Nick Bunkley News Editor Nick Bunkley is a news editor who oversees coverage of Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen and coordinates in-depth projects for Automotive News. [email protected] 313-446-0360 See All Staff Page Recent Stories Ford gets a 'proven transformational leader' Bill Ford has frequently spoken of a desire to spark a cultural revolution within Ford, and now he has a CEO with a record of doing just that. Before Ford, Hackett built reputation on transforming office furniture company Jim Hackett, the man named to replace Mark Fields as CEO of Ford, spent most of his career running a Michigan furniture maker before Fields tapped him to steer Ford's investments in new forms of mobility. GM's Opel 'confident' despite widening Europe loss in Q1 General Motors defied a slowdown in its U.S. home market while losses in Europe mounted. The company's European chief, Karl-Thomas Neumann, said the launches of new products including the Insignia family and two crossovers will boost the regional unit this year. Why GM decided to sell Opel to PSA GM executives said they decided to sell Opel because Europe's changing geo-political and regulatory climate demands more investment at a time when they see a greater need to focus on North America, China and emerging technologies. GM will launch production, testing of self-driving Bolts General Motors said it will be the first company to mass-produce autonomous vehicles, with test versions of Chevrolet Bolts equipped with self-driving technology planned to start rolling out of a Michigan plant in January. GM begins deliveries of Chevrolet Bolt General Motors made its first sales of the Chevrolet Bolt EV Tuesday, beginning a new era of more affordable, longer-range electric vehicles and fulfilling its promise to launch the vehicle before the end of 2016. GM narrows Q3 loss in Europe but takes Brexit hit GM narrowed its third-quarter loss in Europe but warned that achieving its target to break even in Europe this year would be "very challenging" after the UK's vote to quit the EU. The collapse of the pound has hit the automaker's European operations. Ford's Fields says automaker is 'getting ahead' of industry changes Ford CEO Mark Fields is working to prepare the automaker for a future in shared and autonomous vehicles by adding mobility services to its portfolio. He discussed this and more in an interview with Automotive News Europe sister publication Automotive News. Ford's worldwide Mustang is paying off Ford's overhaul of the Mustang, which included opening sales in 81 more countries to turn it into a global halo for the automaker, is paying off. Demand has been especially heavy for the first-ever right-hand-drive Mustang, which went on sale late last year in 25 markets where the car had been virtually off-limits previously. Ford to make autonomous cars for ride-hailing, ride-sharing by 2021 Ford plans to introduce an autonomous vehicle by 2021 for use in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service. Ford said the vehicle would be “specifically designed for commercial mobility services” and built in high volumes. Samardzich looks beyond Ford Now that Ford of Europe is profitable again, COO Barb Samardzich is retiring and returning to the U.S. before deciding on the next step in her career. The head of Ford South America will replace her. Ford appoints former Volvo exec Armstrong as Europe COO Ford named former Volvo executive Steven Armstrong as new chief operating officer of its European division. Barb Samardzich, 57, is retiring as vice president and COO of Ford of Europe. A split heard round the industry The UK's stunning decision to abandon the EU could slash automakers' profits by billions of dollars and cut new-vehicle sales by nearly a million units over the next three years, analysts warned. Ford Fiesta footprint to expand The new Ford Fiesta will grow in size, spy photographs show. The Fiesta has been criticized for a cramped interior relative to its competitors, and the upcoming redesign aims to address that and other concerns. Ford picks VanDyke to be new Europe marketing chief Ford has picked Matt VanDyke as its new marketing chief in Europe. VanDyke currently leads Lincoln's sales and marketing. He will replace Gaetano Thorel, who has been a key player in Ford of Europe's efforts to lure buyers away from premium brands with its Vignale trim line. Load More
Nick Bunkley News Editor Nick Bunkley is a news editor who oversees coverage of Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen and coordinates in-depth projects for Automotive News. [email protected] 313-446-0360 See All Staff Page