Daily automotive news and comment - from just-auto.com (100 unread)

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• INTERVIEW: Autonomous car some way off

  Far-seeing individuals in the auto and components industry are already talking about the 'autonomous' vehicle but it's some way off yet, a senior safety and driveline components company executive has said. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 12:30pm EDT

• THE WEEK THAT WAS: Turbocharger talk

  As rising fuel prices and CO2-based taxes hit, the 'umble turbocharger is fast becoming a great way to squeeze a quart out of a pint pot - just look at how widely Volkswagen uses its 1.4-litre super- and turbocharged petrol engine across its range these days, or try the new [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 11:50am EDT

• CHINA: CNHTC output up 48% in Jan-May

  China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Corp Ltd (CNHTC) has announced it produced 63,526 heavy-duty vehicles in Jan-May period, up 47.4% year-on-year. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 11:10am EDT

• GERMANY: Ford Europe May sales fall, YTD up 2.3%

  Ford of Europe has boosted sales in its 51 markets 2.3% or 18,400 units year on year to 828,300 vehicles in the first five months of 2008. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 9:17am EDT

• FRANCE: Dacia sales fall 21.6% in May

  Renault group may car and light commercial sales rose just 1.1% year on year in May to 219,801 vehicles worldwide as the Dacia growth bubble appreared to have burst though this month's Sandero launch in Europe should quickly bring improvements. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 8:55am EDT

• JAPAN: Mazda begins bioplastic project with university

  Mazda Motor Corporation on Friday signed a collaborative research agreement with Hiroshima University to launch a project to develop a bioplastic from non-food-based cellulosic biomass and have it ready for use in vehicles by 2013. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 8:38am EDT

• THAILAND: VW to meet Thai govt on eco-car project

  Volkswagen's executives will meet Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti and the Board of Investment (BoI) by the end of the month to finalise details on its proposed eco-car manufacturing project, according to an Industry Ministry source cited in a local newspaper report. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 8:21am EDT

• PHILIPPINES: Bosch laments weak Philippines auto sector

  The Philippines should make its car production industry more competitive to avoid losing out to its Southeast Asian neighbours according to Bosch. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 8:11am EDT

• CHINA: FAW-Toyota to build RAV4 - reports

  Tianjin FAW-Toyota will build the RAV4 in China next year according to local media reports. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 8:05am EDT

• CHINA: BMW invests in parts distribution

  BMW will set up two more distribution centres for parts supply in China in addition to one that is already operational in Beijing. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 7:54am EDT

• BELGIUM: Jaguar Land Rover joins ACEA

  The General Assembly of ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, has accepted the application of Jaguar Land Rover – newly bought by Tata Motors - to become a member from July 2008. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 7:37am EDT

• EUROPE/US: Market gloom deepens

  As protests over soaring fuel costs spread across Europe, GM's European chief has warned that business in the mature North American and certain European markets 'could be dragged down to lows we haven’t seen since the recessionary days of the early 80s'. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 7:24am EDT

• BRAZIL: Boom continues with government boost

  Every month seems to bring good news for Brazil's auto industry at the moment. Besides continually setting new domestic records, the booming local market is pushing Brazil up in the international ranking. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 6:02am EDT

• US: Ford sells Atlanta assembly plant for redevelopment

  Three auto-related property deals have been making news in the US this week, including Ford's sale of its Atlanta Assembly Plant property in Hapeville, Georgia, to Jacoby Development. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 5:27am EDT

• US: Chrysler inks theme parks promotion

  Chrysler has agreed a new partnership with Six Flags, the world's largest regional theme park company, to promote its vehicles. [...]

  Posted: June 13, 2008, 5:13am EDT

• CANADA: Ontario eyes cars for doomed GM truck plant

  General Motors and the Ontario government are discussing a third car line for the automaker's truck plant in Oshawa, economic development and trade minister Sandra Pupatello has said. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 8:55am EDT

• EMERGING MARKETS ANALYSIS: How Dacia survived – and prospered

  Mark Bursa looks back on how Dacia survived the post-Ceaucescu years and uncovers a story of resilience and determination that resonates strongly as the company goes global. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 8:43am EDT

• US: Tesla in tech tie-up with Daimler

  Tesla Motors, the maker of an electric plug-in sports car, has inked a technology deal with Daimler, according to remarks reportedly made by Chairman Elon Musk. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 8:17am EDT

• CHINA: Beiqi Foton to finalise Daimler JV after Olympics

  Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton will finalise a planned heavy-duty truck joint venture with Daimler AG after this year's Beijing Olympics. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 8:03am EDT

