Mercedes, BMW, Audi chase young, female, frugal customers in IndiaApril 23, 2013 12:11 CET  In an effort to raise stuttering sales in India that far lag emerging Asian rival China, Mercedes, Audi and BMW are targeting young and female buyers outside the ultra-rich classes with small locally made cars.... Read More »
LATEST LAUNCHES Renault touts low running costs for Zoe EVMarch 26, 2013 06:01 CET  Renault says the new Zoe is the first mass-market EV available at an affordable price with low running costs and a long driving range. The automaker expects the battery-driven hatchback to be the biggest seller among its range of electric vehicles that also includes the Fluence Z.E. sedan, Kangoo Z.E. small van and the Twizy two-seater.... Read More »
Nissan hopes roomy compact will win sales from rivals in EuropeMarch 7, 2013 14:37 CET  Nissan hopes that a spacious interior will help its new compact hatchback for Europe win customers from Ford, Renault and other established players in the segment.... Read More »
PAUL MCVEIGH China's newest brand is one to watch 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 1, 2013  European automakers reeling from the region's car sales slump have another reason to worry as ambitious Chinese brand Qoros will unveil three models at the Geneva show March 5.... Read More »
VW CEO may stay on to launch next Golf, report saysFeb. 9, 2013 12:27 CET  VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said he may stay at the helm of the carmaker beyond the term of his current contract to launch the new Golf model. Winterkorn's second term as CEO of VW runs out in December 2016. The 65-year-old executive has been at the helm of the Wolfsburg-based auto manufacturer since January 2007.... Read More »
2013 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW Kia plans sporty, turbocharged Forte hatch 10:45 am U.S. ET | Feb. 7, 2013  Kia will add a 201-hp turbocharged engine in a new high-line trim to the five-door variant of its redesigned Forte compact when the hatchback arrives stateside in the third quarter.... Read More »
China's Qoros set to launch compact car in EuropeFeb. 3, 2013 06:01 CET  Chinese brand Qoros will debut its GQ3 compact sedan at the Geneva auto show in March ahead of a European launch later this year.... Read More »
VW plans extra shifts to meet demand for new GolfJan. 24, 2013 06:01 CET  Volkswagen says it is planning additional weekend production to meet demand for the latest version of its best-selling Golf which went on sale at the end of last year. Orders for the seventh-generation model have exceeded 100,000 cars, the company said.... Read More »
BMW, Mercedes hatches head to India after China flopJan. 22, 2013 06:01 CET  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 »
2012 PARIS AUTO SHOW BMW previews front-drive future with hybrid concept 4:13 am U.S. ET | Sept. 14, 2012  BMW will unveil a front-wheel-drive concept car at the Paris auto show that previews the automaker's upcoming range of front-wheel-drive vehicles. The Concept Active Tourer high-roof hatchback also gives a glimpse of a potential rival to the Mercedes-Benz B class. Its platform will also underpin the next Mini.... Read More »
2012 PARIS AUTO SHOW BMW previews front-drive future with hybrid conceptSept. 14, 2012 10:13 CET  BMW will unveil a front-wheel-drive concept car at the Paris auto show that previews the automaker's upcoming range of front-wheel-drive vehicles. The Concept Active Tourer high-roof hatchback also gives a glimpse of a potential rival to the Mercedes-Benz B class. Its platform will also underpin the next Mini.... Read More »
VW hopes revamped Golf will help it pass GM, Toyota in global salesSept. 4, 2012 10:35 CET  Volkswagen hopes a sleek makeover for its seventh-generation Golf, to be unveiled in Berlin today, will help it remain a best-selling compact car and allow the automaker to achieve its aim of overtaking General Motors and Toyota in global sales.... Read More »
Audi will rely on redesigned A3 to hold Mercedes at bayAug. 25, 2012 06:15 CET  Volkswagen Group will be relying on the Audi A3 premium compact model to provide continued stable sales growth as it fends off a challenge in upscale small cars from Mercedes-Benz.... Read More »
Chairman Tata seeks to revive flagging Nano sales following fire problemsAug. 22, 2012 06:01 CET  Ratan Tata, the chairman of Indian carmaker Tata Motors, says he intends to have another go at promoting the budget Nano minicar, after sales plunged following fires with at least three cars.... Read More »
Maruti Suzuki mulls options to remain India's No. 1July 30, 2012 13:34 CET Maruti Suzuki is weighing options to restore output of its most popular models as recurring labor disputes at one of its plants threaten the company's lead in Asia's third-largest car market.... Read More »
Europe troubles cause Hyundai to cut 2012 global sales forecastJuly 26, 2012 09:04 CET  Hyundai cut its global industrywide automobile demand forecast for this year, citing a worse-than-expected economic situation in Europe and China. Hyundai expects 77.1 million units to be sold globally, down by about 500,000 units from what it forecast in April.... Read More »
Seat goes upscale with new LeonJuly 24, 2012 06:01 CET  Seat has revealed the new Leon five-door hatchback, an upmarket reworking of its compact model that Seat hopes will help win customers outside its Spanish home market and reverse falling sales at the VW unit.... Read More »
Versa hatchback veers from sedan 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 23, 2012  Nissan Motor Co. will move the Versa hatchback a step further from the sedan version early next year when the subcompact is rolled out. The company revealed last week that the upcoming hatchback will borrow styling from the redesigned Note subcompact that just went on sale in Japan.... Read More »
Mercedes offers sales incentives to boost new A classJune 30, 2012 06:01 CET  Mercedes-Benz is offering incentives on its new A class in Germany in a bid to lure customers away from rivals BMW, Audi and Volkswagen.... Read More »
Hyundai to boost Czech plant output 20% on demand for new compactJune 15, 2012 06:01 CET  Hyundai will boost output 20 percent to 300,000 units this year at its plant in Nosovice, Czech Republic, to meet strong demand for its new i30 model line. The South Korean automaker started production of the i30 compact wagon today. When combined with a production doubling to 200,000 units at its plant in Izmit, Turkey, Hyundai will have capacity to make a half million cars in Europe by the end of 2013.... Read More »
Toyota will not return to Corolla name for its Auris compact in EuropeMay 28, 2012 11:19 CET  Toyota said it will keep the name Auris for its No. 2 seller in Europe. There had been speculation that the Japanese automaker might return to using the name Corolla, which it dropped in Europe in 2007 for its hatchback compact car amid some criticism.... Read More »
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