Excerpts from the daily important news,
With a tech perspective and geek spirit, we dig into the highlights and explore more.
Edited by 丨AutoR智驾?
Jung Eui-seon is officially promoted to chairman?
Euisun?Chung, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, has been promoted to chairman of the group, taking the helm of all the group's businesses and driving the South Korean automaker to accelerate its transformation into a forward-looking mobility business, according to The?Korea?Herald. This also means that Hyundai Motor Group has completed the second "transfer of power" in its history. Last month, Hyundai chairman Mong-Koo Chung gave up his seat on the board of directors to hand over full power to his son, Chung Eui-seon.
Nissan to pull out of Indonesia
Nissan will officially withdraw from the Indonesian market, mainly because of continued sluggish demand for sales there. In addition, the production base jointly built by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors will continue to operate in Indonesia, with the plant focusing on Mitsubishi Motors' engine production program in the future.
Sharp sues Tesla for patent infringement? applies for Japanese ban on Tesla imports
Sharp recently filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Japanese subsidiary of U.S. electric car maker Tesla in the Tokyo District Court, claiming that on-board communication devices installed in the Model?S, Model?3 and Model?X infringed on its patents, according to people familiar with the matter who were informed of the matter on Wednesday, according to Reuters news agency. At the same time, Sharp filed to ban the import of some of Tesla's electric vehicles. Neither Sharp nor Tesla would comment on this. The details of Sharp's allegations against Tesla are not yet clear, but the foreign media pointed out that Sharp mentioned in-vehicle communication devices, which suggests that the alleged patent infringement relates to Tesla's infotainment system, which is also the main way to learn about the features used in its cars.
Lifan bond balance of 530 million, or back to the motorcycle business
Recently, Lifan shares announced that the company issued the 2016 corporate bonds (second phase) ("16 Lifan ?02") in ?2020? on March 15? due, but due to the company's tight liquidity. However, due to the company's liquidity constraints, it failed to pay the principal and interest of "16 Lifan?02" bonds on schedule, and the said bonds will be suspended from trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's comprehensive electronic platform for fixed-income securities. As of now, the balance of the bonds is 530.3 million yuan, and the interest rate of the bonds is 7.5%. Lifan shares in the 2019 semi-annual report clearly said it will "increase the motorcycle industry research and development investment".
World's first methanol fuel cell car launched, with a range far exceeding that of current electric cars
The world's first methanol-fueled car, the Gumpert?Nathalie, has been launched, and is being produced by a company founded by Roland?Gumpert, the former head of Audi?Sport. The company produces the Gumpert Nathalie. The car is powered by a fuel cell made from green methanol produced from renewable energy sources such as biomass, with a top speed of 300?km/h and a range of up to 820 kilometers when fully loaded with methanol, which is far superior to current electric cars. The car will be introduced to the market next year.
Final agreement for Hefei government to invest in Azera Motors (China) yet to be signed
Li Bin, founder, chairman and CEO of Azera Motors, said in a conference call following the release of Azera Motors' fourth-quarter 2019 financial results that "according to the direction of the framework agreement, Azera Motors' business in China will be attracted as an independent entity by a RMB investors. The Hefei municipal government will support Azera Motor's business in China through RMB investment, and (currently) the final agreement has not yet been signed." In addition Li Bin revealed that "Guangzhou Azera's car will also be mass-produced recently."
Chongqing will build China's first L4 self-driving open test base
March 17, Baidu Apollo won the bidding for Chongqing Yongchuan District, "western self-driving open test base" construction project, the project amount of 52.8 million yuan. Baidu, as the only company in China with the full stack of automatic driving vehicle, road, cloud and map capabilities, was selected as the single procurement supplier for the project. According to the project agreement, Baidu Apollo will build a vehicle-road cooperative test demonstration area within 20 square kilometers of Yongchuan City, Chongqing, providing a complete set of vehicle-road cooperative system solutions to support L4-level autonomous driving, and building a 3,000-square-meter demonstration base for intelligent network innovation in Yongchuan Big Data Industrial Park, to carry out research on testing technology and standard specifications.
Musk: Shortage of medical equipment? Tesla can make ventilators
Tesla Chief Executive Elon?Musk, responding to tweets from Pakistan's Science and Technology Minister Fawad?Chaudhry and a Tesla customer, said the company will make ventilator equipment if there is a shortage. Musk said Tesla makes cars with advanced HVAC systems and SpaceX makes launch vehicles with life-support systems, so it wouldn't be hard to make ventilators, but it's unlikely to be built immediately.
White House chief economic adviser Larry? Larry?Kudlow, the White House's chief economic adviser, told reporters Wednesday that General Motors Chief Executive Officer Mary?Barra has offered to recall workers to idle factories that make medical equipment needed to treat critically ill patients. He added that it was "done on a voluntary basis for civic and patriotic reasons." According to a person familiar with the matter, Borah offered GM the ability to use some of the excess factory space to produce ventilators and had it looked into how to build them, though the Trump administration has not yet formally asked GM to use its network of factories and suppliers to make any medical equipment.
Lion Technology receives 200 million yuan in financing, Chery accelerates automotive intelligent networking
On March 18, Wuhu Chery Lion Automotive Technology Co. received 200 million yuan in strategic financing from Chery Automobile. It is reported that this strategic financing by Chery Automobile Company Limited, Chery Holdings Group Limited, Chery Commercial Vehicle (Anhui) Company Limited, Chery New Energy Vehicle Company Limited, Wuhu Chery Technology Company Limited *** with the injection of capital. As an important fulcrum of Chery's exploration of intelligent networked vehicles, Lion Technology's 200 million yuan financing is of great significance. Chery Lion consists of five business segments: Lion Smart Driving, Lion Smart Cloud, Lion Smart Winning, Lion Smart Manufacturing and Lion Smart Traveling, covering automatic driving, intelligent network connection, big data, intelligent manufacturing, mobile travel services and other businesses. Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Automobile, has publicly said, "Lion Technology is the seventh major business segment of Chery following automobiles, auto parts, ships, finance, commerce, tourism & real estate, and represents the future of Chery Automobile and the future of travel change."
Toyota Akio: Epidemic won't affect R&D investment in electrification and automation
A new coronavirus epidemic pandemic is having a major impact on the automotive manufacturing industry, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Chairman and Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda said Thursday, according to Nihon Keizai Shimbun. He added that the organization's members would need to continue to adjust production as market demand is expected to fall sharply.
French government to offer loan guarantees to PSA and Renault
The French government has told Peugeot Citroen (PSA) and Renault that they are entitled to loan guarantees and wiggle room to defer tax payments to cope with the impact of the pandemic, Reuters reported.
General Motors makes top changes, changes command in China
General Motors has announced a series of top-level changes, effective April 1, 2020, with current GM China president Qian Huikang (Matt?Tsien) becoming global chief technology officer; current senior vice president of international operations Julian?Blissett taking over all operations in the China Craig Buchholz will join GM as senior vice president of global public relations.
This article comes from the authors of Automotive House Car Family, and does not represent the views of Automotive House's position.