• JAPAN: MMC to boost 'world' engine output 35% - reports

  Mitsubishi Motors plans to lift domestic output capacity of fuel-efficient lightweight vehicle engines by 35% to 385,000 units a year by sutumn 2009, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday without citing sources. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 7:59am EDT

• JAPAN: Toyota eyes lithium-ion battery start in '09

  Toyota's battery joint venture with Matsushita Electric will start producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 as part of Toyota's push to roll out more electric and hybrid cars. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 7:52am EDT

• US: Ford chief calls for government plug-in spend

  The US government will need to drastically increase spending on research into plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as provide incentives to buyers, for them to become viable, Ford's North American chief said on Wednesday. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 7:51am EDT

• INDIA: India's tyre output set to grow 10%

  India's tyre production is likely to rise about 10% this fiscal year according to an Indian trade body. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 7:32am EDT

• CHINA: VW JV plans 2nd Audi assembly line

  Volkswagen's car joint venture with FAW in Changchun plans to add a new Audi assembly line according to reports. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 7:24am EDT

• TAIWAN: Vehicle sales down 30% in May

  A total of 19,495 new vehicles were sold in Taiwan in May, representing a decline of 30% year-on-year. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 7:00am EDT

• SOUTH AFRICA: BASF set to expand with acquisition

  BASF Coatings Services (Pty) Ltd. is set to take over the business of MAB Auto Body Parts and Paint Centre Ltd. in Johannesburg, South Africa. [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 6:48am EDT

• INDONESIA: Philippines sales up 12.5% in May, Indonesia up 32%

  Toyota has slipped in both markets as key MPV products begin to show their age though the Philippines vehicle market expanded by 12.5% year-on-year in May to 10,900 units, according to data released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI). [...]

  Posted: June 12, 2008, 5:12am EDT

• PARIS PREVIEW: Production Lancer hatchback ready for Europe

  Having shown concepts at Geneva and previous shows, Mitsubishi will finally launch the production Lancer Sportback (five-door hatchback) at Paris alongside the European debut of the sporty Ralliart versions that fit between the standard models and the Evolution. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 1:32pm EDT

• SPAIN: Protesting truckers halt vehicle output

  Striking truckers protesting at soaring fuel prices have paralysed Spain's car industry. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 12:16pm EDT

• UK: F1 energy recovery idea could have road application

  Transmission technology specialist Xtrac says the flywheel kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) currently being developed for Formula One could be applied to road vehicles in a number of ways. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 11:49am EDT

• US: CEO sees Chrysler independent a while

  Chrysler chief executive Robert Nardelli has said Tuesday he expects the automaker would be an independent company three years from now, and that Chrysler's private-equity owners were not second guessing their acquisition. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 11:32am EDT

• CANADA: GM union blockade unfazed by court action

  The Canadian Auto Workers union has said it's not surprised General Motors went to court in a bid to end the blockade of its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 9:57am EDT

• US: Ford turning from trucks to cars - paper

  Ford is working on plans to shift entire truck plants to car production in a bid to keep up with changing consumer demand in the United States, sources familiar with the company's plans told a Michigan newspaper. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 9:35am EDT

• AUSTRALIA: Camry hybrid deal starts government funding row

  A row has broken out in Australia over whether or not federal and state government funding was necessary for Toyota's decision to build the Camry hybrid locally. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 8:59am EDT

• CHINA: FAW Car to take control of Hongqi brand

  China's FAW Group Corporation (CFGC) has said that its subsidiary FAW Car Co., Ltd will be in charge of the Hongqi own brand. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 8:34am EDT

• THAILAND: Toyota to launch CNG Corollas

  Toyota plans to introduce to Thailand its Corolla model that can run on compressed natural gas, or CNG, later this year. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 8:31am EDT

• LATVIA: Car sales down 29% in first five months

  In the first five months of the year, a total of 9,987 new cars were sold in Latvia, 29% down on last year, according to data from the Latvian Authorised Automobile Dealers Association. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 8:26am EDT

• CHINA: Honda production still disrupted by floods

  Honda has said that it has partially restarted manufacturing operations at its joint-venture facilities in China, which were hit last week by flooding. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 8:16am EDT

• INDIA: Nano in track for October sales

  The countdown to the Singur rollout of Tata Nano appears underway according to a report in India's Economic Times. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 8:04am EDT

• GERMANY: Scania does not see MAN merger anytime soon

  According to a report in Financial Times Deutschland, Scania's chairman does not see a Scania-MAN merger happening anytime soon, despite clear signs that powerful playmaker Ferdinand Piech would like that to happen at some point. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 7:54am EDT

• US: Chrysler may cut production further

  Chrysler may cut production further amid a steep drop in truck sales, according to a Wall Street Journal online report. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 7:43am EDT

• JAPAN: Toyota reiterates plug-ins by 2010

  Toyota on Wednesday reiterated it would start selling plug-in hybrids to fleet customers in Japan, the US and Europe from 2010 and announced a new battery development. [...]

