Don Varner’s California Star, 1984 winner of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award, will be offered without reserve at the Mecum Monterey auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s Headlines:

+   Daimler cut its 2019 earnings outlook back to 2018 levels due to costs related to continuing emissions-compliance issues for its diesel vehicles. More at Automotive News Europe.

+   Andreas Preuninger, director of Porsche’s GT program, says the German sports car maker has no plans to convert the GT road cars to electric or hybrid anytime soon. More at The Drive. 

+   Velodyne Lidar, a Silicon Valley-based company specializing in autonomous vehicle technology, has retained a group of four banks to pursue a public stock offering. More at Reuters. 

+   Indy 500 winner and 2014 series champion Will Power proclaimed that the cars in the IndyCar Series have become more physically demanding than those of Formula 1. More at Racer. 

+  Korean automakers Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia drew top marks in the latest JD Power annual quality survey, followed by the Ford, Lincoln, and Chevrolet brands. More at CNBC. 

+   According to a new study, carmakers are misleading drivers with names for their self-driving systems that suggest more capability than the systems possess. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Eleven famous cars from the estate of pioneer California hot rodder Blackie Gejeian will be among the star attractions at the Mecum Monterey sale on August 15-17. More at Hemmings Daily. 

+   After a nine-hour strike, 1,900 workers at the Michigan Faurecia plant returned to work when the company and the United Auto Workers reached a tentative work agreement. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

 +   Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee opens its 11th season on Netlfix with episodes featuring Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais, and others. More at Classic Cars.com Journal. 

+   Charlotte Motor Speedway has widened and reconfigured the chicane on the roval course in preparation for the NASCAR Monster Cup race on September 27-29. More at Jayski. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from June 21 here.

Photo courtesy and copyright Mecum Auctions. 

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