It’s Time for the Auto Industry to Get on the Same Level as Other Brands – Adweek

With the exception of startup electric car companies and third-party experiences like those of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, most traditional automotive companies have struggled to provide best-in-class in-car user experiences. Automotive brands only ever had to compete with each other when it came to in-car systems, making it a non-competitive space. The large majority of native in-car experiences on the market are subpar to even the most basic smartphone. Why do in-car digital experiences still suck so badly, and why is it taking so long for automotive brands to catch up? While Google and Apple push forward with their proprietary auto platforms, traditional automotive brands have struggled to compete.

Dumbest Auto Industry Merger Somehow Making Profit

Welcome to The Morning Shift, your roundup of the auto news you crave, all in one place every morning of every weekday. 1st Gear: PSA is Somehow Making Money After Acquiring OpelPSA Peugeot-Citroën had been struggling for years trying to get Europeans to buy mostly a lineup of uniformly bronze midsize sedans with no character. AdvertisementIt was the dumbest auto merger I could possibly think of, short of the time Packard bought basket-case Studebaker without even doing an independent audit of Studebaker's books. Parent company net income increased 23 percent to 28.2 billion yen ($254.8 million) in the April-June period, from 23 billion yen ($207.8 million) in the previous fiscal year. 5th Gear: Jeep in China is Suffering from Old ModelsIf you're curious how Fiat Chrysler is doing over in China, the answer is not all that great!

German Auto Industry Welcomes U.S.-EU Trade Talks

referring to Germany's leading auto makers Thursday cheered a possible easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and European Union that threaten to hurt their growth prospects. Advertisement"We are pleased that they are decreasing trade tensions and coming back to the table," Diageo PLC Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Mikells said. Still, Ms. Mikells said the company was hopeful the talks to ease trade tensions would be successful. The Trump administration is seeking to reduce trade barriers to lower the $152 billion U.S. deficit in merchandise trade with the EU. Britain's steel industry trade group welcomed the talks but said tariffs were a barrier to future trade relations.

Trade Troubles: Ohio Valley Auto Industry Hopes To Dodge Trump Tariffs

But some industry leaders say today's auto industry depends on a global supply chain that makes it hard to draw a firm line between foreign and domestic. Many auto manufacturers in the Ohio Valley depend on foreign markets and material, making them highly sensitive to import taxes. Becca Schimmel | Ohio Valley ReSourceDave Tatman, Executive Director for the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association is warning about trouble down the road for the region's industry. Whatever form the auto tariffs might take they would likely have a big effect in the region. The Commerce Department has until February to issue recommendations on the auto tariffs but a report is expected to come before the midterm elections.

collected by :Catlin Logan