CHRYSLER

General Motors Co posted a 6.4 percent increase in U.S. auto sales for April from a year earlier, lagging an expected rise of about 20 percent in the overall industry which has been helped by incentives.

U.S. safety regulators have opened an investigation to review a potential sticky accelerator pedal problem in Chrysler Group LLC's 2007 model-year Dodge Caliber cars.

Ford Motor Co posted a stronger-than-expected $2.1 billion quarterly profit and said it would be solidly profitable in 2010, a year ahead of schedule, driven by strong U.S. sales and market share gains.

Ford Motor Co is expected on Tuesday to post a first-quarter profit with North American production picking up amid a gradual recovery in U.S. auto industry sales overall.

General Motors Co and Chrysler on Wednesday reported progress in their government-backed turnarounds, while the Obama administration still expects a loss on the taxpayer bailout of the industry although smaller than initially forecast.

Chrysler reported net losses of nearly $4 billion since it emerged from bankruptcy last year, but it had an operating profit in the first quarter and affirmed that it was on track to break even in 2010.

Italy's Fiat is to separate its autos business from its better-performing industrial and truck businesses, and wants to achieve ambitious revenue and profitability increases across the board by 2014.

General Motors Co and Chrysler on Wednesday reported progress in their government-financed turnarounds, but the Obama administration still forecasts some loss on the taxpayer bailout of both companies.

Almost a year into its government-funded rescue, Chrysler remains a laggard in sales against the industry and analysts increasingly question if Fiat can change the game for its struggling U.S. partner.

Fiat SpA unveils its first strategic plan this week since teaming up with U.S. carmaker Chrysler and CEO Sergio Marchionne could outline a timeframe two years ahead for selling stakes in a combined company.

Ford Motor Co is open to partnerships in green car technology but will be cautious in committing to any alliance, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. said on Monday.

Peugeot is likely to be next in the sector to look at a merger, the head of Fiat, which has in the past been seen as a possible partner for the French carmaker, said on Monday.

U.S. auto sales jumped to a seven-month high in March led by a 41 percent surge at Toyota Motor Corp after the Japanese automaker offered the steepest discounts in its history to win back sales lost during its recent safety crisis.

U.S. auto sales jumped 24.3 percent in March, the strongest result in months, led by a rebound at recall-hit Toyota Motor Corp , which offered record incentives aimed at putting the crisis behind it.

Chrysler expects steady U.S. sales growth to start in June, the one-year anniversary of the automaker's emergence from bankruptcy, its U.S. sales chief said on Wednesday.

General Motors posted a 43 percent jump in U.S. sales for March from a year earlier in its continuing brands, the first of expected sharp gains by automakers driven by incentives and better weather.

Chrysler Group LLC is on track to break even on an operating basis in 2010 and is ahead of its turnaround targets, Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Tuesday.

Chrysler Group LLC is on track to break even on an operating basis in 2010 and holds more than $5 billion in cash at the current time, said Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne on Tuesday.

Industrial group Fiat SpA aims to raise the number of job cuts in Italy to 5,000 and may spin off its car activities sooner than thought, an Italian newspaper said on Wednesday, sharply boosting its shares.

German car and truck maker Daimler AG was charged on Tuesday with violating U.S. bribery laws by showering foreign officials with millions of dollars and gifts of luxury cars to win business deals.

Chrysler Group LLC said on Monday it would introduce an all-electric Fiat 500 to the U.S. market in 2012 and drop plans to develop a hybrid 2011 Ram pickup truck.