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  • Toyota To Expand Sao Paulo Plant

    Toyota To Expand Sao Paulo Plant

    Toyota Motor announced a 1 billion reais ($243.29 million) expansion at a plant in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, joining Volkswagen and General Motors in new investments in the region. Toyota said the funding would allow the Sorocaba plant, which builds the Etios and Yaris sedan models, to produce a new vehicle model. It did not provide details on the new model.

    Sao Paulo state has long been the heart of Brazil’s auto industry, which is, in turn, the largest in South America, but it had recently been losing steam against aggressive incentives offered by other states to lure manufacturers. Ford announced plans in February to shut down and sell one its oldest Sao Paulo plants.

    Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria has fought back to keep manufacturing jobs in the state, devising a tax incentive program to give automakers a 25% reduction in value-added taxes as long as they invested at least 1 billion reais and created 400 new jobs.

    Toyota, however, said the Sorocaba expansion will create only 300 jobs. The company, which has two other plants in Brazil, did not immediately respond to a question about whether this would still allow it to benefit from the tax incentives.

    “During the last decade, which involved challenging times for the economy and the auto industry, Toyota remained faithful in its commitment … growing in a sustainable way,” Rafael Chang, who heads Toyota in Brazil, said in a statement.

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  • European Automakers Tell Governments They Must Help Sell Electric Cars

    European Automakers Tell Governments They Must Help Sell Electric Cars

    Europe’s carmakers are telling governments they must help build electric car charging points and provide consumer subsidies to boost sales of battery-powered vehicles and assist the industry in meeting stringent new emissions rules.

    German carmakers are accelerating plans to launch electric vehicles, under pressure from a European Union mandate to deliver a 37.5% cut in carbon dioxide emissions between 2021 and 2030, on top of a 40% cut in emissions between 2007 and 2021.

    Industry executives warned at this week’s Frankfurt auto show that the EU rules could be disastrous for profits and jobs because mainstream customers were not buying electric vehicles. Instead, consumers are opting for larger sport utility vehicles.

    “Our industry is eager to move as fast as possible toward zero-emission mobility. But this transition is a shared responsibility,” said PSA Group Chief Executive Carlos Tavares, who is also president of European auto industry association ACEA. “It requires a 360 degrees approach.”

    “Governments across the EU need to match the increasing pace at which we are launching these cars by dramatically stepping up investments in infrastructure. Moreover, they also have to put in place sustainable purchase incentives that are consistent across the EU,” Tavares said.

  • BlackBerry To Offer Cybersecurity For Future Jaguar Land Rover Model

    BlackBerry To Offer Cybersecurity For Future Jaguar Land Rover Model

    Jaguar Land Rover and technology firm BlackBerry today announced the expansion of the companies’ corporate partnership to develop next-generation intelligent vehicles for the carmaker. As part of the extended collaboration, the BlackBerry, a trusted security software and services company, will help JLR develop future-ready vehicle safety technology for the automotive market. The company will share its Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies like – BlackBerry QNX and BlackBerry Cylance, to develop vehicle safety systems, with a range of capabilities like – predictive software maintenance and cybersecurity threat protection.

    For instance, the BlackBerry QNX, an integrating software will be used to help develop Jaguar Land Rover’s next-generation vehicle architecture, making it safer. On the other hand, its consultants and security testing technology, BlackBerry Cybersecurity Consulting services will help identify security vulnerabilities in connected and autonomous vehicles, across the full software library used in a vehicle.

    Speaking about the partnership Ralf D Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, said “Jaguar Land Rover and BlackBerry share a common objective in bringing the most intelligent vehicles to reality. I am delighted that our partnership with BlackBerry continues to go from strength-to-strength, a company whose technology innovations uniquely address the expanding safety needs of the automotive industry.”

    As for John Chen, Executive Chairman & CEO, BlackBerry, he said, “BlackBerry is a trusted partner of the automotive industry because of our heritage and innovations in secure communications. We are pleased to be Jaguar Land Rover’s chosen partner for safety-certified technology, as we advance Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to transform automotive safety.”

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  • MG Motor Introduces Waiting Period Benefits For Its Existing Customers

    MG Motor Introduces Waiting Period Benefits For Its Existing Customers

    MG Motor has come out with an interesting and unique approach for those customers who have already booked the Hector but are waiting to get the delivery. It has started a new reward scheme under which it is giving 1000 points per week to its customers till the time they get their SUV delivered. The points can be redeemed to purchase MG’s range of accessories the company is offering on the Hector or can be spent on the prepaid maintenance package it had announced at the time of launch. However, the company has not clarified the value of these points in terms of Rupees which may vary.

