• Toyota shareholders sue over fallen stock price 3/21/2010, 11:57 a.m. EDT
(AP) — MIAMI - Toyota shareholders incensed over a sudden drop in the Japanese automaker's stock price are heading to court with lawsuits claiming company executives deliberately misled investors and the public about the depth of accelerator problems in millions of its vehicles.

• Toyota shareholders sue over fallen stock price 3/21/2010, 11:03 a.m. EDT
(AP) — MIAMI - Toyota shareholders incensed over a sudden drop in the Japanese automaker's stock price are heading to court with lawsuits claiming company executives deliberately misled investors and the public about the depth of accelerator problems in millions of its vehicles.

• Toyota shareholders sue over fallen stock price 3/21/2010, 11:03 a.m. EDT
(AP) — MIAMI - Toyota shareholders incensed over a sudden drop in the Japanese automaker's stock price are heading to court with lawsuits claiming company executives deliberately misled investors and the public about the depth of accelerator problems in millions of its vehicles.

• Toyota shareholders sue over fallen stock price 3/21/2010, 11:03 a.m. EDT
(AP) — MIAMI - Some Toyota shareholders are upset over a sudden drop in the Japanese automaker's stock price and they are filing lawsuits claiming company executives deliberately misled investors and the public about the depth of accelerator problems.

• GM fighting state efforts to protect auto dealers 3/19/2010, 2:51 p.m. EDT
(AP) — FRANKFORT, Ky. - General Motors Co. is fighting legislation in at least five states that gives automobile dealers leverage over carmakers in the scramble for franchises.

• Visteon retirees file emergency motion on benefits 3/19/2010, 1:39 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DOVER, Del. - Former workers for auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. are pushing ahead with their fight to preserve their retiree health and life insurance benefits.

• Visteon retirees file emergency motion on benefits 3/19/2010, 1:39 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DOVER, Del. - Former workers for auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. are pushing ahead with their fight to preserve their retiree health and life insurance benefits.

• Daimler to keep stake in EADS 3/19/2010, 6:03 a.m. EDT
(AP) — FRANKFURT - Germany's Daimler AG says it will not use an option to sell its stake in defense contractor EADS N.V.

• Japan police recommend charges in Prius crash 3/19/2010, 12:11 a.m. EDT
(AP) — TOKYO - Japanese police are recommending charges against a driver who says his Toyota Prius crashed because of brake failure after an analysis of data from the car showed no defects.

• JD Power dependability rankings by category 3/18/2010, 3:16 p.m. EDT
(AP) — J.D. Power and Associates on Thursday released its annual survey of vehicle dependability based on questionnaires sent to owners of 2007 model-year vehicles.

• UAW OKs severance pact in Calif. plant shutdown 3/18/2010, 2:59 p.m. EDT
(AP) — FREMONT, Calif. - Workers at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., known as Nummi, have voted in favor of a proposed severance package for the 4,600 workers about to lose their jobs when the plant closes, according to the United Auto Workers.

• Fiat expanding Brazil auto plant, hiring 1,000 workers by end of May 3/18/2010, 1:40 p.m. EDT
(AP) —

• Porsche takes top spot in dependability study 3/18/2010, 7:01 a.m. EDT
(AP) — NEW YORK - Porsche shot to the top of a closely watched study of long-term vehicle dependability, overtaking U.S. and Japanese rivals, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday.

• Pain in the tank: Gas prices highest since 2008 3/18/2010, 12:54 a.m. EDT
(AP) — Motorists are paying the highest prices for gas since October 2008. Retail gasoline prices rose on Thursday on an expected increase in demand and as more expensive spring and summer blends of gasoline make their way to the pumps.

• Martinez auto dealer to include luxury models: New showroom part of 'new concept of car buying' 3/17/2010, 11:20 p.m. EDT
(AP) — MCT REGIONAL NEWS/BUSINESS

• AP finds over 100 complaints about fixed Toyotas 3/17/2010, 4:34 p.m. EDT
(AP) — WASHINGTON - An analysis by The Associated Press finds that the government has received more than 100 complaints from drivers who say their recalled Toyotas are still accelerating on their own even after receiving the automaker's fix.

