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UK car production jumps as Europeans buy British

The UK’s car production jumped by 12% last month as demand from Europe for British-built cars increases. Nearly 80% of cars made in the UK are exported worldwide, and 142,158 were produced in March 2014 – compared to 126,909 in March 2013. Official: UK car production is booming UK car production hits six-year high That means so far this year the UK has built 404,803 cars, a rise of 2.9% compared to this time last year.

General Motors board recommends selling Opel to Magna-led group

General Motors Co.'s board has decided to support selling a majority stake in Opel to a group led by Canadian auto parts giant Magna. The move caps weeks of high-stakes maneuvering on both sides of the Atlantic that saw nationalism, labor issues and--perhaps most critical to GM, the use of its technology--all come into play. Magna and Russian lender Sberbank will get a 55 percent interest in Opel, the linchpin of GM's European operations for 80 years, as well as its British sister brand Vauxhall.

General Motors adds center-mounted airbag to its large crossovers

General Motors will equip the 2013 models of its large crossovers--the Chevrolet Traverse, the Buick Enclave and the GMC Acadia--with a center-mounted airbag that protects front-seat passengers in side impacts. The airbag, developed by GM and safety-system supplier Takata, is mounted on the inboard side of the driver's-seat backrest. GM says the airbag helps restrain and protect the driver in the event of a crash on the passenger side of the vehicle when the front passenger seat is empty.