At $3.695 million, this 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL with only 1,380 kilometers on the clock was the top seller at the Artcurial LeMans Classic Auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s Headlines:

+   New General Motors chief financial officer Dhivya Suryadevara will earn around $5 million per year, more than her predecessor but less than her Ford counterpart. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   The Trump administration can expect a strong and united response from Europe to any further tariff increases, warns French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   Ford sales in China continue to slide as volume fell 38 percent in June and the company recorded its worst first-half figures since 2001, according to LMC Automotive. More at Reuters. 

+   After nearly 20 years and eight NHRA Top Fuel championships, the U.S. Army has ended its sponsorship agreement with Don Schumacher Racing and driver Tony Schumacher. More at NBC Sports. 

+   Spy photographers have captured images of the 2020 Mercedes S-Class that reveal major redesigns of the interior and exterior on the brand’s flagship sedan. More at Motor Trend. 

+   Top sellers at the Artcurial Motorcars Le Mans Classic auction included a pair of Mercedes-Benz 300SLs and a 1975 Lamborghini LP400 Countach Periscopio. More at Classic Cars.com Journal. 

+   Production has begun on the 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe at the Dingolfing, Germany assembly plant, with cars scheduled to appear in showrooms this November. More at Autoevolution.  

+   General Motors has filed a patent application with drawings that show a two-door Cadillac coupe with a radically sloping roofline and Camaro-like, long hood/short deck proportions. More at Autoblog.

+   Volvo has announced the creation of a mobility brand  called M that will launch in the United States and Europe next year and will eventually include a ride sharing service. More at The Drive. 

+   Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo says he is likely to renew his deal with the Red Bull team in 2019 because the “two most attractive” alternatives are no longer available to him. More at Motorsport.com. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from July 6 here. 

Photo courtesy of Artcurial Motorcars. 

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