    Commenting on the new initiative, Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India said, “As part of our commitment to customer satisfaction, our ‘Worth Waiting For’ programme has been further augmented with a unique rewards initiative. Apart from driving the cause of girl child education, the rewards initiative brings delight to our HECTOR customers as they take deliveries.”

    The latest initiative is in succession to the IIMPACT NGO scheme MG had announced earlier according to which it would educate one girl child for every two weeks’ waiting period. MG Motor had stopped taking bookings for the Hector after it bagged 28,000 bookings. The company has said that it wants to prioritise the deliveries first for its existing customers and then proceed ahead with further bookings. On an average, there is a six month waiting period for MG Hector.

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  • Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Revealed

    Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Revealed

    Volkswagen is all set to bring in the first crossover convertible in the compact SUV class and it’s the T-Roc that’s going to get this treatment. The T-Roc cabriolet will add to the diversity of the booming SUV segment across the world and of course breathe in some fresh air in that segment. The T-Roc is a popular car and ever since its launch globally, Volkswagen has sold 3.60 lakh units of the car. The Cabriolet is based on the T-Roc Crossover and gets a high-quality soft top which opens in nine seconds, even when driving at speeds of up to 30 kmph. What’s more, the crossover utility vehicle boasts all of the familiar strengths of Volkswagen SUVs: elevated seating along with numerous customization options. The crossover convertible will be showcased at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show and will launch subsequently in global markets.

    The T-Roc Cabriolet stands out with its distinctive body style. The strikingly wide front end, prominent lines and tight proportions bring out the SUV looks. The team under Head of Design Klaus Bischoff gave the crossover Cabriolet a powerful yet refreshing appearance. “The T-Roc Cabriolet carries the freedom of design into the driving experience itself. We have redefined the CUV as an emotive lifestyle product that combines power and style in a unique way”, says Bischoff.

    Positioned within the segment under the Tiguan, the T-Roc and the T-Roc Cabriolet both share its design basis: the modular transverse matrix (MQB). The T-Roc Cabriolet is 4,268 mm long, with a wheelbase of 2,630 mm. The vehicle is 1,811 mm wide (without exterior mirrors) and 1,522 mm high. The driver and front passenger are seated at a comfortable 599 mm over the tarmac.

    Inside, the two-door model, the drivers, and passengers can expect a high degree of flexibility and generous open spaces. The same goes for the 284-liter luggage compartment, which is something to be proud of in the compact crossover segment. The versatility of this vehicle concept is also underscored by an optional towing bracket. The soft top itself consists of the linkage, the headliner, an all-over cushioned mat and the outer cover. A total of four cross braces and the front cross strut (the first large cross-member behind the windscreen frame) are mounted between the longitudinal frame of the soft top linkage. The soft top is attached to the cross struts by bolted-on fabric holding rails. This ensures that the soft top does not inflate, even when driving at high speeds. Not only does this have a positive impact on the aerodynamics, but also on the noise levels in the vehicle interior. The interior is quiet thanks to both the sophisticated design of the soft top, as well as to the specially developed window and door seals.

    Passengers in the T-Roc Cabriolet are well-protected thanks to the roll-over protection, which is located behind the rear seats and is extendable and reversible. The system used in the T-Roc springs upwards in the area of the rear headrests within fractions of a second, in response to exceeding a defined lateral acceleration or vehicle tilt.

    The T-Roc Cabriolet gets an option of the next-generation Infotainment system (MIB3), thanks to which it is permanently online – enabling it to offer completely new services and functions. The new system has an online connectivity unit, including an integrated eSIM. This means the Cabriolet can, if desired, be permanently online as soon as the driver has registered it in the Volkswagen system. Information is displayed on the Infotainment system screen, which measures up to 8 inches. When this is used in combination with the optionally available Active Info Display, with its 11.7-inch screen, a completely digital cockpit landscape can be created – what we call the Digital Cockpit. There is also the option to round off the functional equipment with a 12-channel sound system from US-based manufacturer BeatsAudio, with a system output of 400 watts, enhancing the driving experience when the soft top is open.

    Customers can choose between two efficient turbocharged petrol engines with 113 bhp and 147 bhp. The manual six-speed gearbox comes as standard with the 1-liter 3 cylinder unit while the more powerful 1.5-liter gets a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The open-top T-Roc is produced at Volkswagen’s Osnabruck location, a plant with a long history of making convertibles. Indeed, the convertible variants of the Beetle and the Golf were also built here.

