Auto News 5

General Motors believes Russia will become its biggest market in Europe next year. GM will almost double its car producing capacity in the Russian market when it opens its new $300 million factory in St. Petersburg on Friday.

Take a relatively unknown man. Younger than all of his opponents. Black. With a bad-sounding name. Consider his first opponent: the best-known woman in America.

Thailand's hitherto upbeat automotive sector could be about to see a reversal on the back of softening demand at home and in export markets.

Finance company GMAC LLC lost $2.52 billion in the third quarter, hurt by the housing slump and vehicle lease writedowns, and said its mortgage unit, one of the nation's largest home loan providers, may not survive.

Ford Motor will increase its global purchasing with its 65 most important suppliers, said the carmaker's European purchasing boss, Birgit Behrendt.

Automakers could benefit from the forthcoming change of resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue but there could be labour difficulties ahead at non-union plants. Read more ...

Toyota Motor has again cut its 2008 forecast for US sales and extended zero-interest deals due originally to end on Monday. Read more ...

AvtoVAZ's survival is the stuff of legend - but it's been achieved at a cost. Much of the sprawling Togliatti plant is still as it was when it was built. But there are encouraging signs, as Mark Bursa discovers. Read more ...

Nissan has reported a 19% fall in its European October sales over the same month last year, although sales for the year to date remain ahead of 2007.

All-new TT RS evokes memories of legendary coupe with five-cylinder turbo engine. Read more ...

Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton Motor Co has signed a strategic agreement on October 8 to build a new factory with the government of Deyang city in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The deal is part of Foton's contributions to the province after it was devastated by an earthquake in May. Read more ...

Cut in emissions means Citroen is the greenest petrol model on sale in UK. Read more ...

Rheinmetall has lowered its full year earnings forecast on the back of falling sales at its automotive business. Read more ...

The slump in sales in Taiwan's car market is being driven by the growing migration of the merchant class to mainland China according to a local Ford official. Read more ...

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has called for a further 300-400 voluntary redundancies across its UK manufacturing sites as it looks ahead to a "very tough" 2009. Read more ...

Sales of imported cars in South Korea fell sharply in October, hit by tightening auto finance credit amid persistently weak private consumption, according to the Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. The decline comes as European automakers protest a prospective EU-South Korea free trade deal, complaining of unfair access to South Korea's market. Read more ...

Emissions rules spell end for smooth oil-burners Read more ...

The SLR Roadster is saying goodbye in style! Mercedes is marking the end of the production run for its 200mph drop-top by auctioning off this special model.The last-ever roadster comes in a one-off combination of Sienna Pearl metallic paint and signature Tobacco Brown leather interior. Read more ...

Automakers in India are beginning to see relief on their bottom lines due to lower raw materials prices. Read more ...

With its neat nose, tall ride height and sporty three-door design, the Chevrolet GPiX has caused quite a stir.Star of this week’s Sao Paulo Motor Show in Brazil, the four-seater SUV has been penned by parent firm GM’s Brazilian design office – and is one of the first models the purpose-built studio has produced.The cabin continues the dramatic, angular theme, and while no mechanical details are available, it’s thought the car uses an evolution of the front-wheel-drive Delta II platform.Power is set to come from a four-cylinder engine capable of running on E100 biothanol. Read more ...