Chinese-Built Volvo S60L Bound For US Market In 2015
CEOs and senior execs going on shopping runs to Staples may soon be able to leave their MKTs at the parking garage when the Chinese-made Volvo S60L arrives next year.
Buick Envision Bound For US Market By Q3 2015
While the Chinese have Buick’s latest crossover, the Envision, to themselves for now, a plan is in the works to bring it over to the United States by Q3 2015 at the earliest.
BMW, Baidu Team Up For Automated Driving Trials In China
BMW has teamed up with the Google of China, Baidu, to begin work on automated driving trials in Beijing and Shanghai.
The Definition Of Insanity: Selling A Premium Volkswagen And Expecting Different Results
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results, then Volkswagen has gone certifiably bonkers.
Geely FIA-Certified To Supply Engines For Global Formula 4 Series
While Formula 1 fans contend with the new, quieter turbo era — a result of rule changes regarding power for the 2014 season — Chinese Formula 4 fans may be celebrating in the stands next year when Geely-powered competitors roar off the starting line.
Dongfeng Nissan Launches Leaf-Based Venucia E30
After 3.1 million miles of pilot testing, Dongfeng Nissan last week launched its version of the Leaf for the Chinese EV market, the Venucia e30.
NEVS Gains Creditor Protection, Loses Saab Name
First, National Electric Vehicle Sweden was going to be taken to district court and forced to file bankruptcy. Then, it was spared. Then, it saw its application for creditor protection denied due to being “vague.”
Now? The application has moved forward, but at the price of the Saab name.
Volkswagen Shows Off CLA Competitor In Chengdu
Volkswagen’s latest MQB-based vehicle is another challenge to Mercedes-Benz – the last time they threw down the gauntlet against Daimler, we ended up with the Phaeton. This should fare a bit better.
Volvo Restructuring To Three Families, Configurations By 2019
By 2019, the face of Volvo will change as the Sino-Swedish automaker begins restructuring its offerings, with the new XC90 leading the way.
Buick Envision Spied On The Eve Of Its Debut
Right before its debut at the Chengdu Auto Show, the Buick Envision was spied outside an exhibit hall as it prepares to make its debut in China, a crucial market that is hungry for both crossovers and Buick brand vehicles.
Current Volvo XC90 Will Keep Trucking Along
If you like your Volvo XC90, you can keep it – as long as you live in China.
2015 Infiniti ESQ Official Photos Unveiled Ahead Of Global Debut
Official photos of the Infiniti ESQ, the crossover formerly known as the Nissan Juke Nismo, have been unveiled ahead of its global debut at this weekend’s 2014 Chengdu Auto Show.
Chinese-Market Chevrolet Cruze Makes Showroom Debut
As of Monday, the Chinese-market 2015 Chevrolet Cruze has gone on sale.
Infiniti Q50L Is Also "Coming With Length"
Just weeks after Cadillac launched the ATS-L with their unfortunately composed tagline “ Coming With Length“, Infiniti has launched their own rival, the Q50L.
In China, ESQ Stands For "Rebadged Nissans With Mega Margins"
Infiniti is said to be expanding their model lineup in coming years, with a range of new passenger cars and CUVs. But the company is so hungry for a compact crossover, right now, that they aren’t even waiting for the upcoming QX30.
Chinese Government Investigating Quality Issues Among Volkswagen Sagitars
Amid complaints of broken rear shafts from Sagitar owners, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has contacted Volkswagen to fix the problem.
This Is Not The Hyundai Crossover You Are Looking For
Here’s an interesting study in how two markets, with a similar affinity for small crossovers, will get wildly different products.
Application Of Anti-Monopoly Law On Transplants Raise Chinese Protectionism Concerns
A number of antitrust probes into companies such as Microsoft, Audi and Chrysler may be hinting at China’s preference for domestic firms over the transplants.
GM China Drops More 2016 Buick Envision Photos
You saw it before; now see it with more clarity: GM China dropped a few more photos of its upcoming 2016 Buick Envision.
