Short torque

BYD hires DiCaprio as image ambassador

United States actor Leonardo DiCaprio became BYD Auto's image ambassador this Friday. The new energy vehicle maker announced he will help promote awareness of climate change. The actor previously found the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which states its aim as being dedicated to the long-term health and well-being of all inhabitants on the planet.

Nearly 67,000 Lexus NX recalled in China

Toyota China will recall 66,830 imported Lexus NX series vehicles in China due to defective brake control software, the country's quality watchdog said on Friday. The recall affects 34,499 Lexus NX200, 23,787 Lexus NX200t, and 8,544 Lexus NX300h vehicles made between May 2014 and Dec 2016. A defect has been found with the brake control program that allows cars to move forward in "Brake Hold" mode in some circumstances. The defective cars will receive free software upgrades and users are asked to shut down the function in the meantime.

Carlos Ghosn named Mitsubishi chairman

Carlos Ghosn took another step toward integrating Mitsubishi Motors into a three-company alliance that can produce about 10 million vehicles per year, after shareholders at the Japanese automaker approved his nomination as chairman. Ghosn, already chairman and CEO at Nissan Motor and Renault Group, will join three other Nissan-appointed executives on the Mitsubishi board of directors after shareholders voted to approve a series of proposals on Wednesday.

Bidders for Takata restructure delayed

Auto parts producer Takata's selection of a potential buyer will miss its year-end target. The shortlisted bidders need more time to review the air-bag maker, which has been pummeled by a record-setting auto-safety recall. Takata and its financial adviser, Lazard, have asked prospective buyers to complete their due diligence processes in February.

Cricket, scooters part of Uber India move

Travis Kalanick brought a personal touch to Uber Technologies' Indian operation this week, hopping onto a Honda scooter to launch a new service and hobnobbing with cricket royalty during a visit that will emphasize the country's growing importance to the world's most valuable startup. The company co-founder is on a whistle-stop tour of Asia's third-largest economy, to engage with government officials and look at Uber's operations up close. Kalanick chose startup-friendly Hyderabad, where Uber has avoided many of the regulatory tangles that have plagued it elsewhere, for the public launch of UberMOTO, its motorbike-sharing service.

Motoring - Agencies

(China Daily 12/19/2016 page19)