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Volkswagen CEO: More car companies will merge – CNN

VW unveils better, cheaper electric car Get ready for more mega mergers in the automotive industry. General Motors (GM) dumped its European business on Monday — selling its Opel and Vauxhall brands to France’s PSA Group, which makes Peugeot (PUGOY) and Citroen cars. Volkswagen (VLKAY), the world’s biggest carmaker, says that won’t be the last… Continue reading Volkswagen CEO: More car companies will merge – CNN

Cognex partners with GM Canada to develop automated chain drive inspection vision system

The Cognex In-Sight 2000 vision sensor is the heart of a new system that could automate inspection of one of the automobile manufacturing industry’s most important industrial automation elements. [Native Advertisement] The chain links at the heart of a conveyor belt system inevitably stretch, warp, or break after extended use and require replacement during maintenance… Continue reading Cognex partners with GM Canada to develop automated chain drive inspection vision system

FCA Appoints Smiley to Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Chief

January 8, 2019 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (“FCA”) (NYSE: FCAU / MTA: FCA) today announced that effective immediately Carl Smiley is appointed to the new role of Chief Purchasing & Supply Chain Officer. Smiley is also named to the company’s Group Executive Council (GEC), the highest operational body within FCA. Smiley… Continue reading FCA Appoints Smiley to Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Chief

Volkswagen buys wireless car service from Volvo

Volkswagen MOIA electric ride-pooling van
In automotive electronics news that doesn't come from this week's CES, Volkswagen announced late last month that it is buying wireless automotive technology from Volvo.

The technology is expected to enable VW's upcoming We car sharing program as well as to allow drivers to control some vehicle functions remotely, which could impact things such as charging for electric cars.

Automakers are scrambling to catch up with Tesla's ability to update cars remotely, and also to enable car-sharing services to compete with companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Google in launching self-driving shuttle and taxi services.

READ THIS: The Apple car to finally hit the road, only it's a VW Bus

The deal is worth $122 million, for Volvo's WirelessCar division, which was founded in 1999, which has been a subsidiary of Volvo since 2007.

Microsoft will also provide wireless services aimed at updating VW cars—and almost certainly first models from VW's luxury divisions, Audi and Porsche—over the airwaves.

DON'T MISS: VW updates I.D. Cargo Buzz with solar for LA Show

The companies plan to develop a secure platform to such updates that won't be vulnerable to the kind of attacks that hackers have demonstrated in principle.

Secure communications and the ability to send commands and updates to cars remotely will be necessary pieces for automated taxi services.

CHECK OUT: Electric car-sharing programs expanding in U.S.

For example, such a service could send updated maps with live construction detours to cars that might venture into areas with weak cellular service.

The sale is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.

Leading the way: Tesla trounces luxury competitors in year-end sales tally

2017 Tesla Model 3
Now that Tesla has released its final sales numbers for the end of last year, we finally have a yardstick to measure the company’s sales success.

In the third quarter, Tesla made a point of noting that, with the Model 3 approaching full production, it became the fifth bestselling—non-SUV—car model in America.

On New Year’s Day, the company reported it delivered 63,150 Model 3s from October to December. That’s up 13 percent from 55,840 from July through September.

READ THIS: Tesla cuts prices $2,000, almost hit 250,000 vehicles in 2018

Taking Tesla's sales numbers at face value for the moment, the company says it sold more Model 3s in the third quarter than some entire brands, including some of its chief competitors, including Acura, Audi, Cadillac, and Infiniti.

Other rivals were also feeling the heat from Model 3 sales. In total Lexus sold 71,107 vehicles and BMW sold 85,949, according to sales numbers from Automotive News (subscription required.)

2018 Tesla Model S and 2018 Tesla Model X

Model 3 sales for Q4 weren’t that far behind entire affordable brands such as Mazda (65,203) and Volkswagen (87,836).

And that’s just one model from Tesla, versus other brands’ entire lineups.

It’s not a direct comparison, because Tesla’s numbers include Canadian sales, while those from other brands are only in the U.S. Still, in the third quarter, Tesla sold about 1,500 Model 3s in Canada, as it focused sales there to delay the expiration of its federal tax credit in the U.S. So the numbers aren’t far off.

Whole lineups

Counting the Model S and Model X (which are exported in greater proportion), the company sold 75,100 cars in the U.S. in Q4, according to Automotive News numbers, more than Lexus (71,107), Audi (55,903), Buick (51,627), Acura (44,451), Infiniti (44,031), Cadillac (41,462), Lincoln (28,307), or Volvo (24,224).

Only BMW and Mercedes sold more, at 95,710 and 101,047, respectively. Using Tesla’s own number of 90,700 sales for the quarter wouldn’t change that order, even though Tesla’s number includes sales of all three of its cars in Canada, and the Model S and Model X around the world.

