Newsletter

Morgan Lewis Automotive – Q2 | 2018

Q2 | 2018

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Welcome to the 16th edition of our newsletter on developments in the automotive industry published by Morgan Lewis’s automotive team with contributions from lawyers in our offices around the globe. We counsel our automotive clients on a broad range of industry-specific issues, including matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, litigation, regulatory concerns, intellectual property, and labor and employment.

This issue of Morgan Lewis AUTOMOTIVE, which covers the second quarter of 2018, touches on matters relating to self-driving cars, emission rules, and other developments in the global automotive markets.

In this issue:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions: BP invests in ultra-fast-charging batteries and other EV technologies; Daimler acquires stake in ride-on-demand app Taxify; Alphabet’s self-driving car unit and Fiat Chrysler expand partnership; Volvo funds sensor startup as part of self-driving push; Toyota invests in ride-hailing company Grab; Porsche acquires stake in Croatian tech/electric sports car business; Audi, Hyundai agree on cell vehicle collaboration; Chinese auto parts supplier Ningbo Jifen launches bid for German rival; Magna, BAIC Group form electric car joint venture; Brilliance Auto, BAIC Group cooperate on new energy vehicles.
  • Antitrust: Maruyasu Industries pleads guilty to US antitrust violations; Dutch auto repair shops may set their own prices; Brazil issues cease-and-desist agreements in spare parts probe; Latvia confirms accountability of parents for violations of subsidiaries.
  • Regulatory: In a first for Germany, Hamburg bans older diesel vehicles; California leads challenge to US vehicle emissions rules; EU motors ahead with rules for self-driving cars; Germany paves way for flying car tests; former Roadrunner Transportation executives charged with fraud; China issues new negative list, further opens market to foreign investors.
  • Intellectual Property: United States imposes IP-related tariffs on Chinese auto imports; Broadcom brings infotainment chip technology patent claims to ITC.