For the second year in a row, Motor Trend Magazine has given the Ram 1500 its Truck of the Year award. Get all the latest car industry news in the Executive Briefing.
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+ General Motors will move the Chevrolet brand out of Europe by the end of 2015 to focus on the Opel and Vauxhall brands. More at Yahoo! News.
+ The Chinese government has approved Renault’s $1.3 billion joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group. More at Reuters.
+ Ford CEO Alan Mulally will not deny reports that he is a leading candidate to take the top post at Microsoft. More at CNBC.
+ The Jaguar Land Rover division of Tata Motors is planning a $392 million plant in Itatiaia, Brazil. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ According to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Network, GM could cease production at Holden by 2016. More at ABC Australia.
+ The New Jersey, Mexican and Korean dates have been dropped from the 2014 Formula 1 calendar, while Austria and Russia have been added. More at BBC Sport.
+ The Ram 1500 has been named Motor Trend’s 2014 Truck of the Year for the second year in a row. More at Motor Trend.
+ Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been named NASCAR’s most popular driver for the 11th consecutive season. More at National Speed Sport News.
+ Chevrolet will debut a Z06 version of the seventh-gen Corvette at the North American International Auto Show next month. More at the Los Angeles Times.
For the previous Executive Briefing from December 2, click here.
Edsel Ford II went on record today and said that Mullally is not leaving for Microsoft. They’re making no promises beyond 2014 though. He was good for Ford but everyone who thinks he can rescue yet another company is delusional. Lightning rarely strikes twice in the same place. The auto business has similarities to building airplanes. Software is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.
I fear that it’s not the brand name on the side of the car that is GM’s problem in Europe. It’s the cars, and that won’t go away. And as they decide to abandon the Chevrolet name in Europe and bring back the indigenous brands, they’re doing what in Australia?
Pickups are not be bag so I don’t know if the Ram has the bona fides, but it looks attractive and the photo’s backdrop was well selected. They should fire the person who did the Photoshop work on everything forward of the windshield though. Sheetmetal doesn’t glow like that when you park in the shade. The shadows below the vehicle are wrong as well. Obvious deceptions only make one wonder what other lies are being presented. Kudos for picking up the yellow line in the front bumper though; the artist isn’t completely dense.