Auto News 5

Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. posted big U.S. sales gains in March as industrywide incentives and improving consumer confidence brought buyers back to showrooms. Total U.S. sales advanced 24 percent from the depressed levels of March 2009. Full story…

The United Auto Workers healthcare trust is expected to net about US$1.78bn from an auction of Ford Motor stock warrants it received as part of its funding, the automaker has said. Full story...

Big news began the week as Geely finally reached a deal to take Volvo off Ford's hands. Full story...

Ford's Russian subsidiary has agreed to raise workers' wages by 11.8% and granted other benefits, the company's press office said Thursday. Full story...

The introduction of the new Ford Figo has sparked strong demand for the carmaker in India with more than 10,000 orders for the model less than one month after it went on sale. Full story...

The 500,000th Focus built by Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company (CFMA) has rolled off the assembly line at the joint venture plant, in Chongqing, China. The Focus has become Ford's best-selling model in China and the 500,000th model was a silver 1.8-litre four-door sedan. Full story...

Ford Motor chief executive officer Alan Mulally has said the automaker would be able to speed up debt repayment as its financial results improve. Full story...

Ford´s sale of Volvo will leave the U.S. automaker with no luxury brand outside North America. But does Ford even need one? At least for now, analysts say no. Full story...

Ford´s sale of Volvo will leave the U.S. automaker with no luxury brand outside North America. But does Ford even need one? At least for now, analysts say no. Full story...

Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala will take a 30.2-second lead into day two of the Jordan Rally after winning three of Thursday's seven special stages. Full story...

It seems like we just got here, but Day 1 has already come a close. There is no reason to feel morose as all in attendance rose to their feet for some very new and shiny cars. The bar was raised by manufacturers near and far. Volvo presented their long awaited S60, while Ford took the wraps off their spiffy new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Full story...

Hyundai Motor Co. said its first U.S. hybrid will have cost and performance advantages over gasoline-electric models from Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Full story...

Ford Motor Co. and Microsoft Corp will offer an online application designed to help owners of Ford plug-in electric vehicles manage home electricity use while the vehicles recharge. Full story...

Ford and Microsoft are to offer the Hohm energy management application, starting with the Focus Electric next year. Hohm will help owners determine when and how to most efficiently and affordably recharge battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. It also should help utility companies manage the added demands of electric vehicles on the electric grid. Full story...

The UAW's retiree health care trust is expected to net about $1.78 billion from an auction of Ford Motor Co. stock warrants it received as part of its funding, the automaker said today. Full story...

New 180bhp-plus stormer is go!

Full story…

The next natural extension of Ford's hybrid strategy is being revealed on Wednesday at the New York auto show with the unveiling of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid. Full story...

The next natural extension of Ford's hybrid strategy is being revealed on Wednesday at the New York auto show with the unveiling of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid. Full story...

In News Brake: Infiniti has redone the QX56 for the New York auto show, Lexus adds a Nurburgring package for the LFA, and we have details on the 345-hp Ford Focus RS500 for Europe . . . But Wait, There’s More! Full story…

Toyota is to supply Prius hybrid technology to Mazda under licence, in what the automakers said potentially was the first of many such agreements with other manufacturers though Toyota has already 'lent' similar hybrid technology to Nissan for use in the US and reached a patent-sharing deal with Ford. Full story...