Michael Cole, the first non-Korean top boss at Hyundai Europe, has taken quick action since starting his new job July 1. Despite the many challenges created by the pandemic, Cole wants to boost the South Korean automaker's market share in the second half, he told Automotive News Europe.

The SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid was supposed to reach buyers in the first half of 2020, but supply chain issues have pushed that to the fourth quarter. The delay forced Ferrari to downgrade its revenue forecast.

Premium brands recorded big gains, but overall sales continued to decline ahead of government scrapping incentives that went into effect on August 1.

The effects of a government-backed scrapping plan are starting to be felt in Spain, where registrations had fallen every month since January.

Stefano Aversa, who leads consultancy AlixPartners in Europe, says the auto industry “needs to forget 2020 as soon as possible and move forward.” The pandemic will cause European vehicle sales to drop by 32 percent this year, which will hammer profits, he told Automotive News Europe.

Maserati chose to give the Ghibli a mild hybrid drivetrain rather than a plug-in system because it did not want to jeopardize the sedan's performance.

Prices of the more affordable versions of the New 500 will be below the 34,900 euros that Fiat will charge for the base version of the EV's launch edition.

French asset management firm Tikehau Capital has taken a 30 percent stake in Euro Group Laminations, which counts VW and Porsche as customers. As part of the deal, Tikehau gets two of the supplier's board seats, one of which will go to former Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales.

The production version of the Cupra el-Born electric hatchback will be the first performance-oriented car based on VW Group's modular MEB electric platform.

Dealer association Faconauto called for a scrapping plan to be introduced quickly to boost new-car sales.

The improvement in demand, following a 50 percent decrease in May, came as showrooms gradually reopened after being closed to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The engine uses Formula One technology to burn fuel more efficiently. It will appear in Maserati's coming MC20 supercar and other models in the brand's range.

Cole, who starts July 1, has worked for Hyundai sister brand Kia for 11 years. He was COO of Kia Europe from 2012-18, during which time the automaker's sales rose 40 percent.

The EU's competition authorities are said to be scrutinizing PSA's and Fiat Chrysler's European van market share ahead of their pending merger. The automakers have been collaborating on vans for decades.

AlixPartners says Europe will suffer the deepest hit from the coronavirus crisis among major auto markets, and that a full recovery could take five years or more.