Breaking News

All Headlines

Use the form on the right to select a specific day or category >>

Plastic Omnium sees slight sales rise after return to profit

Plastic Omnium said it expected a slight increase in 2010 sales as it reported full-year operating margin up to 4.2 percent of sales against 2.6 percent in 22008. Read More »

UK to give $551 million state aid to Ford, Nissan for green cars

The UK government announced 360 million pounds ($551 million) in aid to Ford and Nissan for the development of environmentally friendly technologies as the country seeks to become a world leader in ultra low-carbon vehicles. Read More »

Porsche edges out Lincoln for vehicle dependability title

Porsche sits atop the annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study released by J.D. Power and Associates today. The German sports car maker rose from 11th place to lead the annual study of 3-year-old vehicles. Read More »

Nissan will build the Leaf electric car in UK

Nissan will build the new Leaf electric vehicle at Britain's Sunderland assembly plant starting in early 2013, with initial capacity of 50,000 units. Nissan has already announced production of the Leaf hatchback in Japan and the U.S., with the car due to go on sale at the end of this year. Read More »

China's Geely set for control of London taxi maker

China's Geely Group is set to increase its grip on lossmaking London black cab taxi maker Manganese Bronze by taking a controlling stake and moving more of the production of the TX4 cab to China. Read More »

Auto industry leaders in Russia eye brighter future

Russia's car industry predicts a return to pre-crisis demand levels at around the middle of the decade, although concerns about local suppliers and the high cost of credit remain obstacles to growth. Read More »

Former GM director Jerry York hospitalized

Jerry York, the former Chrysler finance chief who later joined billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian in pushing for change at General Motors, was hospitalized on Wednesday near his home in suburban Detroit after suffering a collapse, a person familiar with the matter said. Read More »

Toyota faces racketeering claims in consumer suits

Lawyers seeking civil damages against Toyota Motor Corp. on behalf of U.S. consumers for diminished resale value of recalled vehicles are broadening their cases to add racketeering claims against the automaker. Read More »

Toyota accused of failing to sound safety alarms in Canada

Canadian lawmakers accused Toyota Motor Corp. executives of waiting too long to inform the government of problems with faulty accelerators in some of the company's vehicles. Read More »

GM's Liddell sees chance for profit, IPO in 2010

General Motors Co. has a "reasonable chance" to show a profit in 2010 after five years of losses and could sell shares by late this year though it has no timetable for an IPO that would reduce the U.S. government's majority stake, CFO Chris Liddell said. Read More »

With long vacation over, GM CFO throws himself into new job

General Motors Co.’s new CFO, Chris Liddell, took a monthlong break between leaving Microsoft Corp. and starting his job at GM in February. Read More »

GMAC has raised $7.1 billion selling securities, bonds

GMAC Financial Services this week is raising nearly $1 billion selling retail auto loans as securities. The sale is one of a series of transactions indicating that GMAC has improved its access to capital in the past six months after having to rely on repeated cash infusions from the U.S. Read More »

Lear seeks to raise $450 million in new financing

Lear Corp. is looking to raise at least $450 million in new capital to begin to remove and reduce some of its post-Chapter 11 debt load, the company said in a regulatory filing today. Read More »

Mitsubishi to invest $454 million in Brazil, make sedan

The Brazilian subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors said today it will invest 800 million reais ($454 million) in the next five years to build its four-wheel-drive Pajero Dakar jeep and Lancer sedan. Read More »

GM designs windshield to see what the eye might miss

General Motors Co. is developing a windshield display system designed to outline the edges of roads in fog and highlight a deer before it crosses into traffic. The system works by collecting information through vehicle sensors and cameras and projecting laser-generated images onto the windshield. Read More »

GM targets smaller, lighter hydrogen fuel cell for 2015

General Motors Co. is testing a new hydrogen fuel cell system that is expected to be ready for production in 2015. The system is half the size of the one used in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell test vehicle. Additionally, it is 220 pounds lighter and uses about one-third less platinum. Read More »

