Call to pass on petrol price cuts

THE AA has joined calls for retailers to pass on a fall in the wholesale price of petrol to motorists. Pump prices have "barely budged" from the late summer high of just over 138p a litre despite a 2p-a-litre fall in the wholesale price of petrol a fortnight ago and a further 3p drop last week, according to the latest AA Fuel Price Report. Petrol averaged 132p at the start of the year, "and this is where it should be heading if the wholesale price collapse persists", the report said.

Are GM planning to shut Vauxhall for good?

Could General Motors (GM) be planning to close Vauxhall down for good as they seek an answer to huge losses in Europe. General Motors has had its share of problems in the last few years, not least the bailout needed to save it from bankruptcy in the US. That US bailout has seen GM return to profit in the US, but GM Europe continues to be a big hole in its accounts as the European car market continues to struggle with over capacity and a lack of buyers for traditional mainstream cars.

Fiat aims to keep green lead with fuel-sipping two-cylinder engine

Fiat S.p.A. aims to keep its environmental lead in Europe by selling what it claims to be the world's most fuel-efficient gasoline engine. When the engine goes on sale in the Fiat 500 minicar in September, the 875cc unit will be the only two-cylinder engine fitted in a car in Europe.