Akio Toyoda: Toyota's top car guy has a lifelong driving passion

As Akio Toyoda climbed the ranks at the automaker his grandfather had founded, many Toyota Motor Corp. managers treated the scion with kid gloves. Not Hiromu Naruse.

EPA makes it official--greenhouse gases are pollutants

On the eve of an international climate summit, the EPA on Monday formally declared greenhouse gases to be dangerous pollutants, strengthening President Barack Obama's hand and laying the groundwork for a new 35.5 mpg standard for light vehicles. The finding is likely to have a greater impact on electric utilities, oil companies and manufacturers than on the auto industry. The EPA's scientific finding reported that these gases “are the primary driver of climate change,” which can intensify heat waves and increase ozone pollution linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Drivers walk to avoid parking fees

DRIVERS are voting with their feet over parking charges, with most prepared to walk so they do not have to pay. On average, drivers are willing to walk up to half a mile to dodge parking charges, a survey from market research company Viewsbank found. A fifth of motorists were prepared to walk a mile or more rather than pay up, with only 11% saying they would rather pay than walk, the poll of 2,053 drivers revealed.