The Lamborghini Museum at Sant’Agata Bolognese in Italy has been reimagined and rebranded as MUDETEC, the Museum of Technology. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ The latest forecast by BloombergNEF determined that due to falling battery prices, electric vehicles will price-match comparable internal-combustion vehicles by 2022. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ Toyota is launching a research institute in Beijing in partnership with Tsinghua University to study hydrogen power and other green technologies for the auto industry. More at Autoblog.
+ Tesla disclosed in filings it will cut its board of directors from 11 to seven in a move the electric-car maker says will allow the board to act more nimbly and efficiently. More at The Detroit News.
+ Chinese startup Aiways will not build a dealer network to sell its 2020 U5 midsize electric SUV in Europe and the USA, but will instead use direct leasing. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Three IndyCar team owners, Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, and Michael Andretti, are backing a proposal to give full-time teams guaranteed starting spots in the Indy 500. More at NBC Sports.
+ The Lamborghini Museum at Sant’Agata Bolognese in Italy has been revamped and rebranded as MUDETEC, the Museum of Technology. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.
+ General Motors, which plans to introduce 20 new electrics by 2023, has filed a trademark application for the name “Bolt EUV,” signalling a crossover version of the Bolt. More at Motor Trend.
+ The upcoming replacements for the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 sports cars could be based on Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform. More at CNET Roadshow.
+ Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers reports that by 2021, all Mercedes-AMG models will feature hybrid drivetrains that combine piston and electric propulsion. More at Road & Track.
+ Jaguar Land Rover communications head Tim Krieger revealed that the redesigned 2020 Defender will be unveiled in September, possibly at the Frankfurt Auto Show. More at CarAdvice.
+ Retired Formula 1 driver and team manager Gerhard Berger says the Ferrari team is wrong to favor veteran Sebastian Vettel over newcomer Charles Leclerc in team orders. More at BBC Sport.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from April 19 here.
Photo courtesy of MUDETEC, the Museum of Technology.
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Three IndyCar team owners, Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, and Michael Andretti, are backing a proposal to give full-time teams guaranteed starting spots in the Indy 500. More at NBC Sports. This changes the name from “racing” to “placing”. What’s next; “guaranteed order of finish”?
Don’t be deceived by the names. It will be more likely the lesser teams will be the ones to benefit. “Dance with the one that brought you…”
I didn’t like it when NASCAR did it and won’t be impressed if Indy does it. Maybe my opinion doesn’t matter, I’m only the fan that no longer supports them by attending, buying souvenirs, etc.
All these companies and their electric cars……trying to force the market to what they want to sell. They can keep them as far as I’m concerned, I’ll never own a hybrid or total electric vehicle. I’ll hang on to my gas guzzlers until I die, or they quit selling gas, which ever comes first.