This 1929 Duesenberg J with distinctive coachwork by Derhham and Bohman and Schwartz was among the top 10 sellers at the annual RM Sotheby’s Auburn Fall auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s Headlines:

+   Toyota said it is in talks with Chinese automaker Geely about partnering in gasoline-electric hybrid technology as Toyota ramps up its sales efforts in China. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   Ford has launched a blog to chronicle the development of on an electric crossover with Mustang-inspired styling that is due to appear in showrooms sometime in 2020. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Motus Motorcycles, the Birmingham, Alabama-based maker of V4-powered luxury touring bikes, has ceased operations after its investors withdrew funding. More at Motorcycle & Powersports News. 

+   Furniture Row Racing, the defending NASCAR Monster Cup champion with Toyota and driver Martin Truex Jr., announced it will cease operations at the end of 2018. More at USA Today. 

+   Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will spend more than $30 million on a new test facility for autonomous vehicles at its Chelsea Proving Grounds west of Detroit. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   Spy photographers have captured the best glimpses yet of the 2020 C8 mid-engine Corvette, wearing tight-fitting camo wrap in track testing at the Nurburgring in Germany. More at Motor Trend.

+   The Tesla 3 electric sedan was the fifth-best selling passenger car in the United States for the month of August and 15th for all new vehicles overall at 20,450 units.  More at The Drive. 

+   Top sellers at the 2018 RM Sotheby’s Auburn Fall sale included a 1929 Duesenberg J Sedan at $737,000 and a 1957 Mercedes 300SL roadster at $852,500. More at Hemmings Daily. 

+   The family of IndyCar driver Robert Wickens has revealed the extent of his injuries, including fractures to his hands and legs and indeterminate damage to his spinal cord. More at Racer. 

+   Burt Reynolds, the star of numerous car-guy movie favorites including the Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run series, has passed away at 82. More at The Hollywood Reporter. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from September 3 here. 

Photo by Theodore W. Pieper, copyright and courtesy RM Sotheby’s.  

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