World-Business/Auto news

Mazda and VISIT FLORIDA today announced a special promotion that will kick-off this weekend during the Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Raceway, providing a dash of both sun and star power.  

Farmington Hills, Mich. Mercedes-Benz Financial is now the first automotive financial services company to expand personalized and convenient account management features to all of its customers using smartphones like BlackBerry®, Droid ®, and other mobile devices with internet capability.

Only Dedicated Hybrid Vehicle in the Premium Compact Segment- 1.8L Four-Cylinder Engine Paired with Lexus Hybrid Drive- Engineered for Dynamic Handling and Agility

Toyota today announced manufacturers suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the redesigned 2011 Avalon sedan.  Also announced were the MSRP for 2011 Sienna models equipped with the new Auto Access Seat.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's (NYSE: GT) innovative technology and industry-leading new product engine are on full display at the 80th Geneva Motor Show, which opens to the public tomorrow.

Hyundai and BASF – The Chemical Company are presenting their jointly developed i-flow concept car at the Geneva Motor Show.

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today announced February 2010 sales of 4,019, a slight decrease (1 percent) from January sales.

Hyundai Motor America today announced February sales of 34,004 units, up 11 percent versus February 2009 and the same amount over January of this year.

Mercedes-Benz USA Records February Sales of 14,870 passenger cars and light truck vehicles - an improvement of 4.7 percent over February 2009- Mercedes-Benz USA Records 515 Sales of Sprinter Vans- smart USA Records 442 Sales in February 2010 - a nearly 60 percent improvement over January 2010

Demand for best-selling A4/S4 models rose nearly 21% for the month- Audi Q5 and A5/S5 models continued to show consumer appeal- TDI clean diesel models made up nearly half of all A3 and Q7 sales

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported February 2010 sales of 17,054, an increase of 4.0 percent versus February 2009, and the fourth straight month of sales increases.

DETROIT, General Motors today announced a restructured North American organization with a number of key leadership changes.

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported February 2010 sales of 70,189 units versus 54,249 units a year earlier, an increase of 29.4 percent, compared with February 2009.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported February sales of 100,027 vehicles. With equal selling days in February 2009 and 2010, sales were down 8.7 percent from the year-ago month on a daily selling rate and unadjusted raw volume basis.

Higher sales for every brand and in every product category propelled Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) to a 43 percent sales increase in February versus a year ago.  Compared with January, Ford's February sales are up 22 percent.

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced a 38-percent sales increase for February 2010, resulting in a February sales record. The company sold 18,098 units in February 2010 versus 13,089 units sold in February 2009.

The new concept car offers a particularly good rendition of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan in all its dynamic, efficient and innovative qualities, at the same time representing the ongoing development of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 with their drivetrain technology already in production.

When the new Formula-1 season gets underway in Manama/Bahrain (12-14 March 2010), it will mark the debut of the most spectacular and powerful Official F1™ Safety Car of all time.

Development of the groundbreaking McLaren MP4-12C is entering its final phase. The bespoke high-performance sports car is due to launch in 2011, and right now the latest Experimental Prototype (XP) 12Cs are undergoing intensive appraisal at a number of test locations around the world.

Under the new label MercedesSport, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a portfolio of elegant and sporty individualisation products for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show.