Auto News 5

Ford and General Motors are still pushing ahead with plans to sell their Swedish car brands while the Swedish government has ruled out more state aid or taking stakes. Full story...

Chrysler's 200C concept demonstrates next generation technology which, along with internet access, links with street cameras to provide real-time traffic information. Full story...

BYD, a Chinese company, is better known as a maker of batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones. Now it wants to be as well known for electric cars and its chairman Wang Chuan-Fu said here that it aims to launch a plug-in hybrid model, the F6DM, and the E6 all-electric car, in the US and Europe in 2011. Full story...

Toyota blitzed the Detroit show with its redesigned Prius, its first hybrid-only Lexus sedan and an electric vehicle concept based on the new iQ city car that has just gone on sale here in England. Full story...

Swiss car parts supplier and engineering group Georg Fischer is cutting some 340 jobs, half of them in Switzerland, as it fights to maintain its profitability in adverse conditions. Fischer said on Tuesday it will make the cutbacks, some 2. Full story...

French carmaker Citroen plans to resume production at its Slovakian car plant on Thursday, the head of sales for France, Alain Favey, said on Tuesday. Full story...

Volvo, traditionally known for its strong safety record, also wants to emphasize design features and fuel efficiency in its marketing. Full story...

BMW, the world's largest premium carmaker, said on Tuesday it sold 28 percent more cars in mainland China in 2008, slowing from growth of 42 percent in 2007. Sales came to 65,822 units last year, up from 51,588 units in 2007, it said in a statement. Full story...

General Motors has decided to produce the batteries powering the electric engine of the Chevrolet Volt, to be marketed in late 2010. To do so, the firm will build a plant in Michigan that will likely be the U.S.'s first lithium-ion battery production plant run by an automaker. Construction will begin in 2009 and finish in 2010. Full story...

General Motors has decided to produce the batteries powering the electric engine of the Chevrolet Volt, to be marketed in late 2010. To do so, the firm will build a plant in Michigan that will likely be the U.S.'s first lithium-ion battery production plant run by an automaker. Construction will begin in 2009 and finish in 2010. Full story...

Chinese automaker BYD, which stands for 'Build Your Dreams', has just presented what they claim as the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Sales actually began last month in China, and the company is planning to offer the car in North America in 2011. Powered by a 102-hp electric motor, the F3DM can travel up to 100 km on battery power. After that, a 1.0-litre gasoline engine kicks in to replenish the battery pack. Full story...

Blue is the new green. Mercedes-Benz, a leader in alternatively powered automotive technology, is advancing the evolution of more environmentally friendly vehicles with Concept BlueZERO. BlueZERO, presented at the North American International Auto Show, is out of the ordinary in that it amalgamates three models with unique powertrains into one vehicle architecture. Full story...

With the slew of new model debuts taking place at NAIAS this week, Johnson Controls may not have been on anyone's radar for a concept car presentation. The company is primarily known as a supplier for automotive OEMs and is the maker of the popular HomeLink universal remote system. Full story...

Chinese automaker BYD, which stands for 'Build Your Dreams', has just presented what they claim as the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Sales actually began last month in China, and the company is planning to offer the car in North America in 2011. Powered by a 102-hp electric motor, the F3DM can travel up to 100 km on battery power. After that, a 1.0-litre gasoline engine kicks in to replenish the battery pack. Full story...

Maserati's stunning Quattroporte Sport GT S was on hand at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) for viewing. It left those in attendance with an almost uniform impression that they were looking at something that would wind up in the history books. Some even called it the most beautiful four-door on the road. Full story...

Detroit - The organizers of the 2009 North American International Auto Show had announced through a press release that some 6,000 journalists were expected. However, on Monday, there couldn't have been more than half... and most of them were gone by early afternoon. Full story...

Former Grand Prix star driver Michael Schumacher has an "important contribution" to play in the development of Ferrari's new formula one car for 2009. Full story...

Blue is the new green. Mercedes-Benz, a leader in alternatively powered automotive technology, is advancing the evolution of more environmentally friendly vehicles with Concept BlueZERO. BlueZERO, presented at the North American International Auto Show, is out of the ordinary in that it amalgamates three models with unique powertrains into one vehicle architecture. Full story...

Silverstone, the current home of the British formula one grand prix, has secured a five-year contract to host motorcycling's premier MotoGP series from 2010. Full story...

Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz's motorsport director, has admitted that the German car manufacturer could supply engines to the former Honda Formula 1 team. Full story...