Headlines for Friday, February 15, 2013

North America car and truck production - 02/11/2013

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Daimler should get more time to address EU refrigerant regulations, German agency says

A German government body has proposed that the EU grants Daimler more time to meet new European laws mandating the use of climate-friendly air conditioning refrigerants in cars. Read More »

Fisker weighs offers from possible suitors, including Dongfeng, report says

Fisker Automotive, the plug-in hybrid carmaker seeking a buyer, is weighing several bids, including a $350 million offer from Dongfeng Motor that would give the Chinese carmaker majority control, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg. Read More »

Auto parts price-fixing probe has expanded

A wide-ranging probe of price fixing in a variety of car parts has expanded to product segments not yet disclosed, a U.S. Department of Justice official said. Read More »

Dealers seek to roll back '80s-era emissions control paperwork

Under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives, dealers no longer would have to fill out paperwork assuring buyers that the emissions control systems of the cars they purchase have not been modified. Read More »

Warren Buffett beefs up GM stake to 25 million shares

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has acquired 10 million more shares of General Motors, lifting its holdings in the company to 25 million shares. Read More »

AutoNews Now: Volkswagen game-changer

Why a super-flexible vehicle platform could be 'Holy Grail' of car makers; Fisker's Chinese suitor; more pain at the pump. Read More »

Why Obama had to eschew being a green venture capitalist

It looks like President Obama is exiting a business he never should have entered -- playing venture capitalist in the green technology sector. Read More »

Auto parts price-fixing probe has expanded, U.S. says

A wide-ranging probe of price fixing in a variety of car parts has expanded to product segments not yet disclosed, a top Department of Justice official said today. Read More »

Renault Scenic gets SUV look to help maintain minivan lead

Renault has updated its Scenic minivan with SUV styling in a bid to maintain the automaker's lead in Europe's medium minivan segment. Read More »

BMW recalls X5 SUV for brake flaw

BMW is recalling 30,265 of its X5 SUVs from model years 2007-2010 to correct a brake vacuum pump leak, according to U.S. safety regulators. Separately, Chrysler said it is recalling 4,278 Dodge Viper sports cars globally to fix a part that could cause the airbags to inadvertently deploy. Read More »

Finally hints of new product for Mitsubishi?

Could Mitsubishi Motors, badly hurting for new product in the United States, be priming for a return to pickup trucks as well as its next generation of electric cars? Read More »

PSA workers at Aulnay plant transferred early to avoid violence

PSA unions agreed to allow the carmaker start to move workers from its troubled Aulnay plant in response to violence and threats against staff ignoring a strike call. Read More »

Daimler urged to get more time to address EU refrigerant regulations

A key German government body said it has proposed Brussels grant Daimler AG until the end of 2015 to meet new European Union laws mandating the use of climate-friendly air conditioning refrigerants in cars. Read More »

Looking at Henry Ford the man

If you hang around Ford Motor Co. much, you'll know it is Henry Ford's 150th birthday this year. Read More »

Three words describe PSA's new brand strategy

CEO Philippe Varin said PSA's latest product strategy can be summarized in three words for each brand and subbrand. Read More »

TRW quarterly profit slips; North America, China offset weak Europe

TRW Automotive Holdings said fourth-quarter net profits slipped, with increasing demand in North America and China offsetting weakness in Europe. Read More »

Land Rover, Kia, Audi were Europe 2012 winners

European sales declined for the fifth consecutive year in 2012, falling 8 percent to 12.6 million. But not everyone suffered. Kia, Hyundai, Audi, Land Rover and Jeep bucked the downward trend because of fresh models in hot segments. Read More »

VW Group global sales rise 14.9% in January

Volkswagen Group said its global vehicle sales rose 14.9 percent in January to 749,900 as strong demand in China and the United States continued to help offset a weak European market. Read More »

First Shift: Hyundai-Kia's big chase

South Korean siblings on quest to boost European appeal, Elena Ford a VP, charging in a NY minute, Buffett ups GM stake. Read More »

PSA's banking unit cut to junk by S&P on sluggish Europe car sales

PSA has been downgraded by ratings agency Standard & Poor's while its banking unit has been cut to junk by the firm on sluggish sales forecasts in Europe. Read More »

Hyundai builds test center at Germany's Nuerburgring

Hyundai has begun construction of a vehicle test center at Germany's famous Nuerburgring race track as the automaker seeks to lift its brand profile in Europe. The new facility, which will open in June, will be used to test all vehicles designed specifically for the European auto market. Read More »