Jeep has unveiled seven new concept vehicles for the Moab Easter Jeep Safari later this month, including this stylized tribute to the 1967 Kaiser M715 military vehicle. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has offered a plan to help its struggling Fiat dealers in America, allowing them to discontinue their stand-alone Fiat retail locations. More at The Detroit News.
+ Michael Horn, CEO and president of Volkswagen Group of America, has resigned effective immediately, the latest casualty of the automaker’s diesel emissions scandal. More at CNET.
+ Bridgestone announced that it will invest $164 million over five years to expand its 42- year-old passenger tire plant in Wilson, North Carolina. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ IndyCar series engine suppliers Honda and Chevrolet are each prepared to provide additional engines to support an expanded entry list for the 2016 Indy 500. More at Racer.
+ Ford’s sales rose 20 percent in February over the same period last year, bouyed mainly strong SUV sales, while General Motors slipped 1.5 percent. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Car and Driver magazine reports that Subaru is developing a mid-engine, all-wheel drive hybrid sports coupe powered by a 330-hp boxer turbo. More at Car and Driver.
+ Tesla says it will “vigorously defend” against a lawsuit by the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association seeking to block the electric carmaker from operating a second company dealership in Virginia. More at Reuters.
+ The 2017 Mercedes-AMG E43 with 396-hp twin-turbo V6 will debut at the New York Auto Show later this month, and will appear in showrooms early next year. More at Autoblog.
+ Michigan-based auto industry supplier Lear Corp. has appointed Facebook Inc. executive Mary Lou Jepsen to its board of directors. More at Crain’s Detroit Business.
+ The Jeep brand has unveiled seven new concept vehicles for the 50th annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari on March 19-27, led by a Crew Chief 715 pickup. More at Motor Trend.
+ Mercedes Formula 1 director Toto Wolff has divested his remaining stake in the Williams Formula 1 team, selling the shares to American businessman Brad Hollinger. More at BBC Sport.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from March 7 here.
Photo courtesy of Jeep.