• More than 100 complaints lodged over fixed Toyotas 3/17/2010, 4:34 p.m. EDT
(AP) — WASHINGTON - Complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyotas repaired under recalls have nearly doubled in the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.

• Stop! Brake maintenance crucial for a safe car 3/17/2010, 3:08 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Brakes are the real workhorses when it comes to car safety.

• Ford Motor Co. shares hit 5-year high 3/17/2010, 2:37 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Shares of Ford Motor Co. surged to a five-year high Wednesday after a ratings agency upgraded the automaker's debt and said Ford has the potential to improve its finances even further.

• Summary Box: CFO says GM could post profit 3/17/2010, 12:54 p.m. EDT
(AP) — THE POSSIBILITY: New General Motors Co. CFO Chris Liddell says the automaker has a reasonable chance to make money this year, the company's first full-year profit since 2004.

• New CFO says GM has chance to make 2010 profit 3/17/2010, 10:57 a.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - If the economy cooperates and auto sales recover a bit, General Motors Co. has a reasonable chance of turning a full-year profit in 2010, its new chief financial officer said Wednesday.

• ROUNDUP: BMW to boost Asian business amid hopes for better year 3/17/2010, 5:36 a.m. EDT
(AP) — Munich (dpa)-The world's leading luxury carmaker BMW laid out plans Wednesday to bolster its business in Asia's booming auto markets as it recovers from the crisis that hit the global car industry last year.

• Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem 3/16/2010, 12:45 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking system problems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired.

• Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem 3/16/2010, 12:45 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking system problems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired.

• Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem 3/16/2010, 12:45 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking system problems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired.

• Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem 3/16/2010, 12:45 p.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking system problems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired.

• Visteon boosts payouts in reorganization plan 3/16/2010, 9:17 a.m. EDT
(AP) — DETROIT - Auto parts maker Visteon amended its reorganization plan and now says it will give 85 percent of shares in a reorganized company to secured term lenders.

• Toyota sales in Europe slip 20 percent 3/16/2010, 7:33 a.m. EDT
(AP) — BRUSSELS - Toyota's sales in Europe slipped 20 percent in February from a year ago after the company launched a massive recall to fix faulty gas pedals, according to EU car makers' sales figures released Tuesday.

• Renault shares up on report Daimler talks widen 3/16/2010, 6:44 a.m. EDT
(AP) — PARIS - Renault SA shares rose in early trading on the Paris stock exchange Tuesday after a newspaper reported the French car maker could swap stockholdings with Mercedes owner Daimler AG.

• EU car sales rise 3 percent in February, German sales slump nearly 30 percent 3/16/2010, 5:40 a.m. EDT
(AP) —

• Saab may locate North American HQ in Royal Oak 3/16/2010, 4:00 a.m. EDT
(AP) — ROYAL OAK, Mich. - Saab Spyker Automobiles NV may announce that it is locating its U.S. headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.

• Saab to locate North American HQ in Royal Oak 3/16/2010, 4:00 a.m. EDT
(AP) — ROYAL OAK, Mich. - Saab Cars North America plans to locate its headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.

• Saab to locate North American HQ in Royal Oak 3/16/2010, 4:00 a.m. EDT
(AP) — LANSING, Mich. - Now that General Motors Co. has sold its Saab brand to a Dutch carmaker, the employees who market the brand are moving to a new headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.

• State wants answers from Toyota 3/15/2010, 3:40 p.m. EDT
(AP) — MCT REGIONAL NEWS/BUSINESS

• SC high court overturns $18M award in Ford wreck 3/15/2010, 11:21 a.m. EDT
(AP) — COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina's highest court on Monday overturned an $18 million verdict against Ford Motor Co. in a fatal crash, ruling that one expert shouldn't have been allowed to testify about cruise control problems.

• AAA Michigan: State gas prices up 2.5 cents 3/15/2010, 7:56 a.m. EDT
(AP) — DEARBORN, Mich. - AAA Michigan says gasoline prices are up 2.5 cents per gallon over the past week to a statewide average of $2.75.

• China urges car makers to improve quality, set up recall systems 3/15/2010, 6:38 a.m. EDT
(AP) — SHANGHAI - China is urging its automakers to upgrade the quality of their products and set up accountable recall systems to handle defects, following Toyota Motor Corp.'s recent recalls.

