Headlines for Friday, March 8, 2013
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Volkswagen rules out refrigerant made by Honeywell, DuPont
Volkswagen has joined Daimler in deciding not to use a new air-conditioning refrigerant developed by Honeywell and DuPont in its cars. Read More »
Carmakers seek new ways to cut CO2 emissions as EV optimism wanes
Automakers are rethinking fuel-saving technologies for passenger cars as hopes dampen that electric vehicles will play a big role in cutting CO2 emissions. Read More »
Plastic Omnium to close bumper plant in Belgium
French supplier Plastic Omnium said it plans to close its Belgian bumper manufacturing plant this summer in response to shrinking car sales in Europe. Read More »
McLaren vs. Ferrari Formula One rivalry spills onto the road
The all-consuming rivalry McLaren and Ferrari display on the F1 racetrack was transferred to the Geneva auto show as the two carmakers unveiled competing million-euro hybrid hypercars. Read More »
PSA signs Kazakhstan vehicle-assembly deal
PSA says a deal with the Russian company Agromash Holding to assemble cars in Kazakhstan could generate more than 300 jobs in France. Read More »
Western Europe car sales decline 10.6% in February
New-car registrations in western Europe fell 10.6 percent to 771,695 in February, market forecaster LMC Automotive said. Read More »
PSA wants GM to share development of compressed-gas hybrids
PSA/Peugeot-Citroen plans to talk to other carmakers including alliance partner General Motors about sharing development of low-cost compressed-gas hybrids. Read More »
Honda needs more time to turn around Europe business
Honda will need more time to turn around its European business. “We want to be profitable within three years, by 2016,” Honda Europe President Manabu Nishimae said. Last year, Nishimae said Honda would be profitable in Europe starting in its 2013-2014 business year. Read More »
BMW brand regained luxury sales lead from Audi in February
BMW regained the luxury lead from Audi after its vehicle sales rose 7 percent to 114,908 last month as increased demand in China, the UK and Russia offset weakness in Germany and other parts of Europe. Read More »
Continental forecasts first-quarter sales drop on falling auto demand
Continental forecasts first-quarter sales will decline as much as 3 percent as demand for autos in its home market plunges. Revenue in the quarter will drop 1 percent to 3 percent, the company says. Read More »
PSA will offer retail banking to raise funds for dealers, auto ops
PSA/Peugeot-Citroen will offer savings accounts through its financing arm to raise funding for dealerships and other automotive operations. PSA is following Renault in setting up a retail banking arm. Read More »
BMW r&d boss bets on technology push to stay No. 1
BMW faces challenges to hold off rivals Audi and Mercedes to remain the world's largest premium automaker. Read More »
