Tesla, Porsche, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Kia, BMW.
Tesla changes distribution model: After struggling with its sales performance in China and other markets, the carmaker is reassigning its vice president of global sales and service, Jerome Guillen, who will return to a “customer-satisfaction role”. Instead, Tesla will name three sales managers for North America, Europe and Asia. Moreover, to boost sales in China, all Model S there will be equipped with a specially designed free “Universal Mobile Charger.”
my.teslamotors.com, bloomberg.com, carnewschina.com (China)
7th Porsche will be electric: Porsche CEO Matthias Müller announced that the brand’s seventh model line will be all-electric. Müller did not comment on the model name nor production start. We previously reported on rumours that a Porsche 717 with a 500 kilometre range could be introduced in 2019.
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de (in German), jalopnik.com (in English)
New VW plug-ins: Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn confirmed that the next generation of the Touareg and Phaeton will also be offered with plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Moreover, the carmaker is “seriously working on electric vehicles with a range of over 500 kilometres.”
automobilwoche.de (in German)
Volt and Ampera recalled: GM is recalling some 64,000 Chevy Volt and Opel Ampera from 2011 to 2013. The cars will receive a software update to ensure that the petrol engine will turn off when the car is parked. Otherwise drivers could risk carbon monoxide poisoning, if they forget to turn off the motor.
autonews.com, reuters.com, electriccarsreport.com
Kia also issues recall: A total of 208,858 Kia Soul and Kia Soul EV delivered in the U.S. have to go back, due to problems with the acceleration pedal that could bend or break. The vehicles in question were all built between mid-2013 and January of this year.
reuters.com, autoblog.com
5-series with plug: The new BMW 5-series was caught on camera during test drives. Despite heavy camouflage, the inlet for the plug-in is clearly visible. The BMW 5-series G30 is said to become available in 2017.
bimmertoday.de (in German)
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