Contents:

Ford sells 92% of Aston Martin to UK, US and Kuwaiti consortium Porsche raises stake in Volkswagen China: Construction of second BMW plant to start in April Germany: BMW and DaimlerChrysler to expand hybrid drivetrain collaboration India: BMW launches first locally assembled cars Switzerland: BMW premieres M3 Concept at Geneva US: BMW to lift local production Germany: New car registrations for Mercedes Car Group slip 2.1% in February Germany: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter production switch boosts market share Germany: No commercial vehicle hybrids for at least two years, says Mercedes-Benz MD Switzerland: Zetsche says Chrysler Financial may be sold US: DaimlerChrysler and Getrag to announce site for new transmission facility Magna eyes developments at Chrysler, but actions may prove modest Brazil: Third and final facelift for the Fiat Palio Italy: Fiat announces the 500 Italy: Maserati expects to be self funding by 2011 Poland: Fiat increases capacity at Tychy facility South Africa: Fiat to launch flex-fuel Uno this year Switzerland: Ferrari chief confirms new F430-based model; rules out smaller model Switzerland: Lancia reveals new logo at Geneva motor show Belgium and Germany: New Ford Mondeo joins production list at Genk; C-Max production starts in Saarlouis US: Ford sells Automobile Protection Corporation unit US: Ford stops sales of 2008 Super Duty pickups following tailpipe fires US: Ford F-series production resumed in Louisville after engine dispute US: Kentucky legislature approves US$200m Ford incentive US: UAW fights to save Ford 4.4-litre diesel work in Cleveland US: Ford expects Way Forward plan to cost US$11.18bn Australia: Holden trims production at Elizabeth facility; 600 jobs to go Belgium & Germany: Union officials claim GM Antwerp and Bochum plants may close Russia: General Motors already planning expansion of plant under construction US: GM reports US$1.98bn loss for 2006 US: GM to invest additional US$1bn in GMAC US: Buick LaCrosse facelift to premiere at New York motor show Uzbekistan: GM reportedly negotiating with UzDaewoo to build Chevrolet cars General Motors plays catch up with VM Motori V6 diesels Brazil: Honda to produce engines and transmissions in Sumare China: Guangzhou Honda reported to be planning new brand Mexico: Honda to build CR-V at Guadalajara plant; Accord production shifting to Ohio Switzerland: Honda premieres Small Hybrid Sports Concept at Geneva show Czech Republic: Hyundai commences construction of €1bn plant Slovakia: Kia working on several new models for Zilina factory South Korea: Hyundai to establish ethics committee to mend corporate image Switzerland: Hyundai and GE Plastics unveil QarmaQ concept at Geneva show US: Hyundai to establish US$270m engine plant in Alabama Europe: Nissan to launch Infiniti in Europe next year Japan: Mitsubishi announces February figures Netherlands: Mitsubishi extending life of current Colt Japan: Nissan management changes see Ghosn relinquish control of the Americas Japan: Nissan to begin testing next phase of ITS Japan: Nissan to cut production at two more plants Japan: Nissan to revamp domestic dealership network US: Nissan announces results of buyout offer in Tennessee Brazil: PSA Peugeot Citroen appoints new General Director France: Citroen displays forthcoming C4 flex-fuel model Slovakia: PSA Peugeot Citroen outlines plans for Trnava factory UK: PSA Peugeot Citroën agrees sales of Ryton site Brazil: Renault launches flex-fuel Kangoo into buoyant market Russia: Renault to increase local Logan content Switzerland: Renault Clio Grand Tour Concept debuts at Geneva show Switzerland: Renault launches New Twingo at Geneva motor show Australia: First Toyota V8 diesel debuts in facelifted Land Cruiser Australia: Toyota to increase recruitment by 11% in fiscal year 2007 India: Toyota to set up technical training institute in Bangalore Japan: Toyota keen to protect itself from currency fluctuations Japan: Toyota denies report of new engine plant at Kitakyushu Philippines: Toyota breaks ground on new transmission plant Thailand: Toyota inaugurates third Thai plant US: Lexus to reveal LX 570 at New York show Belgium: Audi takes control of Volkswagen Brussels plant; cuts labour rates by 20% Brazil: Volkswagen to invest US$45m in truck and bus unit US: Toyota anticipates political backlash as sales rise continues France: Bugatti head resigns; Bentley head to step in Portugal: Volkswagen to invest €500m in Palmela plant Spain: Seat to cut 10% of its workforce Interview: Detlef Wittig (Chairman) and Martin Jahn (Board Member), Skoda Auto Brazil: Volvo to invest US$110m in local operations by 2008 Russia: Volvo Truck sales up by 83% in 2006 Sweden: Volvo to complete acquisition of Nissan Diesel Powertrain strategy: Volvo Group Hybrids should have their own emission regs, says Volvo Belarus: MAZ plans production increase Brazil: Global production by Marcopolo falls by 4.7% in 2006 China: Chang’an commences production of CV11 MPV China: Chery to set up joint venture plant in Uruguay Germany: Porsche says diesel engine a future possibility Indonesia: Proton to invest US$26m in dealership network expansion Japan: Mazda unveils plan to reach 1.6 million global sales by 2010 Switzerland: Subaru premieres its first diesel engine at Geneva show UK: New TVR owners announce plans to shift production to Bertone Argentina: Vehicle production up 108.1% month-on-month in February Brazil: Carnival dampens February sales China: Year-to-date passenger cars sales rise 33.21% China: Unified corporate tax rate approved Europe: Passenger car sales for western Europe down by 2.5% in February India: Car sales grow 46.47% in February Japan: Vehicle sales to fall to 23-year low in 2007/8, says JAMA Russia: Sales of foreign-branded cars surge 81% US: Alternative-fuel vehicle numbers hit 10.5 million Chery’s great leap westward Interview: Hisakazu Imaki, President and Chairman, Mazda Motor Co. India: on the road to global integration Financials: European,Japanese & US manufacturers, 2006

Companies Mentioned

-Ford -Porsche -Volkswagen -BMW -DaimlerChrysler -Mercedes-Benz -Zetsche -Getrag -Magna -Fiat -Maserati -Ferrari -Lancia -UAW -Holden -General Motors -UzDaewoo -Honda -Hyundai -Kia -Zilina -Nissan -Mitsubishi -Peugeot Citroen -Renault -Toyota -Lexus -Audi -Bugatti -Bentley -Volvo -Chang’an -Chery -Mazda -Subaru