Opel’s chief executive demands concessions from labor unions
Opel’s new CEO, Michael Lohscheller, has demanded concessions from labor unions to make the loss-making automaker more competitive, before what he said would be a decisive round of pay talks with labor leaders. “After making losses for almost 20 years in a row, the status quo is clearly no longer an option,” CEO Michael Lohscheller
- Published in European
Volkswagen’s Herbert Diess to head volume brand division
Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess is going to head up a volume brands division which consists of responsibility for Skoda and Seat, two sources knowledgeable about the matter stated on Thursday. The recently created volume brand group will also consist VW’s commercial-vehicle division, one of the sources informed. “Diess will get immense power,” he stated.
- Published in Volkswagen
Ford to boost Lincoln rollout in China to compete rivals
According to two U.S. sources, Ford Motor premium Lincoln brand prepares to construct as many as five new vehicles in China by 2022 in a move to increase sales in the world’s largest vehicle market that would also blunt the effect of trade U.S-China trade feuds. Ford has stated it plans to build an all-new
- Published in Ford
Toyota’s Hino, Volkswagen’s truck form alliance to cut R&D costs
The truck units of Toyota and Volkswagen are forming an alliance to boost their market positions as commercial automakers face increasing costs to develop lower-emission automobiles and automated driving capabilities. The strategic tie-up of Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors and Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH is the recent in the international vehicle industry, where automakers look
- Published in Toyota, Volkswagen
Key Safety Systems finishes deal to acquire air-bag maker Takata
Auto components maker Key Safety Systems finished on Wednesday a $1.6 billion deal to acquire air-bag maker Takata Corp, whose faulty inflators caused the auto industry’s biggest recall and have been connected to at least 22 deaths across the world. After over than a decade of recalls, lawsuits and a criminal investigation which resulted Takata
- Published in Cars
Volkswagen supervisory board will elect new CEO soon
Volkswagen is going to hold a meeting of its supervisory board on Thursday to make decision on a new chief executive, bringing forward the meeting that was earlier planned for Friday, a source with information of the matter said. The board is set to elect the head of the company’s core VW brand, Herbert Diess,
- Published in Volkswagen
Tesla crash driver’s family hires law firm, doubts over autopilot
The family of a driver who was killed in a Tesla car crash has hired law firm Minami Tamaki LLP to look for legal options, the law firm stated on Wednesday, adding that the Autopilot feature in the electric automaker’s vehicle probably contributed to his death. Walter Huang died in a crash and vehicle fire
- Published in Tesla
Volkswagen CEO’s replacement has been planned for months: report
The replacement of Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller has been planned for months and board members Francisco Garcia Sanz and Karlheinz Blessing are also going to be ousted, Germany’s Bild newspaper reported. The small circle of executives preparing Mueller’s ouster included Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch, labor chief Bernd Osterloh, and two member’s of Volkswagen’s controlling family:
- Published in Volkswagen
Volkswagen thinks of replacing CEO Mueller with Diess
Admired by investors and ready to take on trade unions, Volkswagen brand boss Herbert Diess is probably going to get his chance to lead Germany’s biggest automaker which is expected to transform faster under his cost-cutting style. Diess is noted for squeezing more savings out of suppliers compared to fellow managers and does not shy
- Published in Volkswagen
BMW manager Klaus Froehlich set to join E.ON supervisory board
Klaus Froehlich, the BMW board member in charge of development, is scheduled to join energy group E.ON’s supervisory board, the recent sign of convergence between both sectors in the area of electric mobility. E.ON will propose Froehlich as a candidate at its yearly general meeting set for May 9, as per the event’s official invitation
- Published in BMW
Ford to introduce five new, redesigned car models in China this year
Ford Motor, having a hard time to revive sales in China, on Tuesday revealed five new models for the world’s biggest auto market, part of a business revitalization effort concerning a plan to introduce more than 50 new or redesigned vehicles by 2025. All five models are expected to enter showrooms in China in this
- Published in Ford
Union at Skoda Auto agrees with 12 percent wage increase offer
Union representatives at Volkswagen-owned Skoda Auto stated on Friday they had accepted management’s offer to increase wages by 12 percent, averting a strike at one of the largest manufacturing plants situated in the Czech Republic. The leadership of the Kovo union, which represent industrial employees, prepares to vote on the proposal next Wednesday, which would
- Published in Skoda
South Korea prompts General Motors union to reach wage deal
South Korea on Friday prompted General Motors’s local subsidiary and labor union to gain a wage deal swiftly, adding the government will be able to talk about support for the money-losing unit on condition of an agreement. General Motors, which in February declared it would shut one of its South Korean factories, stated it will
- Published in General Motors
Fiat Chrysler plans to proceed with Magneti Marelli
Fiat Chrysler stated on Thursday its board had tasked management to proceed with spinning off Magneti Marelli and issuing shares in a new holding for 99-year old parts business to FCA investors. The spin-off is part of a strategy by FCA Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne to “purify” the Italian-American automaker’s portfolio and to unlock value
Emissions fines will create Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’, says Peugeot boss
A major European automaker could be brought “to its knees” by carbon dioxide emissions fines, permitting a Chinese purchaser to intervene with its own electric vehicle technology, Peugeot maker PSA Group’s chief executive said. Carlos Tavares, who chairs European auto industry lobby group ACEA, stated that policymakers had failed to expect this outcome of the
- Published in Peugeot