Latest news with #Infiniti
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
18-year-old charged in Oakland chase that killed math teacher insists car wasn't stolen: attorney
The Brief Eric Scott Hernandez-Garcia insisted through his attorney that he did not steal the Infiniti that the CHP was chasing. Charging documents do not allege the car was stolen, though it didn't have any plates. Hernandez-Garcia, who is charged with the death of a Castlemont math teacher, delayed entering a plea until June 20. OAKLAND, Calif. - The attorney of an 18-year-old charged with felony vehicular manslaughter after the CHP pursued him and which led to the death of an innocent Castlemont math teacher in Oakland told KTVU a different version of events ahead of his Monday court hearing. Attorney Roseann Torres said that Eric Scott Hernandez-Garcia, who is "deathly afraid of police" was out on May 28 getting snacks at the store in his mother's Infiniti G35 when a California Highway Patrol officer started pursuing him. Authorities originally stated that the car was stolen. But Hernandez-Garcia, through his attorney, insists it was not; he said his mother owns the car. Video at the scene showed the Infiniti had no rear plates, something that Torres was not immediately able to explain. However, the teen's claims appear to have validity. On Monday, Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Roberto Morales told KTVU that deputies spotted an Infiniti G35 driving recklessly on May 5 and issued a "seizure warrant" for the car. Morales acknowledged that deputies did not know who was driving at the time and said at that point, the car had rear plates and did not come back as stolen. It was this car that the CHP spotted on May 28, leaving the parking lot near the intersection of 102nd Avenue and International Bouelvard, when the driver took off. Hernandez-Garcia was driving the car that day. It's unclear if the Infiniti had plates on May 28, and if it didn't, how the CHP was alerted to the fact that the car was wanted. Torres also emphasized that Hernandez-Garcia had no weapons or drugs on him at the time, and that police had tried to stop him before, but he doesn't know why. She described Hernandez-Garcia as a scared teen, and is very traumatized by police. Torres asked, and was granted, her client's plea to be delayed until June 20. "All the police reports, the witnesses, Ring cameras, and things that are mentioned that we'll be obtaining," she said outside court. "We have to get the full extent of the evidence before we start the case, so today is too soon after the incident happened." Hernandez-Garcia was supposed to graduate Aspire High School this Saturday. On Friday, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office charged Hernandez-Garcia with seven felonies following the death of Marvin Boomer, a beloved Castlemont High teacher. Boomer was walking with his girlfriend at 7:45 p.m. at East 21st Street and Park Boulevard. At the same moment, California Highway Patrol officers were in pursuit of Hernandez-Garcia because they recognized his "wanted" Infiniti. Hernandez-Garcia ended up striking a minivan with two people inside, and then, five blocks later, a parked car, a tree and a fire hydrant, which ended up getting knocked off its base and flying into Boomer, killing him. According to a statement from Michelle D. Bernard, president and CEO of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, who described herself as the official spokesperson for the Boomer family and his girlfriend, Boomer's family is "grief-stricken over the devastating and senseless loss." Bernard said that Boomer pushed his girlfriend out of the way, as the Infiniti was barreling toward them, saving her life. "It is clear that Marvin's actions spared her from also being killed," Bernard said in a statement. Boomer's sister and girlfriend, who did not identify herself by name, also issued statements on Monday, asking for privacy. "Marvin gave his life to save mine," his girlfriend wrote. "I'm still here because of him. But I lost the love of my life. I am living with unimaginable pain—physical and emotional. Let Marvin's legacy be honored with truth, dignity, and care." Click to open this PDF in a new window.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan's global sales fall by 7% in April
