Former Opel, BMW and Mazda designer Kevin Rice will be the creative head at all three of Pininfarina's styling departments: cars, industrial design and architecture.

Buyers in Spain are increasingly purchasing used cars as automakers ax their smallest models because they are unprofitable.

Hyundai's design sketches of the new-generation i20 show that the model will get a sportier and more dynamic look than the current car.

Kia's largest SUV will get a low-emissions hybrid option that will help the automaker to meet tougher EU CO2 reduction goals.

Porsche, Skoda, Seat and Dacia were among sales winners in Italy in January, while Ford, Nissan and Toyota lost volume.

Hyundai will build the electric version of its Kona small SUV in the Czech Republic as the automaker makes a big push to sell zero-emissions vehicles.

Seat's top-selling model gets advanced connectivity and a plug-in hybrid version.

The hybrid will launch Maserati's push toward electrification and its goal of introducing 10 new or updated models, including a full-electric sports car.

Maserati has hired former Mitsubishi executive Bernard Loire as its new chief commercial officer, while Paolo Tubito, an ex-Nike executive, becomes its chief marketing officer.

The fuel-saving versions of Fiat's two top-selling cars will help the automaker to meet tougher EU CO2 emissions targets.

Fiat, Kia, Skoda, Seat, Mercedes and Audi were among brands with big sales increases in December in Spain while Opel, BMW and Nissan saw registrations fall.

Smart, Seat, Mercedes, Kia, BMW and Ford were among big winners in an Italian market up 13 percent in December.

Mazda Europe CEO Yasuhiro Aoyama believes it is unlikely that the automaker will initially comply with tougher CO2 rules in Europe, putting the brand's profitability in the region at risk. Aoyama explained how Mazda will respond in an interview with Automotive News Europe.

The executive is confident that Kia will avoid paying fines for missing EU CO2 targets as the automaker accepts an electric future for all model segments.

Hyundai Europe COO Thomas Schmid forecasts that the cost of electrification will force automakers to focus on a healthy business by cutting marketing costs and limiting sales incentives. The executive, who will step down from his post at the end of the year, discussed a range of topics with Automotive News Europe.