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Video: BMW’s beautiful Design Portrait of Karim Habib

We're often inundated with videos from OEMs. Many are thinly-disguised PR-laden party political broadcasts but occasionally we're presented with gems such as this Design Portrait of Karim Habib from BMW. Ok so we don't really believe the Head of Design, BMW Automobiles sits dreamily sketching at a perfect desk with only a delicate espresso for company or that he cruises Munich in a (gorgeous) 2002 tii oldtimer for inspiration, but as an insight into what makes Habib tick, his design philosophy, and how he came to be in such a position, it's a beautifully-shot treat.

Saab EIB loan repaid by Swedish Government

Sweden has repaid Saab's EIB loan With Saab in administration, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has called in the Swedish Government guarantee on Saab’s loan. In the midst of Victor Muller’s efforts to restructure Saab, Saab received access to a European Investment Bank loan of €400 million, of which it accessed some €217 million. But just like any less than credit worthy individual Saab needed a guarantor for the loan, which they received from the Swedish Government.

Maybach is dead - Zetsche closes Merc's upmarket wing

Daimler is to announce the closure of Maybach, marking the failure of its upmarket division resurrected to battle BMW's Rolls-Royce and VW's Bentley subsidiaries. Chief exec Dieter Zetsche will tomorrow (Saturday 26 November) announce he's lost patience with Maybach in an interview with a weekend newspaper in Germany. No more Maybachs will be developed and stocks will deplete by later in 2012.