Nissan to open new Global Headquarters Gallery

Nissan, which opened its new global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, last weekend (coinciding with the unveiling of the automaker's new electrically-propelled Leaf), will open a new gallery dedicated to its products on August 8th. Just as German automakers BMW and Porsche have shrines dedicated to their respective brands, Nissan's new gallery will feature exhibits of its current products, classic models and cars from its racing heritage. The new gallery - which boasts an area four times larger than the previous Nissan gallery in the company's former headquarters in Higashi Ginza - occupies 4000m2 of space on the first floor of the new building.

Ford reaches agreement to sell Volvo to Geely for $1.8 billion

Ford has reached an agreement to sell its Swedish brand Volvo to Chinese carmaker Geely for about $1.8 billion in a multinational sale expected to close in the third quarter of this year. The pending agreement was announced on Sunday morning, and Ford will continue to supply powertrains, stamping and other parts to Volvo after the sale. If it closes, the landmark deal delivers the premium Volvo brand--long a benchmark for automotive safety--to a Chinese firm that has ambitious plans for growth.

Third annual World Automotive Design Competition

The third annual World Automotive Design Competition, sponsored by Alias, was hosted by the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario, on February 12. Britain's Coventry School of Art and Design, and Tsinghua University in Beijing, China were the big winners, together garnering seven of the eight prizes. Ninety-four students from twenty design schools from China, Brazil, Japan, France, Korea, England, Wales, Italy, Spain, India, Sweden, the USA and Canada competed to win over US$140,000 in prizes.