Auto News 5

BMW was the hardest hit in May among Germanyand#8217;s slumping premium brands. The Munich-based automakerand#8217;s sales fell 15.3 percent to 53,354 units last month, according to statistics from the European car manufacturers association, ACEA. Full story...

Elvis Presley croons "All Shook Up" from the CD player as Florentino Marin wipes down his 1955 Buick Century sedan on a central Havana street. Full story...

With the separation of Daimler and Chrysler finally taking place, the Mercedes-Benz financial arm will stop functioning as the financial partner for German Chrysler dealers at the end of September. Full story...

Daimler could lose its U.S. patent for the BlueTec exhaust gas treatment process, just as it has in Europe. Catalytic converter manufacturer Umicore has not yet decided whether to challenge Daimler's patent in the U.S. Full story...

The profit margin for dealer groups that sell more than 1,000 new vehicles a year in Germany stood at a mere 0.8 percent in 2008. That is below the average profitability of dealerships selling 300 cars or less -- 0.95 percent. Full story...

With scrapping incentives boosting demand for small cars more than expected, Renault announced late last week that it will continue manufacturing the Clio Campus at its Flins factory near Paris through December. Full story...

With scrapping incentives boosting demand for small cars more than expected, Renault announced late last week that it will continue manufacturing the Clio Campus at its Flins factory near Paris through December. Full story...

Nissan Motor Co. plans to launch production of electric vehicles and their batteries in the United States to tap low-interest loans for green vehicles, the Nikkei business daily said. Full story...

A small group of General Motors bondholders formally objected on Friday to the automaker's plans for a speedy sale of its assets in bankruptcy court. Full story...

Volkswagen AG, among the automakers that have suffered the least in the United States this year, will temporarily shut parts of its Mexican plant starting next week until early August, a union spokesman said on Saturday. Full story...

German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a newspaper interview to be published on Saturday that the government would not step in to assist carmaker Porsche Automobil Holding SE with taxpayer money. Full story...

Daimler AG is in advanced talks to buy a stake in sports car maker Porsche Automobil Holding SE, German publication manager magazin reported on Friday on its Web site, citing financial sources. Full story...

The Qatar Investment Authority could acquire more shares in ailing German sports car maker Porsche Automobil Holding SE than previously thought, German magazine Focus said. Full story...

German automotive lighting manufacturer Hella KGaA Hueck and Co. said on Friday it has signed an increased 550 million euro ($765.7 million) forward start loan, extending an existing loan by two years. Full story...

Continuing its tradition of introducing distinctive and unique limited editions, smart Canada today announced the arrival of the smart fortwo edition limited three. Finished in exclusive melon green metallic paint with 12 spoke, 15" alloy wheels, production of this stylish new smart fortwo will be restricted to just 180 units to ensure individuality and exclusivity. Full story...

Arese, Italy - Alfa Romeo will be celebrating its centennial in 2010 and rejoining the North American market at the same time. In preparation for these two events, we thought it would be interesting to visit the Alfa Romeo Museum located in Arese, in the suburbs of Milano, in order to get re-acquainted with this prestigious brand. Full story...

As one of North America's most popular passenger cars, the Toyota Camry offers even more for Canadian drivers, with the new 2010 Toyota Camry XLE. This new model features all of the dynamic styling and "no compromise" suite of standard equipment found a V6, but delivers it in a a new 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission that delivers Toyota's "more power - less fuel" advantage. Full story...

Asheville, North Carolina - The auto journalists on hand for the launch of the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus really did their homework. They attended the whole program, were all ears during the various speeches and drove this great American sedan over hundreds of kilometres while paying attention to every little detail. Full story...

A fuel-efficient, direct injected Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine will be the third engine offered in the 2010 Buick Allure luxury sedan. Backed by a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission, the new powertrain combination is expected to deliver fuel economy of 7.8 L/100 km highway and 11.8 L/100 km city (U.S. estimated figures)-making Allure one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Full story...

The J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, or IQS, serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build better vehicles and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions. Initial quality has been shown over the years to be an excellent predictor of long-term durability, which can significantly impact consumer purchase decisions. The study captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories: design-related problems, and defects and malfunctions. Full story...