Nissan will be the featured marque at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion on August 23-26 at Laguna Seca. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ As analysts predicted, new car sales among the Detroit Three declined in February, falling 6.9 percent over the same period last year to 220,905 units. More at The Detroit News.
+ GMC has unveiled its 2019 Sierra 1500 pickup with a carbon-fiber cargo box, split tailgate, and other features intended to distance the truck from the herd. More at Motor Trend.
+ Toyota will expand its portfolio of hybrid models with the launch of the latest Auris hatchback, which will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show on March 6. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Marc Werner, head of BMW Australia, says the carmaker’s Australian dealers are calling out for a ute-style pickup to compete against the Mercedes-Benx X class. More at Car Advice.
+ Fernando Alonso of McLaren was the only driver to complete a timed lap as heavy snow interrupted the third day of Formula 1 preseason testing in Barcelona. More at Racer.
+ The production all-electric Jaguar I-Pace crossover has officially been revealed with photos, specifications, and deliveries scheduled for the second half of this year. More at Autoblog.
+ Steve Lauletta is stepping down as president of Chip Ganassi Racing, the team announced, with chief operating officer Doug Duchardt temporarily assuming many of his duties. More at Yahoo! Sports.
+ President Donald Trump has announced heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, a move expected to increase costs for American automakers and suppliers. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ As the automaker marks its 50th anniversary in racing, Nissan will be the featured marque at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion on August 23-26 at Laguna Seca. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.
+ Rome plans to ban diesel cars from the city’s center by 2024 to relieve extreme traffic congestion and reduce damage to ancient outdoor monuments, the mayor announced. More at Reuters.
+ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced it field an entry in the Indy 500 for driver Sage Karam and sponsor Wix Filters, with additional IndyCar events possible this season. More at Motorsport.com.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from February 26 here.
Photo courtesy of Laguna Seca Raceway.
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it’s SAGE Karam, but any mention of Indycar is appreciated.
I understand that tariffs will raise costs, but we should never have let the US steel and aluminum industries wither away. God forbid we need to build battleships again and are cut off from Asian supplies. Wall Street’s unrelenting focus on raising dividends has ruined this country.
Carbon fiber is a bear to clean off the racetrack and causes punctures. I hope GM knows what they’re doing. After tearing apart the aluminum Fords for several years on tv, they’ve closed that avenue.
Nice catch, thanks for the correction. Curse you, autocorrect.
Steel and aluminum tariffs would be a disaster for the American car industry, sending production offshore.