2015 Cadillac ATS-L Is "Coming With Length"
Our most recent review of the Cadillac ATS determined that Cadillac had finally made a sports sedan worthy of besting the F30 BMW 3-Series. But the ATS was also docked points for providing E36 3-Series-esque rear passenger space. Cadillac’s Chinese division appears to have remedied the problem, with a rather unfortunate English marketing slogan.
Buick Envision Photos Leaked
The first photos of the Buick Envision have leaked, with prices said to be ranging from $26,000-$32,000 USD.
Galhotra Takes The Reins As Lincoln's New President
As one of his first major moves since becoming CEO, Ford’s Mark Fields named vice president of engineering Kumar Galhotra as president of Lincoln, effective September 1.
Last First-Gen Volvo XC90 Rolls Out Of Torslanda
Monday, the last first-gen Volvo XC90 rolled off the assembly line in Gothenburg, Sweden, where it was then driven to its final resting place as an exhibit in the Volvo Museum next door.
2016 Cadillac SRX May See Local Production In China
On the strength of rising SUV sales in China, General Motors will likely add production of its next-generation Cadillac SRX in the emerging market in order to better capitalize on said sales.
2015 Ford Escort Goes Sunbathing Months Before Showroom Debut
The last time the Chinese-market Ford Escort was seen, it had made its world debut during the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. Over the weekend, however, new official photos had surfaced.
Buick Gets Another Crossover – What Took So Long?
Buick will launch a new mid-size crossover, dubbed “Envision” in China first, then presumably in other markets. All we can say is “hurry up”.
General Motors Digest: June 30, 2014
In today’s General Motors digest: GM recalls over 700,000 units globally; Siemens VDO Automotive urged the automaker to look into airbag data in 2004; product chief Doug Parks was aware of the ignition problems in 2005; Feinberg compensation plan will have no payment cap; and Delphi is under the gun from both Congress and the IRS.
GAC Hopes Transformers Appearance Means US Sales Next Year
Aside from seeing another Hasbro IP cameo transform into a weapon of mass destruction, viewers at the weekend opening of “Transformers: Age of Extinction” may have also glimpsed the first Chinese vehicle to arrive in the United States in the near future.
GM Ignition Issues Pile Up From Within, Abroad
In today’s General Motors digest: An ignition-related issue is quietly fixed years before the February 2014 recall; a Chinese supplier is blamed for defective switches recalled in June; Ally prepares to take flight from the Beltway; and Mark Reuss helps bring back a Corvette stolen 33 years ago.
Maserati Sells As Many Units Through June 2014 As It Had For All Of 2013
Maserati may have had a slow 2013 as far as sales go, but the Italian brand is on pace to sell within the first half of 2014 as many cars as it had in the last year.
Lincoln Launches In China, China-Focused MKS Replacement To Follow
Lincoln is gearing up to launch in China, with a lineup full of CUVs and SUVs – and their only sedan offering won’t even be retrofitted to Chinese tastes.
GM China Introduces Plate-Scanning App For Driver-To-Driver Texting
Ever been cut-off by a driver and wanted to let them know exactly how you feel without the need for a PIT bumper? Did you happen to see someone attractive pass you by, but didn’t want to be as obvious as Clark Griswold about it? If you’re in China, General Motors is about to make that dream come true in the creepiest way possible.
Volvo Will Export Chinese-Made Cars To America
Honda may have been the first OEM to bring Chinese-made cars to North America, but their Made-In-China Fit never arrived in the United States. Now, it looks like Volvo will be the first brand to import Chinese-made cars to America.
2015 Infiniti ESQ Caught In The Wet In Spy Photos
Yesterday, we received word of the China-only Infiniti ESQ crossover, which is really the Nissan Juke minus the Nissan. Today, we have some spy shots and some information on the ESQ.
Infiniti ESQ: Infiniti Gets A Small Crossover, But Only For China
That Infiniti-badged Nissan Juke that seemed so outlandish? It’s coming – but only for China.
Kia Building First Mexican Plant To Alleviate Strained U.S. Production
In light of high demand in the United States for its offerings, Kia will build its first Mexican plant in Monterrey to help bring additional capacity to North America.
Musk: Location Of First Tesla Gigafactory To Be Announced By Year-End
For those awaiting when and where Tesla will build its first Gigafactory, the automaker announced the decision should come near the end of the year, and that said Gigafactory will have siblings.
