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Evonik has reported 1% organic sales growth to EUR3.2bn (US$4bn) and EBITDA better than in previous quarters at EUR501m.

French car sales fell 4 percent in October as consumers put off big purchases amid weakening economic confidence. France has lagged behind Europe's fragile auto market recovery.

French car sales fell 4 percent in October as consumers put off big purchases amid weakening economic confidence. The CCFA industry body says it will review its 2 percent full-year growth forecast.

VW, Renault and GM are among the automakers embracing flexible, globally compatible megaplatforms as a key to future success. Rivals that don't join them quickly, including Fiat Chrysler and PSA, run the risk of being left behind, analysts say.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view. This month's edition looks at why megaplatforms are a must-have for any automaker with global ambitions.

The redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid will be quicker, lighter and more fuel efficient than its predecessor. And it will probably carry less baggage.

To see if Sonic Automotive's new approach to selling cars really works, Automotive News Staff Reporter Amy Wilson headed to the dealership group's trailblazing Town and Country Toyota store in Charlotte, N.C.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra has made 'building relationships' a key focus of her first nine months, from dealers to politicians to the media. But repairing frayed ties with suppliers might top the list.

The 2015 F-150 is a big deal because no company previously has manufactured a mass-market pickup with an aluminum body. Dealers who want to repair the trucks need to buy special tools and train technicians in aluminum techniques.

Keno Kato, Nissan Motor's global head of product planning and strategy who directs a global team of 500 planners, is a buzz-cut 1960s-muscle car fan from rural Japan.

GM, Volkswagen, Toyota and Renault-Nissan are among the automakers embracing flexible, globally compatible megaplatforms as a key to future success. Rivals that don't join them, including Fiat Chrysler, run a risk of being left behind, analysts say.

To see if Sonic Automotive's new approach to selling cars really works, Automotive News Staff Reporter Amy Wilson headed to the dealership group's trailblazing Town and Country Toyota store in Charlotte, N.C.

In the wake of ZF's $13.5 billion acquisition of TRW Automotive, other merger and acquisition deals are bubbling up.

From GMM

Renault has denied reports it has recruited renowned former F1 engine guru Mario Illien to help close the gap on dominant Mercedes.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported at the weekend that the Swiss, best known for his company Ilmor that produced title-winning Mercedes engines for McLaren, has been signed up to help Renault end its turbo V6 struggles.

But the Russian website f1news.ru quoted Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul as denying the media reports at the scene of the US grand prix.

"I read that we have supposedly signed Mario, but it's not true," he said.

"We have negotiated with his company because we are considering it as a supplier. The power unit is comprised of many parts -- we do not do everything ourselves. We are negotiating but we have not decided whether Ilmor will be a supplier," Cyril Abiteboul insisted.

Mario Illien. (Photo: Illmor)

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton on Sunday continued to charge towards his second world title, but his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg is guaranteed to still be in the title fight for the finale that could be referred to as 'Abu Double'.

Just before to the US grand prix, Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda said: "If he (Rosberg) does not beat him (Hamilton) today, it will be difficult for him (Rosberg).

"So he is very motivated," Welt newspaper quoted Lauda as adding.

But despite German Rosberg starting from pole in Austin, Hamilton surprised him with an audacious overtaking move and went on to secure his fifth straight victory.

Afterwards, Niki Lauda told Bild newspaper: "Lewis has shown again that, at the moment, he has Nico under control."

Hamilton's win, and also Rosberg's gap to third place in the drivers' championship, means that - finally - Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo is mathematically out of the running for the 2014 title.

"For us as a team, the drivers' championship is ours," said Niki Lauda.

Only the identity of the silver-clad champion is still unknown, and it definitely will not now be decided until the final race in Abu Dhabi next month.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

That is because - like it or not - the race in Abu Dhabi, already dubbed 'Abu Double' by some sections of the media, will count for twice as many points as usual.

It means Rosberg could fail to finish in Brazil next Sunday, handing Hamilton a points tally of up to 49 points that, normally, would easily guarantee him the championship with a race to spare.

