Cadillac’s new XT6 three-row luxury SUV is aimed squarely at the Audi Q7 and Acura MDX. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Volkswagen Group’s deliveries rose 0.9 percent to a record 10.83 million in 2018, placing it neck-and-neck with Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi as the world’s largest carmaker. More at Reuters.
+ Nissan’s chief performance officer Jose Munoz, who took a leave of absence a week ago, has resigned in the wake of the arrest of former chairman Carlos Ghosn. More at The Detroit News.
+ Industry analysts are predicting a mild downturn in new car and light truck sales in 2019, pushing against headwinds generated by tariffs and slowing trends in the economy. More at Automotive News.
+ NASCAR laid off roughly 50 employees as a belt-tightening measure amid a plan to purchase International Speedway Corporation, the company’s track-owning sibling company. More at Fox News.
+ Ford will introduce a “big surprise” in the EV sector next year, says CEO Jim Hackett, driven by a commitment to invest $11 billion in electric vehicle development by 2022. More at CNBC.
+ The Lexus LC convertible concept, which is expected to make an appearance at the North American International Auto Show this week, is likely headed for production. More at Autoblog.
+ Spy photographers have captured detailed photos of the mid-engine C8 Corvette cabin in undisguised form, including a console-mounted push-button shifter. More at Carscoops.
+ Audi exterior design lead Andreas Mindt says the carmaker is working on a smaller, entry-level version of the E-Tron electric crossover for a debut at Geneva in March. More at The Drive.
+ In advance of the Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac unveiled the new XT6, a three-row luxury SUV designed to compete with the Lincoln Aviator and Audi Q7 and due in mid-2020. More at Automobile.
+ J.D. Gibbs, son of Joe Gibbs and co-chairman of Joe Gibbs Racing, has passed away at age 49 after a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. More at Sporting News.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from January 11 here.
Photo by General Motors.
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