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Tesla Motors, the electric carmaker headed by billionaire Elon Musk, said it turned profitable in the first quarter, citing higher-than-expected sales of its Model S sedan.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I liked this 2013 Cadillac SRX more than I thought I would. That is to say it drives better than I thought it would in some respects.

Volkswagen will boost its global headcount to 600,000 by 2018 from 550,000 as part of its aim to become the world's biggest carmaker, works council chief Bernd Osterloh said.

Spanish car sales fell nearly 14 percent in March. Industry association Anfac said a government subsidy scheme aimed at boosting sales was working despite the slump.

Larry H. Miller Group Dealerships has acquired seven dealerships in Arizona for an undisclosed price. It is the privately held group's largest acquisition to date.

It wasn't long ago that gasoline was the only fuel a Porsche could use. Today, the powertrain options at the Volkswagen Group subsidiary include diesel, gasoline-electric hybrid and, soon, plug-in hybrid.

The 2014 Cherokee, the first Fiat-based Jeep, offers a long list of conveniences, such as automatic parking and an 8.4-inch center-stack screen, but it also has four-wheel drive available for off-roading Jeep loyalists.

After battling Hurricane Sandy last fall, the blizzard that paralyzed New York City in early February and the spring snowstorm that swiped New Jersey early last week, residents in the Northeast are weather-weary. Dealers, too.

Thirty years ago, Japan Inc.'s formidable battery of domestic auto plants seemed ready to conquer the world. But in a dramatic reversal, the Japanese are tensely witnessing the decline of the auto industry on their own turf.

Not only is Kia benchmarking BMW and Audi; it is crawling out of the shadow of its bigger corporate sibling, Hyundai.

Chevy's performance division is on a roll. And GM plans an advertising campaign to spread the word.

Toyota is weighing a major shift in positioning for its struggling Scion brand: moving upscale to target entry-level luxury models coming from European makes.

When it goes on sale this summer in California, the 2013 Fiat 500e electric car will come with an unusual standard feature: another vehicle. 500e buyers may use rental vehicles for up to 12 days a year for free.

The Obama administration's proposal for low-sulfur gasoline is a boost for automakers trying to comply with stricter emissions standards.

General Motors' speedy revision of the slow-selling Chevrolet Malibu reflects the company's new determination to fix problems quickly when they arise, rather than letting them linger until the next scheduled change.

A long-distance debate last week between two CEOs -- Ford's Alan Mulally and Nissan-Renault's Carlos Ghosn -- reignited a hot-button debate in the industry over the value of the Japanese yen.

Hyundai Motor Co. is looking into launching a pickup in the United States, Hyundai's sales boss says. Product planners and engineers at headquarters in South Korea are studying what size truck would be best.

Fewer than one in three Chevrolet dealerships will be eligible to sell the 2014 Corvette Stingray when it begins rolling off the assembly line in late summer.

From IndyCar

Since 1997, Dallara has designed and built chassis for teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series. This weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, Dallara will mark its 200th IZOD IndyCar Series victory. A commemorative trophy will be presented to the winner.

Gian Paolo Dallara, who founded the company in 1972, deflects accolades to talented individuals who see a project through from concept to completion in a team setting. Nonetheless, he's most proud that the company's name is respected in motorsports across the globe.

ID Plate Dallara. (Photo: IndyCar)

"It seems Dallara and IndyCar have been together forever," said Andrea Toso, head of research and development. "In racing, that's a long marriage. It's a lucky marriage, a good marriage. It's well beyond the business relationship. Usually you measure by profit. Here, you go beyond the business."

Dallara has been the sole chassis supplier to the series since 2006, and will supply the current car through 2016.

Added Stefano De Ponti, head of Dallara operations in the United States: "When Dallara and IndyCar met in 1997, we established this relationship that has lasted many years. We went through these battles against other important manufacturers (G Force and Riley & Scott) and here we are. We celebrate the victory 200 and it's a remarkable point."

"It's a technical relationship, business partnership, but mainly on a human being relationship," De Ponti added "You have professional ethics on both sides and we carry on under these principles the way we think, the way we progress with the good of the sport top of mind. I've been in motorsports basically all my life and it's a personal satisfaction, and thinking not of the results that have been achieved but thinking of the job that has been done and satisfied for people on both sides. It will be good stimulation to move forward and achieve another 100 victories."

Photo: LAT/IndyCar

Victories by the numbers
1st -- Jim Guthrie at Phoenix for Blueprint  Racing (1997)
50th - Scott Sharp Twin Ring Moetgi for Kelley Racing (2003)
100th - Tony Kanaan at Twin Ring Moetgi for then-Andretti Green (2007)
150th - Will Power at Sao Paulo for Team Penske (2010)
175th - Marco Andretti at Iowa Speedway for Andretti Autosport (2011)
199th - James Hinchcliffe at St. Petersburg for Andretti Autosport (2013)

Most wins by team
Team Penske - 56

Andretti Autosport - 44

Target Chip Ganassi Racing - 42

Most wins by driver
Scott Dixon - 23
Dario Franchitti - 21

Helio Castroneves - 21

Of note
Wins in first year: Three (Jim Guthrie, Phoenix; Buddy Lazier, Charlotte; Eliseo Salazar, Las Vegas)
First Indianapolis 500 Mile Race victory: Eddie Cheever Jr. (1998)

Team Marussia already has signed two new sponsorship deals with Russian companies this season.

"Everyone knows that we have the smallest budget of all the teams in Formula One, and quite frankly, I'm proud of that," Andy Webb told Reuters after formally signing the contract in Moscow. "It costs us 1.25 million pounds ($1.89 million) per week just to stay in Formula One, to maintain this level. Obviously if you want to move up you need a much bigger budget."

The deal was announced before the Australian season-opener on March 17 and Liga Stavok brand is already on the MR02 car. The Marussia's chief executive officer did not reveal the financial details of the one-year deal with Liga Stavok, a betting company. However Andy Webb saw it as just the start of many good things to come from this country.

With Sochi staging the inaugural Russian Grand Prix in 2014, experts predict that more and more Russian companies will want to get involved in the Formula 1.

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

"It is a critical time for Marussia so any sponsor is good news but adding a Russian company is a much more significant factor for us than any amount of money it could bring. The first one is always the most important and I'm glad that Liga Stavok has made that historic breakthrough because it's always tough to get into Formula 1," added Webb.

Marussia announced also an agreement with currency brokerage InstaForex, another Russian partner, who become an official supplier and had branding on the car at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"Right now Russia's interest into Formula One is very low but it will undoubtedly grow bigger and bigger. We've been trying to bring more of Russia into Formula One and more Formula One into Russia," said Andy Webb, whose team looks more competitive than in the three previous years.

"Obviously I can't bet on Formula One races but if I was a betting man I would bet on us beating Caterham this season. I would also recommend placing a bet on Marussia scoring their first point this season," he added with a big smile.