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company reported a 7.2% year-on-year fall in global sales to 225,729 vehicles in April 2025, including Nissan and Infiniti branded models, with domestic and overseas volumes both weaker. Sales in Japan plunged by 19% to 24,348 units last month while overseas deliveries dropped by 7.2% to 201,381 units. In the first four months of 2025, global sales fell by 5.9% to 1,095,513 units from 1,163,646 in the same period last year, with sales in Japan dropping by over 11% to 157,649 units while overseas sales declined by almost 5% to 937,864 units. China was the worst-performing major overseas market year-to-date, with sales plunging by over 25% to 167,630 units, while sales in Europe fell by 4.9% to 132,822 units. Deliveries in North America rose by 3.3% to 465,569 units, including a 3.5% rise in US sales to 339,629 units, a 5.7% rise in sales in Mexico to 84,917 units, and an 8.1% rise in sales in Canada to 40,440 units. Sales in other markets combined fell by 4.4% to 171,843 units. In terms of production, global volumes dropped by 12.5% to 956,327 in the first four months of 2025, with output in Japan falling by over 11% to 201,902 units while overseas volumes dropped by 13% to 754,425 units – driven lower by a 26% plunge in Chinese output to 162,908 units and a 14% decline in UK output to 92,044 units, while production in Mexico rose by just 1% to 221,481 units. Exports from Japan fell by 14.4% to 113,220 units year-to-date, with shipments to North America plunging by 26.5% to 48,562 units while exports to Europe plunged by 31% to 12,048 units. "Nissan's global sales fall by 7% in April" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pedestrian dead, another injured after CHP chase in Oakland: police
The Brief A pedestrian was killed and another was injured after a chase with the CHP in Oakland. There was another crash scene not too far away. The CHP said an officer was chasing someone in a stolen car. OAKLAND, Calif. - A pedestrian was killed and another was injured following a chase with a California Highway Patrol officer in Oakland, police said, adding that a suspect involved in the chase has been arrested. CHP Officer Andy Barclay said one of his agency's units was trying to stop the driver of a stolen car. What we know Oakland police spokesman Paul Chambers said the CHP was chasing a car in Oakland on Wednesday at about 7:45 p.m. at the corner of East 21st Street and 12th Avenue. The CHP ended the chase at some point, Chambers said, and the driver of the suspect vehicle "continued to drive recklessly" into the neighborhood of Park Boulevard and East 21st Street. That's where the driver "lost control" and struck two people on the sidewalk, Chambers said. One of the pedestrians was a man in his 40s, and he was pronounced dead on scene, Chambers said. The other pedestrian was a woman, also in her 40s, and she was taken to the hospital, where Chambers said she is now in "stable condition." Chambers said that the suspect got out of the car – which, from the scene, appeared to be an Infiniti with no plates – and ran but was taken into custody by CHP. What we don't know Police have yet to release the identity of the pedestrians or the suspect. Chambers also didn't say how long the chase lasted. Chambers said the CHP is investigating the pursuit and OPD is investigating the death. Big picture view The issue of police chases is a controversial one. Many in law enforcement, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, say officers need as many tools as they can to go after people who commit crimes. Others argue that it's not worth killing or injuring people – especially innocent bystanders – during the pursuit. The California Highway Patrol has looser rules on chasing suspects than Oakland police do. Recently, the Oakland police chief asked the police commission to loosen one particular aspect of city chase rules, where an officer would no longer have to request permission from a supervisor to drive faster than 50 mph. Earlier this month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Oakland police can be held responsible when bystanders are injured, or killed, during reckless pursuits. The ruling was a victory for the family of Lolomanaia "Lolo" Soakai, who was killed in a freak accident in June 2022, when a motorcycle landed on top of him following an authorized Oakland police chase of another suspect while he was out with his mother at a taco truck. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Traffic Section at (510)777-8570. If anyone has videos, please send them to cidvideos@
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
As Its Parent Company Stumbles, Infiniti Hopes to Shine
Infiniti, like its parent company Nissan Motor Corporation, is in the midst of a pivotal year. The premium arm of the Japanese company has fresh product to offer customers and a lineup that is bringing in more affluent buyers than ever before in North America. Deliveries of the redesigned, full-size, three-row Infiniti QX80 are ongoing and a refreshed QX60 is making its way to dealer lots nationwide. In the next fiscal year, Infiniti is expected to begin selling its new QX65 SUV, and two years later, an all-electric Infiniti SUV will come to market. "This is a very important year for Infiniti. We have now the QX80 at full speed. We're going to have QX80 for the full year," Tiago Castro, vice president of Infiniti Americas, told Newsweek. "We had the best-ever QX80 month in February and the best-ever March, which made the best-ever first quarter of the calendar year for QX80. So that tells me that we're building the momentum," he said. QX60, a midsize three-row SUV, is