"For me, that's great to hear of course," said Rosberg, "so I'm sure it will be an exciting end to the season for the fans."

The big issue, of course, is that the scenario of Hamilton having won six races in a row, and eleven of the 19 in total, could still see Rosberg crowned champion.

Asked if he fears that outcome, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in Austin: "No fear, but the double points has the potential to overshadow a season."

From GMM

Mercedes appears less inclined than ever to give in to its rivals' demands for an engine 'unfreeze' ahead of the 2015 season.

Media reports in Italy suggest Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci may have pulled off a political masterstroke over the US GP weekend by convincing F1's dominant force to agree to a relaxing of the development homologation rules.

Photo: Mercedes F1 Team

But listening to Mercedes bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda, it is difficult to imagine that is true.

"They're saying they want to develop the engine during the year," Wolff is quoted by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. "I think this is an incredible nonsense.

"It just costs a lot more and the order would not change."

Niki Lauda, the German team's chairman, agrees, estimating the additional cost per manufacturer of expanding the engine 'freeze' as at least EUR 10 million.

"We would not allow that," he is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica. "It is irrational and senseless.

"Ridiculous," the F1 legend continued to charge. "Mercedes wins its first title for 100 years and they want to change the rules.

"Ferrari can still work on 48 per cent of the engine. There is nothing to defreeze," said Lauda. "It's already thawed."

From GMM

The Spanish multinational Santander is staying at Ferrari even if the closely-aligned Fernando Alonso jumps ship.

That is the claim of the Spanish sports daily Marca, reporting that the banking group has pledged to fulfil its 2017 contract with Ferrari independent of Alonso's next move.

If true, it is suggested a departing Alonso might still retain some personal backing by the group, particularly as his likely destination - McLaren - has a historical connection with Santander.

Marca also claims Fernando Alonso has been in contact with Telefonica, the Spanish telecom.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

Separately, the newspaper claims that while Alonso is clearly McLaren-Honda's 'plan A' for 2015, the strongly Eric Boullier-linked Romain Grosjean could be the 'plan B'.

Marca says Grosjean was seen entering McLaren's headquarters in the Austin paddock on Saturday accompanied by his manager Julian Jakobi.

Could that be because Alonso is heading elsewhere for 2015? Gerard Lopez, the Lotus team owner, said in Austin that he can imagine the Spaniard returning one day to Austin.

Suddenly, however, Lopez is playing down his talks with Alonso. "With Fernando ... I talk a lot of football," he smiled.

Lotus chief Federico Gastaldi agrees: "Unfortunately, we are far from Fernando's radar."

Indeed, German television RTL claimed on Sunday that Alonso to McLaren - with a very long-term contract - is a done deal.

But that comes amid persistent rumblings that Alonso is refusing to give up on trying to squeeze into a dominant Mercedes cockpit.

Even Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver due to enter negotiations for a new deal with the Brackley team, is not deaf to the speculation.

"Does he want my seat? I'm sure Fernando is pushing hard for my seat," the Briton is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica, "but I won't give it up. I love my car."

At the end of the day, the coolest analysis of the situation surrounding Alonso's future is that he is probably heading to McLaren.

The hold-up is simply a deadlock between the Spaniard and Ferrari over the reported $50 million contractual payoff.

Fascinatingly, after scoring more points for Ferrari in its defence of fourth in the constructors' standings, Alonso made a comment suggesting the team will be able to afford to pay him off when he leaves.

"I'm happy to score points for the team," Spain's El Confidencial quotes him as saying after the US grand prix, "as at the end of the year it (fourth place) means tens of millions of dollars for Ferrari."

The Mazda2 is the first car to have been announced for the 31st Thailand International Motor Expo. The event's press preview day is 28 November.

Several vehicles which will be world premieres at the 31st Thailand International Motor Expo have been announced. The event's press preview day is 28 November.

Several vehicles which will be world premieres at the 31st Thailand International Motor Expo have been announced. The event's press preview day is 28 November.