Trading hands at $112,125, this 1949 Vincent Series B Black Shadow was among the top 10 sellers at last weekend’s Mecum Las Vegas motorcycle auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ As the auto industry slows down from record peaks, January sales at General Motors slipped 3.8 percent, Ford Motor Co. 1 percent, and Fiat Chrysler 11 percent. More at MLive.
+ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will offset the high costs of relaunching Alfa Romeo by sharing the brand’s Giorgio platform with Maserati, Dodge and Jeep, says CEO Sergio Marchionne. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ BMW has named Bernhard Kuhnt as its new CEO for North America, replacing Ludwig Willisch, who stays on as chief of BMW Group Region Americas. More at BMW Blog.
+ Canada-based Magna International has opened the new $48 million headquarters for its seating division in Novi, Michigan, just outside Detroit. More at Crain’s Detroit Business.
+ Minimum vehicle weight in the Formula 1 series for 2017 has been increased from 702 kg to 728 kg in response to wider, heavier tires from supplier Pirelli. More at Motorsport.com.
+ As part of its Reborn series, Land Rover Classic will produce a series of remanufactured first-generation Range Rovers, priced at $170,000 and initially limited to 10 vehicles. More at Autoblog.
+ Italian carmaker Ferrari posted a stronger-than-expected 38 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings, boosting its U.S. share price more than 4 percent. More at CNBC.
+ Uber Technologies CEO Travis Kalanick has quit President Donald Trump’s business advisory group amid mounting pressure from customers and employees. More at Reuters.
+ Top sellers at last weekend’s Las Vegas classic motorcycle auctions included a 1912 Henderson Four at Mecum auctions for $490,000 and a 1914 Feilbach at Bonhams for $195,000. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ The NASCAR team of Stewart-Haas Racing, which is switching from Chevrolet to Ford for 2017, completed a two-day test of its new equipment at Phoenix International Raceway. More at Racer.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from January 30 here.
Photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
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Magna is hiring in Novi and Detroit.
For Vincents in their best form search You Tube for ‘Vincents at Broadford speedway’ One of the clips has four running including the ex Len Bowes supercharged example. And crank the sound right up!