Gm Oem Instrument Panel-courtesy Lamp 13503059 on 2040-parts.com

Jail warning for drive ban killers

DISQUALIFIED drivers who kill while behind the wheel will face longer jail terms under tougher sentences announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. Offenders who defy driving bans will be hit with up to 10 years in prison if they cause death and up to four years for serious injuries under the law reforms, which will be introduced next year. Mr Grayling said the changes would send a clear message to drivers who flout bans and "go on to destroy innocent lives".

Kimi may quit again

KIMI RAIKKONEN has revealed he will likely quit Formula One again once his current deal with Ferrari expires at the end of 2015. Raikkonen dropped the bombshell at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend, and just eight races into his second coming at Ferrari which has so far been a bitter disappointment. Struggling with a car not to his liking, the hotly-anticipated scrap with team-mate Fernando Alonso has failed to materialise as the Spaniard has comfortably out-qualified and out-raced the Finn.

Crunch watch Mar 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Ben Pulman and Tim Pollard Motor Industry 31 March 2009 13:48 Tuesday 31 March 2009• Porsche said that its earnings before tax rose to €7.3 billion in the six months to the end of January – including a €6.8bn windfall from its VW share options (Financial Times)• Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, will step up to replace Rick Wagoner, who was ousted on Sunday as CEO of General Motors (Financial Times)• President Obama is essentially CEO-in-chief of GM – despite not owning a single cent of stock, says Detroit News commentator (Detroit News)• German chancellor Angela Merkel gives assurances that any would-be investors in GM's European arm will be given state support. Opel is asking for €3.3 billion in aid – and up to 25,000 jobs in Germany depend on it, with up to 300,000 jobs across Europe including Saab and Vauxhall (BBC News)Monday 30 March 2009• General Motors' chief executive Rick Wagoner has been ordered to resign by US president Barack Obama with immediate effect. It's part of Obama's administration's critique of GM and Chrysler's turnaround plans – he's understood to be unhappy with the plans submitted (BBC News)• New GM non-executive chairman Kent Kresa has admitted that at the company's next general meeting it will have 'a majority of new directors' (General Motors)• Chrysler will receive US government aid for the next 30 days, but the Obama administration has said that if the company cannot secure a tie-up with the Fiat Group within that time period it will not receive any more money from the taxpayers and could go into liquidation.