The damage to consumer confidence in Russia from a plunge in the value of the ruble could be offset for local carmakers as they become more competitive against foreign imports, industry leaders and government officials said.
Category Archives: General Talk
Bozzella named CEO of Association of Global Automakers
International automakers have a new top lobbyist in Washington: John Bozzella, an auto industry veteran who helped to marshal support for Chrysler’s government bailout before leaving the company in 2009.
Bozzella will start April 1 as CEO of the Association of Global Automakers, a coalition of 12 automakers including Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota.
Ford watching Russia for slow growth after sanctions
Ford which has three auto factories in Russia, is monitoring the sanctions against that nation for its involvement in Ukraine and hasn’t yet seen an impact on its business, the automaker’s No. 2 executive said.
BMW plans 7-seat crossover for U.S. factory
The long-rumored BMW X7 will be built at the company’s U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, The Wall Street Journal reported.
BMW will make the announcement on March 28, the newspaper reported on Friday, and will spend several hundred million dollars to expand the plant to build the seven-seat X7.
Porsche confirms 4-cylinder engine for Cayman, Boxster
Future versions of the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are in line to receive a four-cylinder boxer engine, according to a German media report quoting Porsche boss Matthias Mueller.
In an interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport magazine published on Thursday, Mueller said Porsche road cars would follow the lead of the company’s hi-tech 919 Hybrid race car in receiving four-cylinder engines.