Head-to-head

When it comes to direct competitors to the Model 3—upscale sedans costing $45,000 to $80,000—the Model 3 trounces all competitors, with the next closest models, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Lexus ES coming in with about 18,000 and 14,000 sales respectively for the quarter. BMW sold 9,847 3-Series sedans, though it has sliced much of that market into niche products such as the 4-series.

DON'T MISS: Tesla Model 3 is fifth bestselling car in U.S., production still short of profitability goal

For the quarter, the Model 3 outsold such mainstays of American roads as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, the Subaru Forester and Outback, and the Honda Pilot. It almost conquered the Toyota Highlander, which had 63,812 sales, and wasn't far behind the Toyota Corolla (68,564) and the Honda Civic (70,724) for the quarter. With its slow production ramp-up early in the year, however, it couldn't approach those top-selling cars for the full year.

Annual sales

Tesla’s slow ramp-up to full Model 3 production was one of the major stories of the year, and the car didn’t start posting big sales numbers until Q3, so many of its sales look less impressive on an annual basis.

For the full year, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, and Audi—even Mazda and VW—sold more cars than Tesla. Many of those brands, though, sell full lineups of cars and SUVs in multiple sizes and formats (front-wheel drive/rear-wheel drive; sporty, luxurious, car- or truck-based, for example.) Tesla sells three models: two luxury cars and a crossover SUV.

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Analyst adds Ferrari, Penske to list of top auto stocks for 2019

There is a lot of opportunity in auto dealers, says Consumer Edge analyst
5:08 PM ET Wed, 26 Dec 2018 | 02:48

Brands like Penske and Ferrari could be some of the top auto stocks to buy in the new year, Consumer Edge Research's Jamie Albertine told CNBC on Wednesday.

The automotive research analyst's recommendation follows his November call that higher used-car sales could extend into 2019 “in a major way.”

Carrying a high return on invested capital, or ROIC, Penske Automotive Group has begun moving into the used car retail business, he said. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based company is looking to attract customers seeking value on the used car market, allowing Penske to compete with platforms like Carmax and Carvana, which Albertine said last month has taken advantage of an industry under pressure from tariffs and changing consumer tastes.

“Penske's getting into standalone used sales [with] a lot more force,” he said on CNBC's “Closing Bell,” adding that he has seen a “pivot” among consumers “from new- to late-model used vehicles as the off-lease supply comes back to market.”

Penske shares climbed 2.59 percent on Wednesday amid a marketwide surge, but the stock is down more than 16 percent for the year.

Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari's stock is another one to watch as the company ramps up production from the 9,000 units it makes annually to north of 14,000 a year, Albertine said. The company is planning to boost car production by as much as 55 percent over the next seven years, he added.

“From a brand perspective, [Ferrari has] one of the most protected customer-loyal brands in the history of luxury, broadly,” he said.

“So, again, focus on quality there, but also some key EBIT margin expansion [and] production expansion, over the … near to medium term,” he said, referring to earnings before interest and taxes, a corporate profitability measure.

Ferrari bounced from a 52-week low Wednesday morning and gained more than 2 percent intraday. The stock is down more than 6 percent from the start of 2018.

Albertine also mentioned General Motors as a stock to watch as the company makes progress in the autonomous vehicle sector with Cruise Automation. Shares of the embattled automaker rose 3.55 percent Wednesday, but have lost over 18 percent for 2018.

Tesla Model 3 price, Hyundai Nexo, used electrics, poll: Today’s Car News

2019 Hyundai Nexo, Topanga Canyon, CA, Oct 2018
For the first time, values on used electric cars have begun to recover. Hyundai delivered its first hydrogen fuel-cell Nexo to a customer in Southern California. And our readers tell us what their electric priorities are for 2019. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

Tesla Model 3 buyers look to be more price sensitive than those who have bought Teslas before. Even after a $2,000 price cut designed to offset the loss of half of the tax credit to the company's buyers this year, the base price on the Model 3 is still $9,000 more than the $35,000 car that many buyers have put down deposits for.

Hyundai delivered its first Nexo hydrogen fuel cell SUV to a buyer in Ventura, California—complete with three years worth of hydrogen fuel baked into the price.

A parachute may have deployed on free-falling values of used electric cars for the first time, giving hope that depreciation may soon not be one of the major concerns for electric-car buyers.

Results are in from our Twitter poll last week, which asked readers what they most hoped for in electric cars for 2019, new models from Tesla and Chevrolet, better access to charging, or lower costs.

Finally, Audi released a video taking viewers behind the scenes in the development of its new e-tron quattro electric SUV.

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Why you should buy a Volvo or an Audi instead of the 2019 Infiniti QX60

Mack Hogan | CNBC

Mack Hogan | @macklinhogan

8:48 AM ET Wed, 2 Jan 2019

Infiniti is often forgotten in the luxury market. Created by Nissan as the Japanese company's premium brand, it plays in the near-luxury space alongside Acura and Buick. One of its most important products is the QX60.
For the many who aren't familiar with Infiniti parlance, the QX60 is the company's three-row crossover that slots between the gargantuan QX80 and the all-new QX50. It's a family crossover aimed squarely at segment stalwarts like the Acura MDX.
There's one problem, though: It doesn't feel like a proper luxury product.

