Toyota aims to make half of its global sales in emerging markets by 2015 and is looking for an operating profit of JPY1 trillion (US$12bn) "as soon as possible".
Auto parts maker Visteon posted lower fourth-quarter profits following its emergence from bankruptcy protection.
Ian Hobday, managing director of UK-based Liberty Electric Cars, has told BusinessGreen the company is now actively investigating the the possibility of buying Modec, the Coventry-based electric van maker which was placed in administartion on 4 March, arguing such a move would be preferable to the company being acquired by an overseas firm, as happened late last year to Wearside-based Tanfield Group's Smith Electric Vehicles, which converts Ford vans to electric drivetrains.
Cool Rocketman concept to go into production, complete with carbon fibre body.
Toyota, unveiling a new business plan to double operating profit by 2015, will remove its head of North America from a downsized board and promote Canada chief Ray Tanguay to be its highest non-Japanese executive.
Ford has said it will start exporting its top selling Figo [an updated previous generation Fiesta] from India to Mexico and over 50 other countries as it strives to make the South Asian nation an export hub.
American brand set to take on Nissan's Juke with new small crossover.
Russian new car sales rose 80 percent in February. Lada was the market leader, followed by Nissan, Kia, Renault and Chevrolet.
Car output in Slovakia posted a 17% year-on-year surge in January; it grew an annual 19.7% in December as the country's economy grew by 4%, according to the Slovak statistics office.
Kia's joint venture in China, Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motors, is investing about US$150m in an R&D centre so that it can develop its own brand of cars.
A decision by the Paris prosecutor involved in the supposed Renault industrial espionage case could be made this week about how to proceed.
Aventador LP700-4 production sold out for over 12 months as Lamborghini predicts strong 2011.
New vehicle sales in Vietnam increased by 56% to 7,889 units in February, compared with 5,070 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers' Association (VAMA).
BMW said February sales of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles rose by 21.7 percent, boosted by growth in Asia, Europe and the U.S., but warned growth would slow toward year-end.
Valeo set out new targets for revenue and profitability on Wednesday as it said Asia expansion and new technology would help it outpace automobile production growth in coming years.
Opel/Vauxhall dealers will get new showroom standards designed to strengthen the brand's identity.The General Motors Co. subsidiary wants to sharply increase brand value and position the marque more exclusively within multi-brand dealership
U.K. automobile-sales group Lookers said full-year profit nearly tripled as it sold more auto parts and services during the economic slowdown. Net income rose to 22.9 million pounds ($37 million), from 8 million pounds in 2009.
Toyota plans to sell half of its vehicles in emerging markets and roll out 10 more hybrid models as part of efforts to boost its operating profit to at least $12 billion by 2015.
The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Auto News 5
