At $522,500, this authentic recreation of Captain Babe Barnato’s famed 1930 Bentley Blue Train coupe was among the top sellers at the Auctions America Fort Lauderdale sale. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines:

+   In a third bellwether ignition switch lawsuit, General Motors and plantiff’s attorneys have reached a settlement before going to trial. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   In answer to major shareholders, Volkswagen chief executive Matthias Mueller will push for a significant reduction in bonuses for the carmaker’s management board this week. More at Reuters.

+   Profits at Nippon Ceramic Co. are expected to double this year on sales of a 92-cent ultrasonic crash avoidance sensor that is critical in autonomous vehicles. More at Bloomberg.com. 

+   Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has tapped comic Jim Gaffigan and his real-life wife and children to showcase the Chrysler Pacifica minivan in commercials presenting a “Dad brand” theme. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Five-time IHRA Top Sportsman champion Ronnie Davis received fatal injuries while photographer Ian Toucher remains hospitalized following a finish-line crash at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. More at The Fayette Observer. 

+   In Germany last month, the Ford Mustang outsold the Audi TT, Mercedes E-Class coupe, and Porsche 911 by a significant margin at 780 units. More at CNET. 

+   Mazda’s next generation of Mazdaspeed high performance models will be less “childish” and more mature in execution, says executive Masashiro Moro. More at Australia’s Motoring. 

+   The British Racing Driver’s Club (BRDC) voted to move forward with negotiations to turn over the historic Silverstone racing circuit to Jaguar Land Rover in a $46.6 million, 249-year lease. More at Motor Trend.

+   Meadow Walker, daughter of the late actor Paul Walker, has agreed to a $10.1 million settlement with the estate of Roger Rodas over the road accident that claimed the lives of Walker and Rodas. More at Autoblog. 

+   The Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 auction at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center produced more than $20 million in sales and a 70 percent sell-through rate. More at Sports Car Digest. 

+   Gunther Steiner of the American Haas Formula 1 organization says their points-earning performance in the first two events of 2016 will encourage more new teams to join the series. More at Racer. 

Read the previous Executive Briefing from April 7 here.

Photo courtesy of Auctions America. 

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