Contents:

European Court of Justice finds against Volkswagen Law Hyundai chairman jailed for three years Austria: BMW to expand diesel engine plant China: ADP Group announces BMW and Mini dealership joint venture US: BMW and Dürr Systems win Energy Partner of the Year Award US: BMW partners with University of Miami to conduct collision analyses US: Novelis to supply aluminium sheet for BMW X5 Canada: Dodge Challenger to be built at Brampton plant China: DaimlerChrysler to launch Dodge brand Germany: DaimlerChrysler board approves Chery small car supply deal Iran: DaimlerChrysler to sell its majority stake in local marketing group Singapore: DaimlerChrysler claims fuel cell cars likely by 2012 Switzerland: Dodge Demon concept to premiere at Geneva… …along with Mercedes-Benz E 230 US: DaimlerChrysler announces 2006 profit and Chrysler Group restructuring; 13,000 jobs to go US: Chrysler offers early retirement packages to salaried workers US: DaimlerChrysler cancels engine plant investment US: Dodge begins 2008 Avenger production Argentina: Fiat confirms Tata-based pickup production Brazil: Fiat introduces third shift in Betim Italy: Fiat CEO rules out Chrysler Group bid Italy: Iveco’s new-look Stralis range to meet Euro 5 as standard Italy: Fiat to pay annual dividend of €275.6m Switzerland: Fiat to revive Abarth brand with Geneva show Grande Punto concept Switzerland: Alfa Romeo Spider diesel and 159 Q4 JTDM to debut at Geneva show Switzerland: Maserati releases GranTurismo images ahead of Geneva debut Canada: Ford facility idled for second day; production to resume India: Ford changes strategy; Mondeo to be reintroduced Russia: Ford follows up strike with new offer; Focus imports planned Sweden: Volvo to replace S40 and S60 with one model Sweden: Volvo developing diesel-electric C30 prototype Sweden: Volvo V70 becomes V70 Classic Sweden: Volvo Cars announces 2006 global sales and production UK: Aston Martin to cease vehicle production at Newport Pagnell plant UK: Environment experts to oversee Land Rover carbon dioxide offset programme US: Ford renames the 2008 Five Hundred the 2008 Taurus US: Ford VP confirms future of Mercury division US: Ford denies report of Ohio transmission plant investment decision US: Mercury facelifts the Montego and renames it 2008 Sable US: Ford rules out Chrysler Group bid; seeks advanced technology alliance with Toyota Australia: Holden Epica debuts at Brisbane motor show Brazil: General Motors launches flex-fuel pickup Canada: GM to build Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrids at Oshawa plant South Africa: GM to invest Rand 1m in mechatronics lab UK: Vauxhall announces Antara US: GM ends Buick Rainier production US: General Motors partners Colorado state to build 40 E85 stations US: GM cut advertising spending by 23% in 2006, report claims US: GM continues to delay Q4 results over GMAC balance sheet US: Output reduction and layoffs at Fairfax US: GM commences production of new six-speed variant at Ypsilanti General Motors dead? Forget it, we can see green shoots India: Honda to build Maruti Swift rival in 2009 India: Honda delays plans to integrate divisions Japan: Honda announces the Crossroad Japan: Government subsidiary to sell stake in Honda Switzerland: Honda hybrid concept and diesel engine to debut at Geneva motor show US: New Indiana plant will build a four-cylinder model China: Hyundai developing low cost car Czech Republic: Hyundai denies report of plant construction delay India: New Hyundai plant to become operational in October South Korea: Hyundai denies report of Chrysler Group bid South Korea: Hyundai likely to face FTC probe for price fixing South Korea: Hyundai to export CKD kits for pickup and SUV assembly in Brazil Switzerland: Kia cee’d Sporty Wagon to premiere at Geneva show Switzerland: Kia Rio hybrid world premiere at Geneva motor show US: Hyundai considering launching diesel vehicles US: Hyundai claimed to have five months’ inventory backlog US: Kia Rondo SX concept premieres at Chicago show Japan: Mitsubishi announces first quarterly net profit since 2004 US: Mitsubishi appoints new VP of Fixed Operations India: Nissan joins Mahindra & Mahindra and Renault 400,000upa plant project Japan: Nissan releases updated FCV fuel cell prototype for fleet testing Japan: Nissan profit falls by 22.6% Malaysia: