Headlines for Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Opel aims to woo Audi buyers with Cascada convertible

Opel/Vauxhall's new Cascada convertible will be priced 10,000 euros lower than potential rivals when it goes on sale in April as the money-losing brand seeks to attract buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to premium convertibles. Read More »

AutoNews Now: Test drive, no dealer

Ex-GM chief Wagoner among venture's backers; BMW, Daimler seek car-sharing profits; Honda's 115-mpg Accord. Read More »

Social media emerge as tool to find defects

Using the auto industry's newest tool to detect vehicle defects is as simple as logging on to Twitter, Facebook or other social media Web sites. And federal regulators already are doing it, too. Read More »

Renault denies it may close two French plants

Renault said its workers in France need to make concessions on pay and conditions to safeguard the future of domestic plants but denied a union leader's claim that it plans to shutter two French factories. Read More »

First Shift: Deeper cuts for Opel?

Girsky: European market still 'catastrophic,'; who might chair Toyota; Hyundai, Kia Super Bowl splash; Ford's twist on job fair. Read More »

GM steps up cost-cutting pressure at Opel

General Motors said it may close a German factory at its Opel subsidiary earlier than proposed adding restructuring talks with unions must be wrapped up by February, as the U.S. carmaker seeks deep cuts to save its ailing brand. Read More »

Toyota near final deal to license fuel-cell technology to BMW, report says

Toyota is nearing a final agreement to license its fuel-cell vehicle technology to BMW, the Nikkei reported today. Read More »

Vehicle navigation systems frustrate more car owners, study says

Owners' satisfaction with their new vehicles' navigation systems declined in 2012 as complex menu systems, voice-control commands and entering destinations frustrated users, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Read More »

Why TrueCar's Painter can chill out at Davos this week

TrueCar CEO Scott Painter is scheduled to present Thursday at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, without the dark cloud that accompanied his visit last year. Read More »

Renault pledges extra production for labor deal

Renault told unions today that it could produce an additional 80,000 vehicles a year at its domestic factories for partners Nissan and Daimler if a labor deal was signed. Read More »

GM looks to Encore small crossover to expand Buick's reach

GM is counting on the new Encore small crossover vehicle to bring more new customers to its premium Buick brand. Read More »

BMW, Mercedes hatches head to India after China flop

Hatchbacks from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi grew so popular in Europe that the carmakers bet Chinese consumers would feel the same way. They didn't. Next stop: India. Read More »

Russian car sales will rise 5% in 2013, PwC says

Russian car sales will likely rise by 5 percent in 2013 to around 2.9 million, PricewaterhouseCoopers said on Tuesday. The figure represents a slowdown from the previous year but is in stark contrast to recession-bound Europe where car sales slid to a 17-year low. Read More »

Audi plans to double Middle East sales by 2020

Audi says it plans to double sales in the Middle East to at least 20,000 vehicles a year by 2020, as it predicts premium car deliveries in the region will grow 12 to 15 percent this year. Read More »

Daimler expects vehicle sales to grow in Turkey this year

Daimler's Turkish unit expects stronger car and van sales this year despite forecasting that the market will remain stagnant. Read More »

Toyota set to pick Prius developer as next chairman, report says

Toyota will probably pick Takeshi Uchiyamada, who led the development of the Prius hybrid car in 1990s, to replace Fujio Cho as the company's next chairman, Nikkei reported, without citing sources. Read More »

BMW offers engine to extend range of i3 EV

BMW will offer a two-cylinder motorcycle engine and a generator to extend the range of its i3 electric car. Herbert Diess, BMW's head of r&d, said the package will be offered as an option on the i3. Read More »