This stunning 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso was the top seller at the RM Auctions Paris sale this week, hammering down for $1.86 million. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ General Motors will build the Chevrolet Bolt, its new $30,000 electric car, and an Opel companion model at its Lake Orion, Michigan plant north of Detroit. More at Reuters.
+ A former Takata Corp. engineer who left the firm in 1999 told a congressional committee he will testify that he warned the company of hazards with its ammonium nitrate airbag propellant. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ Ford has unveiled a new Focus RS with all-wheel drive and a 2.3 liter EcoBoost four that produces more than 315 horsepower. More at Motor Trend.
+ Linda Gooden, former executive vice president at Lockheed Martin, will become the fifth woman and second African-American on the board of directors at General Motors. More at the The Detroit News.
+ Harley-Davidson Motor Co. has appointed Matt Levatich as its new chief executive officer effective May 1, replacing the retiring Keith Wandell. More at CNBC.
+ Former Indy car driver Brian Till has been named race director and chief driver steward of the Pirelli World Challenge, series operator WC Vision announced. More at Racer.
+ A committee of 10 automakers is close to hiring airbag expert and former NHTSA administrator David Kelly, as well as a forensic engineering firm, to lead an investigation of Takata airbags. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Skoda has ramped up production at its Mladá Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic from 800 to 1200 vehicles per day, adding 800 more workers and a third shift. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ NASCAR star Tony Stewart, who last week bought the All-Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series, says he may never race a sprint car again. More at Fox Sports.
+ The RM Auctions Paris 2015 sale held at Place Vauban during Salon Retromobile generated total sales of $22.1 million USD and an 82 percent sell-through rate. More at Sports Car Digest.
+ Two auto parts executives at Japanese auto parts supplier Mitsuba Corporation were indicted in Detroit for allegedly conspiring to fix prices and rig bids. More at USA Today.
For the previous Executive Briefing from February 2, click here.
I was at the RM auction and, as stated in the article, the room was packed and electric. Nice mix of cars and extremely well organzied; as to be expected from RM. The 904 was the star for me but Alfa sure is a beautiful car. The addition of all the auctions has made Retromobile week even more special.
Sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve never gotten to go except to work. Would love to get back there.