Auto News 5

Nissan has launched its new, locally-built Micra here in India but, though a sedan version was promised for next year, officials declined to comment on progress on the separate, low cost global small car project with Ashok Leyland. Full story...

Spied testing near the Nurburgring test track in Germany, these are the first pictures of a prototype version of the all-new Mercedes SLK 63 AMG.

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The Volkswagen Group on Thursday said it would build a new vehicle production plant in Yizheng, in China's eastern Jiangsu Province, as part of its long-term growth strategy for the market. Contracts were signed today by management board production chief Jochem Heizmann and Winfried Vahland, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, together with representatives of long-standing, local joint venture partner Shanghai Volkswagen. The plant will start operating in 2013 and have annual capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles. Full story...

Specially wrapped Evoque prototypes dispatched around the world on promotional duties.

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Vauxhall announces extended warranty for buyers of its Ampera electric car.

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Chevrolet announces extended warranty for buyers of its Volt electric car. Full story...

A strike has broken out at a south China factory supplying parts for Honda., the latest in a string of stoppages by Chinese workers demanding a bigger piece of the country's economic wealth. The stoppage, at Atsumitec Co. Full story...

All-new compact SUV puts efficiency and practicality first.

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Jaguar Land Rover had a large increase in global sales in June, owner Tata Motors said. The India company's British luxury brands posted a sales increase of 47 percent in June to 20,189 units. Full story...

The European car market fell in June for the third straight month as the artificial boost from scrapping schemes across the continent continued to abate. Registrations of new vehicles in the EU dropped 6.9 percent to 1. Full story...

Brilliance China Automotive Holdings said it expected to record a net profit for the first half of 2010 versus a loss for the same period a year ago, helped by strong earnings from joint venture BMW Brilliance. Full story...

General Motors Co. will offer buyers of its Chevrolet Volt an eight-year warranty on the lithium-ion battery's 161 components. The warranty also includes the battery's thermal management system, charging system and electric-drive components, GM said. Full story...

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will extend warranties on about 235,500 RAV4 vehicles and address steering complaints on as many as 500,000 late model Matrix and Corollas in the United States. Full story...

Peugeot says a diesel-hybrid version of the company's new 508 sedan will be among the most fuel-efficient models sold in Europe. The 508 will debut at the Paris auto show in October. Full story...

Honda will drop plans to develop new clean-diesel engines and will focus on hybrids, the Nikkei business daily reported. Honda plans to develop a new hybrid system for larger cars, the newspaper said. Full story...

French carmakers have given up their delusions of grandeur -- the belief that they can compete with their German rivals in Europe's large car segment. The decision is right, although it comes much later than Ford and GM reached the same conclusion. Full story...

Nissan Motor Co. said it will halt production at two U.S. plants for three days because of a delay in getting parts from Hitachi Ltd. The plants in Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss. Full story...

Strangely, some of the cars we test are quickly forgotten. Just think, every week we have to put a different car through its paces. And in some cases, it takes several hours - sometimes days - to get used to the new ride. But the Infiniti G37x is one of those that just seem to slip from your mind - instantly. Which is actually one of the nicest things you can say about a car. Full story...

In 2010, the DTM will be racing in Italy as well. The most popular international touring car series has extended its existing calendar by one round and will have a race at the Adria International Raceway on October 31st, 2010. Full story...

FAZZT Racing's Alex Tagliani will race his customized Dallara Honda in the Hot Wheels style as it was unveiled on July 14th in Toronto. Full story...