SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) 5/25/2016 – Google announced plans Wednesday to open a Detroit-area technology center for its self-driving car program. The new center in Novi, Michigan, will house engineers and others testing vehicles provided by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a statement by Google parent Alphabet said. “For the past few years, members of our team have been working from the Greater Detroit area,” the statement posted on Google+ said. “Now it’s time to lay […]
Motoring
Formula One: McLaren men play down optimism
MONACO, Principality of Monaco (AFP) 5/25/2016 -McLaren’s duo of champion drivers on Wednesday cautioned against unrealistic optimism ahead of this weekend’s classic blue riband Monaco Grand Prix. Both two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso and 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button made clear that the Honda powered team’s recent improvement should not inspire unrealistic expectations. Briton Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in 2008 was McLaren’s 15th win at Monaco but was also their last. “We have to be realistic,” […]
Formula One: Hamilton needs balance to restore Mercedes order
by Tim Collings MONACO, Principality of Monaco (AFP) 5/26/2016 -Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix knowing he has to perform a perfect balancing act and avoid, at all costs, another spectacular crash with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. While many in the paddock and a new generation of fans will focus on Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, Formula One’s youngest winner, as he starts his second race for Red Bull, the key contests […]
New Harley-Davidson dealership opens in BGC
American leisure motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson recently announced the opening of its newest dealership, Harley-Davidson of Manila – Bonifacio Global City to further reinforce the brand’s continued commitment to the Philippines. The Manila dealership is the third authorized dealership for Harley-Davidson in the Philippines, and is owned and operated by American Motorcycles, Inc. Harley-Davidson owners, riders from Manila and throughout the Philippines, along with HarleyDavidson Dealer Principals from 11 countries were present at the opening. Mr. […]
VW dieselgate: US judge cites progress toward settlement
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) 5/24/2016 -The San Francisco judge handling the possible trial of Volkswagen in the emissions cheating scandal said Tuesday that there had been “substantial progress” toward a final settlement. Judge Charles Breyer said the German automaker was “on track to meet the court deadline” of June 21 for a deal with the government and car owners who sued Volkswagen for billions of dollars. In a hearing in the federal district court, […]
Volkswagen, Toyota buy into ridesharing
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) 5/24/2016 -Toyota and Volkswagen announced separate partnerships Tuesday with rideshare companies Uber and Gett, in the latest such moves by major carmakers. Japan’s Toyota and ridesharing titan Uber said they had entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration, starting with trials in countries where ridesharing is expanding. “Through this collaboration with Uber, we would like to explore new ways of delivering secure, convenient and attractive mobility services to […]
Toyota to recall 1.6 mn more US cars over Takata airbags
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) 5/24/2016 – Toyota said it will recall nearly 1.6 million more vehicles in the United States to correct possible defects in front passenger air bag inflators made by the Japanese company Takata. The decision, which was announced Monday, was made based on recent information from both Takata and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Toyota said in a statement. In early May, US auto safety regulators ordered Takata to recall […]