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Ford opens lab in Israel

Ford has opened a research center in Israel, joining a legion of major automakers racing to develop new technologies for the world of driverless cars. Chairman William Ford met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday as part of his visit, where he called Israel "ground zero" for new technologies demanded by the fast-growing field of autonomous vehicles. General Motors, BMW and others have also recently opened labs in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu said Israel, not traditionally known for being a car manufacturing destination, "has finally got an automotive industry". Home to hundreds of startups developing the latest microchips and sensors, the country is drawing automakers aiming to tap the potentially lucrative market of autonomous vehicles.

BMW sales up in May

In May, 181,888 BMW cars were sold, 4.6 percent more than in the same month last year, the German car manufacturer announced on Thursday. "With this positive result, we are clearly seeing the impact of our model rollout. In May, we were once again able to grow sales above market, thereby gaining further market share," said Pieter Nota, member of the BMW AG board of management. BMW's business in China mainland is booming. In May, the German car group sold 60,903 vehicles of the BMW and MINI brand in China, 32.8 percent more than in the same month last year. From January to May 2019, sales figures for China mainland grew by 15.9 percent.

Tesla request rejected

The Trump administration is expanding efforts to block the use of Chinese technology in advanced vehicles, denying additional requests by Tesla Inc for tariff relief on key components of its electric vehicles. After the United States slapped 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports last year under the two countries' trade dispute, the US trade representative allowed companies to petition for exemptions. Government documents show the USTR rejected requests to exempt Tesla's Model 3 car computer and center screen in May 29 letters, saying they both concern strategically important Chinese industrial programs."

VW partners with Ford

Car giant Volkswagen's talks on cooperation with US-based Ford concerning electric vehicles and automated driving are "close to completion", Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said Thursday. The two manufacturers said announced in January they'd collaborate on vans and pickup trucks, without ruling out building up their alliance in other areas. "Talks on cooperation with Ford on MEB and automated driving are going well and are close to completion," Diess told a meeting of almost 500 Volkswagen managers in Wolfsburg. In March, Diess said Ford could be granted a license to use VW's Modular Electric Toolkit "MEB" platform, the technical underpinnings of all the future electric cars planned by the German giant.

Motoring - Agencies

(China Daily 06/17/2019 page18)