The Volkswagen Group remains on the right track in spite of tough economic conditions, chairman Martin Winterkorn told around 20,000 workers at the automaker's main Wolfsburg plant in Germany.
Electric car maker Tesla Motors has unveiled a so-called 'Supercharger' network. It revealed the locations of the first six stations, which will allow its Model S EV to travel long distances with claimed "ultra fast charging throughout California, parts of Nevada and Arizona".
UK automotive workers' union Unite said it wanted "full involvement in the negotiations" over the job losses of 275 managerial, supervisory and engineering staff announced by Ford on Wednesday (26 September).
Honda said it will strengthen its lineup with the introduction of a new SUV in Europe, where the automaker is looking to end a sales and profitability slump.
The plug-in extended range electric Fisker Karma can run petrol-free for 38 miles on a full charge but Consumer Reports' (CR) engineers found it full of flaws: compared with other luxury sedans, the Karma has tight confines and limited visibility, and a badly-designed touch-screen system makes the dash controls an ergonomic disaster, the US consumer rights advocate said in a statement.
Hyundai's European operations will likely need to defer its mid-term sales and market share targets due to a dismal outlook for overall demand in the region, said Allan Rushforth, COO of Hyundai Europe.
Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) shop floor heads at General Motors factories in Canada have "endorsed" a new four-year collective agreement by a margin of 99%, the Toronto-based autoworkers' union announced last night (25 September).
Toyota's two vehicle manufacturing joint ventures in China are closed temporarily following recent protests against Japan. They will not operate until 29 September and are then scheduled to close again from 30 September for a Chinese national annual holiday week, reopening on 8 October, a spokesman for the automaker in Tokyo told just-auto on Wednesday (26 September).
Joint venture vehicle manufacturing joint ventures in China operated by Toyota and Japanese rivals are closed temporarily and some plan output cuts following movements to boycott Japanese products, including cars, which emerged in protest at Japan's 11 September nationalisation of the Senkaku Islands claimed by China and Taiwan.
Fiat has confirmed plans to have its Italian factories make cars that will be sold outside Europe, particularly in the United States, as the company looks to counter a five-year market slump in Europe.
Europe's automakers will seek to dazzle at the Paris auto show, revealing more than 100 new models ranging from the Opel Adam minicar to the McLaren P1 supercar, expected to cost more than $240,000.
At a rain-sodden charity event in Detroit earlier this month, Mayor Dave Bing and other city leaders showered Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne with kind words.
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed the Nurburgring is unlikely to host the German grand prix next year.
The circuit was listed on the leaked provisional calendar that was doing the rounds in the Singapore paddock last weekend, but the Nurburgring's precarious financial situation has also been well documented.
F1 chief executive Ecclestone confirmed to the Financial Times Deutschland: "We are just looking at Hockenheim every year. We have got no contract with the Nurburgring but we are talking. It would be like starting from scratch;"
A Nurburgring spokesman confirmed the talks with Ecclestone and said officials are "in good spirits".
But, just two days before the FIA needs to ratify a 2013 calendar at the World Motor Sport Council, it is surprising the Nurburging officials are so bullish.
"If it is not supported by the region it is going to be difficult at the minute," said Ecclestone. "We are pretty close to the final deadline."
France's hopes of returning to the F1 calendar have taken a knock.
Recently, it emerged that Paul Ricard and Magny Cours had submitted formal proposals as the motor racing federation FFSA pushes to organise the first French grand prix since 2008.
But France's sports minister Valerie Fourneyron dealt a blow to the plans this week, when she ruled out government financial support or guarantees for the race.
"The minister reminded that it is not the task of the state to organise a formula one grand prix," confirmed the sports ministry.
FFSA president Nicolas Deschaux said he "regrets" the government's position, "especially given the support provided by the state to other sporting events".
Referencing to the Paul Ricard project, former French grand prix driver Patrick Tambay told RMC Sport. "I think the fight is not over. There may be solutions from the private side."
It remains a little chance for Le Castellet to host the French Grand Prix. (Photo: Circuit du Castellet)
France was missing from the draft 2013 calendar that emerged in the paddock of the recent Singapore grand prix.
The FIA's World Council will meet to ratify the schedule on Friday.
"I still believe," Tambay continued. "If a sponsor provides the guarantees, Ecclestone will sign, and the federation will be obliged to follow to the extent that the specifications are met."
Formula 1 race director and FIA safety delegate Charlie Whiting inspected the new 5.47-km (3.4-mile) Cicuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on Tuesday.
Whiting gave the new road course the green light to host its inaugural U.S. Grand Prix on November 18.
The Briton also told the medias that the circuit would have just one Drag Reduction Zone during the Grand Prix.
Although he did not mention it, the DRS zone should logically be located on the back straightway of the circuit, which is 1200m long (three quarters of a mile).
The Grand Prix of Singapore marked a significant milestone for Shell's Technical Partnership with Scuderia Ferrari as the companies reach their 500th Formula 1 Grand Prix together.
They have clinched 12 Drivers' Championships and 10 Constructors' Championships, including 163 Grand Prix victories.
The excellent, four-minute film features archived footage dating right back to the F1 World Championships early days in the 1950s. There are also short bits of interviews with significant people of Ferrari from present and past such as Luca di Montezemolo, Stefano Domenicali, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, John Surtees and the first man to win an F1 race for Ferrari, Argentine José Froilan Gonzalez.
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