WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued Asbury Automotive Group on Friday, alleging that three of its dealerships in Texas charged Black and Latino customers higher prices than others and routinely added services to customers’ contracts without their consent.

Up to 75% of customers of Asbury’s David McDavid Ford dealership in Fort Worth, and Honda dealerships in Irving and Frisco, Texas, reported being charged without their permission for services such as protective coatings, service contracts and insurance, according to the FTC. Continue reading “FTC sues Asbury Automotive, says it charged Black, Latino customers more”

ARENDAL, Norway, (Reuters) – Battery start-up Morrow on Friday opened Norway’s first battery cell production site on the country’s south coast, with plans to deliver the first units by the end of the year and adding more production step by step.

Battery cell production is one new industry Norway is keen to enter, hoping to benefit from access to green power and proximity to European customers keen to source batteries away from China. Continue reading “Norway’s Morrow Batteries opens factory, plans first deliveries by year-end”

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – German automaker BMW and its joint venture will recall a combined 1.36 million locally produced and imported cars in China due to potential risks with the Takata airbag, China’s market regulator said on Friday.

The recalls, effective immediately, are for models produced from 2003-2017, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement. Continue reading “BMW, venture to recall 1.36 mln cars in China due to airbag risks, regulator says”

(Reuters) – Ford Motor is recalling about 85,000 Explorer SUVs equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility package over concerns of an engine fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday.

In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire, the regulator said. Continue reading “Ford to recall about 85,000 vehicles due to risk of engine fire”

(Reuters) – Rivian has temporarily suspended production of its commercial delivery vans used by retail giant Amazon.com due to a shortage of parts, a spokesperson for the electric vehicle manufacturer said on Friday.

Shares of the Irvine, California-based company were down marginally in early trading. Continue reading “EV maker Rivian halts production of Amazon delivery vans amid parts shortage”

DETROIT, (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers is launching a U.S-wide effort to mobilize its one million active and retired workers to vote for Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election, it said on Wednesday, offering the Democrat a potential boost in critical battleground states.

UAW President Shawn Fain and his executive board endorsed Harris at the end of July, and Fain has been vocal about his opposition to Harris’ Republican rival, former president Donald Trump. Continue reading “UAW union launches pro-Harris campaign to mobilize workers across US”

(Reuters) – Natron Energy said on Thursday it planned to invest $1.4 billion in a sodium-ion battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina, potentially raising the company’s production capacity by 40 times.

The facility, located in Edgecombe County of the state, will produce 24 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage at full capacity on an annual basis. Continue reading “Natron plans $1.4 bln sodium-ion battery plant in North Carolina”

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Stellantis has been sued by shareholders in the United States who said the European-American automaker defrauded them by concealing rising inventories and other weakness, before posting disappointing earnings that caused its stock price to fall.

The complaint filed on Thursday in Manhattan federal court said Stellantis artificially inflated its stock price for much of 2024 by making “overwhelmingly positive” assessments about inventories, pricing power, new products and operating margin. Continue reading “Stellantis shareholders sue automaker in US after disappointing earnings”

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Sankalp 2024: Ola Electric introduces record-breaking Roadster motorcycles, Gen-3 platform, and new battery tech CNBC

Automobile Industry Performance – July 2024 WAF

Maruti Suzuki exports 1,600 ‘Made in India’ Fronx SUVs to Japan — A historic first CNBC

Bengal govt revises fine structure for vehicle pollution WAF

SIAM Hosts 3rd International Conference on World Biofuel Day 2024: “The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow” WAF

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Hero MotoCorp Q1 profit jumps 47% to ₹1,032 cr; revenue crosses 10k cr-mark HTAuto

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Indian state backs hybrid tax waiver in win for Toyota, blow for Tata, sources say WAF

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Musk embraces Trump and scorns subsidies. But Tesla still lobbies for US benefits WAF

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SEOUL, (Reuters) – South Korea is urging automakers operating in the country to disclose the manufacturer of batteries used in electric vehicles (EV) as authorities try to calm fears over fires involving EVs, after a recent blaze in an underground parking lot that took eight hours to put out.

Experts say more can be done, however, noting that while identifying the specific maker of batteries used in EVs would give consumers more choice, there is a lack of definitive data on which brands are most prone to fires. Continue reading “South Korean alarm over EV fires puts spotlight on safety concerns”

AUSTIN, Texas, (Reuters) – Toyota may be one of the slowest legacy automakers to develop electric vehicles but it could be the first to jettison cars powered only by gasoline.

