This ex-works team 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder will be among the featured attractions at the 2018 Bonhams Scottsdale auction on January 18th. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines: 

+   For the first time last year, premium SUVs including the Volvo XC60, Audi Q5, and BMW X3 were bigger sellers in Europe than traditional luxury sedans. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   Michigan-based Meijer announced that the grocer and discount retail chain will test Tesla’s new all-electric semi trucks when they become available in 2019. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Zhejiang Geely, the Chinese automaker that owns Volvo, has agreed to acquire Terrafugia, an American startup company that is currently developing a flying car. More at Top Gear. 

+   With a victory in the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway, Furniture Row Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. sewed up the 2017 NASCAR Monster Cup title. More at CBS Sports. 

+   Volkswagen AG will invest nearly $27 billion in its core Volkswagen car brand over the next five years, with around $16 billion spent to be spent in Germany. More at Reuters.

+   Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the freshly unveiled Tesla Roadster will be offered with a special option package to increase performance even further. More at Fortune.

+   The Honda Accord was named Best Car Overall and Ford, Audi, Chevrolet, and Porsche earned class wins in Kelley Blue Book’s 2018 Best Buy car awards. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   Featured consignments at the 2018 Bonhams Scottsdale auction on January 18th will include an ex-works team 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder with a Le Mans race record. More at Sports Car Digest. 

+   Without a full-time NASCAR ride for next year, Danica Patrick will compete in the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 in 2018, then retire from active competition. More at ESPN. 

+   Mercedes has released a teaser image of the next-generation 2019 CLS four-door sport coupe in advance of its official introduction at the Los Angeles Auto Show. More at Motor Trend. 

+   At Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York, a Ferrari F2001 driven by Michael Schumacher sold for $7.5 million, an auction record for Formula 1 cars. More at Classic Cars.com Journal. 

+   Circuit Zandvoort, home of the Dutch Grand Prix from 1948 to 1985, could realistically host a Formula 1 race from 2020, according to one of the track co-owners. More at Motorsport.com. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from November 17 here. 

Photo courtesy of Bonhams. 

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