Auto News 5

Ford and Chinese joint venture partners Changan and Mazda will on Friday reveal plans for a third car manufacturing plant, a media report said on Tuesday. Full story...

Suzuki has abandoned plans to build an assembly plant on a 50-hectare plot in St Petersburg and plans to return the site to the local authorities. Full story...

The Renault Formula One team said on Tuesday that it would make a decision in the next few days over its future in F1 racing. Motor sport's governing body, the FIA, on Monday gave the team a suspended ban from the sport for ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to crash in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Full story...

Tyre-maker Bridgestone hope to break the stranglehold of domestic tyre makers by expanding its network of centres across the country and offering high-end services such as nitrogen inflation and 3D alignment. Full story...

Dana Holding has begun a public offering of 27m shares of common stock. Full story...

Rolls Royce spokesman lets slip that a battery-powered Phantom could be in the pipeline.

Full story...

BMW's green new M1, Frankfurt eco stars round-up, Porsche 911 head-to-head, Jaguar XJ exclusive Full story...

Magna International co-chief executive officer Don Walker has reassured Japanese clients the planned investment in Adam Opel would not lead to a transfer of leading-edge technology. Full story...

A special group within GM Europe will consider the future of the Opel plant in Antwerp, Belgium, and detail its restructuring plan after talks are concluded. Full story...

Tesla Motors has confirmed that it has reached a settlement with former CEO Martin Eberhard to end a legal dispute. Full story...

The German government does not need separate approval from the European Commission to grant state aid to Adam Opel because this would be part of a temporary framework agreement to support companies during the economic crisis, a government document seen by Dow Jones Newswires said. Separately, The Times reported earlier today that Magna would axe 1,400 Vauxhall jobs at the two plants here and the Daily Telegraph, citing "sources", said 1,830. Full story...

The German government does not need separate approval from the European Commission to grant state aid to Adam Opel because this would be part of a temporary framework agreement to support companies during the economic crisis, a government document seen by Dow Jones Newswires said. Separately, a British newspaper reported that Magna will axe 1,400 Vauxhall jobs at the two plants here. Full story...

The German government does not need separate approval from the European Commission to grant state aid to Adam Opel because this would be part of a temporary framework agreement to support companies during the economic crisis, a government document seen by Dow Jones Newswires said. Full story...

BorgWarner says it is to supply an important new engine cooling fan system on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. Full story...

ArvinMeritor has completed the previously announced sale of its wheels business - once a division of its light vehicle systems segment - to Iochpe-Maxion, the Brazilian producer of wheels and frames for commercial vehicles, railway freight cars and castings, for around US$180m. Full story...

Dutch-based industrial firm BioMCN has commenced operations at the largest second generation biofuel manufacturing plant in the world. It sees very positive prospects ahead in transportation applications for the bio-methanol it produces from glycerine - itself a by-product of biodiesel manufacture. Automotive applications are being readied, especially in the substitution of bio-methanol for bio-ethanol in gasoline blends. And the vision for more efficient energy utilisation and lower CO2 emissions does not end there, as BioMCN CEO Rob Voncken explains to just-auto editor Dave Leggett. Full story...

A two-seat, plug-in electric car for urban use has been developed in Iran to a standard suitable for mass-production, according to local media reports. Full story...

A gull-wing Mercedes has become something of an automotive icon. Visitors to the current Frankfurt show will also have seen it as a vision of the future - an electric one at that. Full story...

Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) members at the GM-Suzuki CAMI joint venture vehicle assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario have ratified a new contract by nearly two thirds. Full story...

Despite a third-place finish in New Hampshire Juan Pablo Montoya still has his eyes on a Sprint Cup Championship. Full story...