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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).

Next-gen Nissan Versa coming to U.S.

The next-generation Nissan Versa will be sold in the United States, the company announced on Monday morning. A sketch released shows a more sculpted and lined compact than the current car. Nissan sold 7,021 Versas in September in the United States, an increase of 47 percent over the same period in 2009.

Top Gear take the Bentley Continental GT Speed Rallying

Top Gear has been on the 2012 WRC Wales Rally with a Bentley Continental GT Speed driven by Kris Meeke with James May as co-driver. We know that Top Gear won’t be back on our screens – at least not with a new series – until 2013, because Jeremy Clarkson told us. But that doesn’t mean Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May are twiddling their thumbs waiting for the new series to start.