Auto News 5

Fiat SpA plans to create an automotive empire spanning Europe, America and Africa in a redrawing of the global industry as the market downturn hurts major players around the world. Full story...

HIROSHIMA, Japan--Six researchers from Mazda will be honored for their research achievements at the 59th annual Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE) awards presentation. The researchers will receive the Outstanding Technical Paper and the Technological Development awards. The Outstanding Technical Paper Award recognizes individuals and their co-authors for outstanding research in the field of automotive technology. Full story...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Batteries from EnerDel, the only U.S. lithium-ion car battery manufacturer with commercial-scale production capability, may power the Fisker Karma, scheduled to be the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to market in June 2010. Full story...

The National Automobile Dealers Association is planning to run full-page ads in the Washington Post, Politico and Automotive News to protest the presidential auto task force's push for General Motors and Chrysler to make drastic... Full story...

General Motors will choose two to three preferred bidders for its Saab brand this week, industry sources tell Automotive News Europe. The sources would not say which bidders have the best chance to make it to the next round of talks. Full story...

General Motors will choose two to three preferred bidders for its Saab brand this week, industry sources tell Automotive News Europe. The sources would not say which bidders have the best chance to make it to the next round of talks. Full story...

General Motors will choose two to three preferred bidders for its Saab brand this week, industry sources tell Automotive News Europe. The sources would not say which bidders have the best chance to make it to the next round of talks. Full story...

In the second instalment of our exclusive report from JD Power's Automotive Forecasting conference held in London last week, Dave Leggett hears JD Power's latest assessment of prospects for vehicle sales and production in North America. Full story...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - General Motors and the University of Michigan today announced the formation of the GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education, with a strategic focus on reinventing the automobile and developing the next generation of high-efficiency vehicles powered by diverse energy sources. Full story...

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. reported a quarterly loss on Wednesday as vehicle production plunged and it took charges related to restructuring. The net loss came to $131 million compared with a year-earlier profit of $94 million. Full story...

The clans that control the Porsche automotive empire are set to meet on Wednesday in the hopes of finding a solution to its high-risk takeover plans for Volkswagen that have backfired. Full story...

GOTEBORG, Sweden, May 6 -- A German automotive manufacturer has chosen Semcon as its development partner in a pilot study for a new concept car. The combined order for 2009 amounts to around SEK 50 million and the first phase of the project will run for the duration of the year. Full story...

Sonic Automotive Inc. avoided bankruptcy as bondholders allowed the nation's third-largest dealership group to postpone a $90 million debt payment until 2012. Full story...

Sonic Automotive Inc., the nation's third-largest dealership group, has reached an agreement with its bondholders allowing the retailer to postpone payment of $90 million in debt until 2012. The debt would have matured this week. Full story...

'Is it gloomy in here?' joked a speaker at last week's JD Power Automotive Forecasting Conference. She was partly referring to the overenthusiastic use of the dimmer switch at the posh London hotel that served as venue. But the question could also have applied to the mood in the hall. Dave Leggett was there and this is the first instalment of a three-part report. Full story...

Race team owner and automotive entrepreneur Roger Penske is a possible bidder for General Motors' Saturn brand, The Wall Street Journal reported this evening on its Web site, citing people familiar with the situation. Full story...

Penske Automotive Group Inc., which is considering a bid for General Motors' Saturn brand, reported today that net income plunged by 50 percent in the first quarter as industry sales rates hit 30-year lows. Full story...

Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne has outlined plans to merge Fiat, Chrysler and General Motors Europe into a new automotive group generating annual revenues of around EUR80bn and making 6-7m cars a year. Full story...

Chrysler's Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection announcement last week may cause more supplier bankruptcies and will continue to drag down the domestic automaker's image, the Society of Automotive Analysts said. Full story...

Racing car legend and automotive entrepreneur Roger Penske is a possible bidder for General Motors' Saturn brand, The Wall Street Journal reported this evening on its Web site, citing people familiar with the situation. Full story...