Kudlow Says U.S.-China Talks Making Progress, Could Extend
Trade talks between the United States and China made "good headway" last week in Beijing and the two sides aim to bridge differences during talks that could extend beyond three days this week, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said. According to Automotive News, Kudlow, speaking to reporters on Wednesday at an event organized by the Christian Science Monitor, said China had recognized problems for the first time during the talks that the United States has raised for years. Negotiations continued in Washington on Wednesday after meetings last week in Beijing, spearheaded by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. President Donald Trump will meet Vice Premier Liu He, who is leading the Chinese side in the talks, in the Oval Office at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, the White House said. A date for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could be announced as early as Thursday. Read more here.
Your 'Domestic' Vehicle May Not Be Made in America
The Detroit Three carmakers for years have built some vehicles in other countries that they sell in the United States, reports The Detroit Free Press. With President Donald Trump having run against the nation's trade deficit and vowing to rebuild American manufacturing jobs, the practice has faced renewed criticism. That was magnified when General Motors on Nov. 26 announced plans to idle three North American assembly plants, including final assembly plants in Michigan and Ohio. Last year, 47 percent of the vehicles sold in the United States were imported, according to the Center for Automotive Research and U.S. International Trade Association. Of those built and sold in the United States, a little more than half were Detroit Three cars. Of vehicles built in Canada and Mexico and sold in the United States, 43 percent are Detroit brands. Click here for a look at the Detroit Three's production landscape for the cars they sell in the U.S.
Nissan Probes Whether Ghosn Channeled Company Money for Personal Use
Nissan Motor Co. has investigated whether ex-CEO Carlos Ghosn funneled millions of dollars of company funds through an Omani car distributor for personal use, possibly including the purchase of a yacht, according to people familiar with the matter. According to The Wall Street Journal, the scrutiny opens up a potential new area of liability for Mr. Ghosn, who was charged last year by Japanese authorities with failing to properly report deferred compensation. Read more here.
The Nissan probe comes as Fox Business reports that Japanese prosecutors arrested Carlos Ghosn again on Thursday on suspicion the former Nissan boss had tried to enrich himself at the automaker's expense. The arrest, which legal experts not connected to the case described as highly rare for someone already released on bail, marks the fourth time that prosecutors have arrested the once-feted executive, a scandal that has rocked the global auto industry and shined a harsh light on Japan's judicial system. Read more here.
Pickup Safety Lags Behind Cars, SUVs in Safety Ratings
Utility and luxury are the selling points for the new breed of pickups. But safety is one area where many trucks are not keeping up with their sedan and SUV counterparts. According to The Detroit News, only one of 11 midsize and full-size crew-cab pickups recently tested by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety received the group’s coveted Top Safety Pick designation. More than half of the 2019 models tested earned only a "marginal" or "poor" rating in a punishing front-end crash test that looks at passenger safety. By comparison, eight midsize SUVs earned Top Safety Picks and seven midsize sedans earned that top designation. It might seem that the strength and mass of a truck would help protect passengers in a crash, but body-on-frame pickups tend to be more rigid than unibody passenger cars and as a result do not collapse as easily in a front-end collision. They end up transferring that energy into the passenger compartment. Read more here.
30 Cars You May Not Be Able to Buy if the U.S. Mexico Border is Shut Down
As experts were quick to point out, in addition to causing other types of economic disruption, a decision to close America’s southern border would likely be devastating for the U.S. auto industry. MotorTrend reports that almost every vehicle sold in the U.S. uses parts that were originally manufactured in Mexico. According to one economist, the ripple effect would likely shut down U.S. car production within a week. And if automotive components can't cross the border, it's unlikely Mexican-built vehicles would make it through. It's widely known that some automakers have factories in Mexico, but the list of vehicles built in Mexico is even longer than you might think. Click here to read more and see which vehicles would likely be in short supply if the southern border is shut down.
Smart Technology Sets the Pace for Accelerating Sales
Your service drive is rife with profitable opportunities to sell customers cars, as long as you know how to find them and communicate them in the right way. AIADA’s April AutoTalk features Kendall Billman, AutoAlert Senior VP. Listen on Tuesday, April 16th at 2:00 p.m. EDT as Kendall discusses:
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Service drive sales and Smart Technology helps you predict, and even drive customer behavior
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Use the service drive to re-engage customers and convert new prospects
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Leverage geo-framing technology to deliver targeted ads at the right time
Around the Web
18 Year Old Acura Sports Car Sealed Behind a Barn Wall for 10 Years [Fox News]
Bentley Bentayga V8 Design Series Embraces the Darkness [Autoblog]
Infiniti Concept Hints at Q50-Based Sports Car [Automotive News]
Toyota Opens Up 24,000 Hybrid Car Patents to Other Automakers [The Verge]
