Wednesday Morning Auto News, Jul 24, 2019

Gloomy day for Daimler, Nissan, but PSA roars – Reuters: Daimler and Aston Martin struggle, Nissan plans yet more job cuts – but Peugeot owner PSA is one automaker to defy gloom in the sector. Francis Maguire …
GM’s Driverless-Car Unit Cruise Delays Robot-Taxi Service – Wall Street Journal: General Motors’ driverless-car business, Cruise, will delay the roll out of an autonomous ride-hailing *service* scheduled for late this year, underscoring the …
Porsche tops J.D. Power study of most appealing new vehicles – Automotive News: Ram was the most improved brand and ranked highest in the mass-market segment while Ford Motor Co.’s brands received five model-level awards in the annual study of new-vehicle appeal.
European car giants Peugeot SA and Daimler show signs of fighting back amid global auto slowdown – Barrons: Peugeot maker PSA defied the global auto slowdown with a 10.6% profit rise in the first half of the year, while Mercedes owner Daimler’s stock rose on a more …
German carmaker BMW considers China as very strong driver of technology – Xinhua | English.news.cn – Xinhuanet: China is a very strong driver of technology, a spokesperson of German carmaker BMW told Xinhua on Wednesday. “We strongly …
PSA seeks European company legal status following Opel/Vauxhall takeover – Automotive News: Automaker says move will reflect group’s European scope following the takeover of Opel/Vauxhall.

Man jailed for 15 years for driverless car bomb plot – Guardian: A man who plotted a terrorist attack involving the use of a bomb inside a remotely controlled vehicle has been jailed for 15 years. Counter-terrorism …
Uber Drivers Lose Suit Over ‘Racist’ UK Environmental Fee – Bloomberg: It’s the latest stage of a long-running battle between those working for the ride-hailing firm and traditional cabbies, which has spilled from the city’s …
Brexit auto industry fears heightened with Boris Johnson becoming UK prime minister – Automotive News: Britain’s incoming prime minister has shown little sign that he takes the car industry seriously, having once said he knows about how to run an automaker than …
Why the UK auto industry will not welcome a Boris Johnson gov’t – Automotive News: … radio interview that he knew more about how to run an automaker than Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth, who had just warned about job losses.
Daimler’s Q2 loss triggers more cost-cutting, product review – Automotive News: Daimler is battling slower demand in China and the U.S., along with huge costs to develop electric cars and regulatory scrutiny over its diesel emissions.
NHTSA says it is reviewing complaints of faulty Ford transmissions – Freep: Congressional leaders urged the review after a Free Press investigation found Ford sold the vehicles knowing their transmissions were faulty.
Nissan Braces for More Pain as Weak Profits Force Restructuring – Bloomberg: Nissan Motor Co. confirmed reports of a 90% drop in quarterly operating profit and a broader restructuring a day before posting results, underscoring the …
Tesla`s Ability to Make Money Is Under Spotlight as Results Loom – Bloomberg: Tesla Inc. sold a record number of cars during the second quarter. But did the company make enough money while doing so?
Breakingviews – If only James Bond could rescue Aston Martin – Reuters: If only James Bond could rescue Aston Martin Reuters(Reuters Breakingviews) – If only James Bond could come to the rescue of Aston Martin. The British maker of 007’s legendary sports car is struggling. With the …
German Car-Parts Maker Put Up for Sale Amid Spat Between Owners – Bloomberg: German auto parts maker Weber Automotive GmbH has been put up for sale as part of insolvency proceedings that started this month, according to a …
Uber Freight launches in Germany, taking on local competition – Reuters: U.S. ride-hailing company Uber is launching a freight platform in Germany, taking on local technology startups in a race to grab a share of Europe’s $500 billion trucking market.
Daimler CEO says there are no plans to pursue a merger or spin-off – Reuters: Daimler has no plans to spin off its trucks division or to pursue a merger with BMW as a way to raise the company’s share price, Chief Executive Ola Kaellenius said on Wednesday.
Toyota’s Thailand unit retains domestic car sales forecasts – Reuters: (Corrects date in dateline). BANGKOK, July 24 (Reuters) -. * Thailand’s total domestic cars sales for 2019 are still projected at 1 million units, down 3.8% from …
Aston Martin Plunges After Cutting Vehicle Sales Forecast on Challenging Outlook – Bloomberg: Aston Martin Lagonda cut its full-year sales forecast by as much as 14% after weakness in key markets intensified, joining a range of carmakers to warn of a …
Aston Martin cuts 2019 forecasts on UK, Europe weakness – Reuters: IndiaLuxury carmaker Aston Martin on Wednesday lowered several of its forecasts for this year, saying it had been hit by macro-economic uncertainty and weakness …
Nissan to Report 90% Plunge in Profit, Report Says – Bloomberg: Nissan Motor Co. will report a drop of about 90% in its fiscal first quarter … global alliance between Nissan, Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
Carmaker PSA defies gloom in auto sector with record profits – FT: French carmaker PSA posted record profits for the first half of 2019, bucking the gloom across the sector, as cost controls and the rollout of new models …
PSA Group profit jumps on pricing, Opel synergies – Reuters: French carmaker PSA Group delivered a sharp increase in first-half profit, as new models and the integration of Opel-Vauxhall more than made up for weaker emerging-market sales.
Nissan shares edge up on reports it will cut 10000 jobs – FT: … come as Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan’s chief executive, has struggled to stem the fallout from the arrest and ousting of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn.
Peugeot Maker Improves Profit Margins on More Costly Models – Bloomberg: Peugeot maker PSA Group’s profit margin widened to a record in the first half of the year through the sale of more expensive models, although the French …
Daimler Q2 hammered by Takata, diesel charges – Reuters: Luxury carmaker Daimler said it would intensify cost cuts after legal risks for diesel-related issues and the cost of replacing Takata airbags triggered a 1.56 …
Augmented Reality Is Now in Your Phone, Eyeglasses and Car – Washington Post: If you dodged real-world trash cans to chase virtual monsters during the Pokemon Go craze, you experienced augmented reality. Sixty years after …
US Truck Driver Shortage Is On Course to Double in a Decade – Bloomberg: Women make up less than 7% of drivers, and the industry is pushing to entice more with technology that makes trucks easier to drive and more …
Japan’s Nissan to double global job cuts to over 10,000 – source – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co Ltd plans to expand job cuts to over 10,000 to help turn around its business, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, showing the tough road ahead for an automaker grappling with management upheaval.
Lyft makes self-driving research public to speed development – The Detroit News: It”s the largest such trove of data made available to researchers and rivals, Lyft said
Uber, Lyft Rides May Be Taxed Under San Francisco Measure – Bloomberg: Uber, Lyft Rides May Be Taxed Under San Francisco Measure. By … Ride-hailing customers may be forced to pay a new tax in the city where the …
Corrected: Nissan plans to cut over 10,000 jobs globally – Kyodo – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co Ltd is planning to cut more than 10,000 jobs globally as part of efforts to turn around its business, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday, citing company sources.
In win for Ford, Fed Circuit won’t extend ‘functionality’ defense to patent law – Reuters: The doctrine of aesthetic functionality, which limits the trademarking of the functional features of a product, does not extend to design patent law, a federal …
Harley-Davidson gets EU approval for plan to dodge $100 million tariff hit – Latimes: Harley-Davidson Inc.’s highly contentious plan to dodge tariffs by shifting some production overseas has been green-lighted just as the iconic …

