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Munich/Stuttgart. The BMW Group and Daimler AG are planning the next steps for their joint mobility company, following approval by the responsible competition authorities. The basis for this is the approval of the US competition authorities, which was received on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. This means that all antitrust authorities involved have given the green light for the new joint venture, which is owned in equal parts by the BMW Group and Daimler AG.

The joint venture will focus on ensuring the personal freedom of customers in the field of urban mobility. Geared towards this vision of future urban mobility, a new mobility offering will be created that is easy to access, intuitive and focused on the needs of the user. On their urban journey, customers will move through a seamlessly connected and sustainable ecosystem that combines CarSharing, Ride-Hailing, Parking, Charging and Multimodality from a single source and is available with just a few taps. The idea is to create the most attractive, most comprehensive mobility solution for a better life in our connected world.

Now that the approval of the competition authorities has been received, the goal is to close this transaction by January 31, 2019.

Once this major transaction closes, the new mobility company will present next steps in the first quarter of 2019, in conjunction with the BMW Group and Daimler AG.

The equally-owned joint venture will comprise the following activities and services:

Multimodal and on-demand mobility with moovel and ReachNow:
The well over six million users will benefit from intelligent and seamless connectivity between different mobility offerings, such as carsharing, bike rental, taxis and public transport, including booking and payment. The multimodal platform will also offer possible solutions for the needs of urban private transport, including providing cars as a service.

2) CarSharing with Car2Go and DriveNow:
Car2Go and DriveNow operate a total of 20,000 vehicles in 30 major international cities. Carsharing enables better utilisation of vehicles and thus helps reduce the total number of vehicles in cities. More than four million customers already use these carsharing services.

3) Ride-Hailing with mytaxi, Chauffeur Privé, Clever Taxi and Beat:
A total of 15.9 million customers and around 250,000 drivers already use the services of mytaxi, Chauffeur Privé, Clever Taxi (all in Europe) and Beat (South America) – making Intelligent Apps GmbH one of the leading ride-hailing providers in Europe and South America. Innovative offers such as mytaximatch, which allows people who do not know each other to share a taxi at the tap of a finger, also make an important contribution to reducing inner-city traffic.

4) Parking with ParkNow and Parkmobile Group/Parkmobile LLC:
Ticketless, cashless on-street parking or help reserving and paying for off-street parking in a garage: Parkmobile already reaches a total of more than 27 million customers in Europe and North America and offers digital parking solutions in over 1,100 cities. Innovative digital parking services reduce the time and amount of driving involved in finding a parking space. This reduces traffic significantly, as cars searching for parking spaces currently account for around 30% of road traffic.

5) Charging with ChargeNow and Digital Charging Solutions:
Easy access (incl. location, charging and payment) to the world’s largest network of public charging stations. Combined with parking privileges in cities, this will support the expansion of electromobility, by helping people integrate this drive technology more easily into their mobility needs.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – MINI USA announced today they are expanding their Western Region Tier 2 media efforts with Crossmedia to include all Regional Tier 2 media starting in January 2019. The first campaign will launch in March.

The selection of Crossmedia follows the conclusion of a Regional Tier 2 Media agency review conducted by the MINI USA National and Regional Marketing teams with the support of The Burnett Collective that began in May. Crossmedia will manage Regional Tier 2 media across the four Regional teams to promote tactical offers in an efficient manner to the right audience and ultimately drive showroom traffic to help drive sales for local MINI dealers. The four finalists in the pitch included Affinitiv, Empower, Merkle and Crossmedia, with Crossmedia ultimately winning the business.

IPG Mediabrands’ UM will continue to be the national media agency for brand and product advertising. MINI USA advertising creative will continue to be provided by Pereira & O’Dell.

“We had some great agencies participate in the pitch for MINI’s Regional Tier 2 business and each brought different perspectives.” said Patrick McKenna, Department Head, MINI Brand Communications. “Crossmedia ended up on top based on their media targeting approach, team dynamic, and campaign performance.”

“They’ve come up with innovative media solutions to find the right audience for our products while localizing our tactical Tier 2 messaging.” McKenna continued. “We look forward to expanding the partnership with them in 2019 across all of our regional teams,”.

Participants in the decision also included two dealer representatives, Michael Vadasz from Otto’s MINI in Exton, PA and Regina Dahm from Motor City MINI in Detroit, MI, along with the MINI USA National and Regional Marketing teams.

About MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand. The MINI USA sales organization is represented in the U.S. through a network of 128 MINI passenger car dealers in 39 states. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops. Since then, the MINI Brand in the U.S. has grown to encompass a model range of five unique vehicles.

Mountain View, CA – December 18, 2018… BMW i Ventures has announced a strategic investment in Graphcore, a company developing a new kind of computer processor and software specifically designed for machine intelligence.

Since the company’s founding only two years ago, Graphcore has helped innovators create next-generation machine intelligence solutions. Graphcore’s Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) is the first processor to be designed specifically for Machine Intelligence and delivers higher speeds compared to conventional hardware.

“The versatility of Graphcore’s IPU – which supports multiple machine learning techniques with high efficiency – is well-suited for a wide variety of applications from intelligent voice assistants to self-driving vehicles,” said Tobias Jahn, Principal at
BMW i Ventures. “With the flexibility to use the same processor in both a data center and a vehicle, Graphcore’s IPU also presents the possibility of reductions in development times and complexity.”

The investment from BMW i Ventures is a further step towards fulfilling the company’s ambition to build a global technology company, focused on this new and fast-growing machine intelligence market.

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About BMW i Ventures
BMW i Ventures, BMW’s EUR 500 million venture capital fund, invests money and resources in startups in the fields of autonomous driving, digital car and automotive cloud, e-mobility, artificial Intelligence and data, industry 4.0, shared and on-demand mobility, customer digital life, and energy services. The firm has already partnered with innovative companies such as Carbon3D, Chargepoint, Claroty, DesktopMetal, fair, Graphcore, Lime, Mapillary, Moovit, Nauto, and Xometry. BMW i Ventures invests in all stages from seed to growth companies.

About Graphcore
Graphcore’s Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) hardware and software lets innovators create next generation machine intelligence solutions. The IPU is the first processor to be designed specifically for Machine Intelligence and delivers between 10x to 100x speed up compared to today’s hardware. Graphcore has raised over $300m in funding from leading financial and strategic investors and is headquartered in Bristol UK, with offices in London UK, Oslo Norway, Palo Alto USA and Beijing China.
More information can be found at https://www.graphcore.ai.

At a constructive working meeting with representatives of the U.S. administration, the BMW Group today took the opportunity to explain in detail the extent of its footprint in the USA. The mandate to talk about international trade politics rests solely with the relevant political institutions.

