Auto News 5

Carmakers have threatened to reduce investment plans in Spain because of a new law which saddles them with the costs if dealers fail to sell cars. Full story...

Volvo Trucks has launched a version of its FH16 for heavy haulage involving gross combination weights of up to 295 tonnes.

Audi and Voith have signed a letter of intent to develop fibre-reinforced materials, made with a highly automated process, for high volume automotive production.

The Chevrolet Cruze and the Ford Edge have won the 2011 Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year awards, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada said today. Full story...

Auto cable maker Leoni booked full year earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of about EUR131m compared with a previous yearloss of EUR116m), beating its target of EUR120m. This was including Q4 restructuring charges.

Toyota is returning to the B-MPV segment in Europe with the Verso-S currently being launched. Full story...

Less than a month after Mary Barra became the first woman to head General Motors' global product team, Nissan Americas has named Carla Bailo - a former GM executive - to head research and development from 1 April. Full story...

Chrysler is selling and#8220;Imported from Detroitand#8221; T-shirts in response to the popularity of its Super Bowl ad, which included the new Chrysler 200 and Eminem, a Detroit native. Full story...

Chrysler is selling and#8220;Imported from Detroitand#8221; T-shirts in response to the popularity of its Super Bowl ad, which included the new Chrysler 200 and Eminem, a Detroit native. Full story...

Toyota is introducing satellite navigation that can find the 'greenest' route as well as the fastest. Full story...

Toyota is bracing for another challenge: the aging of its biggest-selling model - the Corolla - at a time when rivals are introducing new, advanced small cars. Full story...

BorgWarner has reported fourth quarter 2010 profit of US$0.89 per share, a new record and up 98% compared with Q4 2009. Sales were up 28% year on year, sharply higher than global vehicle production growth of approximately 4%.

General Motors is to undertake pay negotiations this summer as unions look to flex their muscles following a bumper series of profitable quarters.

TRW Automotive Holdings posted net income for the fifth consecutive quarter, driven by improved global vehicle production and ongoing cost reductions. Full story...

Analysts at JD Power are maintaining that the global automotive outlook for 2011 appears positive as the mature vehicle markets recover and emerging markets continue to expand.

TRW Automotive Holdings, which specialises in auto safety systems, booked full year 2010 net profit of US$834m on sales up 24% year on year to $14.4bn.

Auto parts supplier Lear said today it would split its stock two-for-one, begin a $400 million share buyback program and start paying a quarterly dividend, steps that show its progress in shoring up its balance sheet after a 2009 bankruptcy. Full story...

Struggling Italian design house Bertone is planning to unveil a concept car previewing its ideas for a new entry-level Jaguar. Full story...

Heated and cooled vehicle seat maker Amerigon has reported a record US$10m in net profit for full year 2010 compared with $723,000 in 2009. Full story...

BASF's Catalysts division, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, US is one of the world's largest suppliers of process catalysts. The group employs 4,000 people at 30 factories worldwide. In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Dr Thomas G Droege, Global Marketing Director, BASF Mobile Emissions Catalysts about the technical trends occurring in the exhaust sector and specific impacts on the catalytic converter.