Auto News 5

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said the automaker is considering selling hybrids in Europe. His comment adds weight to a remark by a local Italian politician that the company will soon launch minivans with a fuel-saving alternative powertrain. Full story...

There is a moment of truth for every Think electric car that is reminiscent of when Dr. Frankenstein awakens his creation, but without all the negative side effects. Full story…

Stuttgart -To tie in with the launch, the corresponding miniatures will also go on show at Mercedes dealerships on a scale of 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18. Full story...

The German government was accused of stalling a decision on aid to Opel/Vauxhall. A government committee that reviews requests for loan guarantee requests did not agree on any recommendations for or against granting aid. Full story...

The BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands have been active in the Web 2.0 world for some time: Their pages on Facebook, YouTube and other sites offer prospective customers and fans information and dialog options. Since 22 March 2010, the BMW Group also has had a "BMW Group View" profile on Facebook, along with a YouTube and a Twitter profile also under the name "BMW Group View". Full story...

Russia's car output rose 68.1% year on year to 104,000 units in January-February, according to Russian reports citing the economic development ministry. Full story...

Russia may buy electric vehicles for cargo transportation in large cities, Russian deputy prime minister Sergei Ivanov said after inspecting an electric vehicle at SITL Europe 2010, an international transport and logistics exhibition in Paris. Full story...

Opel CEO Nick Reilly has promised his German dealers that the automaker will press ahead with the development of the minicar they have been wanting. Full story...

A ‘green’ revolution is being staged by Mazda that will mean upper medium sector company car drivers by 2015 will be at the wheel of models with fuel economy and emissions equivalent to today’s supermini standards. Full story…

Germany's Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said no decision over German state aid to Opel will be made at a meeting of state and federal officials on Wednesday. GM is seeking 1. Full story...

Qatar, which already holds stakes in German automakers Porsche and Volkswagen, is eyeing further investments in Europe, Qatar's deputy prime minister said. Full story...

Washington, D.C. - Chrysler invented the minivan 25 years ago. More than 12 million minivan sales later, Chrysler today showed off four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as part of the USPS Earth Day celebration. Full story...

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has supported a proposal to allocate RUB1.043bn for the Samara regional government as compensation for carmaker AvtoVAZ' social facilities that were transferred to the municipal government, Itar-Tass reported. Full story...

Chrysler Group said today that it plans to build an electric version of the Fiat 500 minicar for sale in the United States beginning in 2012. Full story…

Chrysler will build an electric version of the Fiat 500 minicar for sale in the United States, starting in 2012, the automaker said on Monday. Full story...

Premium supermini will start from £13,145 and top out at £18,280

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The Mito sporty supermini launched here in the UK a year ago has boosted Alfa Romeo's UK sales and lured new 'conquest customers' to the brand, executives told just-auto. Full story...

Lawyers seeking civil damages against Toyota Motor Corp. on behalf of U.S. consumers for diminished resale value of recalled vehicles are broadening their cases to add racketeering claims against the automaker. Full story...

Customers trialling the new electric MINI around the world don't want to give them back, the company says. Full story...

BMW AG is working on a new front-wheel- and four-wheel-drive vehicle architecture that will underpin a new range of entry-level BMWs as well as next-generation Mini models. Full story...