GENERAL MOTORS

GM sales in China rose sharply in March, a somewhat unexpected increase, as competitors in the country are seeing only modest gains. Sales were driven into high gear by the six-speed Buick Excelle, a luxury sedan manufactured locally that -- at over $20,000 -- is an icon of achievement for the burgeoning upper middle-class in China.

Ford Motor Co is rolling out new Lincoln models with a panoramic glass roof option to lure younger, more affluent buyers, as the No. 2 U.S. automaker tries to revive a luxury brand whose sales peaked two decades ago.

U.S. sales of autos surged in March as consumers decided to replace aging gas-guzzlers and take advantage of low interest rates, especially to buy fuel-efficient vehicles.

General Motors Co. announced its March car sales were up 11.8 percent Tuesday on the strength of Chevrolet sales.

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook’s visit to China isn’t for sightseeing. Rather, the new boss has met Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who may be the next Premier of China, as well as other officials.

March auto sales are expected to reach their highest levels since 2007, driven by increased consumer confidence, inventory levels, demand for fuel-efficient cars and redesigns of popular models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Civic, according to recent industry reports.

Scott Kluth has a love-hate relationship with his new Fisker Karma luxury electric sedan.

Rumors of factory closings swirl around General Motors Co.'s German subsidy Opel, even as the company leads the way in sales of its electric Ampera, the European version of the Chevy Volt.

General Motors Co. will invest more than $1 billion into its Australian subsidy Holden Ltd. for manufacturing and next-generation development with the support of a hotly debated 275 million AUD, $285 million, subsidy from the Australian government.

Volkswagen AG said Thursday it will create 800 more jobs at its only U.S. plant to ramp up production of the Passat sedan. Meanwhile, the United Auto Workers has launched a drive to unionize workers at the plant.

Major car manufacturers will raise prices across the board in India following a budget announcement by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday, Indian newspaper The Hindu reported.

India will surpass Japan as the No. 2 vehicle market in Asia by 2016, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal based on data and research from IHS Automotive. The report also says that auto sales in China, Asia and the world's largest market, will continue to grow steadily through the rest of the decade.

Mexico's auto industry produced 24 percent more cars and light trucks in February compared with the year-ago period, reaching a record high.

Sales at U.S. retailers jumped in February by the most in five months, showing broad-based gains from autos to building materials, underscoring yet another hopeful sign of a strengthening economy.

Two new Chinese LCD screens in Beijing's imposing Great Hall of the People will replace screens made by a Japanese competitor, in a sign of resolve to supply the world with Chinese brands and not just Made in China products.

Auto parts maker Visteon Corp. said Monday that it will sell its automotive lighting business to the India-based Varroc Group for $92 million in cash, a deal the company expects to close in the third quarter of 2012.

U.S. employers hired more than 200,000 workers for a third straight month in February, indicating that companies are feeling more upbeat about the recovery.

Stock index futures edged lower on Friday after their strongest two-day gain in nearly three months and ahead of a report likely to show employment grew solidly for a third straight month.

Facebook Inc added several women- and minority-owned investment banks to the roster of underwriters for its initial public offering, following in the footsteps of General Motors Co and Goldman Sachs Group Inc, which did the same during their own offerings.

Employers probably hired more than 200,000 workers for a third straight month in February, indicating that companies are feeling more upbeat about the U.S. economic recovery, economists said before a report this week.

A little more than a year ago, Karl Brauer stood on stage at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show and introduced the 2011 North American Car of the Year: the Chevrolet Volt.