This 1964 Lotus 34 Indy car driven by Clark, Jones, Gurney, and Foyt will be among the star attractions at the Bonhams Quail Lodge sale on August 18. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines:

+   High-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk says he has verbal approval to start building an ultra-high-speed underground transportation system between New York and Washington DC. More at the The New York Times. 

+   Jaguar Land Rover has opened its first engine plant outside Britain with a $1.6 billion facility in China constructed in a joint venture with the Chery Automobile Company. More at Retuers. 

+   Ford has introduced the 2018 F-150 Police Responder, the automaker’s first pickup rated for police pursuit duty and powered by a 375 hp EcoBoost V6. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Hendrick Motorsports announced that Alex Bowman, 24, will take over the ride vacated by the retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr., with sponsorship from current backers Exalta and Nationwide. More at ESPN. 

+   German luxury automotive brand Audi has apologized for airing a sexist television commercial in China in which a bride is inspected as if she were a used car. More at USA Today. 

+   Harley-Davidson shares tumbled earlier this week when the company cut back its annual shipments projection and predicted an hourly workforce reduction later this year. More at CNBC. 

+   BMW announced that sales chief Ian Robertson will retire in mid-2018, to be succeeded by Pieter Nota, chief marketing officer of Dutch electronics giant Philips. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   With partner Magna Steyr, Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the manufacture of 300,000 G-class sport utility vehicles since the series was launched in 1979. More at Motor Trend. 

+   President Dennis Williams of the United Auto Workers says the union has a good shot at winning a certification election at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   The FIA, the technical governing body for Formula 1, has announced that the halo driver protection device will be introduced to the series in 2018. More at Racer.  

+   The 1964 Lotus-Ford in which A.J. Foyt won the pole position for the 1965 Indy 500 will be among the featured attractions at the Bonhams Quail Lodge sale on August 18. More at Hemmings Daily. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from July 17 here.  

Photo courtesy of Bonhams 

Have you joined Mac’s Motor City Garage on Facebook? It’s lots of fun with rare photos, car lore, trivia, and great discussions. Click here to go the page and join MCG. Be sure to check out our companion Facebook page MOTOROLOGY, too.