The 1953 Cadillac LeMans is one of three famed General Motors concept vehicles just inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register in Washington, DC. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Cadillac will unveil its new CT6 rear-drive luxury flagship sedan on March 31 in a preview event in advance of the 2015 New York Auto Show. More at AutoGuide.com.
+ Toyota has broken ground on its new North American home office at Headquarters Drive and Palomino Crossing in Plano, Texas. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ A Takata Corporation executive has been indicted by the U.S. Justice dept. for conspiring to fix prices on seat belts sold to five five automakers. More at Reuters.
+ Ford Motor Co. has opened a new Silicon Valley research and development center in Palo Alto, California near Stanford University. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon announced that 2015 will be his last full season in the Sprint Cup series, but has ruled out complete retirement. More at ESPN.
+ With a final tally of 10.23 million vehicles sold in 2014. Toyota remains the world’s largest automaker for a third straight year. More at The Detroit News.
+ Tom Kowaleski, renowned PR and communications specialist for Ford, Chrysler, GM, and BMW, has passed away at 63. More at The Detroit Bureau.
+ With Oswaldo Negri at the controls, the Ligier JS P2 Honda HPD of Michael Shank Racing claimed pole position for this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. More at Racer.
+ Three historic prototype concept vehicles from General Motors—the Buick Wildcat II, the 1953 Cadillac LeMans, and the GM Futureliner—are the most recent inductees in the National Historic Vehicles Register. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Without a contract from either the Hockenheim or Nürburgring circuits, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says the German Grand Prix could fall from the 2015 schedule. More at SkySports.
For the previous Executive Briefing from January 19, click here.
I would not be surprised to see Jeff Gordon managing a Hendrick effort in Indycar in two or three years using drivers that have come up through Tony Stewart’s open-wheel teams.
After the way he was treated by the team owners in CART, I doubt Jeff has any interest in IndyCar racing.