Auto News 5

The employees of Allen Patch's dealership in Scottsbluff, Neb., were in for a shock when they showed up for work on March 9. Not only was the entire new-vehicle inventory missing, but Patch and two of his top managers had vanished, too. Full story...

The industry's dramatic upheaval has forced carmakers to rethink their manufacturing strategies, focusing more than ever on speed and flexibility. Full story...

Despite its liquidity struggles, General Motors is answering dealers' pleas to pay bonus cash earlier than it had intended. Full story...

Daimler is looking for a third partner for its alliance with German industrial conglomerate Evonik to develop and build advanced batteries for electric cars, according to a German newspaper. Full story...

The British government is considering giving credits of 2,000 pounds (2,160 euros) to new-car buyers who turn in their old cars, The Times reported on Saturday. Full story...

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- British sports car maker Aston Martin expects to sell fewer cars this year compared to last year due to the economic crisis, the company's chief executive told the German newspaper Die Welt in an interview. Full story...

BERLIN (Reuters) -- German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said on Sunday he hoped General Motors and the U.S. government would help answer remaining questions on a plan to save German unit Opel. Full story...

Audi is slashing spending on everything but product development. The German premium brand says product development will account for 90 percent of planned investments in 2009, up from 70 percent in years past. Full story...

High demand for the new Volkswagen Polo has stopped a temporary closure of the automaker's plant in South Africa, according to a German newspaper report. Full story...

Pioneer Corp. is in talks with Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Alpine Electronics Inc. and Clarion Co. Ltd. on a possible tie-up for car navigation and other auto equipment operations, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday. Full story...

Toyota Motor Corp will halt production at its Russian factory between March 30 and April 6, the automaker said on Friday, the latest in a wave of suspensions brought on by plummeting demand for new cars. Full story...

The British government is considering giving credits of 2,000 pounds (2,160 euros) to new-car buyers who turn in their old cars, The Times reported on Saturday. Full story...

Ford Motor Co. awarded CEO Alan Mulally stock options for 5 million shares last week. As with any stock options, Mulally won't benefit from the awards unless Ford's stock price substantially improves. Full story...

HIROSHIMA, Japan--Mazda Motor Corporation's sporty SUV, the Mazda CX-7, will be the first passenger vehicle produced by a Japanese automaker to be equipped with a urea selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. Mazda's SCR is smaller than previous systems, which is a significant improvement that enables it to be installed in passenger cars. It will be combined with Mazda's newly developed clean, highly efficient MZR-CD 2.2L turbo diesel engine. Full story...

Spring is right around the corner -- March 20, at 11:44 am to be exact. Yet, starting yesterday, March 15, Quebecers can legally remove their winter tires if they so choose! Full story...

The owner and director of Brawn GP Formula 1 team Ross Brawn has plainly rejected speculation his Brackley based team is artificially topping the test timesheets. Full story...

Brawn GP is the third Formula 1 team whose diffuser design for its 2009 car has been questioned by F1 rivals, including Renault's Flavio Briatore. Full story...

Executives of the Toyota Motor Corporation considered following fellow struggling Japanese carmaker out of formula one, a top chief of the Cologne based team has admitted. Full story...

The BMW Sauber F1 Team has covered 9,445 kilometres in testing with the F1.09 in Valencia, Sakhir, Jerez and Barcelona in preparation for the team's fourth season in Formula One. Here is Interview with BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. Full story...

Renault's Fernando Alonso set today, Monday the fastest lap time around the Spanish circuit of Jerez of the last test session leading to the 2009 Formula 1 season. Full story...