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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).

New Vauxhall Astra (2010) – the Tease

The new Vauxhall Astra - teased ahead of a launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show [ad#ad-1] You’d think Vauxhall would have better things to do with the current GM mess than torment buyers with teaser shots of the new Vauxhall Astra. But, just like every other car maker lately, they seem to think that this is the way to lead-in to a launch. This time we’ve got a variation on a theme, with the New Astra being ‘Disguised’ by getting the car’s designers to drape themselves (and their paperwork) strategically over the car.

McLaren Qualified launched for Approved Used McLarens

But it’s been a long time since McLaren actually built a road car – the McLaren F1 – and that car wasn’t exactly mainstream, so there was no real dealer network or support for used McLarens. Well, there was, but it doesn’t translate in a to real production models as it involved sending your car back to Woking for service or McLaren finding a buyer for your F1 (for a commission). So McLaren has built up a dealer network and now it’s decided it’s time to launch a ‘McLaren Approved’ programme for used McLarens - McLaren Qualified – which involves McLaren taking used 12Cs and giving them a bumper-to-bumper qualification check, fitting any upgrades the car needs and bolting on a minimum two year unlimited mileage warranty and McLaren Roadside Assistance.