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  • Mclaren Announces New Ultimate Series Supercar

    Mclaren Announces New Ultimate Series Supercar

    Mclaren announced an all-new ultimate series supercar during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The yet-named model is a two-seat, open cockpit roadster that will be the latest offering in McLaren’s range-topping Ultimate series lineage of supercars that includes the P1TM, Senna and Speedtail. The production of this car is limited to 399 units but the roadster will be different both the McLaren Senna; whose focus is on being the ultimate road-legal track car, and the Speedtail’s high-speed aerodynamic efficiency by offering the purest distillation of road-focused driving pleasure and an unrivaled sense of driver connection with the surrounding environment.

    The new car gets classical roadster proportions, elegant sweeping lines, and low-profile dihedral doors. While designed more for the road than the track, the new model will utilize McLaren’s carbon fiber construction making it the lightest car ever produced by McLaren Automotive and will be powered by a version of the twin-turbocharged V8 engine currently employed in the Senna.

    Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive said, “At McLaren Automotive we are consistently pushing the boundaries to deliver the purest and most engaging driving experience whether for the road or track. Our two current Ultimate Series cars, the Senna and Speedtail, offer unique and distinct driving experiences. Now this new addition to the Ultimate Series, an open-cockpit roadster, will take road-focused driving pleasure to new levels.”

    The ultimate series model will make its debut in late 2020 and will be priced between the Senna and the Speedtail.

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  • Audi India To Launch Q8 SUV In 2019

    Audi India To Launch Q8 SUV In 2019

    It might have been a very slow start to 2019 for Audi India, but the second half of the year brings in a burst of action. Audi has announced that it will launch 4 cars in India by the end of 2019 and as we told you earlier, it will all start with the launch of the new generation of the A6. But the Q8 Coupe- SUV will soon join the line-up. The Audi Q8 will be the company’s first coupe-SUV from the Ingolstadt-based carmaker and will be the range-topping model in Audi’s Q line-up, which was up until now led by the Audi Q7. The Q8 will be launched in India during the festive season, so expect it to be here by October or November this year.

    The new Audi Q8 is built on the same aluminum-rich platform that underpins the like of the Audi Q7, the Lamborghini Urus and the Bentley Bentayga. In terms of dimensions, the Audi Q8 measures 4999 mm in length, 2011 mm in width and 1710 mm in height, which makes the Coupe-SUV wider, shorter and lower than its Q7 sister model. Visually, the Q8 comes with an imposing stance accentuated by the bold and aggressive face which comes with a large single-frame grille with fat borders with both vertical and horizontal slats that come with chrome highlights. The grille is flanked by a pair of sleek LED headlamps with HD Matrix LED technology available as an option and 3D-effect daytime running lamps. The front bumper comes with a beefy skid plate and large air intakes, while the sloping bonnet features prominent character lines adding to the muscular look of the new Q8.

    The rear section comes with roof-mounted spoiler and wide LED taillamps with a digital character, which are connected by a light strip creating the impression of one single unit. The rear bumper looks well-designed and features a mesh design element that houses the sensors, while below we have the rear skid plate and styling inserts finished in dark chrome.

    On the equipment front, the SUV features a host of tech like adaptive cruise assist, efficiency assist, crossing assist, lane change warning, curb warning and 360-degree cameras. One highlight is the remote garage pilot, which will come in early 2019, allows the drive to guides the SUV into a garage and back out again autonomously, and all can be done by the myAudi app on their smartphone. Behind all of these features is the central driver assistance controller. It continuously computes a differentiated model of the surroundings and uses this to manage the assistance systems. The required data are obtained – depending on the selected options – from up to five radar sensors, six cameras, twelve ultrasound sensors and the laser scanner.

    The Q8 will get a 3.0-litre V6 TDI in the Q8 50 TDI variant delivering 286 bhp and 600 Nm of torque, which are channelled to all four wheels through an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro AWD system. Later the Q8 will also get a less-powerful 3.0 TDI and a 3.0 TFSI petrol variant offering 340 bhp.

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  • Indonesia President Signs New EV Decree To Bolster Industry

    Indonesia President Signs New EV Decree To Bolster Industry

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Thursday he signed a decree that lays out government support to build an electric vehicle (EV) industry in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the Cabinet Secretariat said in a statement. Widodo did not elaborate, but a draft of the decree reviewed by Reuters ahead of the signing showed it contained a series of incentives to boost production and purchase of EVs. Widodo said in the statement that the key to the EV industry is in the construction of the batteries they run on and the “raw materials to make a battery: cobalt, manganese and others, we have in this country.”

