Tesla CEO Musk says to break ground on Shanghai Gigafactory today

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) on Monday will break ground for its Shanghai Gigafactory where it will begin making Model 3 electric vehicles (EV) by year-end, Chief Executive Elon Musk tweeted here ahead of the formal start of construction of the firm’s first Chinese plant. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks in a… Continue reading Tesla CEO Musk says to break ground on Shanghai Gigafactory today

Lost world: Germany’s forgotten car companies – Autocar

Borgward (1924-1961) If you wanted a premium German car in the 1950s, Borgward was the place to go, with its stylish saloons, coupés and estates, most notably 1954’s Isabella, pictured. Carl Borgward started making cars under his own name in 1924, but in the pre-war years he also set up or acquired the Hansa, Lloyd… Continue reading Lost world: Germany’s forgotten car companies – Autocar

Tesla urges tariff exemption for Chinese-made car computer ‘brain’

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Tesla Inc has asked the Trump administration to exempt the Chinese-made car computer “brain” of its new Model 3 sedan from 25 percent tariffs imposed in August, saying they threaten the electric carmaker’s bottom line. FILE PHOTO: A car carrier trailer carries Tesla Model 3 electric sedans, is seen outside the Tesla… Continue reading Tesla urges tariff exemption for Chinese-made car computer ‘brain’

Culture clash: There’s nothing virtual about Google’s urban expansion plans

Google’s remote HQ on the edge of the bay. (Image: Tom Foremski) Featured stories You don’t need a physical location. You can create a virtual business overnight using Google’s Cloud enterprise IT services, your employees log-in from their homes using Google videoconferencing, group spreadsheets, and collaborative documents — plus gmail with your company name on… Continue reading Culture clash: There’s nothing virtual about Google’s urban expansion plans

Ford recalls over 953K vehicles to replace inflators

Ford recalls over 953K vehicles to replace inflatorsFord is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel.
The move includes over 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history.
Included are the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, the 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger, the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan, and the 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang.
Some of the recalls may be limited to specific geographic areas of the U.S.
Takata used the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion to inflate air bags. But it can deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister designed to contain the explosion. At least 23 people have been killed worldwide and hundreds injured by the inflators.
Ford says it doesn’t know of any injuries in vehicles included in this recall. Dealers will replace the inflators.
Ford will notify owners about the recall starting on Feb. 18, and the company has replacement parts available for dealers to order, said spokeswoman Monique Brentley. In previous Takata recalls, parts availability had been an issue.
Owners can go to owner.ford.com and key in their vehicle identification number to see if their cars and SUVs are being recalled. The same information will be available soon at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More than three years after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took over management of recalls involving Takata inflators, one third of the recalled inflators still have not been replaced, according to an annual report from the government and a court-appointed monitor.
The report says 16.7 million faulty inflators out of 50 million under recall have yet to be replaced. And 10 million more inflators are scheduled to be recalled this month, including the Ford vehicles.
Safety advocates said the completion rate should be far higher given the danger associated with the inflators.
The recalls forced Takata of Japan to seek bankruptcy protection and sell most of its assets to pay for the fixes.
The inflators grow more dangerous as they get older because ammonium nitrate deteriorates due to high humidity and cycles from hot temperatures to cold. The most dangerous inflators are in areas of the South along the Gulf of Mexico that have high humidity.
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UAW sues GM over use of temporary workers at Indiana plant

Trump previously criticized GM’s strategy and has called on the Detroit automaker to find a new vehicle for the Lordstown plant. DETROIT: The United Auto Workers union sued General Motors Co in federal court on Thursday, claiming the automaker’s use of temporary workers at a plant in Indiana violates its labor deal and escalating a… Continue reading UAW sues GM over use of temporary workers at Indiana plant

UPDATE 2-UAW sues GM over use of temporary workers at Indiana plant

DETROIT (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers union sued General Motors Co (GM.N) in federal court on Thursday, claiming the automaker’s use of temporary workers at a plant in Indiana violates its labor deal and escalating a fight over GM’s plans to possibly close U.S. factories. FILE PHOTO: Assembled trucks are ready for delivery at… Continue reading UPDATE 2-UAW sues GM over use of temporary workers at Indiana plant

Machine Guns: US Citizens Attack Self-Driving Waymo Cars

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China's First Car Sales Dip in 3 Decades Stirs Stimulus Talk

(Bloomberg) — China vehicle sales fell for the first time in 28 years, raising the prospect of a government-led stimulus to revive demand in the world’s biggest auto market as consumers from Europe to U.S. balk at buying new cars. Deliveries of passenger vehicles to dealers fell 4.1 percent to 23.7 million units last year,… Continue reading China's First Car Sales Dip in 3 Decades Stirs Stimulus Talk

Faraday Future gets a lifeline as it settles months-long battle with Chinese investor

The war between electric car startup Faraday Future and its main investor, Chinese real estate conglomerate Evergrande, appears to be over. Evergrande announced on Monday that it has agreed to restructure its $2 billion investment in Faraday Future. The conglomerate will walk away with full control over Faraday Future’s efforts in China, and both sides… Continue reading Faraday Future gets a lifeline as it settles months-long battle with Chinese investor