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News watch March 2010: today's auto industry news

Tuesday 30 March 2010• Mercedes has dismissed claims that its Maybach brand is for sale, after reports in the Chinese media claimed Chinese car company BYD was considering a bid for the upmarket offshoot. BYD has also denied the claims (Reuters)• Toyota president Akio Toyoda has promised his company will listen more carefully to customers and react faster in a bid to regain credibility after the Japanese car manufacturer was forced to recall millions of vehilces over safety fears (BBC)• The Obama administration is expected to unveil its finalised fuel economy and tailpipe emissions through to 2016 this week, to coincide with the opening of the 2010 New York auto show (Detroit News)  Monday 29 March 2010• Toyota has agreed to licence the hybrid technology in the Prius to Mazda, which will combine the electric system with its next-gen Sky engines. It’s part of Mazda’s plans to increase the average fuel economy of its vehicles by 30% by 2015 (compared to 2008 levels) and it hopes to have its first hybrid vehicle on sale in Japan by 2013 (Mazda)• Ford and Chinese car company Geely have signed a stock purchase agreement that will allow the latter to acquire 100% of Volvo (along with related assets including intellectual property rights).

Italian Grand Prix (2012) RESULT

With McLaren locking out the front row of the grid in Monza, will the 2012 Italian Grand Prix see the Woking team dominate? Spa saw Jenson Button drive brilliantly for a lights to flag win, and here at Monza Button is riding shotgun for Hamilton’s pole as the 2012 Italian Grand Prix looks set to see the resurgence of McLaren continue. This time it was Lewis Hamilton who dominated from the lights – only briefly losing the lead during a pit stop – after a clean start saw him put clear air between the McLaren and a fired-up Massa who managed to wedge his Ferrari between Hamilton and Button before the first corner.

Chevrolet Volt production halted – again

General Motors has revealed that they are to halt production of the Chevrolet Volt for four weeks as sales stay low. Back in March, we revealed that GM were to stop production of the Chevrolet Volt range extender EV as actual sales fell well behind projected sales. At that time – with a production target of 45,000 Chevy Volts in 2012 – GM had managed to flog just 1.626 Volts in the first two months of 2012 so they decided to halt production for a moth as they had 6,300 Volts stockpiled.