This rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico (one of 17) could bring up to $5 million at the Gooding and Company Scottsdale auction in January, experts say. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines:

+   According to a new study by Navigant Research, conventional gasoline-powered models will make up less than half of all new vehicle sales by 2017. More at Next-Gen Transportation News. 

+   Volkswagen’s flagship Audi division will increase investments on new plants, models, and technology through 2019 with the goal of displacing BMW as the world’s largest luxury-car maker. More at Reuters. 

+   FCA US (formerly Chrysler) is renovating its Windsor, Ontario minivan and cargo van assembly plant, adding a conveyor and a new skillet line. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   The McLaren Formula One team, which will use Honda power in 2015, has joined Red Bull and Ferrari in calling for an unfreezing of engine specifications. More at Racer. 

+   Nissan’s Infiniti brand may be shelving plans to produce the Q50 Eau Rouge super sedan, which was to use a 560 hp twin-turbo V6 from the GT-R. More at Autoblog. 

+   The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is closing three defect investigations into Chrysler vehicles after FCA US agreed to issue recalls covering more than 960,000 cars and trucks. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Chinese automaker BYD reports that chairman Wang Chuanfu has purchased additional shares, raising his stake in the company to 23.1 percent. More at Automotive Business Review. 

+   Tesla Motors is offering a suite of battery and vehicle upgrades for its discontinued Tesla Roadster that can increase range up to 400 miles. More at Bloomberg.com. 

+   Feature attractions at the Gooding and Company Scottsdale 2015 auction on Jan. 16-17 will include two important Ferraris: a 1959 250 GT LWB California Spider and a 1962 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico. More at Sports Car Digest.

+   The North Carolina Supreme Court has declined to rule on a lawsuit brought by Bruton Smith’s Speedway Motorsports, Inc., seeking tax breaks from Cabarrus County for the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex. More at the Charlotte Observer.

For the previous Executive Briefing from December 26, click here. 

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