Two new Nissan models to be built locally this year Spain: Nissan expanding CV production at Avila US: Nissan to build next Quest minivan in Japan US: Facelifted Nissan Armada to debut at the Chicago auto show US: Nissan offers buyouts to hourly workers at Tennessee plants US: Facelift for the Nissan Pathfinder; V8 added Argentina: Peugeot introduces 206 Escapade Australia: Peugeot 207 CC and 207 GTI to debut at Melbourne motor show China: Dongfeng Citroen facelifts the Xsara Picasso France: PSA planning 308 diesel-electric hybrid France: PSA Peugeot Citroen net income falls by 83% France: Robert Peugeot joins PSA board; new MD for Citroen Switzerland: Peugeot announces five world premieres for Geneva show France: Renault developing cheaper Dacia Logan France: Renault Group reports lower net profit for 2006 France: Renault Group CFO rules out buying Chrysler Group Romania: Strike threat from Dacia workers demanding 26% pay rise Russia: Renault to increase capacity at Avtoframos; Logan sales continue to rise Switzerland: New Renault Megane and Scenic derivatives to premiere at Geneva show Australia: Toyota planning local build of next Camry Hybrid China: Toyota to boost production India: Toyota denies plans to set up new plant Japan: Unions apply pressure to OEMs for pay rises and bonuses Japan: Daihatsu to build Subaru Justy replacement for European markets Japan: Toyota, Hino, Tokyo authority and Nippon Oil in biodiesel collaboration UK: Toyota invests a reported £100m to build Auris engines US: Toyota launches all-new Highlander and Highlander Hybrid at Chicago auto show US: Trade panel judge supports Toyota in latest round of hybrid patent dispute US: Toyota evaluates options to reduce US costs Belgium: New strike at Volkswagen Brussels plant Brazil: Volkswagen is top exporter US: Toyota commences build of 5.7-litre gasoline V8 US: Toyota announces its eighth North American plant Czech Republic: Skoda Auto announces record earnings Germany: Volkswagen raises stake in MAN to 29.9% Germany: Volkswagen reported to have axed Golf and Jetta hybrids; Touareg Hybrid expected in 2009 Germany: Volkswagen CEO proposes development of new small car Germany: Volkswagen not interested in acquiring Chrysler India: Volkswagen outlines brand strategy for local market Netherlands: Volkswagen considering heavy truck HQ, says report Spain: Five-day stoppage at two Seat plants to clear stocks Switzerland: Volkswagen Golf wagon and Phaeton facelift to debut at Geneva show Switzerland: World premiere for the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera at Geneva show US: Volkswagen 2008 GTI R32 debuts at Chicago motor show China: Roewe 750 goes on sale China: Shuanghuan Auto announces the S6 microcar China: Chery reported to be buying Chrysler Group transmission production line India: Suzuki to invest additional ¥200bn in Maruti and SPIL India: Mahindra testing Scorpio diesel-electric hybrid; 2008 launch claimed Iran: IKCO starts production of Dacia Logan-based Tondar90 Jordan: Agreement signed for the assembly of Lada cars Russia: Avtotor and Chery planning new plant Russia: AvtoVAZ and GM negotiating engine venture Russia: KAMAZ increases engine production Russia: Ural exports 221 trucks to Syria South Korea: Ssangyong denies reports it will build the Roewe 750 Switzerland: Mazda Hakaze concept to debut at Geneva show Australia: Vehicle sales grow 9.9% in January Belgium: Car registrations rise across western Europe in January Brazil: January new vehicle output rises while sales slow China: Passenger car sales jump 31% in January India: Vehicle sales remain strong in January Mexico: Weak US demand dampens January exports and output Philippines: January vehicle sales fall by 26% US: Hybrid sales growth slows Vietnam: Vehicle sales soar 152% in January GAZ to use LDV in bid for growth Australia’s OEMs conquer the world A record production year for the Czech Republic Financials: European,Japanese & US manufacturers, 2006

Companies Mentioned

-Volkswagen -yundai -MW -Dürr Systems -Novelis -Dodge Challenger -DaimlerChrysler -Fiat -Iveco’s -Alfa Romeo -Maserati -Ford -Volvo -Aston Martin -Land Rover -General Motors -Vauxhall -Honda -Kia -Mitsubishi -Nissan -Peugeot -Dongfeng Citroen -Renault -Toyota -Daihatsu -Suzuki -Mahindra -Avtotor -Chery -AvtoVAZ -KAMAZ -Ssangyong