rises 2.6 percent

Lithia Motors' first-quarter net grew on strong service and parts and finance results, despite a drop in new-vehicle sales and narrowing gross profit margins.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/RETAIL/180429873/lithia-q1-profits-rise-deboer

BMW will export iX3 electric SUV to Europe, U.S. from China

BMW will export its first full-electric SUV, called the iX3, to global markets after it goes into production in 2020 at its joint-venture plant in China.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/COPY01/304259974/bmw-ix3-beijing-export-china-us-europe

BMW's iX3 concept heralds electric expansion

BMW previewed the expansion of full-electric cars into its core product lineup with the iX3 concept at the Beijing auto show.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/COPY01/304259973/bmws-ix3-concept-heralds-electric-expansion

Nissan to bring Sentra EV, Leaf to China in electrification blitz

Nissan is accelerating its global electrification blitz by adding a pure EV version of the Sylphy small car in China as it chases global sales of 1 million electrified vehicles by 2022.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180424/OEM04/180429887/nissan-sentra-electric-leaf-china

2019 Lexus ES redesign goes sportier with F Sport edition

Lexus is so confident in the performance chops of its redesigned ES sedan that it is giving the remake of one of its frumpiest nameplates an F Sport version for the first time.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180424/OEM04/180429888/2019-lexus-es-f-sport-redesign

Mercedes-Maybach is betting on a hybrid SUV-sedan look

Mercedes is betting on a hybrid SUV-sedan to attract wealthy Chinese buyers to its Maybach ultraluxury brand.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180424/COPY01/304249983/beijing-auto-show-mercedes-mayback-electric-suv-concept

Mercedes seeks to keep China luxury lead with stretched A class

Mercedes aims to widen the brand's appeal to Chinese buyers with a long-wheelbase version of its latest A class.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180424/COPY01/304249979/beijing-auto-show-mercedes-a-class-luxury

Bosch claims diesel technology breakthrough

Bosch said its engineers have developed a new diesel-exhaust system that cuts emissions far below legal limits and can help automakers avoid potential driving bans in Europe.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180425/COPY/304259944/bosch-diesel-breakthrough

Bosch claims diesel technology breakthrough

Bosch said its engineers have developed a new diesel-exhaust system that cuts emissions far below legal limits and can help automakers avoid potential driving bans in Europe.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180425/OEM06/180429878/bosch-diesel-breakthrough

Audi aims to double China production within 5 years

Audi aims to double its China production within five years and plans to offer ten new SUVs in the market by 2022, CEO Rupert Stadler said. The executive said the automaker also expected 30 percent of its sales in China would be EVs by 2025.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180425/ANE/180429883/audi-aims-to-double-china-production-within-5-years

Asbury's Q1 net jumps 18 percent

Asbury Automotive's first-quarter profits jumped 18 percent, driven by FandI and parts and service gains, on a revenue increase approaching 4 percent.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180424/RETAIL/180429895/asburys-q1-net-jumps-18-percent

First Shift: Amazon launches in-car deliveries with GM, Volvo

Amazon, GM, Volvo launch in-car deliveries; Historic shift in dealer ad spending; In Beijing: Ultraluxury from Mercedes, a new platform for Infiniti; Something to buzz about at Toyota.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180424/VIDEO/304249994/first-shift-amazon-launches-in-car-deliveries-with-gm-volvo

VW's sales momentum positive in all regions, Diess says

VW Group is on track for profitable growth this year in all regions thanks to positive sales momentum at the start of 2018, CEO Herbert Diess said.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180424/ANE/180429906/vws-sales-momentum-positive-in-all-regions-diess-says

Skoda aims Kamiq at China's booming SUV market

Skoda aims to capture a larger share of China's booming SUV market with its new Kamiq aimed at buyers in cities.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180424/ANE/180429907/skoda-aims-kamiq-at-chinas-booming-suv-market

2019 Toyota Avalon gets price bump after redesign

The fifth-generation Toyota Avalon that goes on sale next month as a 2019 model shares almost nothing with the previous generation, including the pricing.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180423/OEM04/180429924/2019-toyota-avalon-price

Ford puts huge ad account up for review

Ford, citing the need for "greater marketing efficiency, effectiveness and customer insight," while leveraging the "latest tools and technology," placed its global creative advertising account led by WPP's Global Team Blue under review.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20180420/RETAIL03/180429940/ford-puts-huge-ad-account-up-for-review

Nissan, Ford, Fiat among losers as Europe sales fall 5%

Nissan, Ford and Fiat brand saw their European sales decline steeply in March as industrywide registrations fell by 5 percent, hit by drops in three of the region's five biggest markets, Germany, the UK, and Italy.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180418/ANE/180419767/nissan-ford-fiat-among-losers-as-europe-sales-fall-5