Nissan may join Renault-Daimler tie-up talks, report says

Japan's Nissan Motor Corp. may join talks between Renault SA and Daimler AG, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday. Shares of Renault and Daimler rose after reports that the two car makers are in talks about an equity tie-up as part of a possible longer-term partnership. Read More »

Saab names former VW exec Hallmark to lead global sales

Saab has named former Volkswagen executive Adrian Hallmark its executive director of sales. Hallmark, 47, will be counted on to help Saab try to rebound from its near collapse earlier this year. Read More »

Small BMWs to get new fwd architecture, CEO says

BMW AG is working on a new front-wheel- and four-wheel-drive vehicle architecture that will underpin a new range of entry-level BMWs as well as next-generation Mini models. Read More »

BMW sees 2010 results improving across business

BMW forecast a hefty rise in 2010 pretax profit with better results across its entire business, boosted by new car models such as its popular BMW 5 series. Analysts expect economic growth to spur corporate fleet sales at premium carmakers while rivals in terms of volume, such as Fiat S.p.A. Read More »

Geely, Ford say they are on track to sign Volvo deal

Zhejiang Geely Holding and Ford Motor Co. said they were still on track to sign a deal this month for Ford's Volvo cars unit, after a Chinese newspaper said Geely's planned $2 billion purchase faced hurdles. Read More »

Porsche SE's net debt drops ahead of 2011 cap hike

Porsche Automobil Holding SE's debt pile shrank, but not far enough to ensure that next year's 5 billion euro ($6.8 billion) capital increase would leave the troubled holding free of debt and ready to merge with Volkswagen AG. Read More »

Fiat appoints new group treasurer

Fiat S.p.A. has appointed Camillo Rossotto group treasurer in the latest management shake-up under CEO Sergio Marchionne. Starting April 1, Rossotto will replace Maurizio Francescatti who has decided to leave the company, Fiat said. Read More »

Fritz Henderson takes role with turnaround firm

Former General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson is working as a consultant for turnaround specialist AlixPartners LLP. Henderson will be a contractor and will not be involved in any matters related to AlixPartners' work helping sell or wind down the assets GM shed in bankruptcy. Read More »

Chrysler halts franchise awards in rejected dealers' backyards

Chrysler Group, after congressional pressure and complaints from rejected dealers, said it will stop awarding new franchises temporarily in the markets of closed dealerships that are pursuing arbitration. Read More »

Talk of Renault, Daimler alliance gains steam

Shares in Renault SA and Daimler AG rose on Tuesday, lifted by reports the two automakers are in talks about an equity tie-up as part of a possible longer-term partnership.Asked about the reports, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, who is also head of its Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. Read More »

Visteon preserves pensions in revised bankruptcy plan

Visteon Corp. would keep pension plans covering about 21,000 employees and retirees intact under a revised Chapter 11 reorganization plan. Read More »

Saab wins aid to move N.A. headquarters to Detroit suburb

Saab's North American operations won state aid to move its headquarters to the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority today granted tax breaks for a $2.4 million investment by Saab. Read More »

Ex-GM exec Bo Andersson seeks Western partner for Russia's GAZ

Former General Motors purchasing chief Bo Andersson says his new company, Russian carmaker GAZ, is in talks with more than one potential Western partner as it targets a 25 percent sales rise in 2010. GAZ remains the only major Russian player without support from a Western manufacturer. Read More »

Honda to recall 412,000 U.S. Odysseys, Elements for brakes

Honda Motor Co will recall about 412,000 vehicles in the United States to address the risk that brake pedals may feel soft and slip closer to the floor over time. Read More »

Peugeot will launch upscale car line

Peugeot will launch three upscale cars under the name hors-série in a bid to attract well-off buyers and boost profits. The hors-série models will complement sister brand Citroen's DS model line. Read More »

Renault-Nissan eyes 80,000 Micra sales in 2011

The Indian unit of the Renault-Nissan alliance will start selling Nissan Micra hatchbacks from July and aims for sales of 80,000 units in the financial year ending March 2011, an official said. Read More »