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Aston Martin shares plunge after slump in sales across Europe

Aston Martin Manufacturer hit by a 22% fall in sales to UK car dealers in the second quarter Aston Martin signalled job cuts could be ahead, saying it will ‘take immediate actions to improve efficiency and reduce our fixed cost base’. Photograph: Dominic Fraser/Aston Martin Aston Martin’s share price plunged more than 20% after the… Continue reading Aston Martin shares plunge after slump in sales across Europe

Apple’s latest Tesla hire specializes in car interiors

Another high-level Tesla engineering executive has hopped over to Apple. Steve MacManus, who was vice president of engineering at Tesla, is now a senior director at Apple, according to an update on his LinkedIn profile. Bloomberg was the first to report MacManus had taken the position at Apple. MacManus, whose was in charge of interior… Continue reading Apple’s latest Tesla hire specializes in car interiors

ASTON MARTIN ACCELERATES TOWARDS GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

Pre-production DBX SUV, stops at Festival of Speed as part of global testing plan
Global dynamic debut of Vantage AMR and DBS Superleggera Volante
Festival of Speed will be UK dynamic debut of Rapide E

01 July 2019, Gaydon: 70 years since Aston Martin first raced at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the luxury British manufacturer returns to Goodwood Festival of Speed as this year’s featured marque. There have been many significant moments in Aston Martin’s long-standing relationship with Goodwood and this year will be no different with Aston Martin showcasing its bold new future and highlights from its past.
Included in this year’s event will be the global dynamic debut of the DBS Superleggera Volante and the limited edition, Vantage AMR. Unveiled earlier this year, Aston Martin has introduced a 7-speed manual transmission to its true sports car, Vantage. Also featuring dynamic tweaks inspired by motorsport, Vantage AMR delivers a heightened driving experience while commemorating Asto..

GM’s mid-engine Corvette gears up to take on Europeans

TUSTIN, Calif. (Reuters) – General Motors Co was set on Thursday to unveil its newly designed mid-engine 2020 Corvette in a splashy tribute to its emblematic sports car, even as the No. 1 U.S. automaker faces mounting pressures in a sluggish and uncertain global sales environment. The GM logo is seen at the General Motors… Continue reading GM’s mid-engine Corvette gears up to take on Europeans

Ian Callum’s new job is to make cars beautiful again – Top Gear

Anyone who knows Ian Callum will also know that his exit from Jaguar last month – Jexit? – after almost two decades steering its design wasn’t the end, more a new beginning. “Liberating, that’s how it feels,” he says as his new design and engineering business CALLUM (upper case) is unveiled. “I’ve been very fortunate, don’t get… Continue reading Ian Callum’s new job is to make cars beautiful again – Top Gear

Jaguar Land Rover receives £500m government loan guarantee for EV production

Jaguar Land Rover has received a £500 million loan guarantee as part of a new government initiative to support UK car manufacturers’ electrification schemes.  In a meeting of automotive industry leaders at 10 Downing Street, Theresa May announced that the guarantee would be provided by UK Export Finance. The nature of the investment means that if… Continue reading Jaguar Land Rover receives £500m government loan guarantee for EV production