Auto News 5

Heated and cooled vehicle seat maker Amerigon has reported a record US$10m in net profit for full year 2010 compared with $723,000 in 2009. Full story...

BASF's Catalysts division, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, US is one of the world's largest suppliers of process catalysts. The group employs 4,000 people at 30 factories worldwide. In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Dr Thomas G Droege, Global Marketing Director, BASF Mobile Emissions Catalysts about the technical trends occurring in the exhaust sector and specific impacts on the catalytic converter.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This weekend, my wardrobe consisted of a heavy wool coat with the collar turned up, a knit hat and aviator sunglasses. And layers. Lots and lots of layers. Was I running a smuggling operation? Nope. Full story...

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This weekend, my wardrobe consisted of a heavy wool coat with the collar turned up, a knit hat and aviator sunglasses. And layers. Lots and lots of layers. Was I running a smuggling operation? Nope.

A great fanfare from Rome yesterday saw some fairly typical hyperbole from the politicians as the Italian Economics Ministry blew its own trumpet at inking of a deal for Fiat's Sicilian Termini Imerese plant. Full story...

For reasons still not clear, boatloads of German immigrants made Texas their home in the 1800s. Full story...

In the first part of this month's management briefing, we look at how confused and erratic Government policy has played havoc with Europe's demand for biofuels and sales of flex-fuel cars.

Hyundai’s Toyota Avensis rivalling i40 Tourer unveiled ahead of its Geneva Motor Show debut.

A shortage of skilled workers in Germany has prompted BMW to open a factory specially equipped to encourage workers to stay longer. Full story...

Tesla says that its revenue this year may rise as much as 50 percent because of high demand for its rechargeable vehicles and battery packs. Full story...

The January new car market in Europe may have been off just under 1% year on year but Volkswagen should be happy enough with its one-two perches at the top of the sales charts for the Golf and Polo, respectively. Full story...

First Drive: 2012 Nissan NV2500 HD

Thinking outside the box to create a better box-on-wheels.

Many firms have tried to build a better mousetrap, but few have truly endeavored to develop a better full-size cargo van. Today's two best-selling designs -- The Ford E-Series and Chevrolet Express -- can be dated to the late 1990s, and adhere to a design ethic established in the early 1970s.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan NV Cargo Van - First Drive - Automobile Magazine

First Drive: 2012 Nissan NV2500 HD | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Don’t miss your chance to fill in the 2011 Driver Power survey and tell us what you think of your car.

Seating supplier Lear Corporation has announced a US$400m share repurchase programe, initiated a $0.25 per share quarterly cash dividend and declared a two-for-one stock split of its common stock. The cash dividend will be paid on the pre-split shares. Full story...

Penske Automotive Group is again prowling for acquisitions, but it's unlikely to return to the torrid pace of 2007 when it added $1.5 billion in revenues through store purchases. Full story...

One of the successful bidders for part of Fiat's Sicilian Termini Imerese plant is aiming for initial production of between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicles per year and a doubling of its existing workforce. Full story...

Bertrandt AG, the German company that helped bring Rolls-Royce's Ghost and the newest version of Volkswagen's Golf to the road, says it sees no boundaries to growth after record first-quarter sales. Full story...

A global recall of 693,497 Honda Freed, Fit and City models to repair a potentially faulty valve spring that could cause the engine to fail to restart in the worst case scenario does not affect Jazz models sold in Europe as they have different engines. Full story...

Daimler has offered to sell a 7.5 percent stake in EADS to the German government, a cabinet source says. Last week, the company was charged with insider trading by Paris judges conducting a five-year-old probe into sales of shares in EADS. Full story...

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid wrapped in special Facebook livery goes on display in firm’s museum.