European car sales rise 3% in February

Europe new-car sales rose 3.2% in February to 1,000,754 units, but carmakers association ACEA said the volume is about 15% lower than in February 2008, before the global economic crisis hit. Read More »

Chevrolet goes digital at Texas tech-fest

Chevrolet is making a big splash at the South by Southwest Interactive conference now taking place in Austin, Texas, and it's just the beginning of the GM brand's planned 30 percent commitment to digital this year. "This is not a nine-day one-off," said Christopher Barger, General Motor Co.' Read More »

Bosch aims to double sales at its auto division

Robert Bosch GmbH plans to more than double revenue in its automotive technology division to 45 billion euros ($61.7 billion) within 10 years. The supplier sees opportunities in Asia's developing economies and in rising sales of electric cars. Read More »

Daimler, Renault in talks over equity stakes, report says

Daimler and Renault are discussing acquiring mutual equity stakes as part of their talks on cooperation, the Financial Times reported. The possible alliance would take the relationship beyond the talks about cooperation in small cars which are already taking place. Read More »

Pirelli sees strong Q1 growth in tire market

The tire market is seeing double-digit growth in the first quarter compared with its weak performance a year before. "The market has taken off," Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori told Il Giornale in an interview published on Tuesday. Read More »

Porsche Panamera convertible plans uncovered

A series of European and U.S. patent applications show that Porsche remains committed to building a four-door convertible version of its flagship Panamera, despite recent comments from company insiders indicating the car had been canceled. Read More »

Doomed Saturns, Hummers make assembly line curtain calls

Two doomed General Motors Co. brands -- Saturn and Hummer -- are getting their last hurrahs on the assembly line. GM assembled 1,037 Saturn Outlooks last month after not making any Saturns since October. Read More »

Toyota casts doubt on report of 'runaway' California Prius

Toyota Motor Corp. said it had found no evidence to support the driver's version of a widely publicized "runaway" Prius episode a week ago, suggesting that authorities examine whether the incident happened as reported to police. Read More »

Old Chrysler sells 211 acres near automaker's HQ

The holding company for the former Chrysler Corp. is closing today on the sale of 211 acres in suburban Detroit to a local developer. The property is the undeveloped portion of the vast Auburn Hills, Mich., complex called Oakland Technology Park. Read More »

Toyota, UAW reach tentative deal on NUMMI plant closing

The UAW has reached a tentative agreement for workers at a California plant Toyota Motor Corp. plans to close within weeks, the joint venture that operates the plant said today. Toyota has been building the Tacoma pickup truck and the Corolla compact car at the plant in Fremont, Calif. Read More »

Japan hopes to make EV recharging technology the global standard

Japan's automakers aim to cement their lead in electric vehicles by making Japanese recharging technology the global standard and bringing it to the United States. Read More »

Recalls erode Toyota’s perception of quality

The negative publicity surrounding the recall of 8.5 million Toyota cars and trucks around the world has knocked the brand from the top spot in a study that measures consumers’ perceptions of brand quality. Read More »

Canadian union sees solution to GM's Equinox shortage

The Canadian Auto Workers has a plan for General Motors Co. to ease its shortage of Chevrolet Equinoxes and GMC Terrains: Build the models in Oshawa, Ontario. Read More »

GMAC will be Saab's preferred lender

Spyker Cars N.V., which recently bought Saab Automobile from General Motors Co., has chosen GMAC Financial Services as the preferred lender for its 500 Saab dealers in North America and globally. Read More »

Ford says European car sales rose in Feb. despite rivals' discounts

Ford said its new-car sales across its main 19 European markets rose by 1.8 percent to 93,200 in February despite heavy discounting by rivals. With western European new-car sales forecast to fall by between 1 million and 1. Read More »

GM scraps its plan to thin Cadillac herd

General Motors Co. has scrapped a plan to reshape its Cadillac dealer network in the image of Lexus. Read More »

Is it too late for Ford to keep Volvo?

