May Sales, FCA and That Little-Known Company Named Tesla
According to Autodata, U.S. auto sales in May represent a seasonably adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 17.45-million vehicles. . .which would have once been cause for busting out the champagne and party hats but now evokes a bit of a cringe, given that the SAAR was 17.70-million units in May 2015.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, AutoBeat Group
U.S. Reports 17th Takata Airbag Fatality
Millions of deadly inflators are still on the road
Toyota Recalls 3.2 Million Sketchy Fuel Pumps Worldwide
Expanded campaign targets 7 years of production
Honda Warns of New Type of Defective Takata Airbag Inflator
Honda is recalling an older design of defective Takata airbag inflator
Takata Recalls Another 10 Million Airbag Inflators
Takata—the bankrupt airbag supplier responsible for the world’s largest auto-related recall ever—is throwing another 10 million defective devices into the mess.
Takata Recalls Another 1.4 Million Airbag Inflators
Bankrupt Takata Corp. is recalling another 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. that were equipped with its exploding airbag inflators.
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Mazda Launches Second-Round Airbag Recall
Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 116,900 vehicles in the U.S. to again replace their passenger-side frontal airbag inflators, this time with units that won’t degrade over time.
Toyota in “Final Phase” of U.S. Airbag Recalls
Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 928,000 vehicles in the U.S. under the final phase of its multi-year effort to replace Takata Corp. airbag inflators that can degrade and then explode in a crash.
Toyota Repeats Airbag Recall in U.S.
Toyota Motor Corp. is calling back 135,000 cars in the U.S. to replace already-replaced airbags because they may not inflate correctly.
Daimler Ponders Overhaul of Mercedes Vans Unit
Daimler AG says it is reviewing the product lineup for its Mercedes-Benz Vans unit and pondering other steps to cut fixed costs and streamline the division’s management structure.
NHTSA’s Acting Chief to Step Down by September
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation confirms that Heidi King, acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will resign at the end of this month.
First-Round Payouts to Takata Victims Due
A fund set up to compensate people injured by exploding Takata Inc. airbag inflators is ready to award $10 million in first-round payments.
Takata to Book $306 Million Loss on Airbag Recalls
Japan’s Takata Corp. says it will record an extraordinary loss of 30 billion yen ($306 million) in the current fiscal year for warranty expenses.The costs are related to a global recall of 3.4 million vehicles by at least four automakers to fix a defective Takata-made airbag component.
AutoBeat Group
Daimler Posts Net Loss as Revenue Rises
Daimler AG posted a net loss attributable to shareholders of €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) in the second quarter, reversing a €1.7 billion gain in the same period last year.
Zetsche Faces Challenge to Daimler Chairmanship
Former Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche faces opposition to becoming chairman from key investors who blame him for the company’s problems.
Daimler Issues a Fourth Profit Warning
Daimler AG has lowered its profit outlook for the fourth time since last summer, warning it will post a €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) pretax loss in the second quarter.
Honda Airbag Recall Targets 1.68 Million U.S. Vehicles
Honda Motor Co. is recalling 1.68 million of its vehicles in the U.S. to again replace Takata Corp. airbag inflators that could explode in a crash.
Takata Estate Sues Airbag Inflator Supplier
The trust representing bankrupt Takata Corp. claims an airbag inflator supplier provided it with defective inflators.
GM Continues Effort to Avoid Takata Airbag Recall
General Motors Co. is hoping for the fourth consecutive year to be excused from recalling more than 6 million vehicles fitted with Takata airbag inflators that could explode in a crash.
UPDATE: Automakers to Recall 3.4 Million Cars
Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda say they will recall a combined 3.4 million vehicles worldwide to fix airbag inflators that could deploy with too much force.Tokyo-based Takata Corp., which made the defective parts, says some of the components also were used by BMW and General Motors.
AutoBeat Group
China Recall Targets Airbag Inflators in 360,000 BMWs
MW AG is recalling 360,000 vehicles in China to replace Takata Corp. airbag inflators that could explode, the Xinhua News Agency reports.
Trump Nominee for NHTSA Chief Heads for Senate Approval
Heidi King’s nomination to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is heading for expected confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Honda Confirms Another Death from Takata Airbag Blast
Honda Motor Co. confirms a 16th fatality in the U.S. caused by a Takata Corp. airbag inflator exploding in a crash, Reuters reports.
Honda Repeats Takata Airbag Recall for 1.1 Million Vehicles
Honda Motor Co. says it will again recall 1.1 million of its Honda and Acura brand vehicles in the U.S. to replace explosion-prone airbag inflators made by Takata Corp.
Autoliv, TRW Fined $416 Million for Price Fixing in Europe
The European Commission has fined Autoliv and TRW for conspiring to rig prices for seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels supplied to BMW and Volkswagen Group.
Carmakers Recall Another 1.7 Million Takata Airbag Inflators
Seven overseas carmakers are collectively recalling 1.7 million vehicles to replace Takata Corp. airbag inflators that could explode when triggered by a crash, the Associated Press reports.