The discussions are intended to extend an alliance that involves developing four-wheel-drive vehicles, electric cars and a joint venture in Russia, Paris-based Peugeot said in an e-mailed statement. An equity tie-up with Peugeot is one of several options Mitsubishi is considering, Kazuhiro Yamana, a spokesman for the Japanese carmaker, said today.
“This would be great news for Peugeot,” said Eric-Alain Michelis, a Paris-based analyst at Societe Generale. “This deal has been widely expected for many years and if it were to materialize it would definitely propel Peugeot - - - - >

“Weve a clear strategy now and weve a clear definition of who does what,” Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer of the French carmaker, told reporters in New Delhi today. “From time to time, we will face challenges with our partners, and this is normal.”
Bajaj Auto Ltd., Indias second-largest motorcycle maker, and the partner for the low-cost car project, will now be responsible for design, engineering and manufacturing of the product, Ghosn said. The automobile will take on Tata Motors Ltd.s Nano, the worlds cheapest car, as - - - - >

Steve Collins, president of industry trade group the American Automotive Policy Council, said Wednesday that U.S. officials have told the three Detroit automakers that China is expected to begin an investigation under anti-dumping laws into their business practices as soon as next week.
If the investigation concludes that the companies receive government subsidies, or sell products in China at below-market prices, China could slap tariffs on U.S. auto imports.
The move is the latest trade dispute between the two countries, which are already fighting over steel pipes, chicken products, and pirated movies and music. The trade spats worsened after the Obama administration - - - - >

Besides the top-selling Camry sedan and hybrid Prius, Toyota Motor Corp. Tuesday announced South Korean sales of its Camry hybrid and the RAV4, a compact SUV. Japanese automakers Honda Motor co. and Nissan Motor Co. have also entered the South Korean market in recent years.
Toyota has been active in South Korea since 2000 when it established a local arm and began selling the luxury Lexus the following year. Now the company is offering a broader range of choices to South Korean drivers under the Toyota brand, and aims to sell a total of 500 vehicles a month this year and - - - - >

Carmakers absorbed the costs to develop advanced vehicles to meet state requirements, Kevin Webber, Toyotas U.S. general manager for regulation and certification engineering, said in comments filed last week with the California Public Utilities Commission. “Any societal benefit from the low-carbon-fuel aspect of these vehicles, especially the generation of credits, must accrue to the auto manufacturer,” he said.
The most populous U.S. state begins a program next year to cut carbon intensity of transportation fuels 10 percent by 2020 to pare emissions of gases linked to climate - - - - >

Seven months after Business Secretary Peter Mandelson made the pledge, no agreements have been signed. The process is “frustrating” and the program doesnt do anything to encourage banks to make loans, said Paul Everitt, head of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
“The whole procedure has taken far longer than people anticipated,” Everitt said in an interview.
Carmakers and suppliers have asked for guarantees worth 2 billion pounds, according to the Department for - - - - >

Asia-based companies sales fell a combined 34 percent from a year earlier, led by a 40 percent plunge for Toyota, the worlds largest automaker. The declines included 38 percent for Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co. and 37 percent for Nissan Motor Co. Seoul-based Hyundais total was down just 1.5 percent and its affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., reported a 0.4 percent gain.
“The value proposition of Hyundai and Kia continues to grow,” Jesse Toprak, director of analysis for auto-research firm Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, California, said in a conference - - - - >