MCG Executive Briefing for January 31, 2014

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NASCAR has launched a whole new playoff system for 2014—if this format had been used last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would now be Sprint Cup champion. Get all the latest car biz news in the Executive Briefing.   -NASCAR photo via Getty Images

 

 

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+   Toyota has halted sales of eight U.S. models—nearly the entire lineup—to correct a potential fire hazard in their seat heaters. More at USA Today.

+   The Fiat-Chrysler combination has a new official name, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and a new corporate logo with the initials FCA. More at Mlive.

+   NASCAR has unveiled its radically overhauled Chase for the Sprint Cup system with 16 playoff spots and multiple elimination rounds. More at Fox Sports.

+   According to the show biz publication Billboard, Bob Dylan will star in a Chrysler television commercial aired during the Super Bowl broadcast. More at Billboard.

+   The family that controls PSA Peugeot Citroen has agreed to sell shares to Dongfeng Motor Corp. and the French government to raise $4.1 billion. More at The Detroit News.

+   Chrysler will shut down its Sterling Heights, Michigan plant for 30 days for a production changeover from the current Chrysler 200 to the 2015 model. More at Reuters.

+   Europe’s car market will probably expand 2 percent this year as demand slowly recovers from a 20-year low, an industry group says. More at Bloomberg.com.

+   In pre-season Formula One testing in Spain, Red Bull endured a disastrous session while rookie Kevin Magnussen set fast time in his McLaren Mercedes. More at BBC Sport.

For the previous Executive Briefing from January 27, click here.

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8 thoughts on “MCG Executive Briefing for January 31, 2014”

  1. I’m sorry, a couple of the Executive Briefing posts had me chuckling( possible intent?). I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so don’t jump all over me, but observations of a common schmo, defective Toyota seat heaters? Come on, and new logo for Fiat Chrysler? Sounds like a boardroom decision out of the Simpson’s episode, “Brother, where art thou”? ( Herb Powell’s failed car co.)And at the risk of having beer cans chucked at me, NASCAR is SO lame, ( still using 5 lug nuts to hold the wheel on?)give me NHRA any day, RAW EXCITEMENT!!!( season opener, next weekend at Pomona, Cal.)

    • Hi MCG, forgive my negativity, I know a lot of Americans make their living with Toyota, but I’m old fashioned, I wouldn’t buy a foreign(/American) car to save my soul.

        • Wait, I enjoy MCG way too much to start an argument, and do not condone “Schadenfreude”, rejoice in others misery, but there is something unsettling about MCG, from Detroit?, defending Toyota? Am I missing something here? Please advise. THX

          • Not me. I have no idea where you even got that from anything here. Most people will say I pick on Toyota a bit too much and there might be some truth to that. This site is Motor CIty POV.

  3. NASCAR is about 1 step away from roller derby these days. What are they gonna try next, cage matches ala big time tv rasslin?

    I’m with Howard, NHRA(and other drag racing series) get my peso’s.

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