Auto News 5

An investigation by the UK's Office for Fair Trading (OFT) into suspected commercial vehicle cartel activity, has resulted in the offices of Mercedes-Benz being visited by the body. Full story...

The UK government has awarded GBP24m to further develop the UK's low carbon vehicle development capability and further detailed its plug in car grant (ie subsidy). Full story...

India's new vehicle market is facing a number of threats in FY11 (ending March 2011), not least rising raw material costs, which have prompted carmakers to hike their prices, but analysts are confident of short-term prospects. Full story...

India's new vehicle market is facing a number of threats in FY11 (ending March 2011), not least rising raw material costs, which have prompted carmakers to hike their prices, but analysts are confident of short-term prospects. Full story...

Chery Automobile exports will pass 100,000 units this year, more than doubling the tallly a year ago, its chairman said. Full story...

Italy has lifted its objections to an EU free trade agreement with South Korea on the condition that the pact does not come into effect before June 30, 2011, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said on Thursday. Full story...

The Indonesian government is sending a delegation to South Korea later this month in the hope of securing investment from major automotive companies, including Hyundai Motor. Full story...

Fiat, Ford and Toyota led a fifth-consecutive monthly drop in European car sales as the end of government incentives hit demand. Audi gained market share. Registrations fell 12 percent to 731,503 vehicles in August from a year earlier. Full story...

Chinese automaker SAIC plans to roll out 20,000 energy-efficient vehicles in Shanghai and the Yangtse River delta area by 2012, a senior executive with the parent company said. Full story...

Nissan celebrates 40 years of the Z car in the United States with an anniversary edition of the 2010 370Z. Special paint and interior trim are the highlights. Full story...

Fiat said its auto and industrial units would each have 2.5 billion euros ($3.3 billion) net industrial debt after a demerger it expects to complete by the end of the year. Full story...

Fiat said its auto and industrial units would each have 2.5 billion euros ($3.3 billion) net industrial debt after a demerger it expects to complete by the end of the year. Full story...

Ford Motor Co.'s 2012 Focus compact will be the first Ford product to have frontal and side airbags designed to deploy specifically to match an occupant's body size. Full story...

Ford Motor Co. will regain an investment-grade credit rating sooner than the company expected, CEO Alan Mulally said Wednesday. Full story...

BMW expects strong unit sales in the third quarter to drive results, with an expected seasonal slowdown having less of an impact than forecast. "Our car sales volume is set to rise by some 10 percent to more than 1. Full story...

Ford Motor Co. will regain an investment-grade credit rating sooner than the company expected, CEO Alan Mulally said Wednesday. Full story...

Cruising the legendary Croisette boulevard through Cannes in the French Riviera, we follow the lovely Cote D'Azur coastline. On one side, the heartbreakingly beautiful bay with its sandy beaches and enormous yachts, on the other, exclusive boutiques and sidewalks bustling with an astonishing array of casually chic shoppers. We pass by the surprisingly plain Palais des Festivals of Cannes, where just a week prior, films stars and glitterati strutted their finest on the red carpet. Full story...

Williams has delayed the announcement of its drivers for 2011 because the British team is considering whether or not to retain Nico Hulkenberg. Full story...

Tuesday, Toyota USA announced on its Twitter page that the next generation of RAV EVs will be unveiled at the Los Angeles show, set to begin on Novemver 19. Full story...

After running a partial schedule in 2009, JR Fitzpatrick is now leading the battle for the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Championship as the series is coming to the Riverside International Speedway in Nova Scotia. Full story...