Industry

There's nothing like a small tidbit in a German newspaper to get the rumors started. This time it concerns technology brand Apple, which is reported to be developing a new in-car GPS navigation system that will debut in 2009. According to an article published in German magazine Focus, Apple will be...

The Jaguar and Land Rover brands may be next in line to be acquired by American private equity firm Cerberus, which recently bought the struggling Chrysler Group from its German parent. According to a report from German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Cerberus is interested in...

One out of every five cars is expected to feature innovative engine stop-start systems by 2012, predicts the chief of one of the world’s largest auto suppliers. Stop-start systems shut down the engine when the vehicle is stationary, such as when sitting in heavy traffic, and automatically...

Audi has certainly lifted its game over the past five years, releasing more models, increasing its market share and picking up a horde of quality gongs, so you’d think fellow German luxury brand BMW would be feeling the heat. Not so, says BMW Group Australia managing director Guenther...

Latest findings show that Toyota actually surpassed General Motors in the global sales race last year with a lead of roughly 128,000 vehicles. There had been rumors that Toyota had in fact understated its figures so as to avoid a backlash from American consumers but this latest report goes some way...

Rolls-Royce may turn to Italian coachbuilders such as Bertone or Zagato to construct ultra-luxurious versions of its Phantom saloon for individual customers who desire extra levels of personalization. Under the proposal, once a rolling chassis is produced at the Goodwood facility in the UK the...

It’s well document that China’s Chery Auto will be working closely with Chrysler for the development of a new Chinese built model to be sold in the US, but latest reports are suggesting that Chery might not be the only carmaker in bed with Chrysler. There's also talk of Chery building a...

The two luxury marques have already seen some success by collaborating over the development of super-efficient diesel and hybrid technology, albeit with Volkswagen and General Motors lending a hand as well, but there could be more tie-ups in the future if BMW has its way. Execs in Munich are hoping...

Recently it was revealed that BMW had considered buying Volvo from Ford’s Premier Auto Group, and had gone so far as to order in a set of the Swede carmaker’s latest financial reports. Now it is reported that Ford has been in talks with Fiat Group over a possible sale of Jaguar and Land...

Porsche’s momentum in the sales race shows no sign of slowing, and with the introduction of all new models the once exclusive sports car brand is on the road to becoming mainstream. Current sales levels stand at roughly 100,000 units per year, double the number of cars Porsche sold just six...

The recently retired founder of motorsports company Saleen Inc., Steve Saleen, has taken up the role as CEO of New Jersey-based ZX Automobile Company of North American (ZXNA) to help import Chinese vehicles to the US. ZXNA is a subsidiary of Chamco Auto, a company that plans to launch a Chinese...

Earlier this week we reported that the Renault-Nissan was keen to form an alliance with one of America’s Big Three, with either Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] or Chrysler the most likely contender considering talks between the French-Japanese duo and General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] failed last...

Back in 1997, the Chrysler Group and Rover (then a subsidiary of BMW) formed a partnership to develop a compact four-cylinder engine for a range of new small cars. The Tritec joint venture was born, which soon saw the development of an engine factory at a site in Brazil. After BMW sold-off its...

The Jaguar label has always had a little more flair and prestige than its rivals, a trait its management would like to maintain by reducing the volume of cars it sells. Jaguar won’t be following brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, which have been creating new models to fill niches not normally...

Late last year, Renault-Nissan was keen to tie-up with one of America’s Big Three and was in talks with General Motors until communications between the two came to a crashing halt when neither side could agree on the value of such an alliance. Renault-Nissan is reported to be on the merger...

Updated: Just yesterday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister made comments that Volkswagen was not willing to make a suitable offer and that Proton should look elsewhere for a suitable tie-up. Today, AFX News is reporting that Government investment arm Khazanah Nasional has said that Proton is still in...

Carmakers in the US have considered implementing fuel economy standards as high as 36mpg for cars and 30mpg for light trucks as an alternative to new regulations that could be voted in by the full Senate the week of June 11. The proposed Senate bill would force carmaker’s fleet average fuel...

Earlier this week, Swedish newspapers reported that Ford was in talks with BMW over the possible sale of Volvo and that BMW had gone so far as to order in a set of the carmaker's latest financial reports. A spokesman for the Blue Oval has revealed in an email sent to Reuters that Ford was not...

MG Rover has officially started production at its Longbridge plant in the UK today under the guidance of its new owner, China’s Nanjing Auto. Despite this major breakthrough in reviving the old label, many pundits still have their doubts surrounding the long-term viability of the project on...

Earlier this month, we reported that BMW execs had considered a takeover of Volvo and had gone so far as to order in a set of the Swedish carmaker’s latest financial reports. The latest buzz is that BMW is just one of several potential suitors and is currently in the process of conducting...