With its plant in Spartanburg (SC), the BMW Group has been a committed “local player” in the US market for a quarter-century. To date, the BMW Group has invested more than 9 billion ($9.3 bn) US dollars in Plant Spartanburg. From 2018 to 2021, we will invest a further 600 million US dollars in manufacturing infrastructure for future generations of the BMW X models.

The Spartanburg plant employs nearly 10,000 people. We will create a further 1,000 jobs by 2021, bringing the number of jobs in Spartanburg to approximately 11,000. In total, the company supports almost 70,000 direct and indirect jobs in the US. According to an independent study of University of South Carolina, the multiplier effect results in more than 120,000 jobs, if further 50,000 jobs outside the automotive industry are also taken into account.

Free trade has made the success story of BMW in the US possible. In 2017, the Spartanburg plant exported more than 70% of its total production volume of 371,316 units to more than 120 countries. China is the number one export destination followed by Germany. According to the US Department of Commerce, the BMW Group is the largest vehicle exporter from the US in terms of value.

As communicated recently, the BMW Group is considering setting up a second site for power trains in the United States. With our plant in Spartanburg and the new plant in Mexico coming on stream in summer 2019, we will increase our production in North America. We will therefore in future have the scale where a step like this may make business sense. As of today, no decision has been taken on this topic.

DETROIT – General Motors (NYSE: GM) will accelerate its transformation for the future, building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, capitalize on the future of personal mobility and drive significant cost efficiencies.

Today, GM is continuing to take proactive steps to improve overall business performance including the reorganization of its global product development staffs, the realignment of its manufacturing capacity and a reduction of salaried workforce. These actions are expected to increase annual adjusted automotive free cash flow by $6 billion by year-end 2020 on a run-rate basis.

“The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success.”

Contributing to the cash savings of approximately $6 billion are cost reductions of $4.5 billion and a lower capital expenditure annual run rate of almost $1.5 billion. The actions include:

Transforming product development – GM is evolving its global product development workforce and processes to drive world-class levels of engineering in advanced technologies, and to improve quality and speed to market. Resources allocated to electric and autonomous vehicle programs will double in the next two years. Additional actions include:
Increasing high-quality component sharing across the portfolio, especially those not visible and perceptible to customers.
Expanding the use of virtual tools to lower development time and costs.
Integrating its vehicle and propulsion engineering teams.
Compressing its global product development campuses.

Optimizing product portfolio – GM has recently invested in newer, highly efficient vehicle architectures, especially in trucks, crossovers and SUVs. GM now intends to prioritize future vehicle investments in its next-generation battery-electric architectures. As the current vehicle portfolio is optimized, it is expected that more than 75 percent of GM’s global sales volume will come from five vehicle architectures by early next decade.

Increasing capacity utilization – In the past four years, GM has refocused capital and resources to support the growth of its crossovers, SUVs and trucks, adding shifts and investing $6.6 billion in U.S. plants that have created or maintained 17,600 jobs. With changing customer preferences in the U.S. and in response to market-related volume declines in cars, future products will be allocated to fewer plants next year.

Assembly plants that will be unallocated in 2019 include:
Oshawa Assembly in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Detroit.
Lordstown Assembly in Warren, Ohio.

Propulsion plants that will be unallocated in 2019 include:
Baltimore Operations in White Marsh, Maryland.
Warren Transmission Operations in Warren, Michigan.
In addition to the previously announced closure of the assembly plant in Gunsan, Korea, GM will cease the operations of two additional plants outside North America by the end of 2019.

These manufacturing actions are expected to significantly increase capacity utilization. To further enhance business performance, GM will continue working to improve other manufacturing costs, productivity and the competitiveness of wages and benefits.

Staffing transformation – The company is transforming its global workforce to ensure it has the right skill sets for today and the future, while driving efficiencies through the utilization of best-in-class tools. Actions are being taken to reduce salaried and salaried contract staff by 15 percent, which includes 25 percent fewer executives to streamline decision making.
Barra added, “These actions will increase the long-term profit and cash generation potential of the company and improve resilience through the cycle.”

GM expects to fund the restructuring costs through a new credit facility that will further improve the company’s strong liquidity position and enhance its financial flexibility.

GM expects to record pre-tax charges of $3.0 billion to $3.8 billion related to these actions, including up to $1.8 billion of non-cash accelerated asset write-downs and pension charges, and up to $2.0 billion of employee-related and other cash-based expenses. The majority of these charges will be considered special for EBIT-adjusted, EPS diluted-adjusted and adjusted automotive free cash flow purposes. The majority of these charges will be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019, with some additional costs incurred through the remainder of 2019.

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General Motors (NYSE:GM) is committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Cadillac, Chevrolet, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, Maven, its personal mobility brand, and Cruise, its autonomous vehicle ride-sharing company, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

LAS VEGAS — Today at SEMA Collision, General Motors’ Customer Care and Aftersales division announced that in just a few short months, nearly 1,000 dealers and repair facilities have begun enrollment in the GM Collision Repair Network to help with safe and proper repair of GM vehicles.

“The industry response means that repair facilities are seeing business value in becoming a part of GM’s Collision Repair Network,” said John Eck, collision manager, GM Customer Care and Aftersales. “Collision repair professionals are telling us they see how the Network can help make their business more efficient, speed up the repair process and give confidence that vehicles are repaired accurately and safely.”

At the GM Genuine Parts and ACDelco’ SEMA Collision booth (#15407), GM is showcasing the repair procedures related to the all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s advanced technologies. Participants in the Collision Repair Network will have easy access to the Silverado’s repair procedures and training, resulting in a more efficient collision repair process.

Repair procedures that will be displayed at SEMA Collision include:

2019 Silverado 1500 Front and rear frame service parts – making it simpler to replace portions of the frame in a collision instead of replacing the full frame.
2019 Silverado 1500 Proper lifting and jacking procedures – utilizing newly-designed “wide” hoist adapters to avoid possibility of frame distortion.
Fascia repair procedures – ensuring the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are working properly after repair.
Paint-friendly service parts for grilles – making paint prep and application easier without having to mask off sections of the grille.
Additionally, stop by to see a cutaway of the 2019 Silverado 1500 at the Car-O-Liner booth (#10839) and a 2019 Silverado 1500 body-in-white display at the I-CAR booth (#10879).

Dealers and independent collision repair facilities interested enrolling in the GM Collision Repair Network can email GMCollisionRepairNetwork@GM.com or visit GenuineGMParts.com (click on the “For Professionals” tab) to enroll and learn more about the network requirements and fees.

