William Maley

Back in February, we reported on the rumors that Fisker Automotive was planning to change its name to Elux. This past week, Fisker has officially changed its name and it isn't Elux. Meet Karma Automotive. The company says this name has always been a part of the brand - see Karma plug-in hybrid sedan. "Karma is based on the principle of cause and effect, where your actions create your future. This awareness of what we are doing and why we are doing it—which we characterize as acting with intention—is what we stand for, it's authentic," said James Taylor, Karma's Chief Marketing Officer. Rumor has it that production of the Karma sedan will restart sometime next year. We expect a name change along with the production restart. Source: Karma Automotive Press Release is on Page 2 Fisker Automotive Reveals New Name And Logo Karma Automotive - honors iconic design and communicates future direction COSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fisker Automotive and Technology Group announced a name change today to Karma Automotive. The company also launched its new website, including a video that reveals its new logo at karmaautomotive.com. "With new ownership, a new management team, and a new production site, all here in California, it was time to communicate change," said James Taylor, Karma's Chief Marketing Officer. "Karma" was chosen because it is relevant to both the old and new brands, while providing an aspirational message which embodies the company's purpose. "Karma is based on the principle of cause and effect, where your actions create your future. This awareness of what we are doing and why we are doing it—which we characterize as acting with intention—is what we stand for, it's authentic," added Taylor. Karma's new executive team has attracted top-tier talent from the automotive and technology industries to bring world-class expertise to its headquarters and new assembly facility in Southern California. Karma Automotive's owner, Wanxiang Group, one of the world's largest automotive component conglomerates, is committed to the alternative energy space, having acquired solar, wind and energy companies. The group provides strong financial backing necessary to build a sustainable, world-class luxury automotive brand. View full article

My practical side would go with Honda Fit since its quite spacious. But my exuberant side would go with the Ford Fiesta ST.

A new report from Automobile says the next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom will be debuting modular architecture made out of aluminum. This new platform will underpin the next-generation of Rolls-Royce vehicles such as the upcoming SUV and next-generation Ghost lineup. No information was provided as to how much weight the move to aluminum would cut. As for the next-generation Phantom, the report says we could be seeing it next year. The Phantom will be offered in a short and long-wheelbase sedan. The coupe and drophead - Rolls speak for roadster - will be dropped due to lack of demand. Looks are said to be more imposing. A V12 engine from BMW will be the sole engine. Source: Automobile View full article

One of the big questions coming out of the Volkswagen Diesel scandal was whether or not other automakers also manipulated emission tests. The German transport office at the moment doesn't have any evidence that says so. "At this point we have no indication of other manufacturers being involved," a spokesman for the office said at a government news conference today. Not the news Volkswagen wanted to hear as the company is beginning to feel the heat from European countries. France's prosecutors have opened a preliminary inquiry into suspected "aggravated deception" by the German automaker Separately, French consumer protection and fraud control authorities have opened their own investigation into Volkswagen's cheat Italy's antitrust body has opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Volkswagen Switzerland's Federal Roads Office has banned selling and registering new Volkswagen diesel vehicles equipped with software to cheat emission test Source: Reuters via Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) View full article

Most everyone backs away from ocn on this claim.

Honda is recalling 143,676 examples of the 2014-2015 Civic and 2015 Fit over a problem with the CVT. According to the company in a statement, the transmission software is programmed to use high hydraulic pressure at certain times, which puts a lot of stress on the on the drive pulley shaft. Honda goes on to say certain components of the drive pulley shaft may have been produced at the low end of the hardness specification. This combination could cause the shaft to break and cause the front wheels to lose power or lock up. According to NHTSA, there are 23 warranty claims for this problem, with the first one happening in July of 2014. Honda says no injuries has been reported for this issue. Honda will begin notifying owners later this month. Dealers will update the software for the CVT. Source: Honda Press Release is on Page 2 View full article

With the ongoing mess that is the Volkswagen Diesel scandal, Jaguar Land Rover isn't changing their strategy of selling diesel vehicles for the U.S. marketplace. “We are convinced of the benefits of diesels from a fuel economy and from an all-wheel drivability perspective, and that hasn’t changed,” said Joe Eberhardt, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. CEO. Eberhardt says it's "too soon to tell" if the diesel market will be weighed down by the mess caused by Volkswagen, but is confident in their diesel engines in meeting EPA requirements. The company is planning on introducing diesel engines to the majority of their lineup by the end of 2017. Land Rover has begun selling the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport with a turbocharged 3.0L diesel V6 in September. Eberhardt said that roughly 16 percent of the total sales of the Range Rover and Sport models in September were equipped with the diesel engine (about 332 models). JLR Spokesman Stuart Schorr tells Automotive News that the diesel V6 has been certified by the EPA, but admits that it is unclear if the EPA will need to recertify the engine. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Autoblog View full article

I believe a lot of this comes down to the contract leaving the two-tier wage system in. Not getting rid of it.

The United Auto Workers has announced today in a statement that 65 percent of members at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has rejected the proposed contract that was reached by the two parties last month. “As I said at the press conference: ‘What I love about our organization most of all is that no matter what we do, what action we take, the ultimate decision and the power of the union is our members and they make the final decision,’” said UAW President Dennis Williams. “That is the design of our constitution and who we are ... We don’t consider this a setback; we consider the membership vote a part of the process we respect.” The UAW will be meeting with national bargaining committee and FCA council to discuss the issues that caused the rejection and figure out the next move. There are three options on the table that the UAW can choose from: go back to the negotiation table with FCA, move on to Ford and GM, or issue a strike. FCA said in a statement it was disappointed in the result in the vote. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), The Detroit News, United Auto Workers, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Press Release is on Page 2 “As I said at the press conference: “What I love about our organization most of all is that no matter what we do, what action we take, the ultimate decision and the power of the union is our members and they make the final decision.” That is the design of our constitution and who we are. We will gather the issues together; notify FCA that further discussions are needed. We don’t consider this a setback; we consider the membership vote a part of the process we respect. We will be meeting with the UAW-FCA National bargaining committee and council to discuss the issues.” Statement Regarding UAW Ratification Vote FCA US is disappointed that UAW members voted not to ratify the tentative agreement. The bargaining teams on both sides worked hard, for many days and nights, to craft a transformational agreement that would adequately reward the commitment of our workforce while ensuring the Company’s continued success and competitiveness. Striking the right balance in these two objectives has been the most difficult thing to accomplish in these negotiations, but after many hours of dialogue and debate between the UAW and FCA US leadership, the Company felt that a just and equitable compromise had been reached. The memories of our near-death experience in 2009 are vivid to this day in the minds of most of us at FCA. A large number of new employees have been brought into the Group since then who, thankfully, did not have to endure the pain and sacrifices that were required of the workforce then. But it is that knowledge and those memories that continuously reinforce the FCA leadership’s resolve to never let those events repeat. While significant progress has been made since the events of less than seven years ago, much more work remains to be done and challenges remain while new, significant ones surface. The cyclical nature of the automotive business demands that while we must recognize the need for rewarding employees during times of prosperity, we must also protect against the inevitable market downturn. This agreement accomplished both of these objectives. The tentative agreement was designed to yield a strong and competitive FCA US, thus providing stability for our workforce and opportunity for future growth and investment in an increasingly complex global marketplace. The Company will make decisions, as always, based on achieving our industrial objectives, and looks forward to continuing a dialogue with the UAW. View full article