Author: Automotive News Feed

Mercedes and Audi are closing in on global premium sales leader BMW as the race between the three tightened last month.

Autoliv, the world’s largest maker of seat belts and airbags, is reorganizing to put more focus on its fast-growing, high-margin active safety business, which includes radar, night vision systems and front-view cameras.

The next-generation Chevrolet Volt plug-in will debut at the Detroit auto show in January. Tim Mahoney, Chevy’s global chief marketing officer, disclosed the plans at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich.

The Ford Fiesta and VW Polo were big Web winners during the second quarter. Other stars were the Land Rover Discovery, BMW X6 and Toyota Yaris, according to study.

Toyota is aiming its new Aygo minicar at younger buyers who don’t take themselves seriously, particularly men, who make up just 40 percent of current buyers.

Mercedes-Benz USA expects its GLA compact crossover to be in short supply when the vehicle debuts in September because of the segment’s growing popularity.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that Chinese carmaker Brilliance China Automotive Holdings had expressed an interest in opening a plant in Italy. Renzi is trying to encourage foreign investment in Italy, which has fallen back into recession.