Auto News 5

General Motors last night announced plans to be the first major US automaker to manufacture electric motors and said it would spend US$246m on electric motor and electric drive facilities in the US. Full story...

Toyota Motor group plans to sell 8.3m vehicles worldwide, up 6% on 2009, it announced today. Full story...

Mazda Motor has said it expects to sell 220,000 vehicles in China this year, up about 22% over the 2009 tally. Full story...

Genii Capital has withdrawn from from bidding for General Motors' Saab unit saying last night "that the timing of the bidding process for Saab is incompatible with implementing a solid business platform for the future." Full story...

Popular Mondeo-rivalling family car goes under the knife

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Nissan's Sunderland Plant has been recognised as the UK's largest car producer for the 12th year running. Full story...

Seven-seater MPV spied undergoing winter testing

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The BMW Group today announced at the Washington Auto Show the first results from a comprehensive study conducted in cooperation with the University of California (UC Davis) and consumers leasing MINI E electic vehicles as part of a year-long program to acquire real world use patterns. Full story...

If there is one undeniable fact, it's that the presence of Danica Patrick in the IndyCar series has probably been the only positive thing that has allowed the series, which is, let's face it, limping badly, to stay on the radar of the North American, and even international, media. Full story...

With the automotive world gone "crossover" mad, the Dodge Nitro is becoming one of those endangered species -- an honest-to-goodness 4WD SUV. Full story...

General Motors and Spyker Cars NV today confirmed that they have reached a binding agreement on the purchase of Saab Automobile AB. Full story...

Life is a journey. Throughout our years on this planet, we accomplish, we fail, we grow, we build and we destroy. You've all heard the expression that the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. You'll agree with me that, although this statement is true, it's what we do in the meantime that obviously counts. Full story...

WASHINGTON, D.C.,-Electric vehicle manufacturer THINK today announced that it will work with AeroVironment, Inc., a leading developer and supplier of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to pursue demonstration and commercial projects using AV's level III fast-charge system and the THINK City electric vehicle. The projects will be designed to jump-start the development of fast-charge infrastructure in the United States. Full story...

Chrysler Group LLC's wholly-owned subsidiary, Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), has reached a milestone in the Low-speed Vehicle (LSV) industry by selling more than 40,000 GEM battery-electric vehicles. Full story...

Renault has reportedly signed Jerome d'Ambrosio and Ho-Pin Tung as joint reserve drivers for the 2010 season. Full story...

Paul di Resta will be Force India's reserve driver in 2010 and even appear in Formula 1 official practice sessions. Full story...

Daniel Ricciardo and Brendon Hartley were on Tuesday announced as Red Bull's joint reserve drivers for 2010. Full story...

German driver Nick Heidfeld may also be able to count McLaren among his options to remain involved in formula one in 2010. Full story...

American Formula 1 team USF1 on Monday confirmed Jose Maria Lopez as its first driver for the 2010 season. Full story...

The layout for the street course that will be presented in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the inaugural race of the 2010 IndyCar Series has been unveiled. Full story...