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Total GAC Honda Avancier sales reach 100,000

The Guangzhou-based automaker's GAC Honda Avancier 240Turbo has toured Guangzhou, Shenyang, Wuhan, Chengdu and Shanghai, and wrapped up in Qingdao on Wednesday. The GAC Honda Avancier 240Turbo launched in March is dragging down the entrance price for large-size SUVs, after the 370Turbo edition realized excellent market performance, according to the company. The large-size SUV model has registered monthly deliveries of 9,790 vehicles in October, up 3.4 percent from September. The accumulated sales volume reached 100,000 vehicles at the end of last month.

VW to work with Google on quantum computer

Volkswagen AG has launched three research projects on a Google quantum computer as part of the German automaker's push to develop new digital features for cars and broaden its technological heft beyond manufacturing and selling vehicles. The projects include refining traffic-management systems, simulating the structure of electric-car batteries and other materials, as well as artificial intelligence for autonomous driving, Volkswagen said on Tuesday in a statement. VW started its first quantum-computing project in March in China to optimize traffic for 10,000 taxis in Beijing, using another technology supplier.

Honda warns post-Brexit tarrifs unaffordable

Japanese carmaker Honda said on Thursday it cannot afford the 10 percent export tariff that would be imposed on its British-built cars if Britain had to return to World Trade Organization rules after it leaves the European Union. The warning is the latest from a car industry that worries Britain might lose access to the EU's single market and customs union when it leaves the bloc in 2019. The auto industry has been a rare manufacturing success story for Britain, with production reaching a 17-year high in 2016.

BMW strengthens profit forecast for the year

BMW AG strengthened its 2017 profit forecast on a prediction of record vehicle sales, even as the carmaker expects revenue growth from those deliveries to wane. BMW will post a solid increase in pretax profit this year compared with its earlier prediction of a slight gain, it said on Tuesday. The manufacturer is also predicting a slight gain in auto revenue, compared with a solid increase previously. Third-quarter earnings before interest and taxes fell 3.2 percent from a year earlier to lag behind analyst estimates.

Tesla acquires Perbix to boost production

Tesla Inc has acquired Perbix, a closely held maker of automated machines used for manufacturing, as the electric-car maker struggles to boost production of its most important new model. Perbix has been a supplier to the automaker led by Elon Musk for almost three years, according to a Tesla spokesman, who declined to disclose the terms of the deal. James Dudley, Perbix's president, will receive about $10.5 million in Tesla stock, according to a regulatory filing. Musk last week alluded to automation challenges as among the reasons the Model 3 sedan has gotten off to a bumpy start.

New-generation Cadillac XTS launches in Beijing

The United States premium brand Cadillac launched its new-generation XTS sedan in Beijing on Nov 5. Available in three variants, the model is priced between 299,900 yuan ($45,158) and 359,900 yuan. The XTS sports the new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which generates a maximum output of 198 kW and a top torque of 353 Nm. Among other features, it boasts the 10th generation OnStar service and its CUE infotainment system.

Motoring - Agencies

(China Daily 11/13/2017 page19)