Auto News 5

Workers from a Continental tire factory in France attacked a local government building on Tuesday after learning that an attempt to block the planned closure of their plant in court had failed, a lawyer and a union official said. Full story...

Workers from a Continental tire factory in France attacked a local government building on Tuesday after learning that an attempt to block the planned closure of their plant in court had failed, a lawyer and a union official said. Full story...

Honda Motor Co., one of the few automakers shipping Chinese-made cars to Western markets, is loosing its enthusiasm for China as an export base. Full story...

Nissan Motor Co., a late comer to the hybrid-vehicle race, won't follow rivals Honda and Toyota in mounting the gasoline-electric drivetrains on small cars. Full story...

In today's News Brake: A very rare Ferrari goes on the auction block, and we take a spin around the Shanghai motor show ... But Wait, There's More! Full story...

Johnson Controls has announced a big swing to loss on the back of lower production volumes and restructuring charges. Full story...

Volvo Cars is to recall over 20,000 vehicles across Europe to check for faulty cooling fans. Full story...

Russia's Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, or MMK, and Russia's largest carmaker AvtoVAZ have signed a long-term agreement on cooperation and partnership, MMK said in a statement Tuesday. Full story...

Daimler has held talks with Chinese sovereign wealth fund CIC over a possible investment by Beijing, CEO Dieter Zetsche told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. Full story...

Daimler has held talks with Chinese sovereign wealth fund CIC over a possible investment by Beijing, CEO Dieter Zetsche told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. Full story...

The European Union has closed a loophole that would have allowed car manufacturers to continue putting allegedly climate damaging chemicals in new vehicle air conditioners beyond a 2011 ban. Full story...

The 13th Shanghai Motor Show, which alternates with the Beijing Auto show, provides a glimpse into the Chinese car industry. Developing faster than any other market, China's varied brands and multiple new models take center stage at the event, but numerous European automakers (and the joint-venture companies they've spawned) are also unveiling a flurry of new models, making this one of the most important auto shows of the year. To see what Bertone, Porsche, GAC, Buick and Roewe unveiled read our highlights from the show press days below. We'll soon be publishing more highlights and an extensive photo gallery of all the cars from Shanghai Auto 2009 so watch this space. Full story...

Great Drive: 2009 Porsche Boxster S

On the ancient mountain roads of Sicily, the updated Boxster proves that it's a real Porsche.

Like many Porsche drivers, I've long loved 911s but felt a bit snobbish about the Boxster. Raw power was not in evidence, the original Boxsters sporting only 201 hp. And the styling? Granted, Porsches are about engineering rather than looks - they're like the smart, plain schoolgirl who wears no makeup because she knows that any boy who's going to get interested in her will have to pay closer attention than that - but even so, the early Boxsters resembled bugeye Sprites more than Carreras. The Boxster may have been Automobile Magazine's 1998 Automobile of the Year, but to me it smacked too much of the 914.

Photo Gallery: 2009 Porsche Boxster S - Porsche Sport Convertible Review - Automobile Magazine

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Sales of new vehicles in Malaysia fell 4.8% from a year earlier in March, an industry association has said. Full story...

Visteon Corporation has submitted a written formal proposal to the Unite union offering improved payments to former Visteon UK employees abruptly made redundant when three plants were placed in administration. Full story...

Daimler is reportedly in talks with potential investors from China. Full story...

Pirelli & C SpA, holding company for tyre and property businesses using the same name, has posted first quarter net profits of EUR1.1m on revenues of EUR1.04bn. Full story...

US dealers will invest US$300m in new and modernised facilities this year, BMW North America said. Full story...

Toyota Motor output in Japan is likely to fall below 3m units in the 2009/10 fiscal year ending 31 March, possibly hitting the lowest level in 31 years, company sources said on Tuesday. Full story...

Automotive wheel maker Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. expects auditors to express "substantial doubt" about its ability to remain in business. The suburban Detroit supplier also said it would file its annual financial report late. Full story...