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The United States will gradually scrap auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles under a Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact after the two countries agreed on a deal that will allow Tokyo to take part in talks on the Asia-Pacific trade agreement.

PCMA-Rus is a joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen (70%) and Mitsubishi Motors (30%) in the Kaluga region of Russia, some 100 miles south west of the capital. PCMA-Rus general manager, Jean-Christophe Marchal, spoke to Simon Warburton at this week's Russian Automotive Forum in Moscow.

Nissan Europe suits liken the Leaf EV update - now 'localised' for and built in Europe - as a bit like an iPhone or iPad upgrade: looks much the same on the outside but new goodies lurk therein. And there was a big pricing surprise to announce as well.

GM outsold Volkswagen Group in China for the first time in three quarters, helped by growth in demand for Buick vehicles.

GM outsold Volkswagen AG in China for the first time in three quarters, helped by growth in demand for Buick vehicles.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: I spent some time in the 2012 Subaru Legacy 3.6R awhile back and came away from the car feeling pretty ambivalent.

News 12 Apr, 2013

The new Volkswagen Golf R will have even more power but a lower price

Nissan is planning move production of the next generation Primastar commercial van from Spain to Renault's Sandouville plant in France, a move that will help alliance partner Renault keep a pledge to raise domestic output in return for union concessions.

Aston Martin Holdings has reported 2012 final quarter revenue up 20% over the same period in 2011 and a full year adjusted EBITDA of GBP69.3m (US$106.51) on sales of 3,800 vehicles.

Ford Sollers, Ford's joint venture in Russia, has launched the start of full production of the Ford Explorer, marking the first time the SUV has been produced outside of the US.

While General Motors makes contingency plans for its employees in and around Seoul, South Korean carmakers appear a lot more relaxed about the muscle-flexing by their neighbours in the north.

VW Group said economic uncertainty in many regions is having a greater effect on its sales, which were flat in March following stronger gains in the first two months of the year.

News 13 Jun, 2013

New Mercedes S-Class 2014 revealed, on sale September from £64,500

Takata says there are no further recalls to its knowledge outside the four Japanese manufacturers, who yesterday (12 April) announced a massive global recall of more than three million vehicles following defects car producers say were found in its passenger airbags.

Since 2005, Alset Global has been developing technologies that will enable the introduction of hydrogen-powered vehicles both for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. With European engineering headquarters in Graz, Austria Alset is leading a coalition of more than ten partner organisations to introduce this technology in time for new European emission standards in 2020. At this year's Geneva motor show, Dr Bez, CEO of Aston Martin announced that Alset would be providing its Hybrid Hydrogen system for a prototype Aston Martin Rapide S. This car would become the first hydrogen powered race car to compete in an official race, beating the Garage 56 entry at Le Mans to a track debut. To uncover the full story, Matthew Beecham talked with Alset Global's CEO, Jose Ignacio Galindo.

Turkish vehicle production fell 2.4 percent to 99,819 units in February, the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) said on Thursday. Fiat, Renault, Ford, Toyota and Hyundai are among the automakers with vehicle assembly plants in the country.

Mercedes is aiming the CLA coupe-styled four-door sedan at younger buyers, especially those in the United States and China where sedans are popular.

Smart USA will offer customers who buy or lease its new electric-powered ForTwo the option of renting the car's lithium ion battery for a monthly fee.

When global automakers entered China, they had no idea how to sell their products here. But over the years, global automakers have learned a lot about Chinese consumers.

From GMM

The last time Adrian Sutil was in China, he was involved in a nightclub altercation that almost ended his formula one career.

It was early 2011, and the blood-stained run-in with Lotus team executive Eric Lux ultimately left him with a criminal conviction and without his Force India seat.

But he is back on the grid and right back on form in 2013, even moving Red Bull's influential Dr Helmut Marko to mark the 30-year-old German as the surprise of the season so far.

"It is nice to hear that there are still things that surprise him (Marko)," Sutil smiled in an interview with F1's official website.

Photo: Sahara Force India

Dr Helmut Marko is not the only paddock insider expressing surprise at Sutil's 2013 form.

"The car, for my opinion, is very good. It's the best car I've driven," he said on Thursday.

But it's also being driven by teammate Paul di Resta, who over the winter only narrowly missed out on becoming Lewis Hamilton's successor at McLaren.

Told he has been quicker than the sister car so far, Sutil answered: "Yes, to be honest I thought I would need some more time to get into the racing mode again."

So with his career right back on track, Sutil was wasting no time explaining his emotions about being back in Shanghai, or whether he worried Chinese authorities would even let him back in with a criminal record.

"No worries, no emotions," he told reporters on Thursday. "The past, for me, is done and I'm concentrating on my future."