The Evolution of the Fastback, showcasing designs like this 1941 Pontiac Streamliner, will be among the featured categories at the the 2016 St. John’s Concours in Plymouth, Michigan in July. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Ford has formed a new division, Ford Smart Mobility LLC, that will focus on ride-sharing, autonomous vehicles, and transportation services, with former Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett as chairman. More at USA Today.
+ A former employee of Volkswagen’s U.S. division is suing the company for damages, alleging the company fired him for flagging illegally deleted data related to the emissions scandal. More at Reuters.
+ Maserati North America is recalling some Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans to correct a driver-side floor mat that could come adrift and interfere with the throttle pedal. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ General Motors has acquired Cruise Automation, a three year-old San Francisco technology firm that operates autonomous cars in the city. More at The Detroit News.
+ WC Vision LLC, producers of the Pirelli World Challenge, announced a multi-year extension with the Sports Car Club of America Pro Racing division to continue as series sanctioning body. More at Sportscar 365.
+ Campaigning in Ohio, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pledged to rework international trade agreements that harm the U.S. auto and steel industries. More at Autoblog.
+ Gimv announced that its Belgian holding Punch Powertrain, a pioneer in constantly variable transmissions, has been acquired by China’s Yinyi Group. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ Ford has introduced Type IV ballistic panels of lightweight ceramic material for its Police Interceptor SUV that can stop .30 caliber armor-piercing ammunition. More at Gizmag.
+ Red Bull Formula 1 owner Dietrich Mateschitz has cast doubts on the team’s future, asserting that it will leave the series if competitive engines cannot be obtained. More at Yahoo! Sport UK.
+ Featured exhibition categories at the 2016 Concours d’Elegance of America on July 29- 31 at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan will include The Evolution of the Fastback. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ The U.S. model of the new Cadillac XT5 could get the division’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four with around 270 hp, an engine already slated for the China version. More at Motor Trend.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from March 11 here.
Fords new division will be headed by a former Steelcase CEO. Does this mean that their new cars will no longer look like jelly beans and will now look like filing cabinets?
Excellent, very droll. You win the Internet today.