  Posted: June 11, 2008, 6:51am EDT

• EMERGING MARKETS ANALYSIS: Country ‘n’ Eastern – Chevrolet hits the right notes

  There was a good deal of skepticism when GM rebranded Daewoo as Chevrolet, but the formula works – even the country music, Chevrolet Europe chief Wayne Brannon tells Mark Bursa [...]

  Posted: June 10, 2008, 2:43pm EDT

• AUSTRALIA/THAILAND: [updated 17:25BST]: Toyota to begin local Camry hybrid production

  Toyota Australia on Tuesday confirmed it would begin manufacturing the hybrid Camry sedan for the domestic market and the model was also confirmed for Thai production. [...]

  Posted: June 10, 2008, 1:30pm EDT

• US: Nissan reducing Canton truck output

  Nissan Motor is adding a third shift at its Canton, Mississippi, plant to assemble the Altima, the automaker's best-selling model in the United States. [...]

  Posted: June 10, 2008, 9:53am EDT

• THAILAND: Toyota expanding diesel engine output

  Toyota Manufacturing (STM), Toyota Motor’s engine production base in Thailand, will build a new plant to boost its annual diesel engine production capacity by 150,000 units in 2010. [...]

  Posted: June 10, 2008, 8:47am EDT

• CHINA: Car sales up 17.4% in first five months

  Passenger car sales in China in the first five months of 2008 rose 17.4% over the same period a year earlier, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). [...]

  Posted: June 10, 2008, 8:34am EDT

• US SALES ANALYSIS: May carnage, yes, but truck models top sellers YTD

  US light vehicle sales plunged 14.1% year on year (adjusted for selling days) to 1,392,577 cars and trucks last month. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 1:30pm EDT

• INDIA: Gas-powered model availability rises

  Following Tata and Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India is to offer LPG-fuelled cars, expecting demand following an imminent hike in petrol prices. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 1:17pm EDT

• SPAIN: Maximum alert over plunging auto sales

  “Maximum alert!” That's the state Spain’s automobile industry is in after sales plunged 24% in May to a cumulative drop of 14.3% year-on-year in the first five months of 2008, dealer group Faconauto has warned. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 12:06pm EDT

• CANADA: Car workers' union may war with GM

  Just two weeks after leader Buzz Hargrove's whirlwind negotiations produced the peace of an early contract with the Detroit-based big three automakers operating in Canada, it appears the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) may have to go to war, a local paper said on Wednesday. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 11:50am EDT

• CANADA: May sales dip just 0.5%

  Top import brands took a larger slice of Canada's new vehicle market in May as overall sales dipped 0.5% amid a sharp retreat by General Motors, according to company figures released on Tuesday. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 11:37am EDT

• CHINA: China starts importing BMW 1 Series

  China Industry Daily News reports that BMW has introduced its BMW 1 Series in China with a starting price at CNY273,000. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 10:42am EDT

• ITALY: New car sales down 17.6% in May

  Italian new car registrations fell for a fifth straight month in May, down 17.6% year-on-year, according to government figures. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 10:34am EDT

• GERMANY: GM Russelsheim ‘will operate at full capacity from 2009’

  GM expects that its Russelsheim, Germany, factory will be operating at full capacity next year when production of the new Insignia model, which replaces Vectra, ramps up. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 10:31am EDT

• SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Motor CEO gets community service

  A Seoul high court has confirmed its previous suspended jail term for Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo but also ordered him to perform community service involving manual labour. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 8:51am EDT

• AUSTRALIA: Cars slow, SUVs and LCVs boom

  Australian new motor vehicle sales were flat last month, despite higher interest rates and fuel prices. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 8:46am EDT

• AUSTRALIA: Great Wall vehicles coming - report

  Great Wall Motors is expected to join the Chery brand already confirmed for a 2009 launch in Australia, according to a local report. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 8:34am EDT

• GOLDING’S TAKE: Be careful what you wish for

  When the US authorities were busy setting the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy levels last year, the political lobby in the US auto industry was running around trying to stop the legislators forcing better fuel economy on the present-technology passenger vehicles, so that more industry research money could be spent [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 8:24am EDT

• RUSSIA: Pirelli signs letter of intent for Russia JV

  Pirelli has said that it has signed a letter of intent with Russian Technologies to start negotiations for a joint venture that will make and sell tyres in Russia and the CIS States. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 8:01am EDT

• GERMANY: GME shows Insignia cabin

  General Motors Europe's drip-feed of details of the Vectra-replacing Insignia, due to make its public debut at a motor show in London next month, has continued with the release of interior photos. [...]

