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China probing German automakers over spare parts

The Chinese market has proven to be a boon to German luxury automakers. However, the way that the companies have allegedly been controlling their supply of spare parts has begun to draw the ire of the nation's government. According to insiders speaking to Bloomberg, officials from the country's economic planning organization have opened a probe into Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and some Japanese carmakers over claimed price inflation and limiting supply.
Specifically, the investigation centers around two aspects of how the companies do business, according to Bloomberg. Investigators want to know whether the original equipment component makers are able to sell spare parts only to automaker-authorized dealers or if they are also available to independent shops. There is also the issue of whether the price markup on replacement pieces is too high. The tight controls could be partially explained by China's reputation for producing counterfeit parts.
Evidently, the investigators haven't checked parts prices at car dealers elsewhere in the world. At least in the US, paying more at the dealer for factory components just goes along with owning a vehicle. If evidence of price fixing is found, the companies could face fines the equivalent of millions of dollars, according to Bloomberg.

Buy this Munro report, get a free BMW i3

Here's an offer we've never heard of: if you buy the Master- or OEM-level version of a detailed production and cost report on the BMW i3, the engineering firm that produced the report will give you a 'free' i3. Munro & Associates is the company behind the study and the offer, its comprehensive breakdown of the production realities involved in the i3 including a video of the disassembly process of the range-extended hybrid and a detailed analysis of every part therein - everything from fuse boxes to crossbar beams, headlights and the battery pack. You've only got a day to take advantage, though - the report has to be purchased by the time CEO Sandy Munro gives his talk, "Deconstructing the BMW I3: Groundbreaking Technology and the Composite Car," in Detroit Wednesday morning. The price of said report? That's "TBD," so head to the Munro site if you're tempted by the idea of a new car that comes with a trunk full of paperwork. We just hope they're not selling the i3 that they tear down. The press release below has more information. Munro to Give Away 2014 BMW i3 with Every Purchase of the Consulting Firm's Master Teardown Report When Purchased at Two Upcoming Detroit Events DETROIT, Jan. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Visitors to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) during Preview Week often go home with a lot of swag and trinkets, but how about a $50,000 BMW i3? This year, a local engineering firm, Munro & Associates, is giving away a BMW i3 electric car with every purchase of the Master-/OEM-level version of its benchmarking study of this unique vehicle when purchased during NAIAS or the Plastics in Automotive Conference. The study, the most extensive of its kind, details the production and costs of every system in this carbon-fiber electric vehicle, which CEO Sandy Munro calls the most advanced vehicle on the planet. WHO: Munro & Associates, the global leader in manufacturing, costing and benchmarking. Using its proprietary advanced design, quality and costing software, Munro developed comprehensive reports on key vehicle systems and – for the first time – will offer the reports for general distribution. WHAT: A FREE 2014 BMW i3 for anyone who purchases the Master-/OEM-level report during Preview Week of NAIAS or during Sandy Munro's presentation at the Plastics in Automotive Conference.

European jury picks finalists for 2015 Car of the Year

There are countless Car of the Year awards handed out each year, and naturally, Europe has its own way of doing things. Every year, a panel of jurists representing seven publications in seven different languages and seven different countries get together to name their joint Car of the Year. The panel released a list of 32 candidates back in July, and it has now whittled that list down to seven nominees. The list consists of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the Citroen C4 Cactus (shown), the Ford Mondeo, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Nissan Qashqai, the Renault Twingo and the Volkswagen Passat. Of those seven, only two are available in the US – those being the Mondeo (sold Stateside as the Fusion) and the C-Class. The Passat is an entirely different model in North America, the Qashqai isn't offered here, Citroen and Renault don't even participate in our market and the BMW 2 Series is represented here only by the completely different coupe and convertible. Expect the one and only recipient of the 2015 Car of the Year award to be announced at the Geneva Motor Show this coming March, and while you're waiting, you can place your guesses for the eventual winner in Comments. Featured Gallery 2015 European Car of the Year: Nominees News Source: CaroftheYear.org BMW Ford Mercedes-Benz Nissan Volkswagen Citroen Renault car of the year nissan qashqai citroen c4 cactus bmw 2 series active tourer