To further support the repair industry and advancements in safety technology, GM releases position statements to educate the industry to help ensure the vehicles are repaired to the original pre-crash condition. All of GM’s position statements can be downloaded at http://www.genuinegmparts.com/for-professionals/position-statements.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Cadillac, Chevrolet,Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, Maven, its personal mobility brand, and Cruise, its autonomous vehicle ride-sharing company, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Woodcliff Lake – Sept 28, 2018…Today, BMW announces the next chapter in the i3 story of electromobility; the new 2019 i3 and i3s with 120 Ah batteries. Since its launch in 2014, the battery capacity and range of the i3 has grown from the original 60Ah / 81 miles to 94Ah / 115 miles in 2017 and now 120Ah for 2019. With the high voltage battery cell capacity increased to 120 ampere hours (Ah) and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), the new generation of high-voltage batteries enables the BMW i3 120 Ah and the BMW i3s 120Ah to achieve a range of up to 153 miles, nearly a 30% improvement from the 94 Ah model and almost double its original range. The 2019 i3 REX model range is expected to be similarly improved, pending EPA certification.

The BMW i3 is a visionary electric vehicle and an inspirational design that has helped to make BMW i so popular through its innovative mobility solutions with sustainability as a key defining element. The BMW i brand has established itself as a pioneer for forward-thinking mobility by offering such products while also adopting an all-embracing approach that takes into account the complete lifecycle, from raw material production, through the manufacture and operation of the vehicles to their later recycling.

Complementing the introduction of the new battery, a new exterior color, a new color for the optional Mega World upholstery and full LED headlights with cornering lights and automatic high beams, are also available for the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. iDrive 6.0, previously available only with the optional Navigation Professional, is now featured on the standard navigation system. Additionally, a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging tray for your personal mobile devices is available for the first time. The WiFi hotspot accommodates up to 10 devices and comes free with a 3 month or 3 GB trial offer.

New generation battery development: increased energy

The BMW eDrive technology enables drivers to enjoy emission-free mobility with instantaneous power delivery, efficient use of energy and an optimized range for everyday practicality that even extends beyond the demands of purely urban travel.

Like the electric motors, the high-voltage batteries are an integral part of the BMW eDrive technology used in BMW i automobiles and developed in-house the BMW Group. Based on research and development work conducted in close cooperation with the manufacturer of the individual battery cells, constant improvements to the battery packs’ power output, vehicle range, safety and durability have been achieved. Installed low in the floor of the vehicle, the new high-voltage battery is produced at the BMW plant in Dingolfing and consists of eight modules, each with twelve storage cells: the latest cell capacity of 120Ah along with a gross energy content of 42.2kWh. The exterior dimensions of the battery pack remain unchanged. When launched in 2014, the i3’s battery pack provided 60 Ah and 22.6kWh, while the second-generation battery introduced for 2017 offered a capacity of 94Ah and 33kWh.

The BMW i3, powered by a 170 hp electric motor, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, while the BMW i3s with 181 hp completes the standard sprint in 6.8 seconds. The two models set the benchmark for sporty performance within their vehicle segment.

With its battery capacity increased to 42.2kWh, the latest version of the BMW i3 follows the brand’s holistic concept; a responsible use of resources including not only locally emissions-free power but also material selection, production techniques and available mobility services. The BMW i3 120Ah and the BMW i3s 120Ah have a much more favorable CO2 footprint across the entire vehicle lifecycle – from raw material extraction and manufacture through to use and recycling – and this makes for significantly lower global warming potential than is the case with comparable, conventionally powered automobiles.
Design and Interior: great sense of roominess, sustainable materials.

The interior styling of the new BMW i3 and BMW i3s is rooted in the LifeDrive vehicle architecture. The carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell has a wonderfully spacious feel about it and is dominated by a sense of lightness. The design principle of the two four-seater models means there is no need for either fixed B-pillars or a transmission tunnel. Doors that open in opposite directions allow the occupants to get in and out with the greatest of ease.

New for 2019 exterior color choices is Jucaro Beige Metallic w/ Frozen Grey accents which replaces the outgoing Protonic Blue Metallic w/Frozen Grey accent.

Interior trim changes include Mega World now offering Electronic Brown Trim and Mega Carum Spice Grey SensaTec with Brown Cloth highlights. Tera World now includes higher quality Tera Dark Truffle Vernasca Leather. The BMW i3 and BMW i3s apply the concept of sustainability throughout, as other materials used are recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibers and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. Over 80 percent of the surfaces visible to the passengers are made from recycled materials or renewable resources. The available seat belts in BMW i Blue for the BMW i3s provide a splash of color in the interior.

Connectivity and Driver Assistance Systems.

BMW Connected bolsters the link between the i3 and the digital experience. Remote Services allow you to check if your windows are closed and doors are locked. You can also precondition the climate of the i3 for a comfortable temperature before your departure as well as warming the battery under certain conditions. On the eDrive tab, one can browse through various efficiency statistics, monitor your electrical consumption, energy recuperation statistics and observe your efficiency.

The driver assistance systems available for the 2019 BMW i3 and BMW i3s ease the driver’s workload and provide support in various traffic situations, as well as helping with longitudinal and lateral vehicle control. The optional Technology and Driving Assistance Package includes LED headlights with cornering lights, Active Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Daytime Pedestrian Protection, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation, and Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information. ConnectedDrive Services and front/rear Park Distance Control are now standard equipment. Parking Assistance is a standalone options for the i3 (not available on the i3s). Once activated, Parking Assistance scans for suitable parking spaces and at the press of a button takes control of acceleration, braking, gear selection and steering to perfectly park your i3.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 5, 2018… With college students across the country returning to school and recent graduates coming off their first summer post-graduation, MINI USA is offering the well-equipped, low cost 2019 MINI Oxford Edition to help them make their road to success fun and stylish without breaking the bank. For no additional cost, this unique edition comes with $6,900 worth of optional equipment as standard.

The MINI Oxford Edition is available to current full- or part-time students of any two- or four-year accredited college or university, recent college graduates who are within 12 months of their graduation, as well as students enrolled in post-bachelor’s degree programs, such as graduate school, law school, or medical school. The MINI Oxford edition has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $19,750 for the 2 door and $20,750 for the 4 door. Pricing excludes the $850 Destination & Handling fee.

Named for the home of MINI craftsmanship, Oxford, England, the MINI Oxford Edition offers students the legendary go-kart handling, turbocharged excitement and iconic MINI design at an affordable price. Standard equipment includes the MINI Connected Infotainment System with a 6.5 inch high resolution screen, rear-view camera, park distance control and MINI Teleservices and emergency call. The MINI Oxford Edition also comes with upgraded 17” wheels in silver or black, automatic or manual transmission, dual-pane panoramic moonroof, heated seats, and a choice of six exterior body colors.

“The MINI Oxford Edition represents a tremendous value for college students and recent graduates who are looking for a fun, stylish car that won’t break the bank,” said Randy Clements, Department Head, Product Planning & Aftersales, MINI USA. “Eligible students and graduates can save thousands on a well-equipped MINI that is ideal to get them to get to campus or their first job out of school in style.”

The MINI Oxford Edition is currently available at dealerships across the U.S.