more popular with U.S. audiences in 2025 than the QX80. Its design and technology refresh is focused on lifting it in a fashion similar to the success the company has had with QX80. "What we're trying to do with QX60 with this refresh is bringing the design cues of QX80 into the QX60 so they're really showing that family resemblance. And then parallel to this, bring all the same technology, things like the Google infrastructure that supports our IT system that gives your ability to do so much with the Klipsch audio system with up to 20 speakers, which is pretty amazing," Castro said. The company will introduce Sport versions of both SUVs, a package that adds darkened fascia and wheels to the model in place of brighter finishes. Unique upholstery options and badging are also included. "These next few years are make-or-break for Infiniti. Once a legitimate contender in the U.S. luxury space, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s with performance-oriented sedans and a clear design identity, the brand has since lost momentum and market relevance. Years of underinvestment, shifting leadership, and an unclear product vision have left Infiniti struggling for identity in a crowded luxury market dominated by German, Korean, and even electric startups," Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, told Newsweek. Castro is relatively new to his role. He had one full day on the job before the Trump administration's first major tariff announcement. "It's been very educational," he said. Instead of standing still and taking time to settle into the role, Castro dove in and took immediate action. "I've been meeting with dealers throughout the country. We set up Zoom calls. I met over 20 of them the other day in Nashville. We had dinner with another ten," he said ahead of the New York International Auto Show in mid-April. He relayed that the dealers have expressed to him that the QX80 is "extremely exciting." Castro said: "It started to build momentum, and we needed to stay consistent, focused on that model to really create a halo for this brand. And, they believe the QX60 now has a lot more potential than we have shown [in the past]. So, we need to work together with the retailers to continue to consistently deliver results and build momentum and let customers know how great the product is, but more importantly, how great the client experience is." Reports late last year indicated that Nissan Motor Corp. was on the brink of bankruptcy. On May 13, the automaker revealed the Re:Nissan plan, a pathway forward to enhance performance and create a leaner, more agile business. There is considerable cost savings planned for the current fiscal year. This and future restructuring under the plan is expected to create "a framework to secure operating profitability and free cash flow in the automotive business by fiscal year 2026," the company said in a press release at the time. Despite the very public woes of Nissan Motor Corp., Castro said, "There's a lot of optimism. The new management team coming in with Christian Meunier [Nissan America's chairman who was appointed in January], who is extremely focused on product. He believes in Infiniti wholeheartedly, and the new [Nissan Motor Corp.] CEO Ivan Espinosa. In fact, Christian, Ivan and I worked together for three years in Brazil. So, we know each other well. Ivan is very aligned with this direction. So, we're going to build a product plan that will continue to build on the momentum." Grille of the 2026 Infiniti QX60. Grille of the 2026 Infiniti QX60. Infiniti Waatti said: "Compounding the challenge facing Infiniti is the instability of parent company Nissan. As Nissan battles global restructuring, resource constraints, and a still-fragile brand perception, Infiniti is left walking a tightrope—tasked with reinventing itself while relying on a parent brand fighting its own battles." "That said, the next phase offers a narrow but real opportunity. If Infiniti can capitalize on electrification, modern design, and an improved ownership experience, while finally delivering products that compete head-to-head with luxury stalwarts, it may reclaim relevance. But make no mistake: this is a final proving ground. There's little room left for incrementalism or misfires," he said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volkswagen Will Use Real Names Again, and These Were Some of the Best
