Contents:

Porsche buys 10.26% voting stake in VW Hyundai to invest €1bn in Czech plant BMW to buy back shares BMW unveils Mini station wagon Mini’s popularity could create 6,000 jobs in the UK Bertone to produce 2,000 high-performance Minis BMW reaffirms plans to set up plant in Tamil Nadu Chrysler to cut 1,000 workers as part of CAW deal Dodge Neon to exit production after 11 years DaimlerChrysler looking for partners for mild hybrids Freightliner names new parts general manager Mercedes to take back production from Magna Steyr DaimlerChrysler acquires full stake in MTU Carrots replace sticks in DaimlerChrysler’s new approach to suppliers DaimlerChrysler to collaborate with NextEnergy on biodiesel R&D Tata and Fiat sign global alliance MoU Fiat India managing director resigns Agnellis to buy Fiat stock to retain share Iveco to build Stralis heavy truck in Brazil Ford to focus on innovation and hybrid growth for future Canadian workers agree to Ford deal Ford’s next Transit to steer more like a car Ford develops technology to prevent misfuelling Ford’s Russian workers demand wage increase Ford develops new supplier business model Ford to test commercial viability of Focus FCV GM and CAW agreement averts strike GM do Brasil starts Vectra production GM spells out HCCI challenges Vehicles to send e-mails GM’s Epsilon 2 to provide common platform for diesels Kerkorian ups stake in GM GM to launch new supplier approach GM taps into UK foundry technology GM to boost Polish output 50% Honda considers Alabama plant expansion Honda to reduce US development costs 2006 Civic Hybrid offers improved powertrain Hyundai to build hybrids on its own Metaldyne to supply Hyundai with fully machined connecting rod assemblies Hyundai may soon ink deal with unions Hyundai doubles sales in Russia Kia prices diesel Rio on par with petrol Kia may include stripped down roadster in US line- up Hyundai forms joint venture with Siemens Beijing Hyundai eyes small car market Mitsubishi making steady progress Mitsubishi Canada names new head Nissan achieves global sales target Aguascalientes to produce new entry-level model Nissan opens crash laboratory in Tokyo… …and builds global engineering centre at Zama Nissan to boost fuel-efficient line-up in the US Peugeot’s Russian importer reduces sales target Iran Khodro to build - and export - new Peugeot 206 Renault slashes Modus production, again Renault Samsung’s H45 to lead export drive Renault do Brasil launches new Megane production Renault looks east for its stampings Toyota officially opens diesel engine plant in Poland Toyota may manufacture heavy-duty trucks in US Antonov sues Toyota for patent infringement Toyota expands New Jersey component centre Bridgestone to supply support ring-type runflat system to Toyota VW may axe 10,000 jobs in Germany Audi begins discussions with Skoda for Indian unit Volkswagen scraps Belgian closure plans Mexico and Iran to cooperate in producing Bora Volkswagen’s heavy truck for the emerging markets Mack to reduce headcount in Virginia Renault Trucks could market Cummins-powered Spanish 7.5-tonner Volvo opens wholly owned Russian service centre Subaru collaborates with Tokyo Electric on experimental vehicles Geely begins European exports Great Wall Automobile eyes Russian production Isuzu to post profit for third straight year August European car sales August global light vehicle sales Hybrids: can the rest catch Toyota? Financials: European, Japanese & US manufacturers, 2005

Companies Mentioned

- Ford - General Motors - DaimlerChrysler - BMW - Volkswagen - Mercedes - Halewood - Fiat - Volvo - Ford - Holden - Hyundai - Kia - Mazda - Mitsubishi - UAW - Nissan - Citroen - Peugeot - Renault - Toyota - Lexus - Daihatsu - Audi - Ashok Leyland - Fuji Heavy - Mahindra - Navistar - Porsche - Proton - SAIC - Scania - Cummins - Suzuki - Tata