• US woman says Lexus accelerator fell to floor before car careered through lot and crashed 3/13/2010, 4:40 p.m. EST
(AP) — FORT WAYNE, Indiana - A woman says her Lexus careered through a parking lot and crashed into a light pole in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after its accelerator dropped to the floor.

• Ohio woman says Lexus sped up, caused Ind. crash 3/13/2010, 3:28 p.m. EST
(AP) — FORT WAYNE, Ind. - An Ohio woman said her Lexus sped through a parking lot, unimpeded when she hit the brakes, and crashed into a light pole in Fort Wayne, Ind., after its accelerator dropped to the floor.

• Examiner unveils Lehman accounting tricks 3/12/2010, 6:40 p.m. EST
(AP) — WASHINGTON - An accounting gimmick called Repo 105 provided financial relief for Lehman Brothers in the months before its spectacular collapse, an autopsy of the once-venerable Wall Street house has found. The question now is whether the trickery spells legal jeopardy for executives of Lehman or its auditors Ernst & Young.

• Examiner unveils Lehman accounting tricks 3/12/2010, 6:39 p.m. EST
(AP) — WASHINGTON - An accounting gimmick called Repo 105 provided financial relief for Lehman Brothers in the months before its spectacular collapse, an autopsy of the once-venerable Wall Street house has found. The question now is whether the trickery spells legal jeopardy for executives of Lehman or its auditors Ernst & Young.

• Examiner unveils Lehman accounting tricks 3/12/2010, 6:39 p.m. EST
(AP) — WASHINGTON - An accounting gimmick called Repo 105 provided financial relief for Lehman Brothers in the months before its spectacular collapse, an autopsy of the once-venerable Wall Street house has found. The question now is whether the trickery spells legal jeopardy for executives of Lehman or its auditors Ernst & Young.

• UK gives GM loan guarantee for Vauxhall 3/12/2010, 10:57 a.m. EST
(AP) — LONDON - Britain will give a 270 million pound ($410 million) loan guarantee to General Motors Co. to help keep its Vauxhall operations going in the country, a government official said Friday.

• Canada launches probe into Toyota safety concerns 3/11/2010, 5:40 p.m. EST
(AP) — TORONTO - Canadian politicians have accused the nation's transportation agency of failing to take swift action after receiving acceleration-related complaints in Toyota vehicles three years before the company began a series of safety recalls.

• Canada launches probe into Toyota safety concerns 3/11/2010, 5:40 p.m. EST
(AP) — TORONTO - Canadian politicians have accused the nation's transportation agency of failing to take swift action after receiving acceleration-related complaints in Toyota vehicles three years before the company began a series of safety recalls.

• BMW 2009 profit falls 36 pct to $286 million 3/11/2010, 6:00 a.m. EST
(AP) — FRANKFURT - German carmaker BMW AG said Thursday its 2009 net income fell 36 percent to ?210 million ($286 million) because of lower demand for its cars and motorcycles during the economic downturn as well as a higher tax rate.

• Volkswagen confirms 2009 net income fell 80 pct 3/11/2010, 4:43 a.m. EST
(AP) — FRANKFURT - Europe's biggest carmaker, Volkswagen AG, saw 2009 net income fall 80 percent to euro960 million ($1.3 billion). Thursday's statement confirmed the company's preliminary estimate released in February.

• Gov't may seek more authority on vehicle safety 3/11/2010, 3:06 a.m. EST
(AP) — WASHINGTON - Government vehicle safety regulators may seek greater authority to investigate defects in cars and trucks and are weighing a range of new safety requirements in response to Toyota's recall of more than 8 million vehicles over brake and acceleration problems.

• Oil near $82 as traders eye weak US demand 3/11/2010, 12:22 a.m. EST
(AP) — Oil prices hovered around $82 a barrel Thursday in Europe as traders weighed stagnant U.S. crude demand against a gradual global economic recovery.

• 2-second video causes headache for ABC News 3/11/2010, 12:10 a.m. EST
(AP) — NEW YORK - For the want of a better two-second picture of a tachometer, ABC News has called into question its reporting on acceleration problems with Toyota vehicles.