Tag: Ford

Press Releases – EU should take global lead in connected and automated driving, automotive and telecoms sectors urge

Brussels, 3 April 2019 – As Europe prepares to elect a new European Parliament and appoint new Commissioners, the European Automotive and Telecoms Alliance (EATA) urges policy makers to step up efforts in order to ensure that the EU takes the global lead in connected and automated mobility. As global players launch new products and… Continue reading Press Releases – EU should take global lead in connected and automated driving, automotive and telecoms sectors urge

Mahindra said to lead $500m round in self-drive car rental Zoomcar

April 3, 2019 Self-drive car rental platform Zoomcar (ZoomCar India Pvt. Ltd) is in talks to raise around $500 million in a fresh funding round led by automaker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, said two people aware of the development. The funding round will include a mix of debt and equity financing, the people said, requesting anonymity. An industry… Continue reading Mahindra said to lead $500m round in self-drive car rental Zoomcar

Tuesday Morning Auto News, Apr 02, 2019

Lyft Stock Drops Again, Dow Is a Buy, and More to Know for Tuesday – Barrons: Mergers & Acquisitions: Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois wrote Tuesday he believes a Peugeot (UG.France) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) …
Why buying a car may result in a scary (and pointless) ‘adverse action notice’ – Latimes: it’s something consumers want to avoid at all costs, typically indicating you’ve been turned down for a loan or there’s …
New Ford Kuga SUV to be revealed later today – Autocar: Third-generation Kuga will be a vital part of Ford’s revised European product plan Ford is preparing to pull the wraps off its third-generation Kuga later today ahead of the family SUV’s launch towards the end of this year. Teased in a video posted to…
Lyft shares fall again as analyst says buying the IPO here is ‘leap of faith’ – CNBC: Shares of Lyft fell for a second straight day after an analyst raised concern over the ride-hailing company’s valuation.
Turkish March automotive sales slide 35.5 pct – association – Reuters: Sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Turkey tumbled 35.5 percent year-on-year in March to 49,221 …

BMW, Microsoft launch industrial cloud tech partnership – Automotive News: BMW Group and Microsoft Inc. on Tuesday launched an initiative to create an Open Manufacturing Platform that seeks to stimulate innovation and accelerate the development of “smart” factories.
Walgreens cuts 2019 profit growth forecast after Q2 miss, shares fall – Reuters: Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc on Tuesday cut its 2019 profit growth forecast and reported quarterly profit that missed Wall Street estimates as the drugstore chain struggles with falling prices of generic alternatives to branded drugs, sending its…
Why some green investors are passing on Uber and Lyft – Reuters: Some environmentally … early indications that ride-hailing technology puts more, not fewer, cars on the …
Trade slowed in fourth-quarter, WTO says; auto tariffs, Brexit are 2019 risks – Reuters: World trade shrank by 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 and is likely to grow by 2.6 percent this year, slower than 3.0 percent growth in 2018 and below a previous forecast of 3.7 percent, the World Trade Organization said on Tuesday.
FCA will play active role in industry change, Elkann says – Automotive News: Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann says the automaker will be an active player in shaping an industry under transformation from technology including electrification and self-driving cars.
Ford Europe spending tens of millions on Brexit – chairman – Reuters: Ford is already spending tens of millions of euros to prepare for the possibility Britain could leave the European Union without a trade deal in place, Ford Europe chairman Steven Armstrong said on Tuesday.
DealBook Briefing: Lyft Crashes Back to Reality – New York Times: That was fast: On their second day of trading yesterday, shares in Lyft fell 12 percent, to $69.01, below their I.P.O. price. That darkens the outlook for …
Microsoft and BMW launch open manufacturing platform – Reuters: Microsoft Corp and BMW Group on Tuesday launched an initiative to create an Open Manufacturing Platform that seeks to stimulate industrial innovation and speed the development of connected ‘smart’ factories.
Merkel: We need to switch to electric or hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars – Reuters: Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that Germany needed to make radical changes in the vehicle sector by switching to electric or hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars.
Jaguar Land Rover loses court battle with Twisted Automotive – Autocar: Autocar
All-new Rolls-Royce Ghost to take fight to Bentley in 2020 – Autocar: Rolls-Royce’s smallest model will move to a new generation next year, with spyshots revealing an evolutionary design The overhauling of Rolls-Royce”s range will continue early next year with a new generation of the Ghost luxury saloon. The…
Car sales hit the brakes – Autocar:
Daimler CEO: Boeing safety debate highlights challenge for autonomous tech – Reuters: Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche on Tuesday said the debate surrounding the safety of Boeing’s aircraft shows how hard it can be to win public acceptance for autonomous cars technology.
Thyssenkrupp and Tata Offer Remedies to Win EU Deal Approval – Bloomberg: The companies are prepared to sell part of car body sheet production, … Only four European companies currently provide steel to the auto industry: …
German new car registrations fell by 0.5 percent in March – Reuters: German new car registrations fell by 0.5 percent to around 345,500 in March, a person familiar with the numbers told …
Japan-US trade talks likely to be held April 15-16 – Reuters: Japanese government officials are increasingly worried that Trump will demand a reduction in the number of Japanese auto imports to lower the trade …
Lawyer for ousted Nissan boss Ghosn says hasn’t discussed Oman issue with him – Reuters: The defense lawyer for ousted Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn said on Tuesday he had not discussed with Ghosn a report that Nissan’s alliance partner Renault had alerted French prosecutors about payments to an Omani distributor.
Singapore Airlines grounds two 787-10s after inspections of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 TEN engines – Reuters: Singapore Airlines Ltd said on Tuesday it had grounded two Boeing Co 787-10 jets fitted with Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Trent 1000 TEN engines after checks of its fleet found premature blade deterioration.
Ghosn’s lawyer doesn’t rule out possibility of additional charges in Japan – Reuters: Three sources told Reuters on Monday that Nissan’s alliance partner, Renault SA, had alerted French prosecutors to payments made to a …
Schumacher begins maiden Ferrari F1 test in Bahrain – Yahoo: … wheel of Alfa Romeo’s C38 on Wednesday. It is the first serious F1 experience for the reigning European Formula 3 champion and Formula 2 rookie, …
Ghosn would not get fair trial if tried alongside former employer Nissan, lawyer says – Reuters: Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn would not get a fair trial by a Tokyo court if he were tried alongside his former employer, a lawyer for Ghosn said on Tuesday, …
Google South East Asia and India VP to leave at end-April – Reuters: Alphabet Inc’s Google South East Asia and India Vice-President Rajan Anandan will leave the firm at the end of April, Google Asia Pacific President Scott Beaumont said on Tuesday.
Exor’s Elkann says commitment to Fiat Chrysler unchanged – Reuters: The chairman of Exor John Elkann said the Italian holding group’s commitment to carmaker Fiat Chrysler remained unchanged.
Ghosn’s lawyers say his trial must be separate from Nissan’s to ensure fairness – Reuters: Lawyers for Carlos Ghosn asked a Tokyo court on Tuesday to try the ex-Nissan Motor Co boss separately from his former employer …
Ghosn’s lawyers ask court for trial separate from Nissan and former director Kelly – Reuters: Lawyers for former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn on Tuesday said they had asked that their client stand trial for alleged financial wrongdoing separately from Nissan because the company is helping prosecutors.
Europe’s answer to Uber expands into the electric scooter scene in Madrid – CNBC: Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, is launching its electric kick scooter-sharing service in Madrid.
Complaints About Hyundais and Kias Catching Fire Prompt U.S. Probe – Yahoo: NHTSA tallied more than 3000 complaints about the Hyundai and Kia vehicles that drivers lodged with the agency or the manufacturer, according to memos …
Roush’s next power play? Self-driving weeders – Detroitnews: The Livonia company best known for high-performance Mustangs and F-150s partners with a Silicon Valley start-up for autonomous farm equipment.
Trending: Can the SEC hold Elon Musk in contempt of court for his Harambe song? – Washington Post: @rachel_pick, roasting the Tesla CEO’s surprise rap single “RIP Harambe,” an ode to the gorilla killed at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2016, that was released …

