Auto News 5

The UK car market posted growth of 6.2% in June, leaving it on course to post 2.4m units for the year.

General Motors started this week by continuing to honour CEO Mary Barra's oft-repeated promise - which is essentially to make good any car not good - so back to US dealers will go another 400,000-odd locally (and even Australian)-made cars for fixes various.

Like Packard (and every other domestic automaker), Cadillac stopped producing civilian cars and

Sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Turkey fell 24.85% year on year to 286,861.

Wage talks to end an indefinite strike by more than 220,000 metalworkers in South Africa failed Thursday as the stoppage forced General Motors to halt output at its vehicle-assembly plant.

Articles 5 Jul, 2014

We explore the UK's top family car contenders in the countdown to the Auto Express New Car Awards on July 15th

BMW is following rival Audi into Mexico with a US$1bn plant planned to start production in San Luis Potosi in 2019, the company's production chief Harald Kruger announced.

News 4 Jul, 2014

More than a million registered in 2014, the best half year total since 2005

UK new-car sales reached a nine-year high in the first six months, rising 11 percent although growth slowed in June as consumer demand started to level off.

General Motors has announced yet another recall - this time in South Korea for 27,051 locally built models.

The outbreak of WWII meant that Detroit built its last civilian cars in the early months of 1942 -- and by the end of that year, its factories had been converted to the production of wartime material.

We've all been there. Something near and dear to us goes missing. For Detroit resident George Talley, it was a 1979 Corvette.

News 4 Jul, 2014

We explore the UK's top supermini contenders in the countdown to the Auto Express New Car Awards on July 15th

Kiekert, a German supplier of automotive door locks and latches, has named Karl Lambertz director of its Asian operations.

The new VW Passat is expected to get a sales boost as companies in Europe take advantage of a brightening economic outlook to resume investing in their fleets.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine goes live on Monday, July 7.

Compared with just two years ago, Japanese parts makers are scrambling to educate employees on actions that are off-limits. The buzzword of the times: compliance.

Mexican auto factory output is poised to explode this decade, making the country a top source of United States vehicle imports -- particularly small cars.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso says he is not ready to look beyond his current Ferrari contract.

Although their first collaboration ended spectacularly badly, it is rumoured McLaren has approached the Spaniard about replacing Jenson Button to lead the team's Honda era.

Alonso's current contract with Ferrari runs to the end of 2016.

But reports in the Italian press, and also the Spanish sports daily Marca, say the Maranello team is willing to make "a major financial effort" to renew the deal right now in order to keep him away from key rivals.

Fernando Alonso, 32, says his current priorities lie elsewhere.

"For now, I am focused on improving the car and trying to get the best possible position for Ferrari in the constructors' championship, where we are fighting with Red Bull, Williams and Force India, and then looking at solutions for the 2015 car," he is quoted as telling Spanish reporters at Silverstone.

"Those are my priorities. I have a two year contract and eventually we will see what is the best solution for everyone," added Fernando Alonso.

From GMM

Jenson Button has declared himself on the market, in the wake of McLaren supremo Ron Dennis' criticism.

Dennis is said to have dismayed other members of the Woking based team's senior management this week when the 67-year-old publicly urged Button, who is out of contract at the end of the year, to "try harder".

Clearly, Jenson Button also did not appreciate the comments.

"I think Ron is practicing to be a motivational speaker maybe," he told reporters ahead of his home race at Silverstone, where he will wear a pink helmet in tribute to his late father John.

"I don't think we should be pointing a finger at any individual within the team," said Button.

The pink helmet of Jenson Button for the British Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Jenson Button, 34, rejected Dennis' claim that he is not pushing to the maximum with the uncompetitive 2014 car.

But he said he is keen to race its 2015 successor, to be powered by a works Honda engine.

"I would like to stay," said Button, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

"This team has a bright future and the partnership with Honda will help the team a lot, having that connection with a manufacturer. But it isn't the only team in formula one," the Briton added.