THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has passed the Rudd Government’s proposed Automotive Transformation Scheme Bill, which aims to inject an estimated $3.4 billion into the  local car industry.

The Bill aims to stimulate innovation and investment in Australian new car design, with a particular emphasis on environmentally-friendly technology.

The money is intended to be spent between 2011 and [...]

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Germany has proved to be largely immune to the falling automotive sales epidemic that’s presently sweeping the world, recording its best February sales figure for ten years.

Sales of new vehicles rose 22 percent over 2008’s results, thanks to a €2500 (AUD $4900) cash incentive designed to encourage vehicle owners to scrap their old car and [...]

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It seems that if GM is to survive, it’s not going to be given an easy run. Especially in Europe where the UK, Swedish and German governments have all reacted cautiously to requests for £4.2 billion (AUD $9 billion) in government aid.

The UK government is considering a loan upon presentation of a plan for the [...]

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GM US’s restructuring plan, posted on the US Treasury website, will make unpalatable reading for the US Administration and long-suffering US tax-payers (those still in jobs and paying tax that is).

In it, GM outlines plans to cut costs and to reduce its global workforce by 47,000, including yet more cuts to its US workforce with [...]

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Following on from Mercedes-Benz’s $150,000 donation yesterday, Honda, Ford, Nissan and Audi have all opened their wallets and made sizable contributions to various bushfire recovery funds.

Honda pledged $200,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, while Nissan gave $100,000 and promised to match all of its employee’s donations dollar for dollar. Nissan has also commited 100 [...]

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