DETROIT, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers head into the 19th day of strikes with a bold strategy that places the Detroit Three automakers into a high-stakes game of “Survivor” with a weekly decision on which factories the strike will hit next, with layoffs mounting, suppliers hurting and harsh rhetoric from both sides.

UAW President Shawn Fain has transformed the rituals of contract talks with General Motors(GM.N), Ford(F.N) and Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) into a high-stakes, made-for-media game. The automakers will look for clues on how to survive in the agreement the union reached on Sunday with Volvo Group-owned (VOLVb.ST) Mack Trucks. Continue reading “Analysis: Detroit’s strikes become an industrial ‘Survivor’ game”

WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – U.S. and California officials said on Tuesday they are in discussions with General Motors’ (GM.N) self-driving unit Cruise about an accident in San Francisco involving a pedestrian hit by a vehicle into the path of a robot taxi.

A pedestrian was struck late Monday by a hit-and-run driver and thrown into an adjacent lane and hit a second time by the Cruise robotaxi, which was not able to stop in time, the company said. Continue reading “US agency, California gathering details of accident involving robot taxi and pedestrian”

Oct 3 (Reuters) – Ford Motor (F.N) said on Tuesday it had made a new comprehensive contract offer in an effort to resolve a 19-day old targeted strike by the United Auto Workers but said a dispute over battery plants remained unresolved.

The Dearborn, Michigan automaker said the new offer boosted wages for temporary workers, increased company 401(k) contributions and had further shrunk time needed to get to the top wage rate. Continue reading “Ford makes new offer in US labor dispute, GM furloughs more workers”

Automechanika Dubai is the premier networking hub for the automotive aftermarket in the UAE

 Key topics to be explored at the three-day show include Electric Vehicles (EVs), the future of mobility and the latest trends in the automotive aftermarket industry 

The event will feature the highest number of exhibitors and visitors to date

Dubai, UAE: Automechanika Dubai, the largest international trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket industry in the Middle East, was officially opened today by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being Pillar and Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai. Celebrating two decades of success, the 20^th edition of Automechanika Dubai takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre until 4 October and is expected to attract more than 45,000 visitors. Continue reading “H.E. Mattar Al Tayer opens landmark 20th edition of Automechanika Dubai”

Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of The Public Transport Agency, Roads and Transport Authority – Dubai (RTA), has been awarded the prestigious Special Recognition Award at this year’s Automechanika Dubai Awards

Dubai, UAE: Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of The Public Transport Agency, Roads and Transport Authority – Dubai (RTA), has received the Special Recognition Award at this year’s 20^th anniversary special edition of Automechanika Dubai for his outstanding contributions and commitment to innovative transport solutions and delivering world-class services in the emirate. Continue reading “RTA CEO receives Special Recognition Award at Automechanika Dubai 2023”

Source : PTI | Electronics industry body ELCINA has requested the government to come up with a production linked incentive scheme for non-semiconductor or computer chips sector which is dominated by imports, a senior official of the organisation said.

According to Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA) report, total electronic component market in the country was estimated to be around USD 39 billion, of which 68% requirement was met through imports in 2021-22. Continue reading “Electronics industry body seeks PLI scheme for non-semicondcutor sectors”

SOURCE : PTI | The UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change on Monday urged the oil and gas industry to rally around decarbonisation targets as part of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda to fast-track the energy transition and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is also the COP28 President-Designate said this at the beginning of the 2023 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) held from October 2-5 in Abu Dhabi.

The COP28 President-Designate’s call to implement a comprehensive energy transition plan is part of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda which is based on four key pillars. Continue reading “ADIPEC 2023: COP28 president-designate rallies oil and gas industry to decarbonise”

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Electric-vehicle maker Rivian Automotive (RIVN.O) on Monday reported third-quarter deliveries above market expectations, as it ramped up production to meet a sustained demand for its pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs).

The Irvine, California-based startup said it was on track to produce 52,000 vehicles in 2023 – a target it raised in August from 50,000 vehicles as supply-chain bottlenecks eased Continue reading “EV maker Rivian beats quarterly delivery estimates after raising production”

PARIS, Oct 2 (Reuters) – France is reluctant to delay post-Brexit tariffs that are set to hit electric vehicles traded between Britain and the European Union, French government sources said, in a move that could hit carmakers on both sides of the Channel.

Under the EU-UK post-Brexit trade deal, EVs need to have 45% of EU or British content from 2024, with a 50%-60% requirement for their battery cells and packs, or face British or EU import tariffs of 10%. Continue reading “France reluctant to delay Brexit tariffs on UK-EU electric cars – sources”

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Monday it was upgrading and expanding its investigation into 708,000 Ford Motor (F.N) sport utility vehicles and trucks over catastrophic engine failures tied to a faulty valve.

