Jaguar Land Rover will sell off more than 100 surplus vehicles from its extensive historic vehicle collection at the Brightwells auction in Bicester, England on March 21. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executing Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of Hangzhou, China has acquired a $9 billion stake in Daimler AG, becoming the largest shareholder in the German automaker. More at the The Detroit News.
+ Italdesign, the design house founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro and owned by Volkswagen’s Audi Group since 2010, now seeks to expand its business outside VW. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Sony Corporation has formed a joint venture with six major taxicab companies to launch an artificial intelligence-based ride-sharing service in Japan. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ Formula 1 engine supplier Renault has elected to hold back on the full potential of its powerplants for the beginning of the 2018 season, opting instead for reliability. More at Motorsport.com.
+ According to a report published in the Financial Times, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will end the production of diesel-powered passenger cars worldwide by 2022. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Porsche has pledged that the next generation 911 will not be offered in an all-electric version, reserving that feature for the Mission E sports car due in 2019. More at Motor Trend.
+ The Brightwells Affordable Classics auction in Bicester, UK on March 21 will feature more than 100 surplus vehicles from the Jaguar Land Rover Classic collection. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.
+ Audi has released a video teasing the next-generation 2019 A6 sedan, which is expected to employ a 48-volt mild hybrid drivetrain and advanced driver assist systems. More at CNET.
+ BMW is expected to debut the V8 twin-turbo M8 Gran Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show next month, with eventual production scheduled for late in 2019. More at Autoblog.
+ NASCAR started its smallest field in the headlining Monster Cup series since 1996 with only 36 entries, all NASCAR charter teams, taking the green flag at Atlanta. More at ESPN.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from February 23 here.
Photo courtesy of Brightwells.
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I remember when diesel was touted as the future of automobile engines. Good mileage, low in whatever pollutant it was that they were low in, 300k mile lifetimes. TDI Volkswagens were as hip as Teslas. I wonder how electric will fare? I still don’t see electric as practical and affordable. I don’t see them making big progress until they settle on a universal charging system. They really only work as a pool of autonomous cars that you order up as needed and handled like a Neflix subscription.