Click here for high resolution images of the new MINI Oxford Edition or visit MINIUSANEWS.com.

About MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand. The MINI USA sales organization is represented in the U.S. through a network of 125 MINI passenger car dealers in 39 states. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops.

Today, in the Artipelag art museum, Mercedes-Benz celebrated the world premiere of the new, fully-electric EQC (combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures)1. Dieter Zetsche presented the first Mercedes-Benz model under the product and technology brand EQ to over 600 invited guests. As a purely battery-electrically powered vehicle, the EQC stands for an impressive combination of comfort, quality and day-to-day suitability. In visual terms the crossover SUV is the front-runner for an avantgarde electric look. Not only the protagonist itself, but also the location for the world premiere was a statement for sustainability. The Artipelag museum is surrounded by forest on the banks of Stockholm’s skerries, and embodies the link between art and nature – it is an extraordinary and apt location for the departure into a new era of mobility at Mercedes-Benz.

“The EQC brings design, functionality and service together in a unique way. It offers day-to-day suitable e-mobility in a very special package: the EQC is an electric car, and at the same time 100 percent a Mercedes,” says Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

With its seamless, clear design and colour highlights typical of the brand, the EQC is the front-runner for an avantgarde electric look while embodying progressive luxury with its design idiom. With respect to quality, safety and comfort, the EQC is the Mercedes-Benz among electric vehicles and immediately impresses with the sum of its attributes. These are accompanied by dynamic performance, thanks to two electric motors at the front and rear axles with a combined output of 300 kW (provisional figure)2. Thanks to a sophisticated operating strategy, an electric driving range of more than 450 km according to NEDC (provisional figure)2 is possible. EQ also offers comprehensive services with Mercedes me, and makes electromobility convenient and suitable for day-to-day motoring.

Before the actual reveal, the guests were given all the background and details related to the EQC. Britta Seeger, Ola Källenius and Markus Schäfer e.g. moderated the EQ sessions on various topics such as development, design, safety, drive, the electromobility brand EQ and the production strategy for the new electric vehicle. Together with this varied and informative programme as well as with the unusual location, the inventor of the automobile showed that Mercedes-Benz is embarking on a new era. Electric now has a Mercedes

GUANGZHOU, China – The Nissan Sylphy Zero Emission, the first Nissan electric car made for China, has begun rolling off the production line.

The start of production by Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co., the passenger vehicle unit of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL), Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd., coincides with another milestone: The companies have built 10 million vehicles in China since they started operations.

As Nissan’s first all-electric vehicle built in China specifically for Chinese consumers, the Nissan Sylphy Zero Emission promises to usher in a new era of electrification in the world’s largest automotive market. The model was developed based on the platform of the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, and the best-selling Nissan sedan in China, the Sylphy. It’s being built at Dongfeng Nissan’s Huadu plant.

“Growth in the Chinese market is a critical part of Nissan’s midterm plan, Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022,” said Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.’s president and CEO. “China is already the world’s largest automotive market. But China isn’t just a leader in terms of market size: It stands at the forefront of the development of the industry itself. The market is now evolving extremely quickly, especially in the areas of electrification and connectivity. In fact, China is expected to lead the world in the adoption and spread of EVs in the coming years. We’re confident that the Sylphy Zero Emission rolling off the production line today will become a main player in the EV market here. It’s going to pave the way for our Nissan Intelligent Mobility strategy in the Chinese market. By the end of 2019, DFL plans to launch five new EV models across the Nissan, Venucia and Dongfeng brands. We’re going to roll out a range of EVs that will appeal to customers within all market segments.”

Ranking among Nissan’s most productive plants, Huadu has played a key role in the 15 years since the company began operating in China. The plant is on a path to help Dongfeng Nissan reach the next 10 million-vehicle milestone by producing the Sylphy Zero Emission, along with many other planned models aimed at delivering excitement and the latest mobility solutions to Chinese consumers.

Building on their strong partnership over the past 15 years, Dongfeng and Nissan will continue to bring advanced technologies and world-class vehicles to customers in China.

August 28, 2018―TOKYO, Japan―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber) today announced that they have agreed to expand their collaboration with the aim of advancing and bringing to market autonomous ride-sharing as a mobility service at scale. To accomplish this, technology from each company will be integrated into purpose-built Toyota vehicles to be deployed on Uber’s ride-sharing network.

Separately, Toyota is investing $500 million in Uber.

“Combining efforts with Uber, one of the predominant global ride-sharing and automated driving R&D companies, could further advance future mobility,” said Shigeki Tomoyama, executive vice president, TMC, and president, Toyota Connected Company. “This agreement and investment marks an important milestone in our transformation to a mobility company as we help provide a path for safe and secure expansion of mobility services like ride-sharing that includes Toyota vehicles and technologies.”

As Uber and Toyota look ahead to a self-driving future, this partnership will be critical in realizing self-driving technology at scale. Uber and Toyota anticipate that the mass-produced autonomous vehicles will be owned and operated by mutually agreed upon third party autonomous fleet operators.

“The deal is the first of its kind for Uber, and signals our commitment to bringing world-class technologies to the Uber network,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s CEO. “Our goal is to deploy the world’s safest self-driving cars on the Uber network, and this agreement is another significant step towards making that a reality. Uber’s advanced technology and Toyota’s commitment to safety and its renowned manufacturing prowess make this partnership a natural fit. I look forward to seeing what our teams accomplish together.”

The initial “Autono-MaaS” (autonomous-mobility as a service) fleet will be based on Toyota’s Sienna Minivan platform. Uber’s Autonomous Driving System and the Toyota Guardian automated safety support system will both be integrated into the Autono-MaaS vehicles. Toyota will also utilize its Mobility Services Platform (MSPF), its core information infrastructure for connected vehicles. Pilot-scale deployments will begin on the Uber ride-sharing network in 2021.

“Uber’s automated driving system and Toyota’s Guardian system will independently monitor the vehicle environment and real-time situation, enhancing overall vehicle safety for both the automated driver and the vehicle,” said Dr. Gill Pratt, Toyota Research Institute CEO and TMC Fellow. “We look forward to this partnership accelerating both companies’ development and deployment of automated driving technology.”

Toyota’s investment in Uber and the proposed collaboration are subject to standard regulatory approvals.

About Uber
Uber’s mission is to bring reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get a ride at the touch of a button? We’ve since completed 5 billion trips and remain committed to building a platform that enables the safe, efficient movement of people around the world. Today, the team at the Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) is tackling another challenge: how do you build and deploy self-driving technology at scale? The ATG is comprised of world-class engineering talent dedicated to vehicle safety, self-driving software, mapping, and more. Uber is taking a holistic approach to bringing self-driving vehicles to market through a variety of partnerships, with the ultimate goal of creating autonomous ridesharing at scale.

About Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 27 countries and regions, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries and regions under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.

