BMW M4 will get a rival from Lexus

It is already old news that BMW is reworking their car line-up for a better differentiation. Several other car makers also tidy up their production vehicle list, and Lexus is among them.

Recently they had to cut out of the assembly line a car in order to avoid overlapping. But with all the verve the new 4 Series is causing, and its M4 variant as well, Lexus decided it was a good move to plan to take on the German giant, especially considering that they have been tailing BMW for quite a while now.

To this end, a new model, called the RS is planned for a future release. What really seems to be off is that the RC seems to be an IS coupe rebranding, in a similar way the 4 Series is a 3 Series Coupe rebranding.

This is more than just copying BMW, though, as the new Lexus RC is a competitor, and should strive to be better. Yet, with hopes running so high for the BMW M4, Lexus will have their work cut out for them.

Tyre safety check data alarming – Bridgestone

The release of 2012 statistics gathered by Bridgestone while taking out more than 28,000 free tyre safety checks in Europe provide grim reading. The world’s largest tyre manufacturer’s figures suggest that tyre care and awareness has continued to deteriorate in the region. The most alarming change from data gathered in the same way in 2011 is an increase of 25 per cent in the number of tyres either underinflated or beyond the legal limit. While the European Union has in place many strategies for making roads safer – it is a specified goal of the EU tyre label – and organisations such as TyreSafe in the UK grow both membership and influence, Bridgestone’s data suggests that the most basic tyre checks remain beyond too many of the continent’s drivers

Data from Bridgestone’s Safety Campaign 2012 has revealed that 78.3 per cent of tyres on the 28,700 cars inspected across Europe throughout the year were under-inflated to varying degrees. Additionally, 25.6 per cent of the tyre population was found to be worn below 1.6mm. The company completes a survey during its safety check workshops across Europe each year, and the latest data shows an increase in the number of tyres found to be under-inflated.

Jury rules against Chery in U.S. fraud suit

A federal jury awarded $2 million in damages to automotive entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin’s firm V Cars after a former employee of V Cars undercut a deal with China’s Chery Automobile Co. to bring luxury vehicles to the United States. The jury, in Detroit, said last week that KCA Engineering, which was founded by former V Cars executive Dennis Gore while he was still employed by V Cars, committed fraud and other offenses. Gore’s attorney couldn’t be reached for comment.

Chinese automakers’ exports to Brazil tumble

Chinese automakers’ exports to Brazil, which started to decline last year after the Brazilian government raised tariffs on imported vehicles, have failed to recover this year. In the first six months of 2013, Jianghuai Automobile Co. sold 8,936 vehicles in Brazil, down 13 percent from the same period last year, according to Brazil’s National Federation of Motor Vehicle Distributors.

BAIC plans assembly plant in Zhuzhou

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp. plans to build an assembly plant in the south central city of Zhuzhou, reports IHS Automotive’s Supplier Business newsletter, citing the Beijing News. The state-owned automaker will spend 6 billion yuan ($977 million) on the facility, which reportedly will produce up to 300,000 units a year. According to Beijing News, the plant will open in 2015. The facility would be BAIC’s second in Zhuzhou, but it’s not clear that the automaker can use all that capacity, according to IHS.

Great Wall prospers as peers struggle

In the past decade several domestic Chinese carmakers have managed to post healthy sales growth, but only for a limited period. Great Wall Motor Co., China’s largest SUV maker, now appears poised to break from the pack. In the first six months of the year, Great Wall’s sales have jumped nearly 40 percent year-on-year to 367,857 vehicles

EU, DfT support for MWSD wheel safety campaign

Motor Wheel Service Distribution has welcomed news that the European Parliament (EP) has voted to support the testing of commercial vehicle wheels fitted onto non-standard axles as part of the EU Roadworthiness Package. The measure has also received the endorsement of the Department for Transport (DfT) in MWSD’s home UK market. The company, distributor of Wheels India’s xlite wheel range, has campaigned for many years to achieve greater recognition for the dangers associated with what it believes to be unsuitable wheel safety check requirements. Managing director John Ellis has lobbied for more stringent checks to be carried out on wheels, first to guard the distribution chain against potentially faulty take-off wheels, and latterly to catch signs of premature fatigue and damage for wheels fitted to incompatibly shaped hubs. Ellis presented expert testimony to the EP’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), and this was raised as an amendment by Transport Committee chair and North West MEP, Brian Simpson following the initial report in March. As a result the compatibility of wheels and the hubs on which they are mounted has been included within new TRAN legislation

Up to 6 concept models considered from BMW/Toyota collaboration

It has been a while since BMW announced a collaboration with Toyota in order to build a sports car.

And while rumors about said model have been wildly speculative, now we have some concrete news about what the joint venture will produce.

A BMW official stated that currently they are working on 4 to 6 model proposals, and while the final form was not agreed upon, chances are “it could be a mid-engined supercar or a traditional front-engined sports car. We don’t know yet.”