Almost three decades after launching the Prius, its pioneering gasoline-electric hybrid, Toyota is moving to convert most, and eventually maybe all, of its Toyota and Lexus line-up to hybrid-only models, two Toyota executives told Reuters. Continue reading “Toyota bets big on hybrid-only models as EV demand slows”

Source : PTI | In a major relief to vehicle owners, the West Bengal transport department has revised its order that imposed a INR 10,000 fine for pollution test failure for the first time. The department replaced the order with a tiered fine structure of INR 2,000 for the first offence, INR 5,000 for the second and INR 10,000 for the third consecutive violation, according to a notification.

A vehicle failing the pollution test for the first time will incur a INR 2,000 fine, and the driver’s licence will be suspended for three months, the notification said. Continue reading “Bengal govt revises fine structure for vehicle pollution”

(Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday it has closed a preliminary evaluation into 74,918 Tesla vehicles over front suspension failures.

The auto safety agency’s Office of Defects Investigation had opened a probe into the issue in 2020, based on complaints alleging failure of front suspension fore links in 2015-2017 Tesla Model S and 2016-2017 Model X vehicles. Continue reading “NHTSA closes preliminary evaluation of front suspension failure in Tesla vehicles”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – The head of Mercedes-Benz in South Korea will meet on Wednesday residents of an apartment complex damaged by a fire that started in one of its electric vehicles (EVs) and burned for more than eight hours, stoking public safety fears.

Mathias Vaitl, the chief executive of Mercedes-Benz Korea, will hold a closed-door meeting with residents of the apartment in the city of Incheon to the west of Seoul, the company said, without providing more details. Continue reading “Mercedes-Benz chief in South Korea to meet residents after EV fire damaged property”

(Reuters) – Swedish electric-vehicle (EV) maker Polestar moved one step further in avoiding major tariffs imposed on Chinese-made cars on Wednesday when the automaker said it began production of its Polestar 3 SUV in the United States.

Steep tariffs recently imposed by U.S. and Europe on cars made in China have prompted many automakers to speed up plans to move parts of their production to other countries. Continue reading “Swedish EV maker Polestar starts U.S. production, avoiding heavy tariffs”

(Reuters) – General Motors has been sued by the state of Texas, which accused the automaker of installing technology on more than 14 million vehicles to collect data about drivers, which it then sold to insurers and other companies without drivers’ consent.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday’s lawsuit arose from a probe announced in June into whether several automakers collected and sold mass amounts of data without drivers’ knowledge. Continue reading “Texas sues GM for allegedly violating drivers’ privacy”

Summary

• Recent EV fires in South Korea stir public safety concerns
• More car companies start identifying batteries used
• EV phobia will last for a while, says expert
• Some question safety improvements without more measures

SEOUL, (Reuters) – South Korea will urge automakers operating in the country to identify batteries used in their electric vehicles, the government said on Tuesday, as authorities seek to calm public safety concerns after a series of fires involving EVs. Continue reading “South Korea urges automakers to disclose EV battery brands after fires”

(Reuters) – Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose by a yearly 21% in July, thanks to China’s strongest growth this year and despite dropping demand in Europe, market research firm Rho Motion said Monday.

In the European Union MG Motor, owned by China’s SAIC Motor Corp, expects to be hit hardest by provisional tariffs imposed on EVs imported from China, Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester told Reuters. Continue reading “Global EV sales up 21% in July as China records biggest jump of 2024, Rho Motion says”

LONDON, (Reuters) – Low resale values for electric cars have pushed the leasing firms that drive Europe’s auto market to double prices over the last three years and some are threatening to quit the business altogether if regulators force them to go electric too fast, industry executives say.

The jump in prices for electric car leases comes as cuts in subsidies for new EVs in key markets such as Germany are hitting sales and risks stalling Europe’s electric transition, just when Brussels wants to step on the accelerator, the executives say. Continue reading “Leasing model behind Europe’s EV drive at risk of breakdown”

(Reuters) – Ford Motor and Mazda issued advisories to drivers of certain vehicles still affected by faulty Takata airbags and inflators that can cause potentially severe or fatal injuries.

The National Highway Safety Administration has previously warned that air bag inflators could explode in impacted vehicles, sending potentially deadly sharp metal fragments flying and striking the driver or passengers. Continue reading “Ford, Mazda advise against driving certain models over Takata airbag concerns”

(Reuters) – General Motors is recalling 21,469 electric SUVs in the U.S. over concerns of an unexpected activation of the anti-lock brake system, and will remedy the issue through an over-the-air update, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday.