DETROIT — The all-new 2019 Sierra set the new benchmark for capability, refinement and innovation when introduced earlier this year. Now, the GMC Sierra Denali is arriving at dealerships and strengthening GMC’s position as the preeminent brand for premium truck buyers.

Denali is the flagship of the next-generation Sierra lineup, distinguished by iconic design cues and segment-leading technologies. It leads a broader, bolder range of precisely engineered trucks, including new AT4 and Elevation models1, developed for the segment’s most discerning customers.

“GMC ignited the premium truck market 17 years ago with the launch of the Sierra Denali and the next-generation model sets a new standard with unparalleled advancements and exclusive design,” said Rich Latek, marketing director of GMC. “It offers more upscale appointments, purposeful technologies and capability – solidifying Denali as the ultimate in professional grade.”

Along with its bold design and premium features, the next-generation Sierra Denali ups the ante in the segment with exclusive ride and handling and performance technologies designed to deliver a seamless balance of comfort, control and capability. They include new Adaptive Ride Control and the most powerful V-8 engine available in the class.

The new Sierra Denali is offered as a crew cab, with nearly 3 inches of additional rear-seat legroom compared to the previous model. That roomier cabin is trimmed with Denali-exclusive materials, including premium Forge leather-appointed seating, authentic open-pore wood trim and dark-finish aluminum decor.

The 2019 Sierra Denali affirms its position as the most premium Sierra ever, with segment-leading technologies and exclusive features, including:

GMC Exclusive, Industry-first MultiPro Tailgate is the most innovative pickup tailgate ever, with six unique functions and positions offering enhanced second-tier loading and load-stop solutions, a standing workstation and easier access to items in the box.
GMC Exclusive, Industry-first Carbon Fiber Pickup Box2. The CarbonPro offers best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance.
All-new ProGrade Trailering System with in-vehicle Trailering App offers a connected comprehensive suite of trailering technology that brings more confidence to the towing experience.
Segment-first Multi-Color Head-Up Display projects key, customizable vehicle data on the windshield in a 3 x 7-inch display to help drivers keep their eyes on the road.
Segment-first Rear Camera Mirror gives the driver the option of using a traditional inside rearview mirror or a rearview camera mirror display that provides a wider, unobstructed view that can help overcome common visual obstructions such as occupants or cargo. This next-generation system features the ability for zoom and vertical tilt adjustment.
Additional 2019 Sierra Denali highlights (standard and available features) include:

Denali-exclusive exterior elements, including a bright, multidimensional grille, chrome exterior accents and body-color bumpers.
New high-intensity LED headlamps that incorporate C-shaped “light blade” lighting elements, LED fog lamps and C-shaped LED elements within the taillights.
20-inch aluminum wheels are standard, with 22-inch wheels available.
Integrated dual exhaust with bright polished outlets standard.
Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seat and heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel are standard.
GMC Premium Infotainment System with 8-inch-diagonal HD color touchscreen, embedded navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection compatibility.
Customizable profiles, saved with each driver’s settings and presets and stored in the cloud, can be accessed and used in other compatible 2019 GMCs.
Ride and Handling Delivers Confidence
Sierra Denali’s exclusive Adaptive Ride Control offers premium ride comfort with better road isolation and control than ever. Through real-time monitoring of the road and driver inputs while accelerating, cornering, braking and trailering, the system’s active dampers can be individually adjusted every 2 milliseconds, based on sensor feedback.

The all-new Traction Select System allows drivers to choose from preset available drive modes that have been tailored for different terrain or weather conditions. It adjusts Sierra’s transmission shift points, throttle mapping and StabiliTrak to optimize performance for the situation. The system also reacts with the Adaptive Ride Control in Sierra Denali to further enhance the driving experience and refine the ride.

The available Traction Select system modes are:

Tour: The default mode of operation at every start-up, Tour is designed to deliver the right blend of refinement and efficiency for everyday use.
Sport: The transmission is eager to downshift in order to keep the engine in its peak powerband. Power steering assist is slightly reduced, making the steering feel more direct, communicative and sporty.
Snow: Available only on two-wheel-drive Sierras, Snow Mode optimizes Sierra’s driveline for driving in wintry weather. In addition to leveraging Sierra’s standard Traction Control and StabiliTrak stability control systems, Snow Mode also provides a slower, less sensitive accelerator pedal calibration.
Off-Road: Designed for use for higher-speed driving on non-paved surfaces, Off-Road mode incorporates the same accelerator calibration as Snow Mode, giving the driver precise throttle control. Also incorporates unique StabiliTrak and traction control calibrations that allow for a little more wheelslip than on dry surfaces, in order to help carry momentum — important on gravel or in muddy situations.
Tow/Haul: Modifies the transmission calibration so that shift points are higher, allowing the engine to deliver peak power. It also initiates downshifts earlier in order to leverage engine braking and reduce wear on brake components. Tow/Haul also engages Grade Braking functionality so that on long, downhill stretches, a light touch of the brake pedal can initiate a downshift to slow the vehicle more efficiently.
The Autotrac 2-Speed Transfer Case, standard on Sierra Denali, offers a mechanical low range to provide amplified torque at low speeds — ideal for use on severe off-road terrain, slippery boat launches and in other low-traction situations.

Next-generation Sierra models, including the Denali, also feature a new electro-hydraulic power brake boost system rather than a conventional vacuum-assist system, for strong, smooth and consistent brake pedal feel when the bed is loaded or when trailering. The four-wheel disc brake system also features larger-diameter Duralife brake rotors and larger brake pads to support its performance capability.

Segment’s most-powerful V-8 engine
The 2019 Sierra Denali’s available 6.2L V-8 engine is the segment’s largest displacement engine and most powerful, rated at an SAE-certified at 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm). It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) debuts with the engine, offering industry-first cylinder deactivation technology that enables it to operate in 17 different patterns between two and eight cylinders, depending on demand, to optimize power delivery and efficiency.

Sierra Denalis equipped with the optional 6.2L V-8 include a 10-speed automatic transmission designed to improve shift quality. It incorporates a new centrifugal pendulum absorber torque converter that reduces vibrations to improve smoothness, particularly during cylinder deactivation events.

Advanced connectivity
An 8-inch-diagonal GMC Premium Infotainment System with a high-resolution color touchscreen and embedded navigation that incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android phone projection compatibility3 is standard for the Sierra Denali. Also standard is a seven-speaker Bose® Premium Sound System with Richbass® Woofer in the center console. The infotainment system also features advanced personalization features, enhanced voice recognition functionality and offers downloadable in-vehicle apps, including Spotify, USA Today and FOX Sports.

Simple and easy to use, an all-new in-vehicle Trailering App utilizes sensors and cameras to help ease the process of towing in all stages: during hitching and setup, on the road and when responding to potential hazards. Features of the in-vehicle Trailering App include customized trailer profiles, pre-departure checklists, assistance while checking external lights and Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System (additional equipment and installation required) while offering an industry-first smartphone companion app for compatible devices.

