Auto News 5

Volkswagen Group has signed an agreement with DRB Hicom for Passat models to be assembled in Malaysia from the end of 2011 with more models to be added from about a year later. Full story...

Land Rover equips Discovery with enough armour to withstand 15kg TNT bomb blast.

Full story...

Hyundai has completed development of a new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on the Tucson SUV which it will put through extensive testing next year. Full story...

An Italian union is claiming a meeting today (21 December) between Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and senior management could shed further light as to any contract details for the Mirafiori plant. Full story...

After a nosedive in sales of the Nano 'people's' car, and with unsold models piling up, Tata Motors now faces a daunting challenge. Full story...

Ford expects to sell a record 305,000 vehicles in China this year, up 32% from 2009. Full story...

Volkswagen will launch local production in Malaysia as part of its plan to pass Toyota as the top global automaker in sales and profitability. Full story...

Volkswagen will launch local production in Malaysia as part of its plan to pass Toyota as the top global automaker in sales and profitability. Full story...

A Honda partner in Japan has launched its first own brand model at the Guangzhou motor show. Full story...

Fiat is in a crucial week of talks with unions over plans to build Jeep and Alfa Romeo models at its Mirafiori plant in Turin in a joint venture with Chrysler. The plan is vital for Mirafiori but talks between Fiat and unions have stalled. Full story...

Toyota agreed on Monday to pay two more safety fines for a total of $32.4 million, the maximum allowable under U.S. law, to settle federal investigations over whether the company notified regulators of safety defects in a timely fashion. Full story...

SAIC Motor Corp. is on schedule to manufacture and sell its MG 6 sedan in the UK in the first quarter of next year, its president Chen Hong said, as it aims to revive the British marque. Full story...

Fiat is in a crucial week of talks with unions over plans to build Jeep and Alfa Romeo models at its Mirafiori plant in Turin in a joint venture with Chrysler. The plan is vital for Mirafiori but talks between Fiat and unions have stalled. Full story...

F1 cars will feature 1980-style 'tea tray' front wings in 2013, the BBC reported on Tuesday. Full story...

The Rubber Association of Canada released the findings of their study on winter tire usage across Canada recently. What it shows is that winter tires are becoming more common-place, however certain provinces are still lagging behind. Full story...

Toyota agreed to pay US$ 32.4 million in federal fines (one of $16.375M and another of $16M) after failing to comply with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The automaker delayed recalling nearly 6 million vehicles suspected of gas pedal entrapment and faulty steering rods. Full story...

According to 4WheelsNews, Kia is on the verge of replacing the unpopular Amanti. Its replacement, probably named Cadenza, would be launched in the first half of 2011. Full story...

Replacing the Sebring, a mid-size sedan notable only for its mediocrity, the new Chrysler 200 will first have to overcome the dismal legacy left to it by its predecessor. Full story...

Hydro-Québec and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. (MMSCAN) are pleased to announce that the first five all-electric i-MiEVs have arrived in Boucherville and are currently being prepared for their new drivers. Once installation of the data logging equipment that will be used during the trials is complete, Boucherville Mayor, Jean Martel, and employees from the City of Boucherville, the Centre de santé et de services sociaux Pierre-Boucher and Hydro-Québec will be able to pick up the test vehicles, just in time for the holidays. Full story...

Hot on the heels of renewed talk of a F1 'breakaway' series, reports quote Ron Dennis as accusing Bernie Ecclestone of stealing the sport's commercial rights from the teams. Full story...