Episode 194: Nerd Box - New FCA CEO, E10 fuel consultation, Warm Detroit Motorshows, New Mitsubishi Executive Design Director
/FOLLOW UP: MARKUS DUESMANN INVITED TO VW GROUP BOARD
Markus Dussmann, Board of Management Member for Purchasing Supplier Network at BMW, has been offered a position on Volkswagen’s Group Board of Management. The final details are to be resolved but an agreement has already been signed. To read more click the Automotive World article here.
ILL HEALTH FORCES MARCHIONNE OUT
Due to sudden severe ill health, FCA has replaced Sergio Marchionne with Mike Manley, the Jeep boss. There are fears he may not recover from complications following shoulder surgery. To read more click the Automotive News Europe article here.
One of the first jobs Manley has is to be ready for an investor call where the quarterly results will be presented, on Wednesday. To read more click the Automotive News Europe article here.
The Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa for FCA is reported to be leaving the company after being overlooked for the top job. Alfredo Altavilla has immediately made Manley’s job more difficult. To read more click the Automotive News Europe article here.
Click here for an Autocrat slideshow of the highlights of Marchionne’s career.
157GB OF SENSITIVE DATA HELD ON PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SERVERS
Companies such as Tesla, GM, VW, FIAT and Toyota were holding sensitive data on servers run by Level One Robotics, which were publicly accessible until taken offline. Information included NDAs, invoices, banking data, contracts, passports and driving licenses. Once made aware Level One Robotics did remove public access. They are undertaking an internal investigation into how this has happened. To read more click the HackRead article here.
E10 PETROL CONSULTATION UNDERWAY IN UK
The Department for Transport is undertaking a consultation about introducing E10 fuel to the UK. using this could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from petrol vehicles. However, there are potentially 1 million vehicles unsuited to this type of fuel. to read more click the Greenfleet article here.
DETROIT MOTORSHOW MOVES TO JUNE
No more moaning and whinging from motoring journalists and PR types who’ve just hot-footed it from sunny Las Vegas to blizzardy Detroit. The motor show is moving to June, where it hopes that will address the decline in manufacturers attending. To read more click the Automotive News article here.
OFGEM CONSIDERING HIGHER PRICES FOR PEAK TIME EV CHARGING
To help show how the UK electricity network can and will cope with the predicted increase in electric vehicles, Ofgem has been outlining its plans. One step is to charge more at peak times for charging. This is also felt to be a more fair way of consumers carrying the costs of the extra demand. To read more click the Guardian article here.
DVLA ASKING DRIVERS TO RETAKE EYE TESTS
The DVLA has asked that drivers retake eye tests as they may not be aware of the minimum standard required to drive. To read more click the BBC News article here.
VAUXHALL/OPEL RETURN TO PROFIT
Under the ownership of PSA Vauxhall/Opel has returned to profit, with first-half results of €502m. To read more click the Autocar article here.
PSA is not done though, they have ambitious plans to push the brands forward. To read more click on the Autocar article here.
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TECHEETAH REPLACES VIRGIN FOR DS FORMULA E TEAM
Techeetah will be the DS Formula E racing team for the 2018/19 season. To read more click the Autosport article here.
CHRISTOPHER SVENSSON HAS LOST BATTLE WITH CANCER
Ford design director Christopher Svensson passed away on Saturday 21 July after a battle with cancer. He helped create some wonderful cars such as the Ka, Focus and the GT. To read more click the Form Trends article here.
DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: NEW MITSUBISHI EXECUTIVE DESIGN DIRECTOR
Alessandro Dambrosio has been announced as the new Executive Design Director for Mitsubishi, where he will start in October 2018. He has helped create Alfa 159, Giulietta and Mito, Bentayga, A4, A5 amongst others. To read more click the Auto&Design Magazine article here.
LUNCHTIME READ: HOW TO SERVICE A LEXUS LFA
The Lexus blog has an article showing the steps that Lexus go into to service the wondrous LFA. Read through the process by clicking the link here.
LIST OF THE WEEK: FRANCE’S LUXURY BARGES
Autocar has a lovely list of French luxury barges, for us all to gawp at. Click the link here to see more.
AND FINALLY: LIBERTY WALKS GT-R
Liberty Walks, hilariously, will help you convert your Daihatsu Copen to resemble a Nissan GT-R. Click here to view this wonderfully daft conversion on Motor1 UK.
REAR VIEW PODCAST
Don't forget the new show from the team at Motoring Podcast, Rear View, where we talk to fascinating people from the motoring universe. To go listen to the episodes already released on iTunes click here.
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