This 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C is expected to fetch from $2 million to $2.4 million at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona Auction later this month. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines:

+   General Motors reported sales of nearly 44,000 electric vehicles in 2017, including more than 23,000 examples of the Chevy Bolt, which went on sale in August. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Tatsuro Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation president during its global expansion in the 1990s and a son of company founder Kiichiro Toyoda, has passed away at 88. More at ABC News. 

+   The German paper  Bild am Sonntag has projected that Volkswagen will report 10.7 million sales in 2017, edging Toyota as world sales leader for another year. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   Scott Pruett, 58, seven-time sports car champion and five-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner, has announced he will retire from driving following the Rolex 24 at Daytona this month. More at ESPN. 

+   Ford CEO Jim Hackett visited factory workers in Chicago on Friday, following up on a public apology for chronic workplace sexual harassment at two area plants. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   The Bentayga, Bentley’s $200,000 plug-in hybrid crossover that shares a drivetrain with the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid, will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.  More at Motor Trend. 

+   Spy photographers have captured the mid-engine Corvette prototype in winter testing in the snow wearing heavy camouflage and a revised wheel and tire combination. More at Autoblog. 

+   The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports that vehicle sales in the United Kingdom fell 5.7 percent in 2017 to 2.54 million vehicles, the first decline in six years. More at USA Today. 

+   Shelby Cobra no CSX304, one of the 31 Semi-Competition 427 models produced, will be among the headline attractions at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale on January 18-19. More at Classic Cars.com Journal. 

+   Cadillac DPi-V.R prototypes swept the top spots in the Roar Before the 24 open test session in preparation for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona on January 27-28. More at Racer. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from January 5 here. 

Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s. 

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