    Resource-rich Indonesia has been seeking to carve out a downstream industry based on its supplies of nickel laterite ore, which is used in lithium batteries.

    “The business strategy can be designed in this country so that we can get ahead of others in building an inexpensive electric car industry, which is competitive because the raw materials are here,” he said on the sideline of an event at the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to the statement.

    Widodo warned that building such an industry would take longer than “a year or two”, because it must also create a new market.

    The draft regulation seen by Reuters gives automakers reductions in import tariffs for machinery and materials and lower luxury taxes for buyers, among other things.

    Widodo on Thursday also suggested that city administrations across the country could provide more incentives, such as free parking or free administrative fees, to further support adoption of EVs by private consumers and public transportation firms.

    Indonesia aims to become an EV hub for Asia and beyond with a target to start EV production in 2022 and for the share of EV output to reach 20% of total car production by 2025.

    Indonesian authorities said Toyota Motor Corp, which has the biggest market share in the domestic car market, and Hyundai Motor would invest $2 billion and $880 million in the country, respectively, to develop EVs over the next few years.

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  • Car Market Slowdown Threatens Jobs At Bosch

    Car Market Slowdown Threatens Jobs At Bosch

    Global car market is expected to slow this year and the continuing aftershocks of a sector-wide diesel cheating scandal will hit jobs at the world’s biggest component supplier Bosch, its boss said Tuesday.

    “Of course, we have to react to falling demand,” chief executive Volkmar Denner told Munich-based daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung when asked about possible job cuts.

    Expected by analysts to contract this year, the global car market is developing “much more weakly than we still thought a year ago,” Denner said.

    “This isn’t just a short-term dip that will quickly be recovered,” he added.

    Reduced demand for diesel-fuelled vehicles “is hitting us particularly hard,” said Denner.

    Customers in Germany and abroad have turned away from the fuel since Volkswagen’s 2015 admission to cheating regulatory emissions tests on 11 million vehicles worldwide, while investigations have spread to other carmakers in Germany’s flagship industry.

    Many potential buyers have been deterred by already-implemented or proposed bans for some diesels from city centres, as municipalities try to reduce levels of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the air.

    Meanwhile manufacturers themselves are ramping up alternatives, like hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, to meet tough new EU carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets set to bite from next year.

    Bosch said in January lower diesel demand would force it to slash 600 jobs among its 15,000 employees in the field.

    Over the full year, the company expects revenue at the same level as 2018, when sales reached 77.9 billion euros, rather than the slight increase it had previously predicted.

    And “we won’t be able to maintain the high level of profitability we had last year,” Denner said.

    The company said early this year it expected a profit margin of below six percent, rather than last year’s seven percent.

    Competitor Continental, listed on the blue-chip DAX index, in July lowered its full-year financial objectives, blaming the weak global market.

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  • Kia Seltos Starts Arriving At Dealerships Across India

    Kia Seltos Starts Arriving At Dealerships Across India

    Kia Motor India is all set to introduce its first product – Seltos – later this month and the compact SUV has started arriving at dealerships across the country. The Kia Seltos was unveiled to the public at the company’s Hyderabad dealership recently, along with Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Siliguri among other major metros. Kia is commencing operations with 256 touchpoints across 160 cities pan India in a bid to reach out to customers more effectively right from the start. The Kia Seltos is scheduled for launch on August 22, 2019, while bookings are already open for a token amount of ₹ 25,000.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the dealership in Hyderabad, Manohar Bhat, Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing said, “Kia Motors oozes contemporary and stylish design language to make sure that the customer feels this luxury with ease. We have a great product and now to show our care for the customers, we are prepared to provide world-class vehicle maintenance and repair services with the availability of spare parts across the country. Entering India as a global premium brand, we understand the expectations of the customers, so we are prepared to ensure optimum service quality and customer satisfaction.”

    Located in Hitec City and Nagole, Automotive Kia is a 5000 sq.ft. facility that will include sales, service and spares under one roof. The Hyderabad dealership is one of the company’s 192 dealerships that are currently operational. The manufacturer’s 256 touchpoints will be operated by Kia dealer partners and promise a state-of-the-art experience through Internet of Things (IOT) technology. The company will also connect with customers via the Kia Link App that will notify owners about upcoming service reminder, and also set an appointment with their preferred dealer via the Dealer Management System (DMS) on the app. Kia has also partnered with eight leading banks for financing solutions.

