Contents:

Volkswagen Group announces new leader Toyota H1 operating profit rises above ¥1tr for the first time Germany: BMW posts 9.4% growth in pre-tax profits Germany: BMW starts production of world's first hydrogen luxury car Pakistan: Rolls-Royce opens its first showroom US: BMW says no to BLUETEC diesel alliance China: DaimlerChrysler chief admits discussions with Chery for Dodge small cars China: World premiere for Maybach 62 S at Beijing motor show China: Chrysler 300 assembly starts at Beijing plant China: DaimlerChrysler to acquire 24% stake of Beiqi Foton Germany: October sales fall for Mercedes Car Group Germany: DaimlerChrysler unveils new, larger smart fortwo Germany: DaimlerChrysler Truck Group planning a 7% operating profit margin Germany: Job cuts cost DaimlerChrysler less than expected Germany: DaimlerChrysler suspends executives Germany: New DaimlerChrysler production line safety system India: Minister reveals DaimlerChrysler plans for second assembly plant Mexico: Mitsubishi Canter-based Sterling 360 debuts US: Chrysler Nassau concept to debut at the Detroit motor show Argentina: Fiat to produce Tata trucks China: Chery to supply engines to Fiat China: Ferrari doubles sales, expects yet more growth Italy: Fiat plans 3.5 million global car sales per annum by 2010 Italy: Fiat chief rules out Iveco sale, plans to enter US LCV market Turkey: Lancia brand launch set for Q1, 2007 Australia: Ford axes 640 jobs Brazil: Ford negotiating to buy Troller China: Ford opens new R&D centre India: Ford reported to be planning a diesel engine plant Malaysia: Volvo Car forms single operational headquarters for Asia US: Ford slashes health care benefits for white-collar workers US: Production reduced launches new Expedition and Lincoln Navigator US: Ford restates financial results US: Volvo recalls 170,000 vehicles Land Rover heads for GDI Belgium: GM says it may build Saturn model at Astra plant China: GM and SAIC to build hybrid vehicles Global: General Motors expects output to be flat this year India: GM open to sourcing diesel engines from Maruti US: GM revises its third-quarter net loss US: New Cadillac CTS to debut in January US: GM reportedly planning rear-wheel drive 2008 Chevrolet Impala US: Future of original Saturn plant in doubt as GM scraps minivan project US: GM to debut first vehicle on Epsilon 2 architecture at Detroit motor show US: Saturn Relay is axed, GM said to have cancelled all other minivan replacements US: Indiana plant starts build of new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra US: Wagoner expects Delphi settlement to be between US$6bn and US$7.5bn US: General Motors ends production at Lansing Metal Centre US: New GM global small car architecture on the way, say suppliers China: Honda targets 10% market share; expands Acura range Japan: Honda buys mini-vehicle subcontractor Yachiyo US: A million vehicles in under five years from Honda Alabama plant Australia: Hyundai to establish national headquarters in Sydney China: Beijing Hyundai to open a research centre India: Hyundai exports 300,000th car Malaysia: Sime Darby and Hyundai consider US$27.4m plant expansion project South Korea: Hyundai requests government subsidies for hybrids South Korea: Hyundai to build a new luxury saloon at Ulsan plant South Korea: Hyundai launches new coach US: Hyundai's finance unit raises US$960m Japan and Hungary: Mitsubishi, Honda and Suzuki to increase output Japan: Mitsubishi aiming for ¥100bn operating profit Netherlands: Mitsubishi denies NedCar sale claim US: New Mitsubishi Lancer to debut at Detroit show China: Dongfeng-Nissan Livina Geniss production starts China: Nissan aiming to reduce costs by increasing local content India: Nissan drops Suzuki JV and explores Mahindra tie-up Japan: Nissan launches all-new Skyline Japan: Nissan announces new V6 engine plant Mexico: Nissan to start Tiida/Versa saloon production in January US: Nissan to introduce Altima hybrid in early 2007 US: Nissan's Canton plant cranks up production US: Nissan expresses interest in shuttered GM & Ford plants France: PSA Peugeot Citroën names new chairman France: New Renault-Nissan I4 gasoline engine France: Renault signs charter to develop cellulosic ethanol India: Renault and Mahindra to build 500,000upa plant China: Daihatsu to assemble vehicles under its own brand in 2007 China: Sales of the Toyota Prius remain poor Global: Toyota to add more plants in US, China and India Japan: Toyota mulling Prius-based hybrid vehicle range Japan: Toyota buys more Isuzu shares ahead of possible R&D collaboration Japan: Toyota to end MR-S production Japan: Isuzu and Hino reported to be planning Chinese truck JV US: Production commences at new Toyota San Antonio plant US: Toyota finds novel solution to rising worker health care costs US: Toyota, Honda and Nissan reportedly planning big production rises US: Toyota, Honda lead 2007 EPA fuel economy list Brazil: More than 1,000 Volkswagen workers accept buyout packages Belgium: Volkswagen to shift Golf production to Germany; 3,500 jobs to be slashed China: Volkswagen expecting €75m profit; sees 2% market share for Skoda China: Audi ups 2006 sales forecast by 14% Czech Republic: Skoda begins construction of new technology centre Germany: Record October global sales for Audi Germany: Audi plans new small car Germany: Volkswagen's collective bargaining agreement comes into force Germany: Volkswagen researchers develop new high-temperature fuel cell Germany: Volkswagen's new cold and climate test centre becomes operational Hungary: Audi reaches agreement with government Russia: Audi to set up chain of automotive centres China: Volvo to open research centre to study traffic accidents Sweden: Volvo Group sees 3% hike in year-to-date deliveries Czech Republic: Vectra Group acquires Tatra India: Ashok Leyland global sales up 69.5% in October India: Force Motors reports loss in H1 India: Hindustan Motors reports an improvement in second-quarter results India: Mahindra expects second-half sales to grow by 14-15% India: Tata sales up 5.6% in October Japan: Fuji Heavy's H1 profits rise by 45.8% Japan: Mazda posts strong H1 results Japan: Record sales and profits for Suzuki Russia: AvtoVAZ profits up 42.8% in the first nine months of 2006 Russia: Magna to form components alliance with GAZ South Korea: Ssangyong Motor posts loss and 40% drop in Q3 sales Australia: Vehicle sales regain momentum in October China: Sales up by 25.69% in October Czech Republic: New car registrations rise by 6.31% in October France: Renault sales up 20% as market rises by 11.5% in October India: Car sales up by 16.34% in October Indonesia: October sales down by 39.3% month-on-month Italy: Alfa Romeo sales up by 25% in an otherwise near-flat October Malaysia: Automotive market declines further in October New Zealand: Highest October new car sales since 1984 Pakistan: October sales drop by 9% month-on-month Philippines: October sales down by 7% year-on-year Romania: Year-to-date vehicle sales up by 14.1% South Africa: October new vehicle sales up 14.1% South Korea: October sales up by 5.8% Spain: New car registrations up by 5.8% in October Thailand: October sales down by 10.5% year-on-year UK: Diesels take 41.7% of total October car registrations US: Heavy truck orders down and layoffs threatened Vietnam: Vehicle sales rise as WTO entry looms The Chinese puzzle Patriotism: the last resort?

Companies Mentioned

-Volkswagen -Golf -Geely -Manganese Bronze -Chery Khodro -DaimlerChrysler -Dodge -Fiat -Iran Khodro -AAV -Peugeot -Nissan -Suzuki -PSA -Opel Astra -Jaguar -Beijing Hyundai -Mazda -Toyota -Honda -Volvo's -Audi -Kia -Daihatsu -Mitsubishi