Akerson: Barra Did Not Know About Ignition Defect Before Becoming CEO
Automotive News reports former General Motors CEO Dan Akerson proclaimed in an interview with Forbes magazine that current CEO Mary Barra had no knowledge of the out-of-spec ignition switch that led to the February 2014 recall of 2.6 million vehicles, going as far as to bet his own life on the statement. Barra added the fallout from the recall is a chance for GM to not only “do the right thing and serve the customer well through” the crisis, but “to accelerate cultural change” within the company. Akerson passed the torch to Barra in December 2013 to take time to care for his ailing wife, and has since rejoined Carlyle Group as vice chairman on its board of directors.
BMW: China To Be Largest EV Global Market By 2019
Though Chinese consumers have been slow to adopt electric vehicles thus far, BMW believes China will become the largest global market for EVs by 2019 at the earliest.
China To Scrap 5.33M Non-Compliant Vehicles In 2014 To Improve Air Quality
In its ongoing effort to clear the air in its major cities, the Chinese government has plans to throw 5.33 million non-compliant vehicles into the crusher by the end of 2014.
MG Motor Considering Roadster, US Market In Long-Term Plans
The last time MG sold roadsters in the United States, Jimmy Carter was President, ABSCAM (minus the efforts of Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper) entered its final phase, and CNN had newsreaders instead of “ news VJs.” Should the Sino-British brand be able to assemble a roadster worthy of those 1960s and 1970s classics, however, a new MGB might board a container ship bound for the U.S. in the future.
Study: 51 Percent Of Chinese Consumers Snub Japanese Vehicles
Though Japanese automakers are doing all they can to win over Chinese consumers, a study led by Bernstein Research found anti-Japanese sentiments among 51 percent of 40,000 surveyed may be a barrier to further success in the growing market.
Volkswagen's Cervone Returns To GM As Global Communications VP
Autoblog reports Volkswagen Group of America executive vice president of group communications Tony Cervone is returning to the GM fold as the automaker’s senior vice president of global communications. According to CEO Mary Barra, Cervone “brings an ideal mix of outside perspective and experience that compliments a deep background in GM and today’s global auto industry.” Prior to his return, he also served as the vice president of communications for United Airlines and Chrysler Group, where he spent 14 years before his decade-long previous service to GM. Cervone succeeds Selim Bingol — who resigned from the company in April “to pursue other interests,” and will report directly to Barra.
Volkswagen Dials Back On 2018 Milestone
Though Volkswagen had plans to move 800,000 units annually out of U.S. showrooms by 2018, the automaker may now opt to dial back its ambitious plan in light of slow growth and falling sales.
Great Wall's Descent A Sign Local Industry Not Ready For Primetime
Once the darling of investors amid ambitions of taking on foreign automakers such as Jeep with its line of SUVs, Great Wall Motors’ recent fall from grace on the back of the upscale Haval H8 may be a sign Chinese automakers are not yet ready to move from production of cheap transportation.
QOTD: Why There Will Be No "Made In China" Lexus Products
Currently, there is only one Lexus plant outside of Japan. A Toyota factory in Cambridge, Ontario makes the Lexus RX crossover, while Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant will come online in 2015. Like other Japanese auto makers, Toyota is moving towards a localization of its production facilities, but one thing they won’t be doing is producing Lexus vehicles in China.
China Auto Market Pulled By Weakening Economy, Purchasing Restrictions
A weakening local economy and increasing purchasing restrictions could put a hamper on automotive sales in China according to the analysts at LMC Automotive.
Chinese Market 2015 VW Passat B8 Caught Unclothed
For European and Chinese customers awaiting the 2015 Volkswagen Passat B8, the following spy photos should hold them until the sedan’s debut at the 2014 Paris Auto Show in October.
Landwind E32 Bites (And Patents) Evoque's Style For Local Market
It seems Mrs. Beckham (and Range Rover) may have to deal with another brand knocking-off her style, thanks to Landwind’s introduction of the E32 soft-roader SUV.
Detroit Three Lead The Charge In Chinese SUV Boom
Long after the first SUV gold rush in the United States, the Detroit Three are gearing up for a second gold rush, this time in China.