  Posted: June 04, 2008, 8:00am EDT

• UK [updated 11:50BST]: New Nissan to replace Micra at Sunderland

  Nissan Motor on Tuesday said it would build an unnamed “innovative all-new compact car” at its Sunderland plant in north-east England, starting in 2010. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 1:30pm EDT

• VIETNAM: Tax hike bites auto imports in May

  The number of imported automobiles dropped by 1,500 units month on month in May after a Vietnamese Ministry of Finances tax hike took effect, according to statistics from the General Statistics Office (GSO). [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 1:08pm EDT

• GERMANY: Small cars boom in weak May market

  Detailed data from Germany’s federal bureau for motor vehicles and drivers, the Kraftfahrt Bundesamt (KBA), shows that premium car manufacturers were the biggest loses in May’s weak market, while the mini car segment boomed. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 11:17am EDT

• INDIA: Renault may use ultra low cost car parts in Europe

  According to a report in The Economic Times, Renault will not introduce the 'ultra low cost car' it is developing with Bajaj and Nissan into the European market but could use parts for its other cars. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 11:16am EDT

• INDIA: Car sales 'dampened' in May

  After a strong April when car sales in India increased by 22%, they dampened in May according to local media reports. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 11:06am EDT

• UK: GM reportedly reduces Ellesmere Port output

  General Motors' UK subsidiary Vauxhall is reducing production and laying workers off for two days this month and next at its Ellesmere Port plant, near Liverpool, which builds the Astra, a report said. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 10:42am EDT

• GERMANY: German car market takes another knock back

  The German car market was down six percent in May to 275,000 vehicles, according to data from the German automotive industry trade association, Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA). [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 10:22am EDT

• US: GM axing truck plants, may sell Hummer

  General Motors has announced the closure of four North American truck/SUV plants by 2010, new small car models, the production go-ahead for the Volt electric vehicle and the possible sale of its Hummer brand. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 10:17am EDT

• SPAIN: May car sales off 24%

  According to Spanish auto trade association ANFAC Spanish car sales plummeted 24.3% year-on-year to 116,108 units in May. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 8:46am EDT

• RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ car sales up 17.9% this year

  AvtoVAZ has increased its domestic car sales 17.9% in the first five months of the year to 273,800 units the company said in a statement. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 8:36am EDT

• SOUTH AFRICA: Vehicle sales down 23.4% in May

  South African new vehicle sales fell by 23.4% year-on-year in May on the back of higher interest rates, vehicle price hikes and 'social turmoil' in parts of the country. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 8:27am EDT

• JAPAN: UK government subsidises Nissan plant deal

  Nissan Motor on Tuesday said it had been granted GBP6.2m (US$12m) by the British government to build a new compact sport utility vehicle at its Sunderland plant from 2010. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 7:55am EDT

• GERMANY: Visteon and 3M combine on Wave Concept

  Visteon and 3M have come together to produce a concept car showcasing more than fifty innovative technologies from the two tier one suppliers, writes Ian Adcock. [...]

  Posted: June 03, 2008, 5:30am EDT

• FEATURE: POLAND: Chevrolet looks east for European growth

  With annual sales topping 4.5m units in 2007 Chevrolet is by far GM’s biggest selling brand. A hefty 2.4m units of that total were chalked up in the US market alone. But Chevrolet is, in a sense, two brands within a brand and while there is some overlap, the Chevrolet [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 4:35pm EDT

• EXCLUSIVE: UK: Dealers pressured to match Fiat success

  Fiat is in its best position for more than 15 years, according to its UK managing director, but the dealer network needs to change to match recent sales success. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 12:28pm EDT

• THE WEEK THAT WAS: It's not what you know, but who...

  Knowing the right people sure helps when you've a new car to promote. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 12:17pm EDT

• INDIA: BMW plans local sourcing boost

  Similar to Volkswagen, BMW plans to increase component sourcing from India for its global operations, for which it is in the process of identifying more vendors. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 11:56am EDT

• INDIA: Volkswagen works on local supply chain

  Volkswagen India plans to manufacture engines in India to supply its domestic and international demands and is on the lookout for local suppliers for other components, having appointed a new Indian managing director. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 11:36am EDT

• US: GM truck workers might move to cars - report

  General Motors will close entire shifts of workers at some truck factories and may move them to nearby car plants as it restructures in an era of US$4 per gallon petrol. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 9:45am EDT

