Auto News 5

New Zealand new car registrations rose 13.4% year on year in February to 4,302 units, the New Zealand Transport Agency said. Full story...

Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 82,219 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in February, up 17.1% (or 11,978 vehicles) on the same month in 2009. Full story...

New car sales in the UK rose 26.4% to 68,686 units, the rise boosted by comparison with a low tally in credit crunched February 2009 and the second to last month of the government’s extended scrappage scheme – 19.6% of last month’s volume was attributed to that. Year-to-date sales were up 28.7% to 214,165 units. Full story…

In the global automotive seating market, suppliers must offer seats that are more comfortable, durable and safer than last year's designs yet lighter and cheaper too. Matthew Beecham talked with Imtiyaz Syed, vice president, engineering, Magna Seating, about the company's third generation stowing system, its most efficient means of 'going green' and the challenges of packaging safety content into seats. Full story...

Ford is still expected to sign an agreement to sell Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group by the end of this month, according to the Briton in charge of the Swedish carmaker, Stephen Odell. Ford expects to finalise a deal by 31 March and complete the sale by 30 June. Full story...

New car sales in Britain jumped 26.4 percent in February from a year earlier, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said, but it forecast demand would tail off after a car scrappage scheme ends next month. Full story...

You don't need snow or ice to enjoy the thrills of sliding an all-wheel-drive car sideways, as evidenced by a day at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Experience at Infineon Raceway. Full story...

You don't need snow or ice to enjoy the thrills of sliding an all-wheel-drive car sideways, as evidenced by a day at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Experience at Infineon Raceway. Full story...

BMW will lease up to 700 all-electric 1-series cars to selected customers in major global cities, the company’s board member for sales and marketing Ian Robertson said. Full story…

Russia will invest about 180 billion rubles ($6 billion) in its struggling carmaking industry over the next decade in a bid to revive the sector after its disastrous 2009, a government source said. Full story...

The U.S. agency that insures corporate pensions will assume plans covering 5,800 workers and retirees of a joint venture in California between Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Co. that closes at the end of the month. Full story...

U.S. regulators are investigating 10 recent cases in which owners of recalled Toyota vehicles say they brought their cars in for repair and yet still experienced unintended acceleration. Full story...

Nissan Motor Co. said it will recall 540,000 vehicles worldwide due to potential defects in brake pedal pins and fuel-gauge components. Full story...

Carmakers chastened by last year's crisis think 2010 is off to a good start, tempered by fears that momentum could sputter if a broad economic recovery fails to materialize and as European governments turn stingy with car-scrapping bonuses. Full story...

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is still looking for a strategic partner to defray his global technology and vehicle costs. Full story...

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co., said he planned to stay on as head of the Franco-Japanese alliance for the foreseeable future. Full story...

Bob Lutz, the General Motors Co. product development leader who postponed retirement last year to help steer the automaker out of bankruptcy, plans to call it quits May 1. Full story...

Carmakers need alliances, but as PSA/Peugeot Citroen SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s failure to agree a financial tie-up demonstrates, anything beyond a simple partnership is hard to pull off. Full story...

GRUYERE , Switzerland -- General Motors Co.'s retiring Vice Chairman Bob Lutz says the company has the right management, is on track for a comeback and finally has its priorities straight. Full story...

Lexus's new CT 200h full-hybrid entry-premium hatchback will win over younger drivers due to its stylish design language, the company's European head Andy Pfeiffenberger said. Full story...