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As US exports top 2 million, is America becoming the world's source of cheap cars?

North American auto production is booming with 2014 figures just shy of the of the 17.3-million vehicle record set in 2000. With more models being built on the continent, even more are being shipped overseas. Factories in the US exported 2.1 million cars last year – the highest number ever. About half of those went to Canada and Mexico, but more than ever have been heading to places like the Middle East and China. The upswing comes in part from from after-effects from the Great Recession, according to The Wall Street Journal. With a weak dollar and lower production costs after the financial crisis, building vehicles in the US was relatively cheaper and more competitive in the world. At the same time buyers around the world are going crazy for crossovers. According to the WSJ, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are already exporting the majority of their US production of these models overseas. Both automakers have also announced investments to expand production further here to send more vehicles abroad. Even Honda has been shipping more models out of the country than it imported here. There is a concern this international strength could start slowing because the dollar is strengthening against other currencies, though it's too early to know what the actual effect of this could be, according to the WSJ. "Of course, we closely watch currency exchange, but we don't make changes in production or allocation based on temporary fluctuations in the exchange rate," Ford North American boss Joe Hinrichs told the newspaper. Related Video: News Source: The Wall Street Journal - sub. req.Image Credit: BMW Plants/Manufacturing BMW Ford Honda Mercedes-Benz exports us auto production

BMW factors big in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

Product placement is big business, especially for automakers and especially in blockbuster action film franchises involving spies and assassins. Just ask Aston Martin or Jaguar Land Rover about their involvement in the James Bond movies, or Audi about the role it plays in the Transporter series. But when it comes to Mission: Impossible, it's all about the Bimmers. BMW has been featuring prominently in the popular action franchise, putting its i8 hybrid sports car front and center in the last installment, Ghost Protocol. And it will grab the spotlight once again in the upcoming Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation. Watch this latest trailer just released by Paramount Pictures and you might be able to pick out the M3 driven by Tom Cruise, the X5 by Jeremy Renner and the S 1000 RR motorcycles ridden by a whole crew of bad guys. Wheels aside, it's our best look yet at the upcoming fifth installment in the popular movie franchise, so if you're a fan, you'll want to check it out as the movie's not set to be released until the end of July. High-speed, high-tech, high excitement 24.03.2015 Munich/Los Angeles. BMW confirmed today its role as exclusive worldwide automotive partner of the next installment of Paramount Pictures' legendary action film franchise, "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation", in theaters from July 31. This is the second time BMW has "accepted the mission" to lend its superior technological support to the film's production crew, enabling it to deliver breathtaking automotive stunt scenes shot around the globe. BMW previously partnered with Paramount on the 2011 successful release of "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol". The film's official trailer, released worldwide yesterday, offers fans a first glimpse of the high-adrenaline action that only Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his Impossible Mission Force (IMF) team can deliver – including spectacular driving scenes where the new BMW M3 is put through its paces. Its renowned high-performance capabilities made the fifth generation M3 sports car the perfect choice to perform precision driving sequences, the likes of which have never been seen before. The M division's philosophy and dynamic design leaves no doubt about the M3's motorsport genes while the BMW Motorrad S 1000 RR, which is also seen in the film trailer released yesterday, represents the ultimate performance on two wheels.

Formula E gets wireless-charging BMW i8 safety car [w/video]

Racing series typically select a safety car appropriate to the kinds of racecars for which they'll be setting the pace. So you might find a Mercedes SLS pacing a Formula One grand prix, for example, and you're more likely to find a BMW M4 on duty at a DTM race and a Chevy Camaro or SS on an oval speedway for a NASCAR or Indy race. It would only stand to reason, then, that the FIA Formula E Championship kicking off next month in Beijing would press a plug-in into service as its safety car. But the organizers didn't go for your run-of-the-mill Nissan Leaf or Toyota Prius.
No, the safety car for Formula E will be a BMW i8 specially modified for the occasion. As you can see from the video below, the hybrid sports car packs a full roll cage, racing buckets with harnesses, special communications systems and on-board fire extinguishers. But that's not all.
In partnership with technological partner Qualcomm, the Formula E support fleet - including two examples each of the i8 and i3 - will feature inductive charging. So while one is out on the track, or at least sitting at the end of the pit lane waiting to be deployed - the other will be charging wirelessly. The vehicles are still pending FIA approval, and only one has been outfitted with the Qualcomm Halo wireless charging system (with the others to be retrofitted later), but they were all on hand for the recent practice race at Donnington Park.