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Mitsubishi Motors began production of a new mini-car at its Mizushima plant in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan this week.

Stephen Odell, head of Ford of Europe, has urged Europe's politicians, business leaders, academics and regulators to create market conditions that enable Europe's automotive industry to flourish. He also warned that unbalanced free trade agreements threaten the struggling European auto industry's future recovery.

Hyundai Motor has announced that the fuel cell vehicle it will build at the rate of 10,000 units a year will be a version of the next Tuscon.

German supplier Schaeffler has confirmed its annual forecast for revenue growth of about four percent and an operating profit margin of approximately 13 percent, despite a drop in first-quarter revenue of 3.6 percent to 2.8 billion euros ($3.

Three senior former Saab employees are currently being interviewed in Sweden on suspicion of tax evasion.

Mark Vaughn, West Coast Editor: Driving through downtown Los Angeles on the way to the

Fiat 500s, Dan Gilbert's basement, skateboards, bikes, the side of a barge in Northern Italy, a toilet: When it comes to

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Are customers crying out for an entry-level luxury hybrid? Is there great demand? Time will tell I guess. For now I'll say this

News 19 Jul, 2013

Renault and Red Bull celebrate a third F1 constructor's title with special edition Renaultsport Megane RB8

A two-day strike at Mercedes-Benz's East London car plant in South Africa ended following crisis talks between management and a workers union.

A two-day wildcat strike at Mercedes-Benz's East London car plant in South Africa ended today following crisis talks between management and a workers union.

Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) has revealed initial details of the production version of the G4 concept from the recent Bangkok motor show. This new model, a sedan version of the Mirage/Space Star hatchback, is called 'Attrage'.

Magneti Marelli has opened a plant in the southern China city of Foshan to produce rear lights, headlamps and other lighting components. The company aims to secure a 10 percent share of China's lighting market in the midterm.

PSA's China joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp. said it increased sales 37 percent last month to 45,303 units helped by strong demand for its stretched Citroen C4 and Peugeot 3008 models.

Global April sales for Fiat-Chrysler show how much the Americas, especially the U.S. and Brazil, are supporting the automaker as deliveries in Europe fall.

South Korea has become a growth market for BMW, Mercedes and Audi as lower tariffs make their cars cheaper and local buyers abandon a decades-long preference for domestic brands.

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2013 Rising Stars awards. Every day until June 12 one of the 18 winners will be featured. Today's Rising Star is Nick Collins, Ford of Europe's global vehicle line director for the B segment.

From GMM

McLaren on Tuesday played down reports linking its new Honda engine deal with Paddy Lowe's early release to Mercedes.

British broadcaster James Allen claimed McLaren's decision to drop Mercedes as its engine supplier after 2014, paving the way for Honda, gave Mercedes "a bargaining chip" to end former technical director Lowe's 'gardening leave'.

On his F1 blog, Allen said Mercedes is "very unhappy" about the turbo V6 data that could flow to Honda next year, "so it appears they have leveraged this situation to trigger the early release of Lowe".

Paddy Lowe. (Photo: McLaren)

But McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh on Tuesday told reporters releasing Lowe six months early simply "seemed like the right thing to do".

Briton Lowe, 51, will start work at Brackley in two weeks.

"It's not related to the Honda deal," Whitmarsh insisted. "The Honda deal and the Mercedes deals had been done, so there was no pressure brought to bear.

"It was entirely our decision and we hope that it creates some goodwill. Paddy's a good guy."

From GMM

Honda is looking for an English base for its new formula one foray with its great former partner McLaren.

The two marques announced late last week that they have linked up for a new 'works' partnership that will see Honda supply turbo V6 engines to McLaren from 2015.

"Honda will develop its engines at its facility in Tochigi, Japan, where it has already begun development," read the media statement last Thursday.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said Honda is also looking to operate out of an English headquarters.

"Rumours refer to Cosworth's properties," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Cosworth, currently the supplier of V8 engines to Marussia, is expected to pull out of formula one before the change of regulations for 2014.

The Octagon, the Cosworth's factory. (Photo: Google Street)

From GMM

World champion Sebastian Vettel has called on Pirelli to consider a fundamentally different approach to its role as F1 tire supplier.

The 'T-word' has been the buzz of the paddock throughout 2013 so far, and the controversy came to a head after Barcelona, when tempers flared over the widespread four-stop strategies.

Following rampant criticism, mainly from Red Bull and Mercedes, Pirelli announced it would make changes for next month and beyond, but Lotus and Ferrari hit back, supported by the FIA who insist any changes should be minimal.

Bernie Ecclestone and Paul Hembery. (Photo: Pirelli)

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone backs his sport's Italian partner.

"I asked Pirelli to make tires that would not complete 50 per cent of a race -- meaning we need pitstops," he told F1's official website this week. And that's what they did."

Ecclestone said problems have arisen because Pirelli's task is "very, very difficult" given race-to-race differences in circuit, temperatures, cars and driver styles.

For once, however, Red Bull's world champion Vettel disagrees completely with his backgammon rival.

"It is not just about considering changing one ingredient in the recipe," the German told Kicker magazine. "It's more about the recipe itself."