Auto News 5

Renault has released details of environment measures at its new EUR600m (US$724m) plant in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier. Full story...

Magneti Marelli and Shanghai Automobile Gear Works (SAGW) have inaugurated their new joint venture plant in the industrial automotive district of Jiading, just outside Shanghai. Full story...

Honda said its assembly lines in China resumed full operations today after production was halted over a week ago by a strike at Honda Auto Parts Manufacturing in Foshan. Full story...

It would be fair to say that most entry-level US market cars don't get much praise from visitors from this side of the pond. We fetch up at the AvisHertzDollarBudget counter, bleary-eyed after 8-12 hours crammed into an aluminium tube, eventually get handed a solitary key and find, after a search through a car park the size of some English counties, find we have to actually insert said key in a lock, and, shock, manually crank open the glass to eradicate the stale odour of the previous renter's fried chicken dinner. Whadya mean no remote lock 'plipper' or, at the very least, electric front windows? Full story...

Honda Motor Co. said today it settled a labor dispute at a Chinese car parts plant after almost three weeks of disruption, allowing it to build cars again in the world's fastest-growing market. Full story...

The SMMT has reported that UK new car sales in May were up 13.5% on the same month last year, but the trade body also warned that a decline in car sales is expected in the second half of this year. Full story...

Chevrolet last night said the GM-Daewoo designed, Ohio-built Cruze due in US dealerships this September will be priced from US$16,995 (GBP11,593; EUR13,884), including delivery to the dealer. Full story...

GM is putting a brave face on it, but its much-cherished request for Opel loan guarantees across its major European manufacturing bases is starting to become a little shaky. Full story...

Japanese manufacturer announces all 500 versions of ultra rare LFA have sold out already.

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New car sales shot up by 13.5 per cent in May compared to the same period a year ago, official figures show.

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Nissan and commercial vehicle joint venture partner Ashok Leyland will have three new products ready for launch by the middle of next year and are already investigating export opportunities, according to the partners. Full story...

The German government has delayed a vote that was expected to rule out federal aid for GM's European unit Opel, giving Opel's supporters a few more days to lobby Berlin to change its mind. Full story...

New-car registrations in Britain rose 13.5 percent in May but sales are likely to dip in the second half of 2010 after the end of the country's scrapping scheme, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said on Friday. Full story...

The Chrysler and Lancia European dealer network will shrink by about 350 dealers and the Chrysler name will disappear from showrooms in mainland Europe under a big shake-up of distribution activities. Full story...

Electric cars offer a chance to develop lucrative new technologies, and suppliers would benefit from grabbing more of this work -- but carmakers chasing elusive profits may want to keep control of new electric vehicle (EV) technologies. Full story...

The Chrysler and Lancia European dealer network will shrink by about 350 dealers and the Chrysler name will disappear from showrooms in mainland Europe under a big shake-up of distribution activities. Full story...

Valeo SA, France's second-largest auto-parts supplier, rose in Paris trading after saying it's working with financial advisers to evaluate strategic options. Full story...

Valeo SA, France's second-largest parts supplier, rose as much as 7.4 percent in Paris trading after saying it's working with financial advisers to evaluate strategic options. Full story...

The European bailout of Greece may have prevented "catastrophic" results but Europe needs to take further action to resolve the region's debt crisis, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said on Thursday. Full story...

Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 test driver Marc Gené displayed some impressive drifting skills when he recently drove a Ferrari California. Full story...