AUTOMOBILE DE GERMANY Archives

Germany decries Turkey’s actions in east Mediterranean , urges dialogue

October 13, 20201 min read

Germany’s foreign minister on Tuesday criticized Turkey for unilateral steps” in the eastern Mediterranean that are undercutting efforts to de-escalate tensions with Greece and Cyprus over sea boundaries and drilling rights.

Heiko Maas said that it’s now up to Turkey to create those conditions without further provocations that will allow negotiations to move forward.

Maas said any attempt by a Turkish survey ship to begin prospecting for hydrocarbons in disputed waters around the Greek island of Kastellorizo would strike a serious blow” to efforts at easing tensions and improving ties between the European Union and Turkey.

Germany’s top diplomat also decried Turkey’s move to open the beachfront of Famagusta’s fenced-off suburb of Varosha in divided Cyprus’ breakaway Turkish Cypriot north as a completely unnecessary and provocative step.”

Varosha remained off-limits and in Turkish military control after its Greek Cypriot residents fled in

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Does Hulkenberg still have hope? “Maybe Formula 1 doesn’t need me.

October 13, 20201 min read

Nico Hulkenberg acted again last weekend as the ideal substitute, but De Duister wants more. Hulkenberg wants to return to Formula 1 but still doesn’t have a seat for next year while the number of places is decreasing. He does not see Red Bull as a serious option.

A spot at Red Bull?

Hulkenberg was almost able to make his debut for Red Bull last weekend because Albon’s coron test was not immediately negative. Marko hung up on the phone at Hulkenberg when it became clear that Albon might not be able to drive. At Auto, Motor und Sport they ask Hulkenberg if this means anything for a possible spot at Red Bull.

“Difficult, very difficult. I don’t get much hope. This was an exceptional situation because no driver can change so

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Monday’s update: More than 3,300 new cases in Michigan since Friday | State

October 13, 20201 min read

Ottawa County added 55 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the county’s total number of cases since the outbreak began in March to 4,022.

The Ottawa County health department reported 15 new cases Sunday and 36 new cases Saturday, but no new deaths related to COVID-19 since Friday. The county’s death toll stands at 70.

Michigan added 1,809 new cases of the virus since Saturday. Monday’s report includes cases reported for two days, so the average daily new case count is a little more than 900. That follows Saturday’s report of 1,522 new cases and 15 deaths related to COVID-19.

The state’s death toll is now 6,898, with seven deaths reported Monday.

Muskegon County added 26 new cases of the virus since Saturday and no new deaths. The county’s case count is now 1,702, with 73 deaths, according to the state health department.

The Latest: German health minister

AUTOMOBILE DE GERMANY

Ford applies for German COVID-19 loan guarantees: Handelsblatt

October 12, 20201 min read

BERLIN (Reuters) – Ford Motor <F.N>, which operates two auto plants in Germany, has applied for 500 million euros ($582 million) of German loan guarantees aimed at cushioning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, business daily Handelsblatt reported on Monday.

While Germany has given coronavirus-related aid to companies such as auto parts supplier Leoni <LEOGn.DE>, Ford would be the first major carmaker in the country to receive such help from the government.

The auto sector, one of the key pillars of Germany’s industry, was struggling even before the pandemic due to the shift towards electric vehicles and lower worldwide demand.

Ford wants the federal government to grant most of the loan guarantees, while a smaller share is expected to come from German states, Handelsblatt said, without citing its sources.

The company said it was part of its normal business to be in contact with financial institutions, without providing further details.

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German health minister expects vaccine in 2021

October 12, 20201 min read

BERLIN — Germany’s health minister says he expects a vaccination for the coronavirus to be ready to start rolling out in the first quarter next year.

Health Minister Jens Spahn and Research Minister Anja Karliczek had said in September that they hoped to be able to start vaccinating the most at-risk group of Germans in the first months of 2021, and Spahn said Monday that prognosis is on track.

“As things stand today, Oct. 12, I assume that we’ll be able to begin in the first quarter of next year,” Spahn said during a video conference with the Ifo Institute research think-tank.

Vaccinations would be voluntary, and go first to people with preexisting medical conditions, the elderly and people working in health care and nursing homes.

Germany is supporting several efforts to develop a vaccine, and Spahn said eventually there should be more than enough to go around.

“If all

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Buick Is Huge In China

October 12, 20201 min read

Buick and Cadillac are giving GM some healthy returns in China, some Nissan dealers are very mad at Nissan, and Hyundai is worried about Kona fires. All that and more in The Morning Shift for October 12, 2020.

a car parked in a parking lot

© Photo: Getty Images (Getty Images)

It always feel a little weird to say that Cadillac and Buick are passé in the US, but things are a bit different in China. GM said Monday that, on the strength of those two brands, its sales in China for the third quarter were up for the first time in a quarter in two years.

From Reuters:

The second-biggest foreign automaker in China by units – after Germany’s Volkswagen AG VOWG_p.DE – said on Monday it delivered 771,400 vehicles in China in the third quarter. That followed a 5% fall in the second quarter, when parts of China were still emerging from virus-busting lockdown measures.

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Cadillac, Buick help GM to first China sales growth in two years

October 12, 20201 min read

BEIJING (Reuters) – General Motors Co (GM) GM.N on Monday said continued market recovery from the COVID-19 crisis helped its China vehicle sales grow 12% on year in July-September, marking the Detroit automaker’s first Chinese quarterly sales growth in two years.

FILE PHOTO: The GM logo is pictured at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Ramos Arizpe, state of Coahuila, Mexico, Oct. 7, 2019. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo

The second-biggest foreign automaker in China by units – after Germany’s Volkswagen AG VOWG_p.DE – said on Monday it delivered 771,400 vehicles in China in the third quarter. That followed a 5% fall in the second quarter, when parts of China were still emerging from virus-busting lockdown measures.

GM has a Shanghai-based joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp Ltd 600104.SS making Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles. It has another venture, SGMW, with SAIC and Guangxi Automobile Group, producing no-frills mini-vans and which has

AUTOMOBILE DE GERMANY

Audi says plant in Mexico remains open, debt dispute denied by company

October 10, 20201 min read

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A Mexican auto plant belonging to German carmaker Audi NSUG.DE remains open and did not close following a dispute over unpaid bills that the firm denies, as was reported by local media, an official with the company told Reuters on Saturday.

The plant is located in the central state of Puebla. Media had reported officials from the local municipality shut the facility on Friday after several hours of failed talks to resolve a dispute over an alleged 90 million pesos ($4.3 million) in outstanding debts on items including local property taxes and water bills.

“There was never any closure,” said Christine Kuhlmeyer, a communications official with Audi Mexico.

“We comply on time with our obligations,” she added.

Asked about the figures circulating in local media about the allegation of unpaid debts, Kuhlmeyer said she could not comment on any specific amounts, but said plant representatives would

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Valtteri Bottas beats Lewis Hamilton to claim Eifel F1 GP pole for Mercedes

October 10, 20201 min read

Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in Germany. With only one hour of practice before qualifying after poor weather had curtailed running, the Finn found fine form to put in a superlative lap. He beat his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton into second, with the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in third. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc returned the Scuderia a superb fourth, with Alexander Albon fifth for Red Bull.

Verstappen had put in an impressive first hot run in Q3 setting a time of 1min 25.744sec, looking particularly strong through the first two sectors. The margins were very tight nonetheless, with Bottas six-hundredths and Hamilton eight-hundredths back. The track was still evolving as more rubber went down, however, and the final laps were crucial. Hamilton edged in front through the middle sector but Bottas in his wake