1 Late availability
2 Limited availability later in model year
3 Registered trademarks of Apple and Android

About GMC
With a strong foundation of manufacturing trucks since 1902 and now selling in a dozen countries across the world, GMC offers purpose-built vehicles designed and engineered to the highest standard. From the all-new compact SUV Terrain to the Sierra HD, our trucks and crossovers deliver GMC’s signature combination of intuitive technologies and premium execution, with the popular Denali sub-brand representing the pinnacle of GMC design, performance and amenities. Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com, on Twitter at @gmc or at www.facebook.com/gmc.

RICHMOND, Virginia – CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, announced that it is hiring to fill more than 60 positions for a new CarMax location in Wilmington, North Carolina, slated to open in September 2018. The new Wilmington store will be located at 6030 Market Street and will be the first CarMax store in the Wilmington area and 11th store in North Carolina.

With competitive pay and benefits; and a foundation built around integrity, trust and giving back; CarMax has been named one of FORTUNE magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® 14 consecutive years. Applications are now being accepted on the retailer’s website at jobs.carmax.com.

Who is CarMax Hiring?

CarMax is seeking applicants for full and part-time positions.
Available positions include sales and service operations positions, including inventory associates, service advisors and technicians.
CarMax is offering up to $5,000 sign on bonuses for automotive technicians and $1,500 sign on bonuses for automotive painters (based on experience level).
Technicians require previous automotive experience, however most positions do not.
Many CarMax associates have worked for other major retailers, such as Target, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart and Macy’s.
Why Work at CarMax?

CarMax is committed to hiring people with strong values of integrity, transparency and respect. We live these values every day and they drive how we treat our associates and our customers.
CarMax offers unmatched training and support for associate career growth.
CarMax offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package.
Stores are equipped with climate controlled, state-of-the-art service bays with quality equipment
CarMax Associates also receive discounts on car purchases and other services.
CarMax is recognized as one of FORTUNE magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For®, 15 Best Workplaces in Retail and 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials, as well as one of TRAINING Magazine’s “Training Top 125” companies in America.
How Can Job Seekers Apply?

Applications are only accepted online. Job seekers should apply at jobs.carmax.com.
About CarMax
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and operates more than 190 stores in 41 states nationwide. CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve. For nearly 25 years, CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. At CarMax, we’ll buy your car even if you don’t buy ours®. CarMax has nearly 25,000 associates nationwide and for 14 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2018, the company retailed 721,512 used cars and sold 408,509 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Palo Alto, Calif. (May 10, 2018) – Poised for significant growth, Autonomic, the creator of the Transportation Mobility Cloud™ and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Smart Mobility, has realigned its leadership team, officially confirming Gavin Sherry as Chief Executive Officer.

The Transportation Mobility Cloud™ is the first open cloud-based platform that connects the diverse components of urban mobility systems, including connected vehicles, mass transit, pedestrians, city infrastructure and service providers — with the goal of orchestrating a safer, more efficient and sustainable transportation network.

“Our goal is to be the foremost connected mobility cloud globally, and I’m excited for the opportunity to power and pave the way for future cities,” said Gavin Sherry, co-founder, and CEO of Autonomic. “By uniting all connected vehicles on a single platform, along with other transport agencies, cities, and developers, the possibilities of how we can advance and synchronize transportation and mobility are endless.”

Previously leading Autonomic’s innovation as co-founder and Vice President of Engineering, Sherry is now responsible for spurring the growth and adoption of the Transportation Mobility Cloud™, while Autonomic’s former CEO and now Vice President of Ford X, a part of Ford Smart Mobility LLC, Sundeep (Sunny) Madra will serve as a board member and advisor.

“As cities look to improve transportation options and increase livability for their citizens, enhancing mobility is key to meeting this challenge. Gavin is the right leader to take Autonomic to the next stage of growth and ensure the TMC becomes the foremost platform that developers and automakers use to deliver their mobility goals,” says Madra.

Autonomic’s executive team hails from Amazon Web Services, Pivotal, Proofpoint (NASDAQ PFPT), Greenplum (acquired by EMC) and Xtreme Labs (acquired by Pivotal). The team has a track record of delivering large-scale, high impact cloud and distributed systems and several executives were instrumental in building the first version of Amazon Web Services, and leading consumer, open source and cloud software.

Now, the team is taking a similar approach to creating a transportation platform at a scale that paves the way for all developers and automakers, in addition to Ford, to build on the Transportation Mobility Cloud™.

As part of Sherry’s appointment into the role of CEO, Autonomic’s executive leadership is elevating to further meet the needs of the industry and the company’s partners which include auto manufacturers, developers, parts suppliers and fleet operators. The executive team consists of:

Gavin Sherry, CEO
Sherry has more than 20 years of experience in data processing, machine learning and engineering large-scale Internet systems globally and will advance the company’s vision of accelerating the transformation of the transportation industry. Previously, Sherry served as Autonomic’s Vice President of Engineering. Prior to Autonomic, Sherry served as the Vice President of Engineering at Pivotal, where he was instrumental in the development of the company’s big data suite, which brought significant data warehousing and analytics to the cloud for enterprise. Leveraging his experience building open source software and data processing technologies, Sherry went on to co-found Autonomic in August of 2016 with fellow Pivotal alums Sunny Madra, Nithin Rao, Amar Varma, and Benjamin Black.

Benjamin Black, CTO
Prior to Autonomic, Black held senior technology roles at Pivotal, Microsoft and Amazon, and was an early Amazon employee who co-wrote the paper that would become Amazon Web Services. In addition, Black worked at Microsoft where he helped build Office 365, its answer to Google Apps, and prior to that founded a startup called Boundary, which monitored computer networks.

Amar Varma, COO
A co-founder of Xtreme Labs with Madra, Varma has 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor in high profile technology companies.

Julie Davies, General Counsel
Davies has over a decade of experience advising public and private companies, venture capitalists and corporate investors in matters arising during every stage of a company’s lifecycle. Prior to Autonomic, she was a partner in the Palo Alto office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Caleb Welton, Vice President of Engineering
Welton has worked in data processing and machine learning his entire career. He led the development of MADlib, an open-source scale-out machine learning library. Prior to that, he was a key member of the Greenplum Database team (acquired by EMC).

Nithin Rao, Vice President of Product Management
With over 20 years of experience combining business, technology and product strategy, Rao is a technology veteran. Prior to Autonomic, he was a key member of the product teams at Pivotal and Proofpoint.

Sunny Madra, Board Member
Madra co-founded Autonomic and served as CEO until Ford Smart Mobility acquired it in February 2018, and also co-founded Xtreme Labs (acquired by Pivotal in 2013). He is currently Vice President, Ford X at Ford Motor Company and is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and technologist.

