Headlines for Tuesday, December 4, 2012

AutoNews Now: Akerson's GM mission

CEO: 'Nothing motivates people like a bankruptcy'; AutoNation grows Texas-style in six-store acquisition; Suzuki spiffs live on. Read More »

Redesigned Lexus IS will take cues from LF-CC concept

Lexus Division will show its redesigned 2013 IS sedan at the Detroit auto show in January. In a statement today, Lexus said the production sedan will carry design cues of the LF-CC coupe concept that was shown at the Paris auto show in October. Read More »

Nissan names Mexico exec to head sales for U.S., Canada; Carolin to retire

José Muñoz, who has spent the past three years helping to solidify Nissan's position as Mexico's biggest brand, will take over the automaker's top United States and Canadian sales and marketing operations next year. Read More »

First Shift: November winners, losers

Fiat takes sales-growth crown, Jaguar tumbles; spiffs that 'shocked' GM; students to set out to make Chevy Malibu greener. Read More »

What's next in Marchionne-Piech tussle -- a bounty?

One of Chrysler's lesser-advertised incentives unveiled this month is steeped in so much personal pique it should come with its own dueling glove. Read More »

FTC proposes additions to used-car window stickers

Used-car dealers would need to give customers more information on warranties under changes to window sticker rules that the Federal Trade Commission proposed today. Read More »

Suzuki says 213 U.S. dealers accept cash offers to phase out new-car sales

American Suzuki Motor Corp. said 213 of its 219 U.S. auto dealers have agreed to wind down new-vehicle sales operations in exchange for cash and maintenance-only contracts as part of the company's bankruptcy. Read More »

AutoNation adds 6 Texas dealerships

AutoNation, the nation's largest auto retailer, is buying six Texas dealerships that generate $575 million in annual revenue. Read More »

Tesla was cash flow positive last week, CEO Musk says

Tesla Motors, the maker of electric vehicles led by billionaire Elon Musk, was cash flow positive last week, the CEO said Monday in a posting on Twitter. Read More »

Honda, Nissan say China downturn is easing

Honda and Nissan joined Toyota in reporting narrower drops in China sales in November as Japanese automakers begin recovering from the fallout of the territorial dispute between the two nations. Read More »

Bosch builds second diesel injector plant in China

Robert Bosch broke ground last week on its second diesel fuel injector plant in China. The 1.6 billion yuan ($257 million) facility in Qingdao in east China's Shandong province will start production in 2018. Read More »

Renault counts on Alpine to help turnaround

Renault, which is losing sales faster than any other major European carmaker, is pinning a turnaround in part on the revival of a sports car brand that's been dormant for almost two decades. Read More »

Daimler declines comment on report it will build cars in Mexico with Nissan

Daimler declined to comment on a media report that it may build Mercedes cars for the North American market alongside Nissan's Infiniti brand in Mexico. Read More »

Former Lear exec Moschini joins IAC as Europe finance boss

Interiors supplier IAC Group has named former Lear executive Joergen Moschini as its finance boss for Europe. Read More »

Mercedes' 2012 U.S. luxury sales lead narrows after BMW gain

BMW's sales in the United States rose 45 percent in November, further chipping away at Mercedes-Benz' lead in luxury-auto deliveries this year. Read More »