The agency says under normal driving conditions vehicles without warning may experience a loss of power due to catastrophic engine failure related to a potentially faulty valve in 2.7 L and 3.0 L EcoBoost engines. Continue reading “US expands, upgrades probe into 708,000 Ford SUVs, trucks over engine failures”

Oct 2 (Reuters) – Tesla (TSLA.O) missed market estimates for third-quarter deliveries on Monday as planned upgrades at its factories to roll out a newer version of the Model 3 mass-market sedan forced production halts.

Some analysts believe the upgrades could spark a rebound in deliveries in the fourth quarter by allowing Tesla to refresh its line-up with models that could compete better with offerings from U.S. rivals such as Ford and BYD in China.

Continue reading “Tesla misses estimates for quarterly deliveries; shares fall”

Oct 2 (Reuters) – In a victory for Tesla (TSLA.O), a judge has ruled that a group of vehicle owners must pursue claims that the company misled about its Autopilot features in individual arbitration rather than court.

The ruling means Tesla will not have to face class action claims on behalf of much larger groups of vehicle owners. Continue reading “Tesla scores Autopilot victory as judge rules owners must use arbitration”

Oct 2 (Reuters) – General Motors (GM.N) and Ford Motor (F.N) on Monday said they are laying off another 500 workers at four Midwestern plants because of the impact on some of the facilities of the United Auto Workers strike in its 18th day.

Separately, the UAW confirmed it presented a new contract offer to GM on Monday. GM said it received the counterproposal “but significant gaps remain.” The UAW also held a new round of bargaining with Chrysler-parent Stellantis. Continue reading “GM, Ford furlough another 500 workers due to UAW strike”

Source : PTI | The price of natural gas produced from difficult areas like deep sea KG-D6 block of Reliance Industries on Sunday was cut by a steep 18%, in line with softening of benchmark international gas prices, an official notification said. However, the price of gas that is largely used for making CNG for fueling automobiles or piping to households kitchens for cooking purposes will remain unchanged due to a price cap that is set at 30% less than market rates such as that paid to Reliance.

For the six-month period starting October 1, the price of gas from deep sea and high-pressure, high-temperature (HPTP) areas has been cut to USD 9.96 per million British thermal unit from USD 12.12, oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) said in a notification. Continue reading “Gas price for Reliance cut by 18% to USD 10; rate for gas that feed CNG, PNG supplies unchanged at USD 6.5”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Popular Vehicles and Services Ltd, which is engaged in automotive dealerships, has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial share sale. This is the company’s second attempt to go public.

Earlier, the company filed draft papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in August 2021 for floating an Initial Public Offering (IPO) but deferred the maiden public issue amid uncertain market conditions. Continue reading “Popular Vehicles and Services files IPO papers with Sebi again”

Source : PTI | The Graded Response Action Plan, a set of anti-air pollution measures implemented in Delhi-NCR during the winter, came into effect on Sunday. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), an autonomous body tasked with improving the air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas, made crucial changes to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) last year and again in July.

The new changes include strict restrictions on the plying of overage vehicles and a complete ban on the use of coal and firewood in eateries, restaurants and hotels when the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaches the 200-mark. Continue reading “Centre’s action plan to check air pollution in Delhi takes effect”

Source : PTI | Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) aims to launch eight battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in India by 2030, according to a senior company executive. The company currently sells one electric model — Jaguar I-Pace — in the country.

In an interaction with PTI, JLR Chief Commercial Officer Lennard Hoornik said the automaker will commence taking orders for the Range Rover BEV for the Indian market next year with deliveries expected to begin in 2025. Continue reading “JLR plans to roll out 8 battery electric vehicles in India by 2030”

TOKYO, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Japan’s move to bar most used-car sales to Russia slammed the brakes on a trade nearing $2 billion annually that had boomed in the shadow of sanctions over Ukraine elsewhere, according to trade data and market participants.

In early August, Japan’s government banned exports of all but subcompact cars to Russia, cutting off a lucrative backchannel in trade in used Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans for a network of brokers and smaller ports, especially Fushiki, an export hub on the Sea of Japan. Continue reading “Japan puts the brakes on lucrative used-car trade with Russia”

Oct 2 (Reuters) – About 4,000 workers represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) reached an agreement with Volvo Group-owned Mack Trucks just before midnight Eastern Standard Time (0400 GMT) on Sunday, the union and the company said.

The temporary agreement must still be ratified by the UAW.

“The terms of this tentative agreement would deliver significantly increased wages and continue first-class benefits for Mack employees and their families,” Mack President Stephen Roy said in a statement. Continue reading “UAW workers and Mack Trucks reach deal to avoid strike”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said his ministry is finalising a policy for use of municipal waste in road construction. Addressing a press conference, Gadkari further said the government is considering offering incentives to construction equipment manufacturers for not using fossil fuels.