• JAPAN: Toyota undecided on US Prius assembly

  Toyota has said no decision has yet been reached on using its California joint venture plant with General Motors to produce the Prius hybrid - a move that would mark the first North American plant for the car so far built only in Japan and China. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 8:41am EDT

• JAPAN: Honda frees the minivan

  Honda has begun selling a new compact minivan called the Freed in Japan. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 7:50am EDT

• INDIA: Bajaj open to other CV alliances

  Pune based Bajaj Auto is open to teaming up with other companies if JV partner Renault does not agree to commercial vehicle projects soon, but has not made a decision yet. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 6:43am EDT

• GERMANY: Wolfgang Porsche raises stakes in VW dispute

  Porsche supervisory board chief, Wolfgang Porsche, has criticised Volkswagen’s corporate strategy, justifying workers’ fears that a takeover by Porsche will lead to massive job cuts. [...]

  Posted: May 30, 2008, 5:56am EDT

• US: GM eyes more restructuring - reports

  General Motors' top managers are working on additional restructuring measures to deal with a declining US new vehicle market and an accelerated shift from trucks to more fuel efficient vehicles, a person familiar with the plan told The Associated Press (AP) last night (28 May). [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 1:30pm EDT

• RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ adds June shifts

  AvtoVAZ will introduce additional shifts in June, the company said on Thursday. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 1:08pm EDT

• INDIA: Toyoda Gosei to make parts in north

  Japanese auto parts and diversified manufacturing company Toyoda Gosei is to set up a safety systems subsidiary at Neemrana (Rajasthan state) to produce products such as steering wheels and airbags for Indian car makers. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 1:04pm EDT

• PHILIPPINES: Affordable Chinese cars appeal

  A dealer in Chinese-manufactured cars has said their designs and prices are acceptable to Philippines buyers in all income brackets because of their affordability and practicality. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 12:55pm EDT

• US: American Axle axing 2,000 after wage deal

  American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings will cut its US hourly work force by 2,000, or about 55%, as a result of a new contract ratified last week by the United Auto Workers union. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 9:36am EDT

• MALAYSIA: Proton turns to profit

  Proton reported a sharp turnaround in earnings in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended 31 March, with net profits rising to RM236.4m compared with a loss of RM 589.5m a year earlier. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 9:16am EDT

• MALAYSIA: Sales up 49% in April, boosting Proton

  New vehicle sales in Malaysia surged by over 49% in April to 50,279 units, from 33,679 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA). [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 9:10am EDT

• JAPAN: Honda shuffles NA plant roster to boost small cars

  Honda will move production of two bigger models from Canada to Alabama to meet growing US demand for small cars while maintaining North American jobs, its chief executive Takeo Fukui said on Thursday. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 8:10am EDT

• US [updated 21:55BST]: Fastener specialist recruits AAM exec

  Fastening technology specialist Acument Global Technologies has named American Axle Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) executive Richard (Rick) Dauch as president and CEO from 2 June. He is the son of AAM co-founder and chairman, Dick Dauch. Meanwhile, AAM on Thursday said David Dauch would become president and chief operating officer, effective [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 6:10am EDT

• US: American Axle details new business backlog

  American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, which has recently endured an almost three-month strike at several of its US facilities, in turn crippling some of GM's truck and SUV production, has announced a backlog of new and incremental business from 2009 through 2013 worth about $1.4bn in future annual sales. [...]

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 5:59am EDT

• UK: Citroen launches C5 wagon

  Citroën is now launching the Tourer (wagon) variant of the C5 sedan worldwide. [...]

  Posted: May 22, 2008, 1:00pm EDT

• GERMANY: Facelifted A- and B-class get off to a good start

  Mercedes has reported that the launch of the reworked A- and B-class is going well. [...]

  Posted: May 22, 2008, 10:44am EDT

• UK: Oil prices top $135 a barrel

  Oil prices have reached a new high topping $135 a barrel today. [...]

  Posted: May 22, 2008, 9:09am EDT

• US: Ford cuts truck production in US

  Ford plans to cut make further cuts to pickup and SUV production in the US as the credit crunch bites. [...]

  Posted: May 22, 2008, 8:54am EDT

• CHINA: Honda to double capacity at Dongfeng

  Honda has asked the Chinese government for approval to double capacity at its Dongfeng joint venture. [...]

  Posted: May 22, 2008, 8:43am EDT

• US: Mercedes to acquire Pacifica design centre

  Mercedes-Benz is planning to acquire the building that housed the former Chrysler Pacifica Advance Design Center building in Carlsbad, California. [...]

  Posted: May 22, 2008, 8:36am EDT