Headlines for Thursday, January 10, 2013

Detroit auto show promises to be hot

It's getting to be time for the Detroit auto show around here. This is, of course, the annual party when the Motor City opens its doors to the world and puts on a first-class event, not to mention a motor show competitive with the best in the world. Read More »

Chevy goes global for Detroit auto show

Chevrolet is bringing some international flavor to the Detroit auto show. General Motors' biggest division will bring five vehicles from its world lineup to demonstrate its all-inclusive reach. Read More »

Honda plans $23M Ohio expansion to build Accord Hybrid

Honda will spend $23 million to expand its Marysville, Ohio, plant to build the 2014 Accord Hybrid, the company said today. The plant will add about 50 workers for production of the hybrid sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale this fall, the company said. Read More »

Detroit show backers roll out red carpet to more dealers nationwide

The Detroit Auto Dealers Association's push to attract more auto dealers to the Detroit auto show is paying off, with as many as 800 expected next week for the event. Read More »

App provides updates from the show floor

Spectators with smartphones will be able to download the Detroit auto show's first official mobile app this year. Read More »

Kia expects Slovakia output to dip after record 2012

Kia said it plans to make 290,000 cars in Slovakia this year, which would be below its record of 292,000 units produced in 2012. Read More »

Nissan shifting Murano output to Miss. from Japan

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, following through on a vow to lessen the company's reliance on expensive Japanese manufacturing and compete better in North America, has ordered output of the Murano crossover shifted to Canton, Miss. Read More »

First Shift: Close-up look at Lexus IS

More room, a new grille, and subscription-free traffic, weather; Kia heads to Super Bowl; GM-Isuzu talks; U.S.-made Leafs. Read More »

Ford, citing stronger finances, doubles stock dividend to 7-year high

Ford doubled its quarterly dividend to 10 cents per share, its highest in seven years, on the back of strong sales in North America and a healthy balance sheet. Read More »

AutoNews Now: BMW's high hopes for '13

After winning global luxury race, brand expects strong year; Jeep climbs to record; Benz 'on a roll'; GM, Ford share woes. Read More »

U.S. car and light-truck inventories, on Jan 1

This is data compiled by the Automotive News Data Center and requires a Data Center subscription to access. Read More »

GM exec complains about Hewlett-Packard depositions of tech workers

GM Chief Information Officer Randy Mott today called Hewlett-Packard's efforts to question two technology workers hired by the automaker “retaliatory” and a “fishing expedition.” Read More »

Obama signs bill to let dealers toss out insurance booklets

President Obama today signed into law a bill allowing dealerships to stop stocking copies of a government booklet on insurance costs, the White House said. The measure, which dealers sought as a way to save time and money, cleared the House of Representatives in July without a dissenting vote. Read More »

Mexico auto production stalls in December while annual output hits record

Mexico's auto production was little changed in December as exports fell 9.7 percent on fewer shipments to other Latin American countries and the United States, an industry trade group said. Mexico's annual production climbed 13 percent to a record 2.88 million vehicles in 2012. Read More »

Mazda's diesel gambit pays in Japan. But in the U.S.?

Here's a good omen for Mazda Motor's gamble on delving into diesels in the United States later this year. In Japan, a country where diesels are all but non-existent, the diesel version of Mazda's CX-5 sold like crazy in 2012. Read More »

Toyota wins order dismissing Prius brakes class-action claims

Toyota has won a federal judge’s ruling blocking a class-action lawsuit by owners of Prius and Lexus models who sued over a 2010 recall to install a software update that fixed a concern with the cars’ anti-lock braking system. Read More »

Korea's Halla to buy Visteon's auto climate businesses in China, India

South Korea's Halla Climate Control has decided to buy Visteon's automotive climate units, almost four months after the American auto-parts supplier announced the plan for combining the businesses to make them more competitive. Read More »

Toyota tries carbon fiber roof in family sedan

Toyota is taking another stab at using carbon fiber, following the retirement of the Lexus LFA sports car. This time, it is rolling out a concept sports version of the Japan-market Toyota Mark X sedan with a carbon fiber roof. Read More »

Audi sells record 1.45 million vehicles in 2012 on U.S., China demand

Audi sold a record 1.45 million vehicles globally in 2012, driven by strong growth in the United States and China and beating a previous sales target of 1.4 million. Read More »

Opel hopes Adam will help it win back European drivers

Opel started production of the Adam minicar at its Eisenach plant in Germany today as it strives to win back European customers amid the worst regional auto industry downturn for nearly two decades. The automaker has invested 190 million euros ($248 million) to prepare the factory to make the Adam. Read More »

Italy's sales decline takes us back to 1979

Italy car sales last year fell 20 percent to 1.4 million units, the country's worst result in 33 years. Back then, domestic automakers had a dominating 61.7 percent share of the market, in 2012 they controlled just 29.7 percent. Read More »

EU must cut diesel emissions, officials say

The European Union must cut emissions from diesel vehicles as part of a drive to reduce air pollution, which causes nearly half a million premature deaths a year, EU officials said. Read More »

VW, BMW are favorites to gain market share in auto sector, survey says

VW and BMW are the favorites to add market share in the global auto industry over the next five years, according to a survey of top automotive executives. Read More »

Opel CEO says remaining factories safe

Opel has no plans for further factory closures at the moment, interim CEO Thomas Sedran said, adding that the weak European car market may shrink by 4 percent this year. Read More »

BMW aims for record 2013 sales despite 'headwinds'

BMW Group predicts 2013 will be an even better sales year than 2012, during which it sold a record 1.85 million vehicles worldwide. Read More »

Renault links French labor deal to Nissan, Daimler output

Renault may build vehicles in France for partners Nissan and Daimler if domestic employees agree to work an average 6.5 percent more, the carmaker told unions. Read More »

10 things to watch in 2013

No one expects the European car market to be a source of good news this year, especially for volume brands. Optimists predict flat sales while pessimists foresee a decline of up to 5 percent. Here are 10 stories to watch in 2013.. Read More »