“We are finalising the policy for using municipal waste in road construction,” he said. Continue reading “Transport ministry finalising policy for using municipal waste in road construction: Gadkari”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Electric mobility player GreenCell Mobility on Thursday said it has signed a green financing deal with Standard Chartered Bank for its INR 125-crore Surat E-Mobility project. Surat E-Mobility project consists of 150 electric buses in Gujarat and aims to reduce 1 lakh tonne of CO2 emissions over the project lifetime, the company said in a statement.

GreenCell has availed green loan by the leading global bank, Standard Chartered Bank, in a significant move to step up our efforts towards transforming India’s electric transportation landscape. Continue reading “GreenCell Mobility inks green financing deal with Standard Chartered Bank for Surat E-Mobility project”

Source : PTI | Gensol Engineering Ltd has bagged an order worth INR 75 crore to lease out 500 electric cargo vehicles from a logistics firm, a company statement said. The work order came through subsidiary company Gensol EV Lease Pvt Ltd, Gensol Engineering said in statement on Thursday.

“Gensol EV Lease bags order for more than 500+ Tata Ace Cargo EVs. This substantial order, valued at INR 75 crore, is from an all-electric logistics company,” it said. Continue reading “Gensol Engineering secures order to lease over 500 electric cargo vehicles”

Source : PTI | The Central government under its Smart City Mission has felicitated Jammu smart city for its e-mobility project, which includes successful operations of e-autos and e-rickshaws, officials said on Thursday. The city got the award under urban environment category of India Smart Cities Awards Contest (ISAC) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

The ISAC is organised under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Smart Cities Mission. It rewards cities, projects, and innovative ideas that promote sustainable development across 100 smart cities. Continue reading “Jammu smart city bags award for its e-rickshaw, e-auto project”

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Ford Motor (F.N) Chief Executive Jim Farley on Friday accused the United Auto Workers union of holding up a new U.S. labor agreement in a bid to force the automaker to pay workers at new battery plants the same top wages as workers at assembly plants.

Farley also disclosed the automaker is awaiting “final language” from the U.S. Treasury on whether batteries made at a planned Michigan plant using Chinese technology will qualify for tax credits. Continue reading “Ford CEO says UAW holding labor deal ‘hostage’ over fate of battery plants”

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) – The Biden administration proposal to hike fuel economy standards through 2032 is not feasible and could cost automakers a total of more than $14 billion in fines, an automotive group said Friday.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors (VOWG_p.DE), Toyota Motor (7203.T), Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), Hyundai (005380.KS) and others, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Corporate Average Fuel Economy proposal “exceeds maximum feasibility” and that the agency projects “manufacturers will pay over $14 billion in non-compliance penalties between 2027 and 2032”. Continue reading “Automakers say they face $14 billion in fines from Biden’s ‘unfeasible’ fuel rules”

Summary

• About 25,000 UAW workers now on strike
• New plants affected in Chicago and Lansing, Michigan
• Ford CEO says talks not at an impasse yet

DETROIT, Sept 29 (Reuters) – The chief executives of GM and Ford blasted United Auto Workers leaders on Friday, and UAW chief Shawn Fain responded in kind, hours after the union escalated the strike that is now in its third week. Continue reading “GM, Ford chiefs clash with UAW as union expands strikes”

Sept 29 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers dropped unfair labor practice charges against General Motors and Chrysler-parent Stellantis on Friday.

The union had filed the charges on Aug. 31 with the National Labor Relations Board charging the automakers had refused to bargain in good faith, which both companies strongly denied. The UAW on Sept. 15 launched the first-ever simultaneous strike against the Detroit Three automakers and now has targeted 43 facilities covering about 25,000 out of about 150,000 hourly auto workers. The companies and UAW have exchanged numerous contract offers over the last month. Continue reading “UAW drops unfair labor practice charges against GM, Stellantis”

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Sigma Lithium (SGML.V) on Friday challenged a Reuters report that a Brazilian court had imposed an “injunction” on its ability to sell or mine two plots where it planned open pits, and reiterated that it saw no hurdle to its expansion plans.

In a press release, Sigma said “recent media reports” had “incorrectly denominated as an ‘injunction'” a Brazilian judge’s ruling in a lawsuit between the company’s former co-CEOs. Sigma’s spokesperson and lawyers have repeatedly referred to the ruling as an “injunction” in recent weeks. Continue reading “Sigma Lithium questions reporting on Brazil mineral rights ‘injunction’”

Sept 29 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Friday expanded its coordinated U.S. strike, this time targeting a plant at General Motors (GM.N) and Ford Motor (F.N) but refraining from an additional walkout from Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI).

