MCG Executive Briefing for November 10, 2014

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Kevin HarvickWith a dominating win at Phoenix, Kevin Harvick raced his way into the final round for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup at Homestead next weekend. Get all the latest car biz news in the Executive Briefing.    -Photo by Harold Hinson/HHP for Chevy Racing   

 

 

Today’s headlines: 

+   General Motors will begin rolling out select vehicles with fully integrated Android-based infotainment systems by 2016. More at Motor Trend. 

+   United States Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have urged a criminal probe of Japanese airbag maker Takata Corp. following charges that the company covered up product defects. More at The Japan Times. 

+   The state of Michigan’s auto industry czar, Nigel Francis, has resigned after 14 months to return to the private sector in a position to be announced. More at The Detroit News.

+   Rookie Chase Elliott, the 18 year-old son of racing legend Bill Elliott, sewed up the Nationwide season title at Phoenix, becoming the youngest champion of a national touring series in NASCAR history. More at ESPN. 

+   Struggling to crack India’s economy car market, Toyota Motor has formed an alliance with minicar leader Daihatsu, in which Toyota holds a majority stake. More at Reuters. 

+   Police in Dover, Delaware are investigating charges of domestic abuse made by the ex-girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch. More at CBS News.

+   Nissan began production of the 2015 Murano at its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi, which now builds eight Nissan models. More at Automotive Business Review.

+   Jim Farley, Ford’s vice president of global marketing, will swap positions with Stephen Odell, the current chief of Ford operations in Europe. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

 +   In this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix, four drivers were eliminated from the Chase for the season title: Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, and Carl Edwards. Four drivers remain in contention going into the season finale at Homestead Miami: Kevin Harvick, Deny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Ryan Newman. More at Racer.

For the previous Executive Briefing from November 7, click here. 

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