Tag: FCA

Paolo D’Ettore: Director LCV Business Unit Nissan Europe

Who is Paolo D’Ettore? Paolo is currently Director of the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Business Unit at Nissan Europe. He leads a team of 20 people across Europe and is responsible for the profit, sales, marketing, product planning and overall program management of the LCV range. The role is varied and can range from managing… Continue reading Paolo D’Ettore: Director LCV Business Unit Nissan Europe

New limited edition Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 models revealed

Ferrari has unveiled two new limited edition vehicles, the Monza SP1 and SP2. They are the first models to be launched under the Italian firm’s new ‘Icona’ line-up, which will celebrate some of Ferrari’s most famous models. • Best supercars currently on sale Both the SP1 and SP2 are a nod to Ferrari’s racing Barchettas… Continue reading New limited edition Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 models revealed

Ferrari plans 15 new models, SUV to deliver earnings growth

MARANELLO, Italy (Reuters) – Ferrari (RACE.MI) plans 15 new models, including hybrids, a utility vehicle and special editions in its drive to hit a softened but still exacting mid-term earnings target. The Italian supercar maker on Tuesday shifted to an adjusted core earnings forecast range of 1.8-2.0 billion euros ($2.1-2.3 billion) by 2022, rather than… Continue reading Ferrari plans 15 new models, SUV to deliver earnings growth

Ferrari pre-sells entire new supercar model despite £1m+ price tag

Luxury goods sector Luxury carmaker calls new Monza models the ‘closest driving experience to F1’ Ferrari is banking on selling more limited-edition cars to boost profits. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP Ferrari has announced a new open-top supercar it describes as “probably the closest and purest driving experience to Formula 1” – and has already pre-sold the… Continue reading Ferrari pre-sells entire new supercar model despite £1m+ price tag

Ferrari investors want assurance on targets and SUV plans

MILAN (Reuters) – Ferrari’s (RACE.MI) new boss has his work cut out on Tuesday to convince investors that the supercar maker can hit mid-term targets he described last month as “aspirational”. FILE PHOTO: The new Ferrari 488 Pista during a presentation at the 88th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2018.… Continue reading Ferrari investors want assurance on targets and SUV plans

Farasis Energy Raises $1 Billion To Increase Lithium-Ion Battery Production

3 H BY MARK KANE Farasis Energy raises capital, builds 20 GWh battery factory and expands to Europe. Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer Farasis Energy (founded in 2002) announced that the C-round financing resulted in raising more than $1 billion for further global growth. The company already has two production sites in China (Ganzhou and Zhenjiang), employs more… Continue reading Farasis Energy Raises $1 Billion To Increase Lithium-Ion Battery Production

German authorities uncover emissions-cheating collusion among diesel automakers

2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec 4Matic
New documents revealed in a German investigation into diesel emissions cheating show that German automakers, including Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz may have colluded to limit the amount of emissions-cleaning AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid the cars used.

The news was reported by the German newspaper Handelsblatt on Tuesday.

The AdBlue urea solution was contained in tanks too small to last the specified distance between refills, internal company documents reveal. In one 2008 email, an Audi engineer wrote that if customers had to refill their tanks every two months, “it would be a disaster for the entire clean diesel strategy in North America…. This assessment is shared also by VW, BMW, and Daimler.” (Daimler is the parent company that produces Mercedes-Benz cars.)

DON'T MISS: Volkswagen fires six managers over diesel emissions cheating

The documents were revealed as part of a criminal investigation in Germany of 39 Volkswagen executives for fraud and deceptive advertising.

An Audi presentation uncovered last year referred to a “commitment of the German automotive manufacturers at board level” to using smaller urea tanks and making them last longer.

All three automakers, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, along with Volkswagen and its luxury division Audi, submitted documents to German regulators showing that the cars would use 0.26 gallons (1 liter), of urea fluid in 1,000 miles of driving, when it fact it would take 0.78 gallons (3 liters) of the fluid to neutralize emissions for that distance.

CHECK OUT: Mercedes-Benz gets its own diesel emission cheating questions now

The documents show email exchanges among the companies discussing a German investigation into “defeat device software” used to minimize urea consumption and flout emissions laws when the cars were driven on the road, and still meet the requirements when the cars were tested.

All three automakers, plus Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, used emissions hardware and software from German supplier Bosch, which has also been sued for its role in the scandal.

READ THIS: Those fuel-efficient diesels? Actually worse on lifetime CO2, study says

The emissions cheating led to a historic settlement with Volkswagen that has cost the automaker an estimated $30 billion, including buying back most of the diesel models it sold in the U.S.

Bosch has settled lawsuits against it in relation to the scandal.

Class-action lawsuits are outstanding against BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and FCA.

Chevy recalls some Bolt EVs, Volts over supplier brake issues

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Chevrolet this week recalled three to four months worth of production Bolt EVs and Volt plug-in hybrids over a potential brake issue that could increase stopping distances of the small vehicles.

The recall affects 2018-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2018-2019 Volt models sold in the U.S. and Canada.

General Motors' filing with federal regulators doesn't specify the number of cars or say when owners should begin receiving mailed notices for the proposed fixes, and Chevrolet was unable to confirm those details immediately. Affected Bolt EVs were produced between March 27, 2018 and July 17, 2018 and affected Volts were produced between March 27, 2018 and June 20, 2018.

DON'T MISS: 2018 Chevy Bolts recalled to update battery software, prevent shutdowns

According to GM, rear brake pistons that were improperly chromed and tempered could leak and trap hydrogen gas in the brake lines and could lead to soft or spongy brake pedals.

The faulty brake systems could stretch braking distances of the affected models. Officials said drivers should notice the spongy brake pedal within 15 days of the vehicle's assembly. Dealers were instructed to bleed the brake system to relieve any trapped hydrogen gas.In its filing, GM said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the defect.

CHECK OUT: 2019 Chevy Volt gets higher prices with more equipment

The defective brake pedals are part of a larger recall affecting Mercedes-Benz vehicles and could be related to a similar recall by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. German supplier ZF said it was aware of the issue, but in its filing GM said the supplier did not notify it that the issue could affect Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.

GM issued the recall this week for more than 230,000 vehicles that also included Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Impala, and Malibu sedans and crossovers; GMC Terrain crossovers; Buick LaCrosse, and Cadillac XTS sedans.

UPDATE 1-U.S. to probe India’s Mahindra over Fiat Chrysler Jeep complaint

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. regulator said on Tuesday it would launch an investigation into an off-road utility vehicle produced by Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd following a complaint by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV that it infringed upon the intellectual property rights of its Jeep design. FILE PHOTO: A Jeep Wrangler (R) is shown at the… Continue reading UPDATE 1-U.S. to probe India’s Mahindra over Fiat Chrysler Jeep complaint