I found the nicest new product debuting at the Geneva show to be the Volvo S60 sedan. Read More »

Remember the end of spiffs? Well, war's back on

A six-month truce in the industry's incentive wars is breaking down, and Toyota -- that paragon of marketing discipline -- is getting the blame. Incentives hit a 20-month low in January after cash-for-clunkers slashed vehicle stocks last summer and sales began to perk up. Read More »

Lenders steer clear of dealership mortgages

Dealer Ralph Martinez's recent attempt to buy a $4 million Subaru dealership suddenly collapsed when the bank rejected the deal. "It's not about equity," says Martinez, a multifranchise operator in Portland, Ore. "I was going to put down 66 percent. Read More »

Dream that died in Kenya burns bright in Calif.

As a teenager in Kenya, Dean Parpia's dream was eventually to take over his father's auto dealership in the capital city of Nairobi. Then life happened. Political turmoil in Africa in the 1960s forced his family to flee the country and crushed the boy's ambition. But not forever. Read More »

Dealer's wizardry makes Suzuki store a success in Kansas

With its sales plunging 52 percent this year in a market up 10 percent, Suzuki is struggling to stay upright. But the troubled brand has provided Scott Pitman his big break. Now the 42-year-old Wichita, Kan., dealer is the largest Suzuki retailer in the country. Read More »

PACE finalists create green breakthroughs

Here are profiles of some of the 28 finalists for the 2010 Automotive News PACE Awards. This group highlights environmental innovations. Read More »

Saab entertains offers for tech swaps

Saab is in talks with up to a half dozen automakers on sharing technology on future models, Spyker CEO Victor Muller told Automotive News Europe. Read More »

Opel sets 2-year goal for minicar launch

Opel/Vauxhall's planned new minicar will be a trendsetter in its segment, the brand's sales and marketing chief Alain Visser said. Visser said Opel plans a car below its Corsa to meet the growing demand in Europe for small, fashionable cars. Read More »

Mexico sales fell 8% in Jan.

New light-vehicle sales in Mexico fell in January for the 18th straight month. Sales declined 8 percent from January 2009 to 64,066 vehicles. January's drop followed a 9 percent decline in December 2009 -- and 11 straight double-digit drops before that. Read More »

GM seeks paybacks on incentive program

General Motors is demanding that some dealers pay back five- and six-figure sums for alleged infractions of its Standards for Excellence incentive program without a chance to challenge the chargebacks. Read More »

Toyota troubles tarnish Lexus, too

The recall scandal that has devastated Toyota also has diminished Lexus' standing with consumers. Market researchers say the luxury brand has been hurt since the crisis escalated in the past two months, though not as much as Toyota. Read More »

Summit examines China's auto future

After an up-and-down ride through the 2000s, what does the next decade hold for China's auto industry? The U.S. Read More »

Congressional panel urges breakup of GMAC

GMAC Inc. still has no business plan even after receiving a $17.2 billion investment from the government, and the Treasury Department has been lax in making sure that the bank repays taxpayers, a congressional panel said. Read More »

Former DOT chief leads Toyota safety committee

Toyota named Rodney Slater, who was transportation secretary under President Bill Clinton, to head a new panel that will advise the company's North American operations on quality and safety issues. Read More »

L-M dealers fret: Can they have future minus Ford franchise?

Many stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers think their best hope for long-term survival is to add a Ford franchise. Without one, they worry that their dealerships won't have the volume and products to compete. Read More »

Outback output keeps Subaru plant hopping

Subaru's plant managers in Indiana are struggling to keep up with strong demand for the brand's popular Outback wagon. The success of the Outback, which debuted last summer, is the key reason Subaru enjoyed the highest percentage U.S. Read More »

Small Cadillac dealer benefits from GM's reversing course

Dealer Dathan Wilson has kept a secret from his customers for nearly a year. His Cadillac franchise in Stillwater, Okla., was one of General Motors Co.'s wind downs. But this month, the automaker offered to reinstate Wilson's Cadillac franchise. Read More »

Audi plans expansion of hybrids, electrics

Audi plans a rapid expansion of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles over the next few years as a key component in Volkswagen Group's strategy to dominate the alternative-powertrain market by decade's end. Read More »