The recall would affect GM’s 2023-2024 Cadillac Lyriq all-wheel drive models, the auto safety regulator added. Continue reading “GM to recall over 21,000 US electric SUVs over braking concerns”

Summary

• UAW President Shawn Fain condemns Trump and Musk’s actions as illegal and predictable
• NLRB can order employers to cease illegal conduct and inform workers of their rights
• Musk’s companies face multiple NLRB complaints, including illegal threats and discouraging unionizing
• Trump and Fain have exchanged barbs in the past

DETROIT, (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers Union said on Tuesday it has filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board against Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk over attempts to threaten and intimidate workers. Continue reading “UAW accuses Trump, Musk of trying to intimidate workers in labor complaints”

Monthly Performance: July 2024

Production: The total production of Passenger Vehicles1 , Three Wheelers, Two Wheelers, and Quadricycle in July 2024 was 24,37,138 units

Domestic Sales:

• Passenger Vehicles2 sales were 3,41,510 units in July 2024.
• Three-wheeler sales were 59,073 units in July 2024
• Two-wheeler sales were 14,41,694 units in July 2024 Continue reading “Automobile Industry Performance – July 2024”

(Reuters) – Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose by a yearly 21% in July, thanks to China’s strongest growth this year and despite dropping demand in Europe, market research firm Rho Motion said Monday.

In the European Union MG Motor, owned by China’s SAIC Motor Corp, expects to be hit hardest by provisional tariffs imposed on EVs imported from China, Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester told Reuters. Continue reading “Global EV sales up 21% in July as China records biggest jump of 2024, Rho Motion says”

Source : PTI | Italian super luxury automaker Automobili Lamborghini expects exponential growth in India with the potential to become a top market in the Asia Pacific region in the long-term, driven by customers who are the youngest globally, according to a senior company official. With the company selling a record 103 units in India in 2023, Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific Region Director, Francesco Scardaoni said his wish is to cross the annual sales mark of 150 units in the country in 2026.

“In terms of volume, India is number 14th in the world and number sixth in Asia Pacific. In terms of percentage it is the fastest growing market,” Scardaoni told PTI.

Continue reading “Lamborghini bets big on India’s long-term potential”

Source : PTI | Tata Motors expects demand to remain sluggish in overseas markets this fiscal while pinning hopes on a gradual bounce back in the domestic market on the back of new launches and the upcoming festive season. Earlier this month, the Mumbai-based automaker reported a consolidated net profit of INR 5,566 crore and total income of INR 1,09,623 crore for June quarter.

“Overall, from a demand perspective, we do anticipate that as far as the global demand is concerned, it is likely to remain muted. It has been that way. It’s likely to remain muted. No immediate changes there,” Tata Motors Global CFO PB Balaji said in an analyst call. Continue reading “Global demand muted; gradual improvement expected in domestic market: Tata Motors”

Source : PTI | Domestic steel prices have dropped to a three-year low on account of increased imports, according to a report. Hot rolled coils (HRC) prices have fallen to INR 51,000 a tonne from a peak of INR 76,000 a tonne in April 2022, markets research firm BigMint said in a report.

The rate of cold rolled coils (CRC) is trading at INR 58,200 a tonne from the peak of INR 86,300 a tonne in April 2022. The prices exclude the 18% GST on the commodity. Continue reading “Steel prices trade at 3 year lows on increased supplies : Report”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – South Korean officials met on Monday to discuss electric vehicle safety and whether to require car firms to disclose battery brands amid growing consumer concern after an EV blaze in an underground garage extensively damaged an apartment block.

The fire on Aug. 1, which appeared to start spontaneously in a Mercedes-Benz EV parked below a residential building, took eight hours to put out, destroying or damaging about 140 cars and forcing some residents to move to shelters. Continue reading “South Korea holds emergency meeting as EV fires stir consumer fear”

LUCKNOW, (Reuters) – India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh will not reverse a decision to waive registration taxes for hybrid cars, two sources said on Monday, handing a win to Toyota but dealing a blow to Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Hyundai, Kia Motors, Tata and Mahindra lobbied the state, which accounts for 10% of India’s car sales, to remove the incentive, arguing it would make it harder to reach India’s targets for adopting fully electric cars and hit investment plans. Continue reading “Indian state backs hybrid tax waiver in win for Toyota, blow for Tata, sources say”

HANOI, (Reuters) – Vietnam is planning to subsidise electricity prices for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as part of its efforts to promote the use of EVs and meet its energy transition commitments.

The subsidy scheme is due to be submitted to the central government by mid-September for approval, the government said in a statement over the weekend. Continue reading “Vietnam plans electricity subsidies for EV charging stations”

(Reuters) – When Elon Musk endorsed Donald Trump for president last month, the Tesla founder and chief executive backed a candidate who vows to “drill, baby, drill,” “end the electric vehicle mandate” and reduce subsidies of the sort that helped Tesla become the U.S.’s dominant EV manufacturer.

