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PSA Peugeot Citroen will continue negotiations with unions to cut 8,000 jobs in France despite a court ruling that could delay their implementation.

Ford on Tuesday announced it had booked its highest fourth quarter pre-tax profit in over a decade. Full year pre-tax profit was US$8bn and net income $5.7 bn.

Faurecia is to immediately start negotiations with its Works Council on PSA Peugeot Citroen's restructuring plan that is looking to axe up to 8,000 jobs.

Ford posted fourth-quarter net income of $1.6 billion, carrying the company to its fourth straight full-year profit.

Ford posted a fourth-quarter pretax loss of $732 million in Europe and expects 2013 to be even more difficult. Despite the troubles in Europe, the U.S. automaker had a fourth-quarter net income of $1.6 billion.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I'm loving the new Mercedes-Benz GL-class family. Drove the diesel last weekend and was mighty impressed.

PSA will continue negotiating job cuts with unions despite a court ruling that ordered a temporary suspension of restructuring until the group completes worker consultations at two sites belonging to parts division Faurecia.

French unions are starting to ratchet up the industrial relations temperature, partially destroying the entrance to Renault's Flins factory and ahead of today's crunch meeting between both France's major automakers and their labour bodies in Paris.

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen, a 50-50 joint venture between PSA and Dongfeng in China, expects to increase sales 14 percent this year to 500,000 units as the company's third assembly plant launches production.

General Motors has announced a US$600m spend at its Fairfax, Kansas, assembly and stamping plant to build a new 450,000 sq ft paint shop, install a new stamping press and other upgrades.

Toyota sold 1,537,371 new passenger cars in Japan in 2012, up 42.4% year on year. Total sales rose 40.9% to 1,692,228.

Enthusiasts may most remember the reveal of the twin turbo Toyota Supra at the 1993 Chicago Auto Show.

On his 1995 album, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, punk-rock journeyman Mike Watt enlisted Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder to

TPCA, the Czech car assembly plant jointly owned by Toyota and PSA said production fell by a fifth to 215,000 vehicles in 2012 due to weak European demand.

The EU needs a leap in the number of electric and hybrid cars on the road over the next decade to succeed in cutting auto carbon emissions significantly by 2025, a British consulting firm found.

Fiat is said to plan the introduction of the first Alfa Romeo SUV in an effort to help transform the brand into a global luxury marque to challenge Audi and meet a target of tripling sales by 2016 to 300,000.

Audi sales chief Luca de Meo has reshuffled top executives in the three regions where the brand has its biggest unit sales.

Reigning Firestone Indy Lights series' champion, Tristan Vautier will join his fellow countryman, Simon Pagenaud in a two-car full-time effort for Sam Schmidt for the upcoming IZOD IndyCar season.

The team, re-named Schmidt Peterson Motorsports was in contention to secure the services of the young Frenchman, as was Dragon Racing, which also showed interest for Vautier, especially after he impressed everyone with his brilliant performance at the Sebring test that was held last December.

The series also confirmed that Vautier will receive the full $1 million advancement prize due to signing to drive for a team that does not have a Leader Circle contract for the second entry he will drive.

Tristan Vautier already tested in Sebring with Schmidt Motorsport. (Photo: Schmidt Peterson Motorsport)

Incredibly enough, only one out of three Canadian drivers is familiar with today's basic vehicle safety features. Yet, consumers identify safety as a priority when purchasing a new car.

With the exception of ABS and traction control, nearly 70% of Canadians don't know how systems like adaptive headlights and collision warning work.

Toyota Canada and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) are therefore launching Brain on Board, a public education program to encourage people across the country to learn more about modern vehicle safety features.

"If a driver is unfamiliar with how a car's safety features work -- or even what certain dashboard symbols mean -- there may be more safety benefits that could be realized," said Robyn Robertson, TIRF President and CEO.

The all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 luxury sports sedan will make its national debut at the Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) in Toronto on February 14th.

Available with a standard 3.7L V6, the 2014 Infiniti Q50 will also offer a hybrid variant combining a 3.5L V6 with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery for a net output of 354 horsepower.

In addition to the Q50, Infiniti Canada will showcase its entire 2013 model lineup in Toronto, including the luxurious JX crossover. The championship-winning Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One race car will be on hand as well.

Photo: Infiniti