Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot owner PSA agree £35bn merger

Automotive industry Tie-up of Italian and French firms would create world’s fourth-biggest carmaker The two companies said the merger would generate cost savings without closing factories. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images The boards of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the Peugeot owner, Groupe PSA, have approved a €40bn (£35bn) merger that would create the world’s fourth-biggest… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot owner PSA agree £35bn merger

GM strike ends after 40 days with 48,000 staff to return to work

General Motors Strike that started 16 September cost GM more than $2bn Employees wanted fair share of GM’s $25bn profits The UAW plans to have a final tally after the 4pm vote deadline on Friday. Photograph: Troy Stolt/AP The longest strike by autoworkers in a decade came to an end on Friday as United Auto… Continue reading GM strike ends after 40 days with 48,000 staff to return to work

SUVs second biggest cause of emissions rise, figures reveal

Greenhouse gas emissions If SUV drivers were a nation, they would rank seventh in the world for carbon emissions Fri 25 Oct 2019 09.57 EDT Last modified on Fri 25 Oct 2019 14.43 EDT Growing demand for SUVs was the second largest contributor to the increase in global CO2 emissions from 2010 to 2018, an analysis has… Continue reading SUVs second biggest cause of emissions rise, figures reveal

Snail fail: Australia turns back Mercedes-Benz cars after escargot cargo found

Invasive species Biosecurity officers shell-shocked after finding 30 snails never before detected in Australia The port of Fremantle in Western Australia, one of four ports where the cars containing the heath snails were found. Photograph: Bloomberg via Getty Images Nine-hundred Mercedes-Benz cars have been turned away at the Australian border after dozens of rare and… Continue reading Snail fail: Australia turns back Mercedes-Benz cars after escargot cargo found

GM workers anxiously await resolution to longest strike in decade

General Motors Feelings ranged from ‘cautiously optimistic’ to ‘skeptical’ among striking members of the UAW in Michigan as they prepare to vote Striking United Auto Workers member Anesha Towell keeps warm at a burn barrel while picketing at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday. Photograph: Rebecca Cook/Reuters The autoworkers picketing outside… Continue reading GM workers anxiously await resolution to longest strike in decade

General Motors and UAW reach tentative deal to end month-long strike

General Motors Deal won’t immediately end strike of 49,000 car workers that began on 16 September General Motors assembly workers picket outside the company’s Bowling Green plant during the United Auto Workers (UAW) national strike in Bowling Green, Kentucky, earlier this month. Photograph: Bryan Woolston/Reuters General Motors and the United Auto Workers union have reached… Continue reading General Motors and UAW reach tentative deal to end month-long strike

Volkswagen’s $75m fine over diesel emissions scandal rejected by judge

Automotive industry Judge questioned the imputation that the top layers of the corporation would not have known about the emissions software Volkswagen settled a class action for between $87m and $127m with owners of some of the 100,000 cars that were affected by the emissions test cheating and subsequent global recall in Australia. Photograph: Rick… Continue reading Volkswagen’s $75m fine over diesel emissions scandal rejected by judge

One-third of car firms have cut jobs amid Brexit uncertainty

Automotive industry Survey reveals divestment and relocation as industry warns against no-deal departure Workers at the Nissan car factory in Sunderland. The firm has said a no-deal Brexit would jeopardise its European operation. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian One in three car firms are cutting jobs and one in eight have divested from their UK businesses… Continue reading One-third of car firms have cut jobs amid Brexit uncertainty

Wrightbus close to rescue deal after last-ditch talks

Automotive industry Agreement reached ‘in principle’ to save Northern Ireland-based bus maker Ownership of the Wrightbus factory and surrounding farmland has proved a sticking point in a rescue deal. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wrightbus, the Northern Ireland-based maker of the revived Routemaster London bus, is close to being rescued after last-ditch talks. The business went into… Continue reading Wrightbus close to rescue deal after last-ditch talks

Wrightbus on brink of liquidation as rescue talks falter

Automotive industry Northern Irish-based maker of New Routemaster bus has until Friday to save 1,200 jobs The sale has been complicated by the fact the factory near Ballymena is owned separately from the business. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wrightbus, the Northern Ireland-based maker of the revived Routemaster London bus, faces liquidation on Friday if a sale… Continue reading Wrightbus on brink of liquidation as rescue talks falter