The ongoing strike is the first-ever simultaneous labor action against the Detroit Three automakers and is now entering its third week after the earlier contracts expired on Sept. 15. Continue reading “Explainer: UAW expands strike against GM, Ford in Week 3, spares Stellantis”

Source : PTI | Tata Steel on Thursday said it has signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited and its business associate to further reduce carbon footprint at its Ferro Alloys plant. The agreement encompasses LPG supply, installation of LPG facilities, and the operation and maintenance of the same at the company’s Ferro Alloys Plants in Gopalpur of Ganjam and Athagarh of Cuttack districts in Odisha, the steel major said in a statement.

Tata Steel has decided to transition from Furnace Oil and High-Speed Diesel to a more sustainable fuel option – Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) in response to the pressing environmental concerns and the global imperative to reduce carbon emissions. Continue reading “Tata Steel inks pact with IOCL to further reduce carbon footprint”

Sept 28 (Reuters) – New vehicle sales in the United States are projected to rise for a sixth consecutive month in September on strong demand, according to an industry report, though the strike by United Auto Workers’ (UAW) union has clouded the outlook going forward.

U.S. new vehicle sales, including retail and non-retail transactions, are estimated to reach 1,309,900 units in September, a 13.8% jump from a year earlier, a joint report by J.D. Power and GlobalData showed on Thursday. Continue reading “US new vehicle sales to rise for sixth month; UAW strike clouds October outlook, report says”

Sept 27 (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday it mattered little whether striking union autoworkers secured a favorable deal in talks with America’s biggest carmakers because the shift to electric vehicles would soon make them obsolete.

Speaking in terms that contrast with the confidence shown by carmarkers spending aggressively to electrify their fleets, Trump predicted the U.S. auto industry would succumb to massive losses in just a few years. Continue reading “Trump says UAW talks don’t matter because EV shift will kill jobs”

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 28 (Reuters) – The lawyer representing victims of a fatal crash of a Tesla Model 3 car in his opening statement in court on Thursday blamed the company’s Autopilot driver assistant system, saying that “a car company should never sell consumers experimental vehicles.”

An attorney for Tesla (TSLA.O), in the first U.S. trial over allegations that its Autopilot feature led to a death, however, said the crash was the result of “a classic human error.” Continue reading “In Tesla trial over Autopilot fatality, lawyer cites ‘experimental vehicles’”

STOCKHOLM/TORONTO, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt said on Thursday it would open a $5.2 billion gigafactory in Quebec, the largest ever investment in the Canadian province and the latest in electric vehicle battery manufacturing capacity in the country.

The first phase of the construction of the Northvolt Six factory just outside Montreal will begin this year and it is expected to be operational in 2026. Continue reading “Sweden’s Northvolt to build $5.2 billion battery factory in Canada”

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) – A $1 billion metals deal by blank-cheque fund ACG Acquisition Co has been terminated following delays when the different sides, which included a leading global miner and top automakers as anchor investors, tried to revise it, ACG said on Thursday.

ACG (ACGa.L), a London-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), planned to buy a nickel mine and a copper mine from Appian Capital, betting on rising demand for metals needed for the global green energy transition. Continue reading “$1 bln metals SPAC deal backed by Glencore, automakers collapses”

Sept 28 (Reuters) – A U.S. civil rights agency sued Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) on Thursday, claiming the electric carmaker has tolerated severe harassment of Black employees at its flagship Fremont, California, assembly plant, in charges similar to cases brought by the state and by Tesla employees.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said in the lawsuit filed in federal court in California that from 2015 to the present, Black workers at the Tesla plant have routinely been subjected to racist slurs and graffiti, including swastikas and nooses. Continue reading “Tesla sued by US agency over alleged harassment of Black factory workers”

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SIAM’s Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment hosts the 24th Edition of SAFE Annual Convention 2023 WAF Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (29th September 2023)”

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Opening statements are set to begin on Thursday in the first U.S. trial over allegations that Tesla’s (TSLA.O) Autopilot driver assistant feature led to a death, and its results could help shape similar cases across the country.

The trial, in a California state court, stems from a civil lawsuit alleging the Autopilot system caused owner Micah Lee’s Model 3 to suddenly veer off a highway east of Los Angeles at 65 miles per hour (105 kph), strike a palm tree and burst into flames, all in the span of seconds. Continue reading “Tesla trial over Autopilot fatality kicks off in California”

TOKYO, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor (7203.T) said global production climbed 4% from the same period a year earlier to 798,771 vehicles to mark a record for the month of August.

Domestic production for the world’s biggest automaker rose 22% from a year earlier, offsetting a 2% drop in overseas output and highlighting its recovery from last year’s semiconductor and supply chain troubles. Continue reading “Toyota’s August global output rises on stronger domestic production”