Fiat names N.A. leader

Chrysler Group named Laura Soave, 37, to be in charge of reintroducing Fiat to North America. Current plans call for the Fiat 500 minicar to be the only Fiat vehicle sold in North America. Read More »

Saab lowers prices

Saab Cars North America, seeking sales momentum under new ownership, is lowering prices for its 2010 9-3s by 4 to 12 percent. Saab’s 218 U.S. dealers are expecting 9-3s this month after a half-year delivery hiatus. Read More »

Race over for Ralliart unit; Mitsubishi will keep name

Mitsubishi will continue using the "Ralliart" brand name despite the demise of the Japanese company that makes racing parts bearing that name. Ralliart Inc., a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Read More »

Nissan: Features will sell new van

The NV2500 commercial van Nissan Motor Co. unveiled here last week had unimposing blank sides and a bare interior -- but it was loaded with features that Nissan hopes will shake up the U.S. full-sized commercial van segment. Read More »

Feb. output rises 58%

February's North America vehicle production total was 956,540, up 58 percent from February 2009. It was the fourth consecutive month-over-month increase and the first time since 2002 that both January and February had a month-over-month increase. Read More »

Bruce Campbell retires as Nissan's top U.S. designer

Bruce Campbell, who brought a hip American style to several of Nissan Motor Co.'s important models, will retire as the company's top U.S. designer at the end of this month, the company said. Read More »

When 'phoenix' types, it's GM talking

When AnAmericanFirst wrote in an Automotive News online discussion about rejected dealers, "I hope that Mark Reuss or Ed Whitacre read our comments here," he got his wish -- within hours. Reuss, president of GM North America, typed: "I do read the comments here and I do listen. Every day. Read More »

Despite getting Chrysler's goat, high school's logo spared

In a legal battle that pitted the Lake Mary High School Rams near Orlando against Chrysler Group, David and Goliath have made peace. Last week, Chrysler softened its stance and said it would allow the school to keep the items bearing its logo until wear and tear requires them to be replaced. Read More »

Converj won't emerge after all

The Cadillac Converj concept, like Bob Lutz, is fading away. Read More »

Infiniti: M is better letter than Q for U.S.

As for you Infiniti dealers who are eager for a flagship sedan to replace the Q45, which was pulled from the lineup in 2006 -- well, don't hold your breath. Read More »

Mitsubishi will build EVs for Peugeot, Citroen

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has agreed to make 100,000 electric vehicles for French carmaker PSA/Peugeot Citroen starting this year as Mitsubishi seeks to boost volume and cut costs. Read More »

A123 signs battery deal

Advanced battery manufacturer A123 Systems Inc. plans to manufacture advanced lithium ion battery systems for all-electric delivery vehicles at a plant in suburban Detroit scheduled to open later this month. Read More »

Lear will add workers, boost output at Indiana seat plant

Lear Corp. said it will increase production and add 285 jobs this year at its northwest Indiana seat manufacturing plant. The company will spend more than $2.2 million at the plant, which will make seats for the new Ford Explorer SUV. Read More »

Tenneco forms 7th joint venture in China

Tenneco Inc. entered into its seventh joint venture in China, partnering with Changchun FAW Sihuan Group Ltd., a subsidiary of FAW Group Corp., to supply emission control components and systems for passenger and commercial vehicles. Read More »

How do buyers feel about doc fee?

I was surprised to read Edward Lapham's comment in the Feb. 15 Automotive News, but I enjoyed it ("Document fee began with a lie, 'inventor' says"). I'm the dealer in Florida who is championing making the doc fee (aka dealer fee, prep fee, etc.) illegal. Read More »

He's a phone guy, not a car guy

Regarding "Whitacre wants more sales -- NOW!" (March 8): You might try to explain to General Motors CEO Ed Whitacre that cars take more time than the 90 days it takes to design, develop, manufacture and sell cell phones. Read More »

No more givebacks from CAW, president says

Increased executive pay at the Detroit 3, coupled with improving auto sales, has galvanized union opposition to more pay and benefit givebacks, Ken Lewenza, president of the Canadian Auto Workers, said last week. Read More »

