Rolls-Royce cars being recalled over safety issues
The cars being recalled have a total value of $100m
Possibility of fire, reduction in braking ability
ALMOST every Rolls-Royce sold in Australia in the past 10 years is being recalled because of brake safety issues and concerns some models could catch fire.
The cars being recalled have a combined total of $100 million.
The recalls affect 36 Rolls-Royce Ghost sedans, worth $645,000, sold between 2009 and 2011.
The Federal Government’s Product Safety Australia says if the turbo cooling pump cracks, the pump electronics may smoulder, “possibly causing an …

BEIJING — China’s leaders are finding it’s a lot tougher to create a world-beating electric car industry than they hoped.
In 2009, they announced bold plans to cash in on demand for clean vehicles by making China a global power in electric car manufacturing. They pledged billions of dollars for research and called for annual sales of 500,000 cars by 2015.
Today, Beijing is scaling back its ambitions, chastened by technological hurdles and lack of buyer interest. Developers have yet to achieve breakthroughs and will be lucky to sell 2,000 cars this …

Chrysler is jumping on the ever more crowded slow boat to China to sell cars and to mark the occasion Chrysler is showing off their 300 Ruyi Concept at the Beijing Auto Show.
The designed for the Chinese market 300 carries the name Ruyi which means “as one wishes” and takes the form of a curved decorative object, like a scepter, that symbolizes prosperity. A ruyi is often crafted of precious materials with beautiful design, carrying a promising meaning of abundant good fortune.
The 300 Ruyi has a Maximum Steel exterior color …

HANGZHOU, China – The chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., which acquired Volvo in 2010, faces a grueling dilemma: Risk diluting the storied Swedish marque by sharing technology with Geely or let the Chinese brand face cutthroat competition alone.
Li Shufu, the chairman of both companies, says plans to develop a China-only “premium” co-brand will avoid direct competition with Volvo cars, but making it work will require a delicate balance.
“What I can say is we need to work hard to keep Geely from dying,” the executive said in an …

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Hyundai registered a record number of new cars in Europe between January and March 2012 – 114,571 units – resulting in a European market share high for the first quarter of 3.3%.
According to figures released today by European industry body ACEA, Hyundai’s sales during the first three months of 2011 represented an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period 12 months ago. In contrast, the overall European new car market declined by 7.3%.
Hyundai recorded 50,131 new car registrations across Europe in March – another …