    We’ve already had a close look at the Kia Seltos at the global show earlier this year and only the fine details of the SUV are yet to be revealed including the pricing. The Seltos looks promising with a butch yet urban design language and a host of features including connected car tech, wireless charging, mood lighting, electric sunroof, rear share curtain, 360-degree camera, and a whole lot more.

    Power will come from the new Smartstream family of engines that includes the 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol and 1.5-liter petrol and diesel engines that will be BS6 ready right from the start. The compact SUV will be available with four transmission options including a 6-speed manual, Intelligent continuously variable transmission (IVT), 7-step DCT, and a 6-speed automatic.

    The Kia Seltos registered an impressive 6046 bookings on the first day itself and the manufacturer has a capacity of three lakh units per annum at its newly developed manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The Seltos will be the first offering from Kia in India, which will be followed by a new car in every six to nine months, lining up at least five vehicles by 2021.

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  • Tesla To Soon Get Netflix, YouTube Streaming Support

    Tesla To Soon Get Netflix, YouTube Streaming Support

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that people would be soon able to stream videos on digital platforms like Netflix and YouTube in parked Tesla electric vehicles. “Ability to stream YouTube and Netflix when car is stopped coming to your Tesla soon! Has an amazingly immersive, cinematic feel due to the comfy seats & surround sound audio,” Musk wrote on his Twitter handle.

    “When full self-driving is approved by regulators, we will enable video while moving,” he added.

    The desire to allow drivers and passengers to watch video is not a total surprise – Musk noted at E3 that the ability to watch YouTube was coming, The Verge said.

    Tesla has already unveiled games that drivers can play on the displays in their cars. The games also only work when the car is stationary so that the player can use the steering wheel as a controller.

    On Friday, the company announced that chess game is also coming to the Tesla Arcade.

    But there are huge concerns that come along with such features.

    Test vehicles are required to have a driver behind the wheel to take over in case something goes wrong, and even as self-driving technology improves, it’s hard to imagine that going away completely, the report said.

    In March 2017, an Uber self-driving car crashed into pedestrian in Arizona as the driver was watching The Voice on content streaming platform Hulu and lost track of the road.

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  • Germany’s Continental, Jungheinrich Hit Brakes As Auto Sector Slows

    Germany’s Continental, Jungheinrich Hit Brakes As Auto Sector Slows

    A slowing auto sector prompted profit warnings from supplier Continental and paint systems producer Duerr late on Monday.Jungheinrich also lowered its outlook citing a downturn in the forklift truck  sector. It marked a fourth profit warning from Continental in 16 months, while French rival Faurecia on Tuesday stuck to its guidance. “The main reason is the continued decline in the global production of passenger cars and light vehicles,” Continental said, adding that car production will likely drop by 5% rather than remain flat.

    Despite the negative news Continental shares were up 4.6% at 0925 GMT.”The market is telling us that in the short run, the worst has been priced in,” said Evercore ISI analyst Arndt Ellinghorst.

    “The magnitude of the cut is worse than we were expecting and bodes poorly for the remainder of earnings season and 2020 outlooks.”

    Continental is due to release earnings on August 7.

    Duerr, which produces woodworking equipment and paint systems for the auto industry, said lower payment receipts from the auto sector had eaten into its free cashflow in the first half.

    The company, which is due to release first-half results on August 7, said its EBIT margin guidance of 7%-8% for 2020 is under review.

    Jungheinrich said there had been a sharp drop in customer investment.

    “This is due to the gloomier macroeconomic environment and the related current developments in the market for material handling equipment,” said Jungheinrich, which is due to release results on August 8.

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  • China’s BAIC Buys 5% Daimler Stake To Cement Alliance

    China’s BAIC Buys 5% Daimler Stake To Cement Alliance

    China’s Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd (BAIC) has bought a 5% stake in Daimler, cementing their long-standing alliance after China’s Geely emerged as a potential rival by also taking a stake in the German automaker.

    BAIC has been Daimler’s main partner in China for years, operating Mercedes-Benz factories in Beijing through Beijing Benz Automotive.

    But last year Li Shufu, the chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding, bought a 9.69% stake in the German company with the aim of forging an alliance to develop electric and self-driving cars.

    “This step reinforces our alignment with, and strong support for, Daimler’s management and strategy,” BAIC chairman Heyi Xu said on Tuesday.

    Reuters reported in May that BAIC was seeking to buy a stake of up to 5% in Daimler as a way to secure its investment in Beijing Benz Automotive.