BAIC, Siemens Team Up For Green Joint Venture In Beijing
Though Siemens won’t be putting their name upon the body of BAIC C70G for a DTM entry anytime soon, the Chinese automaker and German industrial giant will come together for an green vehicle-related joint venture in Beijing.
Musk: Tesla Will Build Cars In China Within Next Few Years
Though Tesla is now just delivering new vehicles to China, CEO Elon Musk predicts his company will build luxury electric vehicles in the burgeoning market within the next three to four years.
Mulally: New Chinese Escort Could Come to America
While Ford’s new compact Escort sedan was developed by Ford’s Aisa-Pacific R&D team specifically for China, Ford CEO Alan Mulally indicates that the company has more global plans for the car, including the possibility of selling it in the United States. Mulally told Automotive News that the Escort will likely go on sale in other markets besides China. He said that while the company already has the Focus in the stateside C segment, the Escort could allow the company to attract consumers at a new price point in that segment.
2104 Beijing Auto Show: Ford Introduces Everest SUV to Chinese Market
While two days after an avalanche killed 13 Nepalese Sherpas on Mount Everest may not be the best time to highlight a vehicle named for the peak, Ford is going ahead with introducing the Everest Concept to the Chinese market at the Beijing auto show. The seven passenger SUV, larger and more expensive than the Kuga and EcoSport crossovers already on sale there, will take the slot at the top of Ford’s utility vehicle offerings in China. The Everest was developed by Ford’s Asia-Pacific design team in Australia and it will be built in China by Jiangling Motors, one of Ford’s joint venture partners there. The Everest Concept was previously shown at last month’s Bangkok Motor Show.
2014 Beijing Auto Show: Chevy Trax, New Cruze
General Motors used the 2014 Beijing auto show for the world premiere of the next generation Chevrolet Cruze while Shanghai GM launched the Chevrolet Trax, what the brand calls its “new urban SUV”, for the Chinese market. The Trax is Chevy’s version of the Opel Mokka, which is also sold in Buick livery as the Encore. The Encore has done so well in the U.S. market that GM has had to juggle production at its Korean and Spanish plants to keep up with demand. The Trax will eventually come to America, where GM hopes it will repeat the Encore’s success. If it does, some of that success may come at the cost of cannibalizing some Encore sales.
2014 Beijing Auto Show: Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept
To show the potential of the new Golf, VW has taken the 290 horsepower, all wheel drive Golf R and turned up the heat on the hot hatch with the Golf R 400 Concept, introduced at the Beijing auto show.
GM Sales Unaffected By Recall, Reveals China Expansion Plans
Reuters reports a lawsuit related to the 2014 General Motors recall crisis filed in federal court in California has placed airbag supplier Continental Automotive Systems U.S. at-fault for its role in the recall. Attorney Adam Levitt of Grant & Eisenhoffer proclaimed the supplier knew about the out-of-spec ignition switch at the heart of the recall as early as 2005, yet “did nothing to redesign its airbags” to deploy even when electrical power was cut, “nor did it warn NHTSA or the public.” Continental joins Delphi Automotive as the second supplier to face a lawsuit linked to the ongoing recall crisis.
Beijing 2014: Production-Ready Ford Escort To Debut
After several years of dormancy, Ford revived the Escort name for a concept sedan at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show. That concept is now production-ready, and will make its debut this weekend at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show.
BAIC Seeks To Acquire US, European Brand
Looking to expand its global presence beyond its native China, Beijing Automotive Group announced they would like to acquire a “mid to high-level brand” in either Europe or the United States, and already has a list of potential brands in mind.
Tesla Stays In NY, Loses Key China Exec
Automotive News reports Tesla and Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association reached a compromise agreement over the weekend that would allow the EV automaker to keep their five stores while prevent Tesla or any other auto manufacturer from establishing more direct-sale stores in the state. In the words of Governor Andrew Cuomo:
Today’s agreement reaffirms New York’s long-standing commitment to the dealer franchise system, while making sure New York remains a leader in spurring innovative businesses and encouraging zero emissions vehicle sales.
Recent Comments