Gérard Détourbet Is Renault’s Master of Cutting Corners

Six years ago, after more than four decades with Renault SA, Gérard Détourbet decided he was done. He was in Chennai, leading a group of engineers from Renault and its strategic partner, Nissan Motor Co., in an attempt to create a low-cost vehicle for the Indian market, when some of his employees left his team… Continue reading Gérard Détourbet Is Renault’s Master of Cutting Corners

VW Customers Don’t Give a Monkeys about Diesel Cheating Animal Testing

A bizarre incident involving the testing of diesel exhaust fumes on a group of cartoon-watching monkeys, and possibly humans too, has catapulted the Volkswagen AG emissions scandal back onto newspaper front pages. But public outrage, though warranted, may well ring hollow this time. When Volkswagen admitted rigging about 11 million vehicle engines in 2015, I assumed the German… Continue reading VW Customers Don’t Give a Monkeys about Diesel Cheating Animal Testing

German Carmakers Take Another Hit With Diesel Testing on Humans

Diesel’s reputation took another blow amid revelations that Germany’s auto industry sponsored tests that exposed humans as well as monkeys to the fuel’s exhaust fumes, which can cause respiratory illness and cancer.  The study, supported by a little-known group founded by Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG and BMW AG in 2007, had 25 people breathe in… Continue reading German Carmakers Take Another Hit With Diesel Testing on Humans

Fiat Chrysler’s Marchionne Has Lessons for Ford CEO Jim Hackett

With retirement approaching, Sergio Marchionne seems determined to go out with a bang: the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV boss thinks operating profit will surpass that of Ford Motor Co. this year. On Thursday, Marchionne reminded analysts that’s a surprising turn of events. He’s right. It’s less than a decade since Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection (Ford… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler’s Marchionne Has Lessons for Ford CEO Jim Hackett

Electric Robotaxis Won’t Kill Sports Cars: Porsche CEO

Porsche AG will pursue a three-pronged strategy to diversify its lineup as the German manufacturer gears up for the rollout of its first all-electric sports car next year to tackle a fundamental industry shift toward battery-powered vehicles. “There will be a triad: plug-in hybrids, emotional sports cars with combustion engines and sporty electric vehicles,” Chief… Continue reading Electric Robotaxis Won’t Kill Sports Cars: Porsche CEO

Hyundai Motor Misses Estimate on Labor Strikes, Stronger Won

Hyundai Motor Co.’s earnings fell short of estimates after worker strikes in South Korea hurt output and a stronger won weakened its competitiveness amid tepid demand in the U.S. and China. Fourth-quarter operating profit fell to 775 billion won ($731 million), the Seoul, South Korea-based company said in a statement Thursday. That compares with the… Continue reading Hyundai Motor Misses Estimate on Labor Strikes, Stronger Won

Alphabet Launches New Company Focused on Cybersecurity Services

Google has a new sister: Parent company Alphabet Inc. announced on Wednesday the formation of a new subsidiary company, called Chronicle, focused on cybersecurity. Chronicle was formed in 2016 inside of X, Alphabet’s experimental lab that has produced its driverless car effort, Waymo, and projects on drones, internet connectivity and the Google Glass headset.  Stephen… Continue reading Alphabet Launches New Company Focused on Cybersecurity Services

Uber’s CEO Predicts the U.S. Will Have Flying Cars Within 10 Years

Flying cars will be zipping across U.S. skies within the coming decade — at least that’s what Uber Technologies Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi predicts. “There will be people flying around Dallas, Texas,” Khosrowshahi said at the DLD tech conference in Munich, his first public appearance in Europe since taking over the top job… Continue reading Uber’s CEO Predicts the U.S. Will Have Flying Cars Within 10 Years