The Good

As first impressions go, the QX60 isn't bad. Despite being the sort of massive crossover that American families crave, it still manages to look svelte. Some credit must go to the combination of gun-metal gray accents and lovely deep Bordeaux paint fitted to $65,930 Luxe model I tried.
I was impressed by creamy leather that's quilted to look more upscale. The breeziness of the cabin is magnified by a light wood trim and moon roofs stretching to the third row, helping the QX60 to feel bigger than it actually is. An accomplishment for sure, as the QX60 is no small beast.

Mack Hogan | CNBC

The third row is suitable for seating adults, while still offering a reasonable 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back row. It's also easy to move about the cabin, with seats that fold without any hassle and create large passageways for the kids to pile through.

Mack Hogan | CNBC

Finally, it's hard to complain about the on-board equipment. My tester had rear-seat entertainment, a Bose stereo, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, a surround-view camera and the aforementioned surplus of moon roofs. In a three-row luxury crossover, that's not a negligible list of kit for $65,930.

Mack Hogan | CNBC

The Bad

But you can put all the kit you like on a luxury crossover and still get nowhere; it has to feel like a premium product. And the QX60 simply doesn't.
Part of the blame has to be assigned to the working-class roots of the QX60. Underneath, it shares most of its architecture with the Nissan Pathfinder. Plus, we haven't seen an all-new model in over five years.
Neither of those factors is disqualifying in and of themselves. Lexus cars often share bits with Toyota but still manage to feel luxurious, for instance. But the QX60 certainly doesn't. See, offerings from the newest generation of three-row family haulers manage to shrink around you. Buyers don't want to feel like they're commanding a battleship when they're parking outside of Target.

Mack Hogan | CNBC

Yet the QX60 hearkens back to that era. Pulling it into my garage felt like steering a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier through the Panama Canal. On the freeway, it's ponderous and floaty with no discernible connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels of the vehicle. Yes, it's quiet and comfortable, but so are the three-row haulers from Toyota, Mazda, Chevy and even Nissan.
If you're thinking that the tech justifies the price, I'm afraid that isn't the case. While active safety features are on board, they aren't as advanced as the ones on Nissan's Rogue, an SUV that is a full class below the QX60 and doesn't even make an attempt at being a luxury SUV.

Mack Hogan | CNBC

You're also getting a navigation system that was designed during the Bronze Age and that's flanked with acres of gray plastic that has no place in a $65,000 SUV.
As for the powertrain, it's an utterly forgettable combination of Nissan's 3.5-liter V-6 with the company's standard Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). If there's any life in this engine, the CVT sucks it out.

Mack Hogan | CNBC

Final Thoughts

If you've never driven an honest-to-goodness luxury car, the QX60 probably feels nice. You could probably buy one and be entirely satisfied. But some day, your friend is going to offer you a ride in their new Volvo XC90 or Audi Q7. And when you find out that you could have had one for the same price as your Infiniti, you'll never enjoy it again.
In sum, the QX60 doesn't feel any more special than your run-of-the-mill Highlander, CX-9, Pilot or Durango. In some ways — like in the infotainment department — it's far behind even those choices.
Infiniti, though, charges a luxury price for a definitively mainstream crossover. I suggest you look elsewhere.
Rating:
Exterior: 4
Interior: 2
Driving Experience: 1
Value: 1
Overall: 2
Price as tested: $65,930

Mack Hogan | CNBC

General Motors’ US sales slip as it places big bet on pickup trucks

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Attendees stand under a General Motors Co. 2017 Sierra 2500 Denali HD pickup truck during the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.

General Motors' sales slipped in the U.S. during the fourth quarter, but the automaker said Thursday there's still strong demand for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers.

The largest U.S. automaker said its Chevrolet and GMC brands led the industry in pickup sales for the fifth-consecutive year.

Overall, U.S. sales fell 2.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2018 from a year earlier, the Detroit automaker said.

“We feel confident heading into 2019 because we have more major truck and crossover launches coming during the year and the U.S. economy is strong,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations at GM.

The sales figures are the automaker's first such report since GM announced plans to cut 14,000 jobs amid waning consumer demand for passenger cars. GM plans to shift more of its production toward trucks, SUVs and crossovers, which are currently more popular than ever among buyers. These vehicles tend to fetch higher prices (and bigger profits) for automakers, which GM desperately needs as it sinks money into new businesses such as ride sharing, and new technologies such as self-driving cars.

Uber’s IPO may not be as eye-popping as we expected

Uber is expected to raise $10 billion later this year in one of the largest U.S. initial public offerings in history. The float will value the ride-hailing giant somewhere between $76 billion — the valuation it garnered with its last private financing — and $120 billion — a sky-high figure assigned by Wall Street bankers… Continue reading Uber’s IPO may not be as eye-popping as we expected