The 2025 Nissan Versa is the last new car in the USA you can buy for less than $20,000. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ SAIC Volkswagen, responding to reports that it would close its plant in Nanjing, China, has announced that adjusting its manufacturing outpur is “normal and necessary.” More at Reuters.
+ In an interview on Jay Leno’s Garage, General Motors president Mark Reuss asserted that while Corvette has the power of a standalone brand, it will never be spun off from Chevrolet. More at The Drive.
+ Porsche has filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a six-stroke piston engine with two compression strokes and two power strokes per cycle. More at Motor Authority.
+ Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in Zionsville, Indiana was visited by the FBI in an investigation of alleged intellectual property theft involving a former Andretti Global employee. More at Racer.
+ An Italian judge has seized money and assets worth almost $84 million from five people, including Stellantis and Ferrari chairman John Elkann, in a tax fraud probe. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Hourly workers at the General Motors CAMI assembly plant in Ontario approved a new two-year contract between the company and Unifor, the Canadian auto workers’ union. More at The Detroit News.
+ At $18,330, the 2025 Nissan Versa is the only new car sold in the United States priced at less than $20,000, though an automatic transmission lifts the price to $20,130. More at Car and Driver.
+ Silicon Valley-based EV maker Lucid Motors officially opened its new office in Southfield, Michigan as part of its strategic push to tap into Detroit’s automotive talent pool. More at CBT News.
+ Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen panned FIA officials for what he called its “silly” decision to punish drivers for foul language, saying he may leave the series. More at The Guardian.
+ Electrical engineer and radar detector pioneer Michael Valentine, founder of Cincinatti Microwave, which later became Escort Radar Detectors, has passed away at 74. More at Autoweek.
Photo courtesy of Nissan.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from September 20 here.
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Max Verstappen is just another spoiled athlete. He’s very good but the Red Bull team also plays a large part in his success. I’m sure he’s made millions but strongly doubt he’ll give up the gravy train over one day’s forced community service. Movement to any other series would be a downgrade in pay and visibility that would also affect his commercial opportunities.
” At $18,330, the 2025 Nissan Versa is the only new car sold in the United States priced at less than $20,000,” and is worth learning to drive stick for since the almost $2000-extra automatic is the infamous Nissan/JATCO CVT.