Another reveal says that from this collaboration not just one, but two final products will emerge, and we are assured that they will be 100% BMW. Thing is, most agree that the same goal could have been achieved without outside help, and the major fears are that the traditional BMW spirit will be diluted in these two new models.

So the question still remains: what does Toyota have and BMW is lacking that would account for the partnership? With more details sure to arrive, we will have our answer eventually.

GM will debut new Spark in 2015, delays Aveo launch, union says

GM plans to launch the new Chevrolet Spark in 2015, but will delay the launch of its revamped Aveo, a Korean labor union spokesman said. The Spark/Matiz, is Chevrolet’s best-selling model in Europe while the Aveo is No. 3 after the Cruze compact

GM picks Lanzon as interim powertrain chief

General Motors picked James Lanzon, its top transmission engineer, to run the company’s global powertrain operations on an interim basis while it searches for a permanent replacement for Sam Winegarden.

Fiat fails to get judge’s valuation of VEBA fund’s Chrysler stock

Fiat failed to persuade a judge to set the value of some Chrysler shares now owned by a union healthcare fund, probably delaying a push to complete the combination of the two companies.

PSA sees recovery signs despite wider first-half loss

PSA widened its first-half loss compared with a year earlier but said it may be on the road to recovery as spending cuts and an alliance with General Motors begin to pay off.

PSA wins EU approval for 7 billion-euro state guarantee

PSA won EU approval for the French government to guarantee 7 billion euros ($9.28 billion) in bonds for its banking unit. The guarantee will help keep the automaker afloat as it struggles to rein in losses.

PSA-Dongfeng lifts 2013 sales target

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile raised its sales target for the year after achieving better-than-expected volume in the first half.

Fiat profit rises as spending cuts narrow European losses

Fiat Group reported better-than-expected second-quarter profit, boosted by spending cuts in Europe and strong Chrysler sales in the United States

Chrysler profit rises 16% to $507 million

Chrysler, riding sales gains in the United States and globally, reported net income of $507 million in the second quarter as strong sales of pickups and SUVs led the automaker to its eighth consecutive quarterly profit.

Volkswagen sticks with 2013 outlook after H1 earnings drop

Volkswagen said it still aimed for flat operating profit this year even as first-half earnings fell 11.6 percent amid weakening auto markets

Mercedes leads U.S. in luxury-car theft as criminals target NYC

Mercedes-Benz vehicles were the most sought-after luxury brand among car thieves in the United States from 2009 through 2012 as the New York City region had the greatest number of thefts, an insurance-industry group said

It’s time to raise the white flag on dual-clutch transmissions

It’s time to give up trying to persuade Americans to drive dual-clutch transmissions. Like the continuously variable transmission, or CVT, dual-clutch transmissions make great sense on paper. But like CVTs, dual-clutch transmissions just don’t sound right or feel right to U.S. drivers.

Suzuki denies it has resumed talks with Volkswagen

Suzuki denied media reports that it and Volkswagen have resumed talks on how to resolve a dispute about a partnership deal.

BMW quarterly profit falls on higher spending to keep ahead of Audi

BMW reported an 8.8 percent decline in second-quarter profit as spending on new models including its first electric car offset higher sales

VW accelerates second-quarter earnings on cost-cutting, luxury sales

VW Group posted a surprise gain in second-quarter earnings, reaping the benefits of new cost-cutting technology and growing sales of luxury cars

BMW, VW, Mercedes, Porsche plan Los Angeles show debuts

The 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show will host world debuts from BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, Subaru and Volkswagen

U.S. court ruling could delay Fiat’s Chrysler buyout

A ruling by a U.S. judge risks delaying Fiat’s plan to buy up all of Chrysler unless it can reach an out-of-court settlement with a healthcare trust that is a minority shareholder in the American automaker

Honda’s profit drops as overseas spending rises

Honda reported a decline in first-quarter profit as deliveries in its home market fell and spending on overseas plants rose

Skoda reiterates full-year outlook despite weak H1

Skoda reiterated its outlook for full-year deliveries to be above 2012 despite a 6 percent drop in first-half car sales to 464,600 units

Fiat fails to get judge’s valuation of VEBA fund’s Chrysler stock

Fiat failed to persuade a judge to set the value of some Chrysler shares now owned by a union healthcare fund, probably delaying a push to complete the combination of the two companies

Auto production ranks as China’s most profitable industry

Auto manufacturing is not the largest industrial sector in the Chinese economy but it generated far more profit than any other industry in China, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The auto industry was the fourth-largest industrial sector in China by revenue in the first half of this year, trailing the iron and steel, chemicals and communications equipment sectors. But it topped all 41 industrial sectors in China in profit generation, with earnings of 233 billion yuan ($38 billion).