Inventory up at Toyota but down for industry

Unsold vehicles are piling up on Toyota dealership lots. After extensive coverage of safety recalls pushed the Toyota brand's U.S. sales down 10 percent in February, dealers had enough stock on March 1 to last 93 days, about double traditionally lean levels. Read More »

Patent settlements help Autobytel upgrade its Web sites

Autobytel Inc., which is battling back from massive losses in 2008, is using patent infringement settlements with competitors to upgrade its Web sites. The company also is rolling out new software to improve the quality of the leads it sells to dealerships. Read More »

More design changes, altered cadence in GM's plans

General Motors Co. will redesign its models more often and stagger the introduction of future model derivatives, the company's design chief says. Read More »

Conti exec: EV tires 'will take some getting used to'

Continental AG's tire division is gearing up for the vehicles of the future. Nikolai Setzer, Conti's management board member in charge of car tires, discussed the latest trends, including how tires will change for electric vehicles. Read More »

Soaring sales put Ford on top in Canada

Ford Motor Co. boosted Canadian sales 50 percent in February, vaulting it ahead of General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group so far this year. Overall Canadian sales jumped 25 percent in February to 100,344 light vehicles. Every major automaker except Nissan Motor Co. Read More »

Fiat seen needing a run with Chrysler before spinoff

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will look at spinning off its car business from the rest of the industrial group only when he has a firmer grip on Chrysler Group and can put the two together. Read More »

Big auto and EU face off over CO2 targets for vans

Europe's vanmakers have gone a long way toward meeting proposals to curb climate-warming emissions, but as debate on the 2016 targets starts, big auto is seen digging its heels in over the last mile. Read More »

Chevy cruises into Russia's top 3

Chevrolet outsold Kia by 611 units in February, passing the Korean automaker to become Russia's No. 3 brand after two months. Chevrolet was helped by the recently launched Cruze mid-sized sedan. Read More »

Probe of runaway Prius casts doubt on driver’s story, WSJ says

A federal investigation of the Toyota Prius involved in a dramatic incident on a California highway last week found a pattern of wear on the car's brakes that raises questions about the driver's account of the event, the Wall Street Journal said. Read More »

Renault counts on subsidies, battery lease to drive electric car sales

Renault is counting on government incentives and battery-lease programs to help push down electric car prices enough to make them competitive with similar-sized diesel models in Europe. Read More »

Valeo's 'determined' CEO unveils revamp plan

As Jacques Aschenbroich launches his revamp of car parts supplier Valeo, observers say he will need all the diplomatic skills and determination honed in his climb up France's corporate ladder to make the plan a reality. Read More »

Peugeot names Rambaud new CEO

Peugeot has appointed Vincent Rambaud as its new CEO. He starts his new job April 2. He will report to Jean-Marc Gales, who held the CEO job in addition to his role as board member in charge of the Peugeot and Citroen brands at parent PSA/Peugeot-Citroen. Read More »

Honeywell exec predicts huge gains for GDI engines

The head of global turbocharger leader Honeywell Transportation Systems predicts a rapid rise in uptake for gasoline direct-injection engines. Read More »

GM's Russia changes spark fears at Opel

Opel workers demanded reassurances that its European brand will not be disadvantaged at the expense of sister brand Chevrolet, after Opel lost responsibility for the Russian region to an Asian arm of General Motors Co. Read More »

Daimler electric car partner BYD posts record Q4 profit

BYD Co., the Chinese car and battery maker backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, posted a forecast-beating fourth-quarter result on Sunday. BYD, which has an electric car partnership with Daimler and plans to launch two cars in Europe next year, earned 1. Read More »

Honda ties hydrogen hopes to solar-powered home refueling

Honda Motor Co. says it has come up with a refueling breakthrough in its drive to make hydrogen the fuel of choice for zero-emission cars. Read More »

'Car guy' Bob Lutz ready to conclude 47-year automotive career

General Motors Co. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who will retire in May, says the automaker will pay back its bailout at a profit for U.S. taxpayers without cutting corners on vehicle development. Read More »

