Hammering in at $880,000, this 1931 Duesenberg J Murphy Convertible Sedan was the top seller at the Auctions America Auburn Sale on Labor Day weekend. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines: 

+   Volkswagen engineer James Liang, a German citizen living in California, has pleaded guilty in the diesel emissions scandal and has agreed to cooperate fully with authorities. More at CNN Money. 

+   Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk says the latest version of the automaker’s Autopilot system likely would have prevented a fatal accident in Florida last May. More at Reuters. 

+   General Motors is recalling nearly 4.3 million 2014-2017 vehicles worldwide to correct a software defect that prevents air bags from deploying in an impact. More at Gizmodo. 

+   Driver Shane Unger, 35, was killed in a multi-car crash in a heat race for the World 100 dirt late model event at Eldora Speedway in New Weston, Ohio. More at NBC News. 

+   Mercedes-Benz is planning to produce electric vans equipped with automated drones as part of a $562 million, five-year investment designed to expedite online product orders. More at Automotive Business Review.

+   The 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Coupe due in showrooms this month has been priced at $52,200, with an all-wheel-drive version for an additional $2,000. More at Motor Trend.  

+   Spy photos have emerged of the refreshed Dodge Durango due in 2017, including what could be the next high-performance SRT model. More at Autoblog. 

+   Top sellers at the Auctions America Auburn sale on Labor Day weekend included a 1931 Duesenberg Convertible Sedan at $880,000 and a customized 1963 Corvette coupe at $236,500. More at Hemmings Daily. 

+   At Richmond, the 16 contenders for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase playoff were selected, with 2015 Champion Kyle Busch seeded first and Jamie McMurray taking the final position. More at the The Charlotte Observer. 

+   The Chinese government is drawing back on incentives for electric vehicle makers and has levied fines against five such companies for abusing the programs. More at Bloomberg.com. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from September 9 here.

Photo by Tyler Allen courtesy of Auctions America. 

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