    Daimler, which since 2013 has held a stake in BAIC’s Hong Kong-listed unit, said it welcomed BAIC’s investment.

    “The purchase of Daimler shares by BAIC will strengthen the cooperation between BAIC and Daimler,” said Jefferies analyst Patrick Yuan.

    “From this point of view, the possibility of Daimler increasing its stake in the Beijing Mercedes-Benz joint venture will be greatly reduced, which will benefit the shareholders of BAIC’s listed companies.”

    Shares in Daimler rose by more than 2.5%, while BAIC’s listed subsidiaries, BAIC Motor Corp and BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology, climbed by more than 3% and 5% respectively after the news.

    The high cost of electric car batteries has made it hard for automakers to build affordable zero-emissions vehicles, leading several of them to strike alliances with Chinese partners.

    Stuttgart-based Daimler in March agreed to build the next generation of Smart-branded city cars together with Geely, which is based in Hangzhou.

    Daimler has reassured BAIC that any new industrial alliances involving Mercedes and a Chinese partner would only happen after a consensus is found with BAIC.

    Geely declined to comment on the BAIC-Daimler deal but referred to past statements which said it was committed to long-term investment and healthy collaboration with Daimler.

    Daimler shares have lost about 30% of their value since Li Shufu disclosed his stake, hit by a string of profit warnings linked to a slowing auto market and diesel emissions costs.

  • Mercedes-Benz To Start Assembling Cars In Egypt

    Mercedes-Benz To Start Assembling Cars In Egypt

    Mercedes-Benz and the Egyptian government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to locally assemble the company’s passenger cars in the country. This is the result of successful discussions with the Egyptian government. This planned commitment is set to further improve the market position of Mercedes-Benz Cars in Egypt. The Memorandum of Understanding not only describes a local Mercedes-Benz passenger car assembly, but also contains other potential fields of cooperation. The assembly will be set up by a local business partner. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz Cars emphasises the involvement and know-how of Egyptian suppliers.

    “In building up a local car assembly, we will be able to structure our production network even more flexibly and efficiently and respond even better to the needs of our customers,” says Jorg Burzer, Executive Board member Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain.

    In view of the long-term market potential, further investments are also conceivable, for example expansion of the dealer network, a logistical hub in the Suez Canal Special Economic Zone and a training centre. Furthermore, the company has offered to make its specialist expertise with respect to modern mobility concepts, e-mobility and electric vehicles, as well as autonomous driving, available.

    With the planned car assembly operation in Egypt, Mercedes-Benz Cars is supporting Egypt as an industrial location. Already now, Mercedes-Benz is securing more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in Egypt with its own import and sales organisation, a central spare parts warehouse and numerous authorised retailers and workshops in Cairo, Gizeh, Alexandria and Hurghada. With the new car assembly operation, Mercedes-Benz Cars will create new employment and contribute to better training opportunities with the planned training centre.

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  • New Flagship SUV From Audi Reveiled

    New Flagship SUV From Audi Reveiled

    The new Audi SQ8 breaks cover! It is the new flagship SUV from Audi and it gets a massive 4.0-liter V8 turbo-diesel engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. The V8 pumps out a mind-boggling 900 Nm of peak torque. The SUV gets an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Audi hasn’t revealed the power figures yet. The Audi SQ8’s 48-volt mild-hybrid makes up to 10 bhp under braking lets the SQ8 coast for up to 40 seconds without the engine being active, at speeds between 55 kmph to 160 kmph. Also, the diesel engine turns of one of the two turbo-chargers at city speeds to increase the efficiency as well. The Audi SQ8 has a 0-100 kmph sprint time of 4.8 kmph and a top speed of 250 kmph which is electronically limited.

    Built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, the Audi SQ8 can also be specified with an optional suspension package which also includes a sport differential and an adaptive air suspension. The air suspension can adjust the ride height of the SQ8 by up to 90 mm. The other feature is the electromechanical active roll stabilization which reduces body roll when cornering hard. Audi also offers all-wheel steering as an option on the SQ8.

    As far as looks are concerned, the Audi SQ8 gets a new grille with a silver frame along with re-designed air inlets. The rear end of the car gets a new diffuser in black color and gets quad exhaust tips. The cabin gets Alcantara leather upholstery along with ‘S’ logos embossed on the seats and stainless steel pedals. The Audi SQ8 also gets two touchscreens and the Audi Virtual Cockpit with displays specific to the SQ8.

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