Former VW Chairman Piech Won’t Testify about Diesel Scandal

Ferdinand Piech—who resigned as chairman of Volkswagen AG in 2015 over the company’s diesel emission cheating scandal—has refused to testify on the matter to a German parliamentary committee.

Ford Invests $1 Billion in Months-Old AI Startup

Ford Motor Co. plans to invest $1 billion over five years in Argo AI, a startup launched a few months ago in Pittsburgh, Pa., by two pioneers in artificial intelligence.

Ousted Hyperloop Execs Launch Rival Firm

Brogan BamBrogan and several other former Hyperloop One Inc. (H1) executives have launched a rival company called Arrivo that is developing its own high-speed transportation system.

EC Plan to Tighten Emission Testing Clears First Hurdle

The European Commission’s proposal to tighten emission testing and certification in Europe won support of the European Parliament’s internal market committee.

Korea Says Nissan Used Device to Cheat Diesel Test

A court in Seoul has ruled that Nissan Motor Co. sold diesel-powered Qashqai crossover vehicles in South Korea that were illegally equipped to evade emission standards, Reuters reports.

Gilles: Autonomous Tech Needs to Be Attractive—or Invisible

Emerging driver assist and fully autonomous systems should be visually appealing—or at least not unattractive—to help the technology catch on with consumers, asserts Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV design chief Ralph Gilles.

Scania Prepares for Electric Bus Tests

Volkswagen AG’s Scania commercial truck unit will begin field testing electric buses later this year in Ostersund, Sweden.

McLaren to Open its Own Carbon Fiber Chassis Facility

McLaren Automotive Ltd. plans to build a £50m ($62 million) factory in Sheffield, England, to produce carbon fiber chassis for its supercars.

Report: Tesla to Begin Model 3 Pilot Production This Month

Tesla Inc. says it will idle its electric-car assembly plant in California for a week this month to prepare it for Model 3 pilot production. Sources tell Reuters the company aims to begin low-volume test assemblies on Feb. 20.

VW Threatens “Measures” Over Ex-Chairman Piech’s Diesel Cheating Claims

Volkswagen AG says it may take unspecified punitive action against former Chairman Ferdinand Piech for suggesting the company’s supervisory board failed to act after he alerted them to the company’s diesel emission cheating.