Volkswagen is now admitting its mistakes with the naming of its line of EVs. The ID.3, ID.4, and ID.7 aren't the worst we've seen, but the and ID.2all are just plain weird and utterly forgettable. It's too easy to forget what kind of vehicle goes with what name. Seriously, why couldn't Volkswagen call its electric minivan the Westfalia or something similar from its past? It has a retro style, so give it a name that's evocative, not strange. Now, the brand wants to pivot by returning to proper names, the kind that many brands abandoned over the past few decades. The guilty parties are the brands that have employed alpha-numeric model names in place of names with character, having copied the Germans' methodology. Car companies wanted to be viewed as cultured and sophisticated like the Europeans, but almost nothing dilutes a car's personality like getting rid of a proper name. Acura used to have great names like the Legend and the Integra (thankfully, it's back now), but moved to meaningless names like RL, CL, TL, et al. Mazda eliminated names like Tribute and Millenia in favor of 626, 6, CX-5, CX-9, and so on. Cadillac used to have the DeVille, the Eldorado, and even the Allante. Okay, so we don't miss the Cimarron or the Catera, but at least we remember what those cars looked like. Thankfully, it still has the Escalade. When Lexus and Infiniti emerged as luxury sub-brands, they went right to alpha-numeric names without hesitating. The LS, SC, RX, and ES were born, and Infiniti's Q, J, QX, FX, and M names weren't much better. When Genesis hit the scene decades later, it did the same with its G80, then G70, G90, GV70, GV80, and the electric GV60. Then, there are just plain confusing ones that don't roll off the tongue. The BMW X5 sounds fine, but transmogrify it into the BMW X5 sDrive40i? Really? Enough already with all the letters and numbers. How about a real name? We love it when automakers do the right kind of course correction, and we get that naming vehicles presents challenges. Model names should be unique and evoke the brand identity well, but that doesn't mean the results are always worthy of respect. According to Volkswagen, 'ID' stands for 'Intelligent design, identity and visionary technologies'. Snooze. Where's the passion? The 'ID.' style naming convention isn't widespread across VW's stable, but it dominates its EVs. The brand still has the Golf, Jetta, Taos, Tiguan, and Atlas (no one misses names like the hard-to-pronounce Touareg or the tepidly labeled Passat), but it recognizes that the ID. vehicles lack some naming verve. VW's head of marketing and sales, Martin Sander, stated to the German publication Auto Und Wirtschaft: "The cars will get proper names again. Neither the ID. 2all nor the ID. Every1 will have those names in series production. We'll announce that when the time comes." What the revised EV names will be is unknown, but we know that the current ones really need to go. You can't just slap an "ID" and a "." along with goofy made-up words tacked on in hopes that customers will know what they are. They sure won't go down in history as great car names. Here are some of the best names from Volkswagen's illustrious past that we think should make a resurgence. The Rabbit name never should've disappeared. It was used for the first generation of the North American Golf, and was cute and memorable, more than even the iconic Golf. It was boxy-handsome, fun to toss, and very affordable. VW would earn the praise of just about everyone if it brought back the name. Of course, the Golf "Rabbit" is perfect for the upcoming ID. Every1. The Scirocco (shir-ROC-o) is probably the best name VW ever came up with. It comes directly from a Mediterranean wind, and boy, does it sound cool. Also known as the Type 53, the two-door, front-wheel drive hatchback was meant to be a successor to the Karmann Ghia coupe and a sportier alternative to the more economical Golf. Please, VW, put it on the ID. CODE and bring that China-only EV here. The name alone would make it sell. The Corrado was the successor to the Scirocco, but it didn't last long in the United States. It briefly sold next to the outgoing Scirocco, but its price and limited practicality prevented wider appeal. Its last year stateside was 1994, and the two-door, front-wheel drive hatchback never had a successor. The name came from the Spanish verb "correr" (to sprint), and boy, did it leave quickly. The Corrado name would be a great replacement for the ID. CROZZ 2-door electric crossover. Ok, so we're not 100% behind this one, but hear us out. The originally military-use vehicle isn't pretty by any means, but the name is totally memorable. Otherwise known as the Volkswagen Type 181, it was originally created as a semi-amphibious vehicle for the West German Army. We don't doubt that any modern Volkswagen would look prettier than this boxy SUV inspired by cardboard boxes, but we could definitely see a boxy Jeep-style electric SUV with the "Thing" name slapped on it. It would be perfect if the ID. LIFE concept was brought to life. We get that the future of automotive is electric, but that doesn't mean VW's EV names have to suck. Finally, someone higher up in the Volkswagen ranks is talking sense, and maybe other automakers will follow suit. Is it marketing suicide to change names midstream? Not necessarily. It could be risky, but it's been done before. VW would be making a smart move, in our opinion, and properly done names could make their vehicles more easily identifiable and memorable. Volkswagen Will Use Real Names Again, and These Were Some of the Best first appeared on Autoblog on May 28, 2025