Peugeot expects China to be biggest market for 508

Peugeot sees China as the biggest market for its new mid-sized 508 sedan. The French brand will introduce the 508 in Europe at the start of next year. Read More »

Aston Martin part-owner seeks gov't support

Kuwait's Investment Dar, which owns half of Aston Martin, is applying for support under a government facility set up for troubled companies. Dar is seeking to borrow up to $1 billion to refinance its debt. Read More »

UK agrees on loan guarantee for Opel/Vauxhall

Britain said it would provide a 270 million pound ($410 million) loan guarantee to Opel/Vauxhall to help secure the company's operations in the UK and the rest of Europe. Read More »

Toyota tells House panel that records weren't withheld -- nor requested

Toyota Motor Corp. acknowledged it has never provided sensitive records called the “books of knowledge” to plaintiffs who have sued the company after crashes but also said such documents weren't requested or required. Read More »

GM reinstatement offers deemed 'more than fair'

General Motors Co. is imposing no onerous conditions on dealers who it is offering to reinstate, five lawyers said. Most of the 661 eligible dealerships will agree to the conditions outlined in the letter of intent that GM started sending Friday, the lawyers and some dealers said. Read More »

Nissan moves Europe design chief to U.S.

Nissan's European design chief Alfonso Albaisa will succeed Bruce Campbell, the carmaker's U.S. design chief, who will retire at the end of March. Victor Nacif, who has been in charge of business operations for Nissan's U.S. design unit, will replace Albaisa as head of Nissan's European design unit. Read More »

Toyota may extend discounts past March, Esmond says

Toyota Motor Corp. may keep aggressive discounts available for U.S. consumers beyond this month after unprecedented incentives lifted U.S. sales in early March. Toyota's U.S. Read More »

Auto auction purchases fell 6 percent in 2009

Dealers purchased almost 9 million vehicles at National Auto Auction Association member auctions in 2009, down 6 percent from 2008, according to the auction group's 13th annual survey. Read More »

Toyota accused of hiding evidence of safety risks

A Southern California prosecutor filed the first consumer protection lawsuit against Toyota, claiming it had engaged in "fraud" by hiding evidence of dangerous vehicle defects. At the same time, Connecticut's attorney general and a U.S. Read More »

3 suppliers win Toyota awards for exceeding expectations

Three suppliers have earned top honors from Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc. during the company’s annual supplier business meeting, the company said yesterday. Denso International America Inc., Johnson Controls Inc. and Mahle Inc. Read More »

Nissan gets stamp of approval in Japan

Nissan Motor Co. just got the Japanese government's official stamp of approval. Literally. Japan Post Network Co., the country's national postal service, has issued a limited-edition set of stamps to commemorate Nissan's popular Skyline sedan and its electric-car heritage. Read More »

Nissan work van hauls 'why-didn't we-think-of-that?' features

It may be one of the least sexy vehicles Nissan Motor Co. has ever unveiled: a big white commercial van with blank side panels and a bare interior. But the new NV2500 that Nissan executives presented to the public here Wednesday at the 2010 Work Truck Show represents a daring challenge to the U.S. Read More »

Honda CR-Z orders in Japan hit 7,000 units, half annual sales target

Honda Motor Co. has racked up 7,000 orders in Japan for its new CR-Z sporty hybrid, which went on sale here Feb. 25. It will arrive in U.S. showrooms this summer. The tally is more than half Honda's annual sales target of 12,000 units in Japan. Read More »

Ford to replace Crown Vic police car with Taurus-based vehicle

The legendary Crown Victoria police car will be replaced with a new front-drive sedan that shares underpinnings with the Ford Taurus. Ford Motor Co. Read More »

Opel reaches deal with Spanish unions

Spanish unions and Opel have reached a preliminary agreement on the future of the carmaker's assembly plant in Figuruelas, the Aragon government said on its Web site. Read More »

• Most Read

  • Automotive News TV (03/17/10)

    With slow sales, Chrysler conserves cash to l...

    Automotive News TV (03/16/10)

    Chrysler halts franchise awards in rejected d...

    Small BMWs to get new fwd architecture, CEO says

• Most
  Commented
• Most
  Recommended