Ford Motor has predicted 2016 results will emulate 2015’s record performance. It expects to register pre-tax profits of near $11bn for 2015, and says this year’s figures will be equal to or higher than that. As a sign of confidence, it’s issued an extra $1bn in dividends. Mark Fields, chief executive, said, ‘As we close out [...]

BMW Group has recorded its best ever year in terms of unit sales. It sold a total of 2,247,485 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles in 2015, setting a new sales record for a fifth consecutive year. Its 2015 figures represent a 6.1 per cent increase on 2014. Dr Ian Robertson, member of the board of [...]

Ford is hoping to make a breakthrough in autonomous driving by testing vehicles on snow-covered roads. It argues that dry testing is one thing, but the parameters change significantly when the car’s sensors can’t see the road markings. Jim McBride, Ford technical leader for autonomous vehicles, said, ‘Weather isn’t perfect, and that’s why we’re testing [...]

The Volkswagen Group sold more than 9.93m in 2015, despite being rocked by the emissions scandal in September. VW reported that 3.43m customers in Western Europe bought one of its cars, a rise of 4.8 per cent on 2014. Growth in Spain and Italy was particularly strong, although the instability in Russia contributed to a [...]

Ford scientists and engineers are exploring how wearable technology can integrate with cars to improve driver safety. Smart watches, glasses and wrist bands are becoming ever-more popular, and Ford researchers at its new Automotive Wearables Experience laboratory in Michigan are examining the potential to link that information to in-vehicle technology. ‘We are evaluating many different [...]