Toyota has delayed the start of production for the fourth-generation Prius from next spring until December 2015, as engineers sweat the details of a new vehicle architecture and the company’s next-generation hybrid system.
Toyota initially targeted a spring manufacturing launch for the next version of its hallmark hybrid, code-named 690A. That has been pushed back to December, people familiar with the matter say.
Gibbs unveiled their Quadski, billed as the world’s first high-speed sports amphibian in late 2012.
General Motors said Monday it will pay at least $1 million in compensation to the families of each person killed in accidents apparently caused by defective ignition switches in its cars.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne made a surprise return to Italy from the United States last week to solve a labor dispute at the Grugliasco car factory near Turin, where the carmaker is boosting Maserati production as part of a strategy to move upscale.
When Maserati workers entered a conference room at the plant on June 23, they were expecting to discuss with the plant manager how to meet booming demand for the Ghibli compact sedan. Instead, the employees found Marchionne sitting at the table.
By Alexei Oreskovic and Ben Klayman
In 2012, a small team of Google Inc engineers and business staffers met with several of the world’s largest car makers, to discuss partnerships to build self-driving cars.
