Category Archives: auto news

Critical TechWorks JV with BMW Group and Critical Software

Critical TechWorks represents an addition of unknown importance to the BMW Group’s global innovation network in IT and software development. With increased involvement in the field of digitalization, BMW Group is pursuing its transformation into a mobility-tech company and actively shaping the digital shift in the automotive industry. Continue reading

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World’s First Female Formula 1 World Champion?

The last woman to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi more than 40 years ago. There has never been a female Formula 1 Grand Prix race winner. Gimmicky or not – and this could work at least as a business – racing remains one of the last sports heavily dominated by men, not only behind the wheel but everywhere you look: in the pit-lane, garage, workshop and laboratory. W Series aims not only to promote female drivers but also to encourage “girls and women” into engineering and science careers and to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in schools, colleges and universities. Continue reading

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Graphene the Latest Miracle Material?

Ford, along with Eagle Industries and XG Sciences, has found a way to use a very small amount of graphene – it’s very expensive – while “achieving major property improvements – more lightweight, better heat conductivity and noise reduction – a breakthrough application.” Continue reading

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NAFTA Lite – US-Mexico-Canada Agreement Hurts US Workers

Roughly 30% of the 2.33 million vehicles imported to the U.S. from Mexico in 2017 don’t meet the current 62.5% content requirement. Continue reading

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Bosch Enters the Car-Sharing Business with Electric Vans

Bosch already has a nascent sharing services business, as demonstrated by Coup, its rental service for electric scooters. Since its launch in 2016, Coup has constantly expanded, and now has a fleet of 3,500 scooters in Berlin, Paris, and Madrid. Continue reading

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UN on Global Warming: Rapid, Far-Reaching Unprecedented Changes in All Aspects of Society Needed

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was approved by the IPCC on Saturday in Incheon, Republic of Korea. It will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December, when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change. Continue reading

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Bye J Walter Thompson as Ford Sacks Global Marketing, Adds New Creative Agency and More In-House Workers

Ford also is creating more than 100 new in-house marketing positions tied to brand design, media tools and partnerships, and digital labs. Ford claims this new global marketing approach – is expected to yield $150 million in efficiencies annually. This only part of a series of actions that Ford’s in taking to become more profitable. More white-collar job cuts will assuredly follow. Continue reading

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Surprise! Bodo Uebber to Leave Daimler Board as Purge Continues

Like all automakers, Daimler is facing the unknown future of mobility, autonomous vehicles and the internet of things. Its problems are complicated by currency valuations and a vulnerable international supply and manufacturing footprint fraught with political issues starting in Germany, and competitors, of course. Continue reading

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Ford Motor US Sales Reverse in September. Job Cuts Coming

Nonetheless, when you peer around the p.r. flak, Ford Motor Company’s September U.S. sales declined -11.2% on total sales of 197,404 vehicles (-2% year-to-date). The only semi-bright spot is that Ford brand SUV sales are running at a record pace this year through September. Expedition turned in a 27.4% gain on record transaction prices of $63,600 as customers opted for more high series Platinum SUVs. Ford and Lincoln cars were a total disaster – at 37,112 in September (-26.5% y-o-y), and 357,278 for 9 months, or -16.6%. No wonder that Ford is preparing to cut white collar jobs but it won’t say how many or when. Continue reading

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Don’t Like Change? Avoid the Auto Biz

Industry stakeholders will be further challenged over the next 17 months as numerous critical new vehicle launches will add to the strain of an already stressed industry,” says Bill Rinna, in charge of Americas Vehicle Forecasts at LMC Automotive. Continue reading

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Autonomous Vehicle Tower of Babble Growing

So, it’s no surprise that Ford Motor is calling for a “Standard Self-Driving Car Language to Communicate Intent.” Think of this as more sophisticated turn signals – perhaps the most underused safety item on current cars and brake lights. Only here the intent is to signal to pedestrians what the car is going to do and to the hapless passengers inside the Autonomous Vehicle, who are literally along for the ride. Continue reading

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Gimme Shelter: U.S. Home Affordability Lowest In 10 Years

Nationwide, the Q3 2018 home affordability index of 92 was down from an index of 95 in the previous quarter and an index of 102 in Q3 2017 to the lowest level since Q3 2008, when the index was 87. This could portend trouble for the Detroit Three automakers which rely on the sales of trucks, some of which are used to build and haul things instead of the fashion accessories they have become for many purchasers. Continue reading

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Q3 GM US Sales Dive -11% to 700,000 Vehicles

But it was more money on fewer vehicle sales. GM total sales plummeted -11% year over year. The third quarter light vehicle SAAR was 17.2 million units in 2017 and 16.9 million in 2018. Continue reading

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Western European Car Registrations Plummet -23%

September saw the downside to August’s pull-forward effect, as WLTP emissions regulations were widely implemented from 1 September. The transition to WLTP also led to the unavailability of some models that had not received approval under the new procedure. The fact that there was one fewer selling day in September 2018 than in September 2017 across the region did not help sales either. Continue reading

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ClimaCell Raises $45 Million to Map the World’s Microweather

ClimaCell is the first microweather technology company, finding and forecasting location-specific, short-term weather that others can’t see. While traditional weather companies forecast at the city level, ClimaCell forecasts at the street level. Continue reading

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