Motoring | The Straits Times

Top Story

LONDON (AFP) - Lotus have set their sights on a top-three finish in this year's Formula One (F1) world championship after becoming the first team to unveil their car for the forthcoming campaign.

GM announces production of Chevrolet Trax in Mexico

MEXICO CITY (REUTERS) - United States (US) carmaker General Motors (GM) on Thursday said it would build the Chevrolet Trax vehicle and a new generation of pickups at plants in Mexico.

Peugeot and Toyota close to Sevelnord deal

(REUTERS) - Japanese automaker Toyota is close to an agreement to purchase light commercial vans from PSA Peugeot Citroen's threatened Sevelnord plant in northern France, La Tribune reported.

Peugeot weakened by attacks, chairman tells paper

PARIS (REUTERS) - Government criticism of PSA Peugeot Citroen's planned cutbacks have weakened the French automaker and even left it vulnerable to hostile takeover bids, chairman Thierry Peugeot said in an interview with Le Figaro.

Fiat meets unions on plans update on Aug 1

TURIN (REUTERS) - Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne will meet with trade union leaders on Aug 1 and likely provide an update about the Italian carmaker's plans, a source close to the situation said.

European car discounts revved up to the max

MILAN (REUTERS) - Free road tax, cheap petrol, cash rebates and even a free car. These are only some of the knock-down offers European automakers are offering in a brutal price war to try to lure the few consumers still buying cars in a deepening five-year slump.

Ford recalls 1.6-litre Ford Escape, tells owners to stop driving

(REUTERS) - Ford Motor told owners of the best-selling sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the United States (US) on Thursday to stop driving 2013 model Ford Escape with 1.6-litre engines immediately due to the risk of an engine fire.

Riot forces Maruti Suzuki plant closure in India

MUMBAI, India (AP) - Top Indian carmaker Maruti Suzuki has shut one of its two factories in India after rioting sparked by a labour dispute killed one person and injured dozens of others.

VW mulls over renewed bid for Malaysia's Proton

BERLIN (REUTERS) - Volkswagen (VW) is considering launching a new bid for Malaysia's Proton as Europe's largest carmaker aims to tap growing South-east Asian markets in its quest for global dominance, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.