Chicago, US | Xinhua | The Detroit-based United Auto Workers (UAW) has set Friday as a deadline for more walkout as the union’s strike against the Big Three U.S. automakers enters the fifth day. If the union does not see serious progress in negotiations with the three companies, it will …
Read More »Swiss auction supercars seized from Obiang’s son for $23 million
Chéserex, Switzerland | AFP | A Swiss auction of 25 supercars seized from the playboy son of Equatorial Guinea’s president fetched 21.6 million euros ($23.6 million) Sunday — substantially more than expected. The money made from the Geneva auction will go to charities helping the poorest people in the tiny …
Read More »Africa, Kenya hail return of legendary Safari Rally to WRC
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday hailed a decision by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to include the country’s fabled Safari Rally in the world championships from next year. Kenya has worked hard to get its rally back onto the world circuit after it fell …
Read More »Formula One braced for season of change and challenge
London, United Kingdom | AFP | A redecorated sporting bandwagon, complete with a roaring if not yet rampant Ferrari and a movie series on Netflix, embarks next weekend on an extended season of change and challenge when the Australian Grand Prix opens the 70th running of the Formula One world …
Read More »At Detroit auto show, the future of cars is… in the future
Detroit, United States | AFP | The Detroit auto show kicked off this week with glitzy, high-production value debuts of mostly sports cars, giant trucks and SUVs — new versions of age-old themes. But tucked away in a corner of the show were the people and companies hoping for at …
Read More »US car buyers swerve away from compact cars, sedans
Detroit, United States | AFP | A persistent question shadowed all of the shiny new vehicles and highly-produced, glitzy debuts at the Detroit auto show this week: Where are the sedans? Volkswagen was among the few to trumpet a new sedan — those compact and mid-sized cars that shuttled generations …
Read More »Toyota recalls 1.7 mn more autos over Takata airbag defects
New York, United States | AFP | Toyota on Wednesday announced a recall of 1.7 million vehicles in North America as part of a general effort to replace defective Takata airbags tied to some 20 deaths worldwide. The Japanese auto manufacturer did not say whether it had been notified of injuries …
Read More »Ford, VW planning auto partnership announcement: source
New York, United States | AFP | Ford and Volkswagen are preparing to announce a strategic partnership, including in areas such as self-driving and electric autos, a person with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Wednesday. The announcement could come Tuesday during this year’s Detroit auto show, the person …
Read More »US car sales falter in 2018 as consumers abandon small cars
Chicago, United States | AFP | Major auto makers announced their end-of-year US sales totals Thursday, showing a slowing market even as Americans’ demand for more expensive SUVs and trucks drove up priaces. US consumers continued the trend away from small cars and sedans, but appeared increasingly squeezed by higher …
Read More »F1 pays tribute to stricken Schumacher on his 50th birthday
Maranello, Italy | AFP | Ferrari issued an emotional message on Thursday to mark the 50th birthday of Michael Schumacher, who has not been seen in public since he suffered head injuries in a skiing accident five years ago. The German, who won a record seven Formula One drivers’ championships …
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