Helio Castroneves of Team Penske is among the favorites to win the pole position in this weekend’s qualifying for the 2014 Indianapolis 500. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. -IMS photo by Mike Harding
Links open in new windows
+ General Motors has issued five new recalls on more than 2.7 million Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Saturn vehicles to correct multiple defects. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ A weakening of the Canadian dollar will benefit that nation’s auto industry, says Don Walker, CEO of Toronto-based Magna International. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ Chrysler has launched production of the new nine-speed automatic transmission at its Tipton County, Indiana plant, generating 850 new jobs in 2015. More at Carscoops.
+ Qualifying for the 2014 Indianapolis 500 will begin on Saturday, May 17, with the Pole Day shootout scheduled for Sunday. More at the Indianapolis Star.
+ Aston Martin has unveiled a major new product strategy with $845 million in new investment and a plan to become profitable by 2016. More at The Detroit Bureau.
+ OAL Severstal, the Russian company that operates the massive Rouge steel plant, is considering purchase offers for the former Ford facility. More at Crain’s Detroit Business.
+ Seven-time Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi plans to ask Yamaha for an additional two years on his current rider contract. More at Crash.net.
+ General Motors will invest $10 million to expand its customer care and aftersales facility in Swartz Creek, Michigan, west of Flint. More at MLive.com.
+ BMW CEO says the company may expand production of the Mini into a new plant in Mexico. More at The New York Times.
+ AJ Watson, famed car builder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s roadster era, has passed away at age 90. More at USA Today.
For the previous Executive Briefing from May 12, click here.
Nine-speed? I’m beginning to wonder if transmissions are the new multi-bladed razor.