VW holds on to sales crown, EU rejects Brexit renegotiations, and more top news

The news professionals in Europe are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments.

Volkswagen has narrowly held on to the title of world’s number-one automaker for the fifth year running — thanks in part to its MAN and Scania truck subsidiaries — delivering some 10.8 million vehicles in 2018. It was closely followed by Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, which delivered 10.76 million. CNBC notes the Renault-Nissan alliance was a distant challenger to the title until two years ago, when it brought Mitsubishi into the fold. Industry analysts say they are watching to see what impact the arrest of former CEO and chairman Carlos Ghosn will have. ? Here’s what people are saying.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says the EU is not open to Brexit renegotiations. While British MPs voted on Tuesday for “alternative arrangements” to the Irish backstop, Juncker yesterday restated that the deal previously agreed to with Prime Minister Theresa May “remains the best and only deal possible”. The UK is due to leave the EU in eight weeks. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Airbus has reported a data breach. The European plane manufacturer says it detected a cyber attack on its information systems that gave hackers access to some employees’ personal information. The breach — which did not affect its commercial operations — is currently under investigation. It’s the latest of a number of recent breaches, including a mass data attack in Germany that targeted politicians and celebrities. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Danish Crown is set to cut up to 400 jobs. Europe’s top pork producer says the move will mostly affect workers in the UK, where it employs 7,000 people, and is part of a plan to cut costs by €47 million. CEO Jais Valeur pointed to “difficulties on the British market” as a contributing factor, as well as a battle over pork in Germany, the growth of Spanish producers, and fears over the spread of African swine flu. ? Here’s what people are saying.

So who really invented Champagne? According to the head of one of France’s most prestigious Champagne houses, it was the English. Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger insists they created the fizzy drink by accidently leaving still white wines on London docks — which in the cold then underwent a second fermentation. Falling demand for the luxury drink in both France and the UK saw an estimated 5.4 million fewer bottles shipped last year — a decrease of 1.7%. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Transparency does not equal more trust, says author Rachel Botsman.

“Transparency can be a great tool, but it is not a magical cure for building or restoring trust.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

— Capucine Yeomans