Business International

Toyota throws down green gauntlet

Toyota Motor Corp, likely to claim the title of world's biggest automaker later this month from General Motors Corp, threw down the gauntlet to GM in a race for the next "green" car.

Hyundai looks to gain from US woes

Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea's biggest automaker, expects to benefit from the precarious state of the US economy as more consumers look for value propositions in their car purchase decisions, an executive with Hyundai's North American arm said.

Tata's Nano causes a stir, and it's not even there

The most-talked-about car at the Detroit auto show this year isn't even present: Tata Motors Ltd's $2,500 Nano.

Mazda rules out low-cost model

Mazda Motor Corp, the Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Co, plans to focus on boosting sales in North America rather than joining competitors in building low-cost cars for India and other emerging markets.

Lamborghini to build on last year's success

Italian car maker Lamborghini sees a 5 percent increase in global sales this year following record sales in 2007, Chief Executive Stephan Winkelmann said.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Business International

Can auto giants cope with $100 oil?

Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC are betting they can return to profitability by selling new versions of their big pickups. The automakers didn't expect US gasoline prices to more than double before they got the trucks to market.

GM chief: Outlook to improve later in '08

The top executive at General Motors Corp said that the woes of the US economy were a concern to the automaker, but predicted that the second half of 2008 would be better than the first half.

Chrysler mulls selling assets

Chrysler LLC ended 2007 with more cash on hand than its new private owner Cerberus Capital Management projected, but the automaker is looking to sell real estate and other assets to boost liquidity, Chief Executive Officer Bob Nardelli said on Sunday.

BMW has high hopes for US

Germany's BMW, the world's biggest premium carmaker, said it saw no sign of a slowdown in the United States and aimed to sell at least as many cars in 2008 here as in 2007.