Auto News 5

In his role as Ford's Director of product programs for Asia Pacific and Africa (APA), Ian Constance is responsible for all aspects of Ford vehicle product development, from strategy and planning through design and engineering to launch in the region's markets. Based in Bangkok, Constance works closely with Ford's regional product development centres, as well as partner operations within Ford's global organisation. On behalf of Lotus Engineering's e-magazine, proActive, just-auto's editor Dave Leggett recently caught up with him. Full story...

In his role as Ford's Director of product programs for Asia Pacific and Africa (APA), Ian Constance is responsible for all aspects of Ford vehicle product development, from strategy and planning through design and engineering to launch in the region's markets. Based in Bangkok, Constance works closely with Ford's regional product development centres, as well as partner operations within Ford's global organisation. On behalf of Lotus Engineering's e-magazine, proActive, just-auto's editor Dave Leggett recently caught up with him. Full story...

General Motors has reported a first quarter net loss of $6.0bn - its seventh quarterly loss in a row - saying the results "reflect continuation of the global economic downturn and lower industry-wide sales volume". Full story...

General Motors, facing a June 1 U.S. restructuring deadline to avoid bankruptcy, posted its seventh straight quarterly loss in the first quarter as its global auto sales fell 28 percent. The company said it burned through $10. Full story...

General Motors posted a $6 billion net loss and burned through $10.2 billion in the first quarter as it relied on a federal bailout to ride out a decline in global sales that overwhelmed cost-cutting efforts. Full story...

Magna International has so far presented a more concrete proposal on General Motors unit Opel to the German carmaker than Fiat, Opel Supervisory Board member Armin Schild told Reuters. Full story...

Spain has not done enough to spark demand in its depressed auto sector and should immediately offer consumers direct financial assistance, Citroen Managing Director Jean-Marc Gales said Thursday. Full story...

Spain has not done enough to spark demand in its depressed auto sector and should immediately offer consumers direct financial assistance, Citroen Managing Director Jean-Marc Gales said Thursday. Full story...

Canadian parts maker and contract vehicle assembler Magna International has posted an operating loss of US$250m for the first quarter of 2009, down from a $286m profit a year ago, and suspended its quarterly dividend payment. Full story...

The management boards of Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE have agreed to create an "integrated car manufacturing group". Full story...

New electric MPV lights the way for Renault's clean, green future.

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In the second instalment of our exclusive report from JD Power's Automotive Forecasting conference held in London last week, Dave Leggett hears JD Power's latest assessment of prospects for vehicle sales and production in North America. Full story...

The British government has said negotiations with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on guaranteeing financing are continuing despite reports that the talks were in trouble. Full story...

New-car registrations in Britain fell 24 percent in April to 133,475 units, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Thursday, but it expressed optimism that a brighter future awaits. Full story...

New-car registrations in Britain fell 24 percent in April to 133,475 units, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Thursday, but it expressed optimism that a brighter future awaits. Full story...

Renault, which plans to begin mass marketing "affordable" electric vehicles in 2011, has taken the wraps off a new prototype at its annual shareholder meeting in Paris. Full story...

U.S. carmaker General Motors Corp is eyeing a stake in Italian peer Fiat S.p.A. in exchange for the U.S. automaker's European and Latin American operations, the New York Times reported on its Web site. Full story...

General Motors is eyeing a stake in Italian peer Fiat S.p.A. in exchange for the U.S. automaker's European and Latin American operations, the New York Times reported on its Web site. Full story...

General Motors could take a stake in the company that would be created by merging its European car business with Fiat SpA's auto unit, a source close to the situation said on Thursday. Full story...

The proposal for General Motors' European assets that Fiat S.p.A. presented to the German government on Monday includes plans to shrink plants across Europe, a German newspaper reported Thursday. Full story...