As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, Suzuki is recognizing its earliest automotive products, including the two-stroke 1955 Suzulight. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ General Motors announced it will resume production at three critical parts plants next week to enable the May 18 restart of most of its U.S. assembly plants. More at The Detroit News.
+ Mazda Motor Corporation has sought loans totaling around $2.8 billion from Japan’s three largest banks and other lenders to ride out the coronavirus pandemic. More at Reuters.
+ Tesla CEO Elon Musk vowed to move the electric carmaker’s headquarters from California to Texas when county authorities blocked his plans to reopen the assembly plant. More at Car and Driver.
+ As NASCAR continues to reshuffle its 2020 Cup schedule, the series announced that Chicagoland, Richmond, and Sonoma have lost their events for this season. More at Jayski.
+ The third wife and widow of Henry Ford II, Kathleen DuRoss Ford, who in recent years lived in Palm Beach, Florida, has passed away at 80. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Ford’s mid-sized Ranger pickup somehow managed to score a 123 percent increase in sales in the first quarter of 2020, and is now third in the category to Chevy and Toyota. More at The Drive.
+ The 2021 Camaro will receive two Wild Cherry design packages for the coupe and convertible with a premium exterior finish, 20-inch spoked wheels, and unique badging. More at Autoblog.
+ Officials of the annual SEMA performance industry trade show report that so far, plans are still on to host the 2020 event on its traditional early November date. More at Autoweek.
+ As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, Suzuki of Japan is marking its long history in the automotive industry, which began in 1955 with the 1,100 lb Suzulight. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.
+ American racing legend Mario Andretti has rolled out the welcome mat for Ferrari to compete in the IndyCar series, but acknowledges that a rules change would be required. More at Motorsport.com.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from May 8 here.
Photo courtesy of Suzuki.
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