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FiveAI driverless car trials begin today on roads in London

FiveAI autonomous vehicle in testing on the mean streets of Bromley Driverless car trials using technology developed by UK company FiveAI have started today in London. The supervised trials in Bromley and Croydon, will feature highly visible FiveAI-branded Ford Mondeos trundling around a range of streets of the two South-East London boroughs. It comes ahead… Continue reading FiveAI driverless car trials begin today on roads in London

Ford would reconsider UK investments if no deal on Brexit

HALFWEG: Ford warned Tuesday that it will reconsider its investments in Britain if the country cannot work out a deal to leave the European Union that guarantees smooth trading with the bloc. At a glitzy unveiling of new cars with electric and hybrid engines, Ford of Europe Chairman Steven Armstrong warned of the potentially disastrous… Continue reading Ford would reconsider UK investments if no deal on Brexit

Search giant Baidu has driven the most autonomous miles in Beijing

While the public is asking, “When are we going to ride in autonomous cars?” Technology companies have been moving apace to test them on designated roads. In China’s capital city Beijing, eight firms drove a total of 153,600 kilometers (95442.6 miles) through their autonomous fleets in 2018, and Baidu, the country’s largest search engine service… Continue reading Search giant Baidu has driven the most autonomous miles in Beijing

Ford Europe spending tens of millions on Brexit – chairman

FILE PHOTO: A Ford logo is pictured at a store of the automaker, in Mexico City, Mexico, April 5, 2016. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo HALFWEG, Netherlands (Reuters) – Ford is already spending tens of millions of euros to prepare for the possibility Britain could leave the European Union without a trade deal in place, Ford Europe… Continue reading Ford Europe spending tens of millions on Brexit – chairman

US auto sales are falling as prices for new vehicles jump to highest ever

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New Ford cars are displayed on the sales lot at Veracom Ford in Burlingame, California.

U.S. auto sales are falling as vehicle prices climb, indicating that buyers at the lower end are getting squeezed out of the new car market, according to a new industry forecast.

First-quarter auto sales are expected to drop by nearly 2.5 percent from a year earlier, to 4 million units, according to J.D. Power and LMC Automotive.

Retail sales, which exclude sales to rental car companies and other commercial businesses, are expected to drop by about 5 percent to 2.9 million units. It's the first time first-quarter retail sales are projected to fall short of 3 million units in six years, said Thomas King, senior vice president of J.D. Power's data and analytics division.

It's more evidence that vehicle sales in the world's second-largest auto market are sliding from the record levels they had achieved in the years following the financial crisis.

While sales volumes are softening, especially for cheaper cars, customers are still paying remarkably high prices for cars, King added. Prices are hitting monthly records while retail sales of vehicles that cost under $25,000 are expected to fall 12 percent in the quarter, more than double the overall decline.

The average price of a new vehicle is expected to hit $33,319, the highest ever for the first quarter. The average buyer is paying $1,000 more per purchase than in the first quarter of 2018.

The data suggest that more and more buyers are getting squeezed out of the new vehicle market and are likely turning to used cars as manufacturers pull back on cheaper vehicles, said LMC Automotive President of Global Forecasting Jeff Schuster.

“The challenge will be holding discipline as new vehicles launch and competitive pressure grows,” Schuster said. “The Fed's decision to hold interest rates will help stabilize the interest element of the rising cost of buying a new vehicle.”