So instrumental have government loans, tax breaks and other EV policies been to Tesla’s fast growth that despite Musk’s gradual embrace of the former president and his Republican Party rhetoric in recent years, the company continues to lobby the U.S. and state governments for benefits championed by the Democratic Party. Continue reading “Musk embraces Trump and scorns subsidies. But Tesla still lobbies for US benefits”

New Delhi, 10th August 2024: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) under its जैविक पहल (Bio-initiative) successfully organized the 3rd International Conference on World Biofuel Day 2024 themed ऊर्जा क्रांति, उर्जित स्वराज (The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow). The landmark event brought together global and national experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the critical role of biofuels in India’s sustainable energy transition and the broader implications for the Indian automotive industry. Continue reading “SIAM Hosts 3rd International Conference on World Biofuel Day 2024: “The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow””

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The investment firm that owns Les Schwab Tire Centers is exploring options including a sale of the tire retail chain that could value it at more than $7 billion, including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Meritage Group has tapped investment bankers at Goldman Sachs to launch a sale process for Les Schwab Tire that is expected to garner interest from private equity firms and other tire retailers, said the sources, who requested anonymity as the discussions are confidential. Continue reading “Exclusive: Les Schwab Tire’s owner explores sale valuing it at over $7 billion, sources say”

(Reuters) – China-based autonomous driving startup WeRide said on Friday it was seeking a valuation of as much as $5.02 billion in its initial public offering in the United States.

The IPO announcement comes at a time when the Biden administration is expected to propose barring Chinese software in autonomous vehicles in the United States in the coming weeks. Continue reading “Chinese robotaxi firm WeRide eyes up to $5 bln valuation in US IPO”

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Chrysler-parent Stellantis is laying off as many as 2,450 factory workers from its Warren Truck assembly plant outside of Detroit as the automaker ends production of the Ram 1500 Classic truck.

The layoffs will be effective as early as Oct. 8, the company said, as the plant moves from a two-shift to a one-shift operating pattern in general assembly. Assembly of the Jeep Wagoneer at the same facility will be on one shift, the company said. Continue reading “Stellantis to lay off up to 2,450 factory workers as classic Ram production ends”

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – The European Commission is confident its investigation into, and measures against, state subsidies for Chinese electric vehicles are compatible with World Trade Organization rules and its probe will continue, the EU executive arm said on Friday.

The European Union imposed provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on imports of electric vehicles (EV) made in China in July, keen to protect its domestic EV production, after an EU investigation found the cars were subsidised by China. Continue reading “EU executive confident its Chinese EV measures comply with WTO, says probe continues”

SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – Tesla has stopped taking orders for the least expensive version of its Cybertruck, which is priced at $61,000, while making the $100,000 version available for immediate order and delivery as soon as this month, its website showed.

Demand and supply for the Cybertruck are closely monitored by Tesla investors and fans, because Chief Executive Elon Musk has poured resources into the truck’s development and plans to make 200,000 per year. Continue reading “Tesla stops taking orders for cheapest Cybertruck, offers $100,000 version now”

Source : PTI | German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Thursday sounded confident of posting a double-digit growth this calendar year and said it is expecting the demand to remain good in the coming festive season on the lines of last year. Speaking with PTI at the launch of two new top-end car models, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer said that the company is seeing growth in its electric vehicle portfolio also and it will come out with the electric version of Maybach in September this year.

With the unveiling of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC CoupA and CLE 300 Cabriolet AMG Line, priced at INR 1.105 crore and INR 1.10 crore, respectively, the company has strengthened its top-end product range further. Continue reading “Mercedes-Benz confident of double-digit growth this year, rolls out 2 new top-end models”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy on Thursday said that critical minerals have emerged as drivers of the modern economy and the Centre has ensured the country taps into this global opportunity through the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission. Union Budget 2024-25 has proposed launching Critical Mineral Mission for domestic production, recycling of critical minerals, and overseas acquisition of critical mineral assets. Its mandate will include technology development, skilled workforce, extended producer responsibility framework, and a suitable financing mechanism.

Addressing the national seminar on challenges and opportunities in the mines and minerals sector organised by the Mining, Geological, Metallurgical Institute of India, Reddy said that the government has brought about a paradigm change in the coal and minerals sector, making it transparent and competitive. Continue reading “Critical minerals have emerged as drivers of modern economy: Reddy”

Source : PTI | Italian super luxury automaker Automobili Lamborghini is looking forward to India’s new hybrid vehicle policy to tap more growth opportunities in the country, a senior company official said on Friday. The company, which on Friday launched the plug-in hybrid version of its flagship SUV Urus with prices starting at INR 4.57 crore (ex-showroom) plans to bring its other hybrid models going forward as and when it launches those in the global markets.

“We believe that there is a big potential to grow here in India. We have also already seen with the introduction of Urus we had a big percentage growth. We believe that also in the next year we will see a similar trend,” Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific Region Director, Francesco Scardaoni told PTI here on the sidelines of the launch of Urus SE. Continue reading “Looking forward to India’s hybrid vehicle policy to tap opportunity: Automobili Lamborghini”