The Bob McDorman Automotive Museum in Canal Winchester, Ohio will be permanently closed at the end of the year and its collection of vintage Chevrolets and automobilia will be liquidated. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Rumors suggest that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles could sell off its Maserati and Alfa Romeo premium brands to help pay off a portion of its debt, currently said to be around $7 billion. More at Motor Trend.
+ Ford Motor Co. will triple the number of autonomous research vehicles in its fleet in 2017 to around 90 units, for testing in Michigan, California, and Arizona. More at The Detroit News.
+ Share prices in the troubled airbag maker Takata Corp. surged for a second day on reports that criminal charges with the U.S. Justice Department will soon be settled. More at Reuters.
+ Team manager Franz Tost says the Toro Rosso Formula 1 organization is in talks with a potential sponsor to rebrand its engines, which will be supplied by Renault in 2017. More at Motorsport.com.
+ Lamborghini research and development chief Maurizio Reggiani confirmed that the Urus SUV with twin-turbo V8 will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. More at Autoblog.
+ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating nearly a half-million 2007-2009 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milans for a potential brake system defect. More at MLive.
+ Battle lines are forming in a showdown between Tata Sons and its ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry over control of the $100 billion Indian automotive conglomerate. More at Fortune.
+ Automotive supplier Flex-N-Gate Corp. will acquire seven European plants operated by bumper and fascia maker Plastic Omnium. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ A year and a half after the passing of its founder, the Bob McDorman Automotive Museum near Columbus, Ohio will close and the collection of vintage Chevrolets and automobilia will be liquidated. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Alex Job Racing confirmed it will compete in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2017 with a new Audi R8 LMS for drivers Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo. More at Racer.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from December 26 here.
Photo courtesy of the Bob McDorman Automotive Museum
Have you joined Mac’s Motor City Garage on Facebook? It’s lots of fun with rare photos, car lore, trivia, and great discussions. Click here to go the page and join MCG. Be sure to check out our companion Facebook page MOTOROLOGY, too.