Expanding Talent in Silicon Valley and Detroit
In addition to growing its team in Silicon Valley, Autonomic is also building a team in Detroit, investing in the community’s local talent and focusing on core vehicle connectivity and mobility problems.

In addition, the company aims to expand the reach of the Transportation Mobility Cloud™ by establishing partnerships with additional OEMs, and introducing more developers to the platform.

Autonomic is positioned to be the foremost connected vehicle cloud globally, advancing the entire transportation industry’s evolution towards synchronicity.

To find out more about joining the team, visit autonomic.ai/careers.

About Autonomic
Autonomic is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Smart Mobility and is set to usher in a new era of connected vehicles and transform how people move around cities. As the creator of the world’s foremost transportation and mobility platform for connected vehicles — the Transportation Mobility Cloud — Autonomic gives car makers and developers the infrastructure to build customer experiences for connected vehicles..To learn more about Autonomic, go to: autonomic.ai
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

DEARBORN, Mich., Ford Motor Company is issuing two safety recalls in North America. Details are:

Select 2018 Ford F-150, 2018 Ford Expedition, and 2018 Ford F-650 and F-750 vehicles with 10-speed and 6-speed automatic transmissions for unseated gear shift cable clip

Ford is issuing a safety recall in North America for approximately 350,000 2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition vehicles with 10-speed automatic transmissions as well as 2018 Ford F-650 and F-750 vehicles with 6-speed automatic transmissions for a potentially unseated transmission gear shift cable clip.

On some of the affected vehicles, a clip that locks the gear shift cable to the transmission may not be fully seated. Over time, a partially seated clip or a clip that becomes dislodged may allow the transmission to be in a gear state different from the gear shift position selected by the driver.

This could allow the driver to move the shifter to park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission gear may not be in park, with no instrument panel warning message or warning chime when the driver’s door is opened that indicates the vehicle is not secured in park. If the parking brake is not applied, this could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Ford is aware of one reported accident and injury related to this condition.

Affected vehicles include:
2018 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Assembly Plant, Jan. 5, 2017 to Feb. 16, 2018
2018 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Jan. 25, 2017 to Feb. 16, 2018
2018 Ford Expedition vehicles built at Kentucky Truck Plant, April 3, 2017 to Jan. 30, 2018
2018 Ford F-650 and F-750 vehicles built at Ohio Assembly Plant, April 25, 2017 to March 9, 2018
The recall involves approximately 347,425 vehicles in North America, with 292,909 in the United States and federalized territories, 51,742 in Canada and 2,774 in Mexico. The Ford reference number for this recall is 18S10.

Dealers will inspect and verify that the shift cable locking clip was properly installed. If the clip is not properly seated, technicians will adjust the shifter cable and secure the locking clip at no cost to the customer.

Select 2017-18 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition, 2018 Lincoln Navigator and 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles with 10R80 transmissions for missing transmission roll pin

Ford is issuing a safety recall in North America for approximately 161 2017-18 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition, 2018 Lincoln Navigator and 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles with 10R80 transmissions for a potentially missing roll pin that attaches the park pawl rod guide cup to the transmission case.

If the pin is missing, with repeated use, the transmission may eventually lose park function even when the shifter and instrument panel display indicate the vehicle is in park. This condition would allow the ignition key to be removed, with no instrument panel warning message or warning chime when the driver’s door is opened that indicates the vehicle is not secured in park. If the parking brake is not applied, this could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition.

Affected vehicles include:
2017-18 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Assembly Plant, Oct. 20, 2016 to March 5, 2018
2017-18 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Dec. 22, 2017 to Feb. 26, 2018
2018 Ford Expedition vehicles built at Kentucky Truck Plant, Nov. 28, 2017 to Feb. 14, 2018
2018 Ford Mustang vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Nov. 6, 2017 to Feb. 12, 2018
2018 Lincoln Navigator vehicles built at Kentucky Truck Plant, Dec. 13, 2017 to March 8, 2018
The recall involves approximately 161 vehicles in North America with 142 in the United States and federalized territories, 18 in Canada and one in Mexico. The Ford reference number for this recall is 18S09.

Dealers will inspect the transmission for a missing park pawl rod guide cup roll pin and will install the roll pin if required at no cost to the customer.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

ZF will launch an industry-first fabric housing knee airbag in 2019 for a major European vehicle manufacturer. The new airbag, which utilizes a fabric housing, will be up to 30 percent lighter than a traditional metal housing knee airbag, and will help improve occupant protection in a crash.

“The new ZF fabric housing knee airbag will support a number of industry trends,” said Norbert Kagerer, senior vice president, Occupant Safety Systems Engineering, ZF Friedrichshafen AG. “The reduced weight leads to greater efficiency in fuel economy and reduced emissions, while the smaller and flexible packaging will help meet new interior design and safety demands for the electric and autonomous vehicle interiors of the future.”

The new airbag module will enable vehicle manufacturers to help optimize interior redesign requirements, such as reinforcing the instrument panel. In some cases, this will further reduce weight and costs.

ZF’s new knee airbag module will be produced using a new manufacturing process that allows for more precise module package configurations that help to enhance the airbag’s quality and performance. The fabric housing design will be configurable for all markets and light vehicle ranges.

SEOUL — GM Korea Company (GM Korea) announced today that it will cease production and close its Gunsan plant by the end of May 2018. The Gunsan facility has been increasingly underutilized, running at about 20 percent of capacity over the past three years, making continued operations unsustainable.

This announcement occurs after a careful review of the company’s operations, which have sustained significant losses for the past several years.

“This is a necessary but difficult first step in our efforts to restructure our operations in South Korea. We recognize the contribution and support of our employees, the wider Gunsan and Jeonbuk communities and government leaders, particularly through the most recent difficult period,” said Kaher Kazem, president and CEO of GM Korea. “We are committed to supporting all of our affected employees through this transition.”

GM has been aggressively addressing underperforming businesses globally, and is now focused on finding a solution for its South Korean operations.

The company has proposed to its key stakeholders — including its labor union, the South Korean Government and key GM Korea shareholders — a concrete plan to stay in the country and turn the business around that requires the full support of all parties. The proposal includes significant product-related investments in South Korea and would preserve thousands of jobs.

“The performance of our operations in South Korea needs to be urgently addressed by GM Korea and its key stakeholders. As we are at a critical juncture of needing to make product allocation decisions, the ongoing discussions must demonstrate significant progress by the end of February, when GM will make important decisions on next steps,” said Barry Engle, GM executive vice president and president of GM International.

As a result of this action, GM expects to take charges of up to $850 million, including approximately $475 million of non-cash asset impairments and up to $375 million of primarily employee-related cash expenses. Substantially all of these charges will be recorded by the end of the second quarter of 2018, and will be treated as special and excluded from the company’s EBIT-adjusted and EPS-diluted-adjusted results.