Kia hikes volume target 4% as China drives profit

Kia Motors Corp. hiked its 2013 volume target in China 4 percent to 520,000 units after South Korea’s second-largest automaker posted higher second-quarter profits on robust sales growth in China. Kia’s sales in China have jumped 22 percent in the first half on higher demand for the K3 sedan, helping to counter falling demand in the United States and South Korea. Net income excluding minority interests rose nearly 8 percent to 1.18 trillion won (6.42 billion yuan), the company said. Revenue increased almost 5 percent to 71.33 billion yuan, reflecting higher sales and better pricing in China, Kia said.

China Car inventories remain stubbornly high

Stockpiles at dealers remained above normal in June despite efforts by automakers to trim inventories, according to the China Automobile Dealers Association. At the end of June, dealerships that sell domestic brands averaged a 49-day inventory, compared with 61 days at the end of May. Among domestic brands, Chery dealerships had the highest inventory: a 95-day supply. It was followed by BAIC with a 78-day supply. Jaguar Land Rover had the highest dealer inventories among global brands, with a 92-day supply. New-vehicle sales growth has slowed in recent months amid a decline in overall economic activity across China.

Workers strike at Cooper Tire’s Chengshan plant over planned sale

Workers at Cooper Tire’s Chengshan plant in China have gone on strike to protest the U.S. replacement tire maker’s decision to sell itself to Indian tire maker Apollo Tire. The Chengshan plant is a 51-49 joint venture between Cooper Tire and Chengshan Group Co., a Chinese tire maker in east China’s Shandong province. With a pre-tax profit of 670 million yuan in 2012, the Chengshan plant is the most profitable plant among Cooper Tire’s eight plants worldwide, according to the Chengshan Group.

China should probe foreign luxury carmakers over prices, Xinhua says

Foreign carmakers are reaping exorbitant profits selling imported luxury cars in China and should face an antitrust investigation, the official Xinhua News Agency said, in what may amount to a shot across the bow of foreign auto firms. Xinhua said that in the wake of investigations into how foreign companies in other sectors price their goods, the question of imported cars had become a contentious topic. Foreign milk formula makers and pharmaceutical companies have come under intense regulatory scrutiny in recent weeks, especially over pricing. Separately, Chinese police have accused British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline of bribery.

Free insurance on Up, Polo and Beetle

Volkswagen is offering one year’s free insurance on most Up, Polo, Beetle and Beetle Cabriolet models from now until the end of September. The offer is for retail customers buying a car on a Volkswagen Financial Services Solutions PCP deal over three years and 30,000 miles.

Certain exclusions apply, for example, all owners must be over 21 while free insurance for higher-powered models is restricted to those over 25. In addition, all vehicles purchased on Solutions are available with a three year or 30,000 mile (whichever comes first) Service Plan for just £199.

VW names ex-Nissan Europe sales boss Willcox to head UK ops

Nissan Europe’s former head of sales and marketing, Paul Willcox, will head VW Group’s UK operations.

Toyota ups quarterly profit 94%; raises outlook on weak yen, strong U.S. sales

Toyota increased its quarterly profit by 94 percent to $5.5 billion, helped by a weaker yen and strong sales in the United States.

Ex-Volvo, VW exec Jacoby joins GM as international chief; Lee adds China role

GM named former Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby as head of international operations. GM also said Tim Lee, head of global manufacturing, will add the post of chairman of GM China.

French July car sales rise in sign of stabilization

French car sales rose in July, the first increase in almost two years, as new models and dealer discounts attracted customers

Continental less upbeat as growth in tire sales slows

German auto parts and tire maker Continental AG nudged back its sales outlook for the year, blaming weaker-than-expected demand for aftermarket tires in Europe.

Auto industry shines in troubled China economy

China leaders have a lot to worry about. Economic growth has slowed to 7.6 percent in the second quarter — down from 7.8 percent a year earlier — and overcapacity has become a growing concern in many parts of the economy. The only sector that offers the government some comfort is the auto industry. Despite all the difficulties facing the national economy, never before has the auto industry shone so brightly.

BYD-Daimler venture signs 3 dealers for EV

BYD Daimler New Technology Co., a 50-50 electric vehicle joint venture between BYD Co. and Daimler AG, last month signed up the first wave of dealerships for its electric vehicles. The first three dealers to sign deals to sell the EV are Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited, Lei Shing Hong Auto (China) Management Co., and Pangda Automobile Trade Co., according to BYD Daimler. They will be responsible for the distribution and service of BYD Daimler’s Denza electric vehicles in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing.

Japanese brands post big drop in satisfaction with service, J.D. Power survey shows

Japanese auto brands posted the biggest decline in customer satisfaction in China among foreign automakers, after a territorial dispute sparked nationwide protests last year. Japanese brands trailed their South Korean, American and European competitors, beating only Chinese nameplates in an annual industry survey of service operations released Wednesday by J.D. Power & Associates. That contrasts with last year, when Japanese marques topped the same study.