Volkswagen has rolled out a cargo van version of the ID.Buzz electric minibus, but it won’t be offered in the USA, the company says. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s Headlines: 

+   Mercedes-Benz holds $2.2 billion in assets that could be threatened by Russian proposals to nationalize the property of foreign companies, the German automaker says. More at Reuters. 

+   U.S. government regulators have issued final rules eliminating the need for vehicle manufacturers to equip fully autonomous vehicles with manual driving controls. More at U.S. News and World Report. 

+   Due to the microchip shortage, Ford will begin shipping Explorer models to dealers without the rear seat control modules for the heater, ventilation, and air conditioning. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   The McLaren Formula 1 team has signed 21 year-old Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver Colton Herta, son of Bryan Herta, to a test-driving and development contract. More at IndyStar. 

+   Stellantis North America chief operating officer Mark Stewart and Antonio Gamez Galaz have purchased the historic Fisher mansion in the Palmer Woods district of Detroit. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Volkswagen has unveiled a cargo van version of the ID.Buzz electric minibus, but the automaker has determined it is unsuited for the U.S. commercial vehicle market. More at Car and Driver. 

+   The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction reported an upsurge in TV audience as 15.3 million viewers tuned in to watch 38 hours of coverage on FYI and the History Channel. More at ClassicCars.com Journal. 

+   The average trade-in value for 2019 model-year vehicles is now 33 percent higher ($7,208) than their previously calculated residual value, according to research from Edmunds.com. More at CNBC. 

+   Audi’s plan to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 has reportedly been placed on hold due to supply chain issues, but sources suspect it has been cancelled entirely. More at Road & Track. 

+   Subaru announced it has halted development of the internal-combustion engine for the WRX STI, its performance halo model, opening the door for an all-electric replacement. More at Autoblog. 

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from March 11 here.