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.

Best and worst states for car insurance prices

Drivers in Louisiana and Michigan are hit hardest when it comes to car insurance premiums, while those in Maine and Iowa pay the least, according to here. Ten most expensive states (average annual premium) -- Louisiana: $2,699 -- Michigan: $2,520 -- Georgia: $2,155 -- Oklahoma: $2,074 -- Washington, D.C.: $2,006 -- Montana: $1,914 -- California: $1,819 -- West Virginia: $1,816 -- Rhode Island: $1,735 -- Kentucky: $1,725 Ten least expensive states: -- Maine: $934 -- Iowa: $1,028 -- North Carolina: $1,085 -- Ohio: $1,106 -- New Hampshire: $1,112 -- Idaho: $1,133 -- Vermont: $1,176 -- Indiana: $1,183 -- Washington: $1,226 -- Arizona: $1,227

BYD aims to bring electric vehicle to North America by 2011 or 2012

Chinese firm BYD Auto is aiming to bring at least one electric vehicle to North America by 2011 or 2012, and is considering building an assembly plant in the United States, it said Monday at the Detroit Auto Show. The automaker showed the e6, an electric vehicle, and two other hybrid cars at the show. The e6 has room for five and has a range of 250 miles, BYD says.