Based in Incheon, Korea, GM Korea has made significant contributions to the Korean economy and automotive industry over the last 16 years, producing 10 million vehicles since its establishment in 2002. GM Korea supports approximately 200,000 direct and indirect Korean jobs. In 2017, GM Korea sold 132,377 units in Korea and exported 392,170 vehicles to 120 markets around the world. Additional information on GM Korea and its products can be found at www.gm-korea.co.kr.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Today Cadillac is introducing the Morello Red Edition for the CTS V-Sport performance sedan. This detailed interior package enhances the CTS V-Sport’s striking exterior design and engaging performance.

The Morello Red Edition interior includes Jet Black RECARO® race-inspired seats with red contrast stitching, red front and rear door armrests and stunning Morello Red-accented high-gloss carbon-fiber interior trim. A Black Chrome grille and Gloss Black side window surround trim provide the sport sedan’s chiseled exterior with a dark and distinguished look.

For the 2018 Cadillac CTS V-Sport and CTS V-Sport Premium Luxury models, the 2018 Morello Red Edition is available now to order at local Cadillac dealerships or through the Build Your Own tool on Cadillac.com. Customers can call the Cadillac Customer Experience at 1-800-458-8006 for additional information.

Cadillac CTS V-Sport Morello Red Edition

Unique Content

Black Chrome accented grille
Gloss Black side window trim
V-Sport base spoiler
RECARO® seats with sueded inserts
Sueded microfiber steering wheel and shift knob
Morello carbon-fiber trim
Morello Red interior trim (red front/rear door and center armrests)
Available Model Choices

3.6L V-Sport RWD
3.6L V-Sport Premium Luxury RWD
Available Interior Choices

Jet Black with Morello Red Accents
Available Exterior Colors

Black Raven: No Charge
Phantom Gray Metallic: $625
Satin Steel Metallic: $625
Crystal White Tricoat: $1,225
Additional options for non-Premium Luxury CTS V-Sport include:

Luxury Package:
Tri-zone climate control
Heated rear outboard seating positions
Power rear-window sunshade
Manual rear side-window sunshades
110-volt power receptacle
Ultra-view sunroof
Rear Camera Mirror
Additional option for both CTS V-Sport and CTS V-Sport Premium Luxury:

Performance Exhaust and Engine Cover Package
Catback exhaust system
Red-painted engine cover

DETROIT — The holiday season is upon us and for many that includes a fun-filled trip with family or friends to find the perfect holiday tree. But before your tree-hunting adventure begins, it’s important to be prepared. A recently published AAA survey estimates that in the past three years 20 million Americans did not properly secure their trees to their vehicles, which may lead to accidents on the road.

To help get your tree home safely, check out the following tips from Chevrolet engineers for transporting a tree in or on top of a vehicle:

Dress warmly, wear gloves and bring a piece of cardboard to kneel on if you’re cutting your tree down.
If you’re transporting the tree inside your vehicle, make sure to lay down a tarp to keep your car clean. If you’re transporting the tree on top of your vehicle, make sure you have cross-rails installed so you don’t damage the paint.
Make sure the tree is tightly bound with netting or rope before tying it to the top of the vehicle.
Place the stump end of the tree toward the front of the car to reduce aerodynamic drag and ensure a safe drive home.
Lay your tree directly overtop the cross rails, loop twine over and around it and repeat to cinch it with a figure-eight motion to secure your tree tightly to the vehicle. This will help protect the tree from moving around while you drive.
If possible, use secondary roads and avoid highways when driving with your tree on top of the vehicle for a safer ride home.
BONUS TIP: Choose a car such as the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse with standard OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and 120-volt power outlet so you can take the holiday party with you wherever you travel!
ABOUT CHEVROLET
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

VAIL, Colo. — The 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD All Mountain concept, a one-of-a-kind snow-climbing machine, will debut this week at Vail Mountain. The Sierra All Mountain concept takes GMC’s signature bold design and engineering excellence to new heights, adding tank-like tracks that help it navigate rugged, snow-covered terrain.

Built on a GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali 4WD Crew Cab platform, the epitome of GMC’s strength and design, the All Mountain concept stands ready to tackle steep slopes and extreme weather conditions. It combines the power of the 6.6L turbo-diesel V-8 engine and first-class interior appointments of the Sierra 2500HD Denali and adds enhanced capability and features through concept Mattracks® technology and GMC Accessories.

“With GMC’s focus on premium capability and design, we wanted to ensure that this concept took these signature attributes to an entirely new level,” said Carl Zipfel, GMC exterior designer. “The Sierra All Mountain concept Mattracks® technology enables the truck to conquer uncharted territory while highlighting premium interior features such as Bose speakers and upscale leather treatments.”

Sierra All Mountain Concept Features:

Mattracks® 150 Series Tracks with GMC Red finish
Bodyside graphics
Wheel well and underbody LED lights
Snowboard Racks, associated accessories by Thule®
Amplifier and Dual Pod Speaker Kit, associated accessories by KICKER®
RIGID E-Series 30-Inch Light Bar
Soft roll-up tonneau cover by Advantage
Duramax® 6.6L Turbo Diesel engine with 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque
Allison® 1000 six-speed automatic transmission
The GMC Sierra All Mountain will remain on display at Vail for the winter season as part of an exclusive partnership announced earlier this year with Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN), the leading global mountain resort company. In addition to the main partnership with Vail Resorts, Inc., GMC has extended its presence by also collaborating with the Vail Valley Foundation and the Town of Vail. GMC will have a large presence in the Town of Vail through vehicle displays, courtesy vehicles, signage and special events.

“The Sierra All Mountain concept is perfectly suited for the outdoor activities offered at Vail properties,” said Rich Latek, director of GMC Marketing. “This unique concept truck is a fun way to attract attention to GMC and highlight our partnership with Vail Resorts.”

A similar Sierra All Mountain concept, built on a Sierra 2500HD All Terrain X platform, will be on display at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.

About GMC
With a strong foundation of manufacturing trucks since 1902 and now selling in a dozen countries across the world, GMC offers purpose-built vehicles designed and engineered to the highest standard. From the all-new compact SUV Terrain to the Sierra HD, our trucks and crossovers deliver GMC’s signature combination of intuitive technologies and premium execution, with the popular Denali sub-brand representing the pinnacle of GMC design, performance and amenities. Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at www.facebook.com/gmc.

About the Vail Valley Foundation
The Vail Valley Foundation is a nonprofit with the mission to enhance and sustain the quality of life in the Vail Valley by providing leadership in arts, education and athletics. The organization has hosted premiere events, operated two world-class performing arts venues, and provided education enrichment to Eagle County residents since 1981.

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 11 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe in Vermont; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.