US agency to watch unrecalled Takata inflators after one blows apart, injuring a driver in Chicago
U.S. auto safety regulators say they are monitoring data from a group of mostly unrecalled Takata air bag inflators after one of them exploded in a BMW and hurled metal fragments that seriously injured a driver in Chicago.
BMW remained profitable in 2020 with strong second half
FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2020 file photo, visitors gather near a BMW M8 model on display at the Auto China 2020 show in Beijing, China. In figures released Thursday March 11, 2021, BMW saw profits fall by 23% last year as the pandemic shuttered factories in the early part of the year, but the company said Thursday that earnings bounced back strongly in the second half of 2020. The maker of the X5 sport utility and 3-Series sedan said a strong second half meant it started 2021 with โa favorable tailwind.โOperating profits for the second half of last year were 9.8% higher than the second half of 2019. The Munich-based company's sales were boosted by the early and strong economic recovery in China, where 2020 sales topped the year before by 7.4%. The company said the order book for the Ghost is now full well into the second half of 2021.
Edmunds: Whatever happened to car subscription services?
The brand is the among many that have shut down their subscription services. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Just a few years ago, car subscriptions looked like the next sure thing. Thereโs not currently much investment in educating consumers either โ these subscription services arenโt widely advertised on dealership or manufacturer websites. But a major appeal of subscription services is ease of use, which includes avoiding the dealership outright. How subscription services will operate within the confines of dealer networks is an open question, but as things stand these services canโt operate without dealers.
Michigan State Police: Investigation into vehicle found with bullet holes on I-696 turned over to Warren police
A Michigan State Police car was involved in a crash on I-696 in Southfield. (WDIV)Michigan State Police said an investigation into a vehicle found with bullet holes on Interstate 696 has been turned over to Warren police. State police said the Warren Police Department contacted the agency, revealing the vehicle was involved in an incident in the city. State police said when the trooper checked the vehicle, he observed several bullet holes in the car. โA check of local hospitals and police departments did not reveal a victim or incident,โ MSP officials said.
Luxury vehicles, booming sales in China boost BMW profits
FILE - In this Feb.13, 2020 file photo, a wheel on a BMW car is on display at the 2020 Pittsburgh International Auto Show. The profit figure improved on the 1.55 billion euros recorded in the same July-September quarter a year earlier. BMW sales in China, its largest market, rose 31% compared with a year earlier. Revenues fell 1.4% to 26.28 billion euros. Munich-based BMW said it planned to spend more than 30 billion euros on research and development by 2025.
BMW reports loss for 2nd quarter but sees rebound in China
FRANKFURT German automaker BMW lost 212 million euros ($250 million) in the second quarter as the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns cut vehicle sales by a quarter in the April-June period. The company saw a rebound in China, its biggest market. The net loss compared with a profit of 1.48 billion euros in the same period a year ago. The company said a positive trend was emerging in China, which was hit earlier by the virus but also reopened sooner. Sales there rose 17% in the second quarter compared with the year-earlier quarter.
ClickOnDetroit NIGHTSIDE report -- Monday, July 20, 2020
DETROIT White Boy Rick Wershe, imprisoned for selling drugs as a teenager more than 30 years ago, was released Monday. Like a number of colleges in the state, Michigan State University is preparing to welcome students back to campus in the fall -- but new procedures will be in place to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We visited the campus in East Lansing to take a closer look at the changes. Researchers have provided a promising update in the global effort to develop a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. In response to President Donald Trumps threat to send federal law enforcement into cities across the nation, including Detroit, Michigan Gov.
Fitness Friday: 8-minute ab and oblique workout
DETROIT โ Itโs a Fitness Friday - at home edition! Rhonda Walker shows us how to get an 8-minute ab and oblique workout done from your house. Special thanks to JB โ Owner and Coach Crossfit BMW Detroit. You can find more of JBโs daily at home workouts on the Crossfit BMW website or Instagram.
Detroit police seeking help to identify driver of fatal hit and run on west side
DETROIT โ Detroit police are seeking help to identify a suspect driving a vehicle wanted in connection to a fatal hit and run last Thursday. Police say a 69-year-old man was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding his bike around 11 a.m. in the area of San Juan Drive and West McNichols Road. The unknown suspect fled the scene in a silver 2003 BMW (pictured below). Anyone with information is asked to contact Detroit Police Departmentโs Fatal Squad Unit Precinct at 313-596-2260 or CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Detroit police are seeking help to identify the driver of a 2003 silver BMW (pictured here) in connection to a fatal hit and run that occurred last week on the city's west side.
BMW recalls cars, SUVs to fix backup camera display problem
DETROIT - BMW is recalling more than 257,000 vehicles in the U.S. because drivers might not be able to see the backup camera display. The recall covers certain 3-Series, 5-series, 6-Series, 7-Series and 8-Series cars as well as certain X3, X4, X5 and X7 SUVs from the 2018 to 2020 model years. Also included are Z4 sports cars and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Phantom. Owners will be notified and dealers will update backup camera software. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
BMW unveils X6 in world's 'blackest black'
MUNICH, Germany - Vantablack, the world's "blackest black," has had a controversial start to life, and now it's coming to a special edition BMW X6. Hussein al-Attar, who designed the new X6, says Vantablack VBx2 opens new possibilities for designers. "The Vantablack VBx2 coating foregrounds these fundamental aspects of automotive design, without any distraction from light and reflections." "I think it worked really well on the BMW X6, because of the size of the car, its distinctive shape, and how imposing it is," Jensen said in a statement. The BMW Vantablack X6 will be on show at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 12-22, and the third-generation X6 will arrive in showrooms in November.
Clown with prop chain saw leads police on Calif. chase
The agency described him as 40 years old, while L.A. County booking records listed his age as 36. "(Disdier) was reportedly sitting on top of the vehicle holding a chain saw," according to the statement. Officers quickly caught up with the BMW and tried to pull it over, but the driver fled, officials said. The driver led officers on a chase at speeds of more than 70 mph before transitioning to the 90 Freeway, then headed toward Venice Beach on surface streets. "A search of the BMW revealed the chainsaw was a toy prop," the statement said.
Mini Cooper goes electric
(CNN) - After years of experimental models and concept cars, BMW unveiled a fully electric Mini Cooper that you will be able to buy. Powered by a 181-horsepower electric motor that's located under the hood, the front-wheel-drive Mini Cooper SE will deliver the sort of "go-kart handling" Mini promises in its other models, the company said. Mini has previously offered electric versions of its Mini Cooper, but only as an experiment in limited numbers. The company has also said it might build the electric Mini in China as well, but now says the cars will be produced solely in England. This way the company can easily adjust its production of internal combustion, plug-in hybrid and electric cars to match consumer demand.
BMW chief executive Harald Krueger is stepping down
(CNN) - BMW is seeking a new leader as it works to find its place in a global auto sector disrupted by the rapid rise of electric vehicles. The luxury car company announced Friday that Harald Krueger is standing down after four years as CEO. He thanked employees for their efforts in a statement but said he was leaving to "pursue new professional endeavors." The pace of change has presented new huge challenges for global carmakers, and BMW is no exception. BMW and Daimler, which compete hard in the luxury market, announced earlier this year that they would form a strategic partnership focused on highly-automated and autonomous driving.