BMW says it will be able to offer 435-mile range on its electric vehicles by 2021, and it will have 25 EV models in its product lineup by 2025. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Cadillac will unveil an all-new, 550-horsepower twin-turbo V8 engine in a V-Sport version of its CT6 luxury sedan at the New York Auto Show next week. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Bucking the global trend, Mercedes-Benz will introduce diesel-hybrid versions of its C-Class and E-Class vehicles this summer with third-gen hybrid technology. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will repurpose the former Viper assembly plant in Detroit as a private, invitation-only museum for the company’s historic vehicle collection. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Effective April 1, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California will be rebranded as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in a five-year agreement worth $5 million. More at Road Racing World.com.
+ Experts say video of a fatal Arizona crash involving a self-driving Uber SUV shows the vehicle’s laser and radar sensors should have spotted a pedestrian before impact. More at The Detroit News.
+ Ford and Mahindra have formalized a strategic alliance to develop compact and midsize SUVs and an electric vehicle, primarily for the India market. More at Autocar Professional.
+ Audi executives are pushing back on reports that the automaker’s R8 sports coupe will be available with a twin-turbo V6 alongside the normally-aspirated V10 model. More at Autoblog.
+ Reaffirming its commitment to electric vehicles, BMW says it will be able to offer 435-mile range by 2021, and it will have 25 EV models in its product lineup by 2025. More at Motor Trend.
+ Court documents in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings of Charlotte-based BK Racing provide rare details on the finances of a NASCAR Monster Cup team. More at NBC Sports.
+ Ford Motor Co. is reportedly in negotiations to purchase and develop the former Michigan Central Station in Detroit’s Corktown district, which has stood dormant for decades. More at Crain’s Detroit Business.
+ Two-time Indy 500 winner Bryan Herta Autosport will debut its two-car Hyundai team in the Pirelli World Challenge season opener at Circuit of the Americas this weekend. More at Racer.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from March 19 here.
Photo courtesy of BMW.
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About Ford and Mahindra formalizing an alliance to develop compact and midsize SUVs, I hope Ford imports Mahindra’s small pick-up. I think US consumers would welcome a return of S-10’s & Rangers, instead of the bloated behemoths they are foisting on us today.
Clearly self driving cars, and even semi self drivers are still a LONG way off. Driver inattention was the problem here, but when you effectively ride in the car the attention is never what it should be.
Even cruise control is dangerous, I know of numerous crashes caused by cars on cruise running off the road, driver inattention or worse going to sleep the problem.
How many AV in the world being tested on public roads and how many have crashed?
As someone who is working (somewhat peripherally) with AV developers, I actually agree that the cars can’t really expect for a ‘driver’ to maintain attention when they’ve got nothing to do for hours on end.
BUT, I disagree that good technology is a long way off. Uber simply has no business working on AVs, they’ve proven yet again that they have no ethics at that company. Hopefully they’ll get sued out of existence.