Auto News 5

Ford is looking to make a splash at the 2012 SEMA show with five heavily customized

TomTom is well known for its navigation systems both for OE and aftermarket applications. What is not so well known is how it is developing its range of products and services to meet the demands of today's connected car. Vanessa Scholfield, editor QUBE Connected Car service spoke to Jan-Marten de Vries , VP Product Management of Automotive at TomTom to gain an insight into its product development and innovation in relation to car connectivity.

France's supplier association, FIEV, is only rating a possible deal with automakers concerning intellectual property rights as "50:50," with the battle lines being drawn between the two sides showing no sign of running out of steam.

Maruti Suzuki India plans to produce 2,000 cars per day by the end of November at its Manesar factory in the northern state of Haryana.

Nissan Motor Co. is developing a supercharged hybrid powertrain likely to arrive in 2014 in the Infiniti JX crossover.

In a deal worth US$125m, Johnson Controls will buy acquire A123 Systems' automotive business assets, including all of its automotive technology, products and customer contracts; its facilities in Livonia and Romulus, Michigan; its cathode powder manufacturing facilities in China, and A123's equity interest in Shanghai Advanced Traction Battery Systems, a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive.

General Motors' European unit Opel has announced details of its new mid-size petrol engine family.

General Motors will soon start preparing its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to build the Cadillac ELR, a luxury coupe featuring extended-range electric technology, the automaker's North America president Mark Reuss said.

Daimler will build its flagship Mercedes S class in one shift rather than two starting next month to bring production in line with lower demand. The one-shift operation will last until the next-generation S class is ready to debut in 2013.

The commercial sector could be getting a jolt of electricity from Nissan in late 2013. The company is testing all-electric versions of the

Chevrolet sold about 1.25m vehicles worldwide in the third quarter of 2012, a 3.1% increase over last year's record-setting third quarter, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of record-breaking sales.

Following on from a similar recall in Canada, Ford is recalling 154,604 2011-2013 model year Fiestas, manufactured in Mexico from 3 November 2009 to 21 September 2012, in the US.

Renault and Nissan reportedly will look for a more stable structure for their alliance and will share increased number of operations.

Maruti Suzuki India has launched a cheaper, more powerful and fuel-efficient version of its Alto - the world's best-selling small car.

Earlier this week, we reported on a new version of the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa which is said to return 86mpg. At the other end of the Corsa price list sits the far more powerful VXR Nürburgring Edition. Glenn Brooks knows which of the two he'll be asking Santa for.

As previously indicated by executives, Nissan has officially cancelled its four-year partnership in India for developing low-cost vehicles with Bajaj Auto.

Toyota plans to halt production next week at its Tianjin FAW joint venture plant in China because of a slump in sales according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.

Toyota may shift production of all Corolla sedans sold abroad out of Japan as the strong yen continues to squeeze profit margins.

News 25 Oct, 2012

Our exclusive image shows how the stylish new Mazda 6 coupe could look when it arrives in 2014

News 23 Oct, 2012

Drivers in the US who've had their airbag fixed or replaced recently may have had an ineffective bag fitted