Wilmington: General Motors Corp on Tuesday said it was closing four truck plants and could sell its Hummer brand to cut slow-selling trucks and SUVs from its lineup in response to higher gasoline prices the automaker now sees as a permanent threat to its business.

Far from being a celebration, General Motors' 100th year in business is turning out to be one of the most wrenching in its long history. The Detroit-based company lost its spot as the world's biggest carmaker Toyotalast month, after hanging on to it by the narrowest of margins last year. It also faces the massive task of shifting its focus from the big sports-utility vehicles and pick-up trucks that have dominated its North American product line-up - and its profits - for the past 15 years.

Signs Long-Term Agreements With Ford For Future Support In Major Areas Tata Motors finally got the keys for Jaguar and Land Rover, the two British marques it acquired from Ford for $2.3-billion, and announced long-term partnership agreements with the US auto major for future support. The company, that earlier this week announced plans for three rights issues to fund the acquisition, said it would be an all-cash transaction even as Ford would contribute about $600 million to the pension plans of the two brands.

Not so long ago, China was known as the

Should private diesel cars be taxed more than petrol cars to neutralize the subsidy they get on retail fuel prices, originally kept low for benefiting commercial vehicle operations like public transport vehicles and goods carriers that have a direct bearing on inflation.

At a time when most automakers in the country are hiking prices, Honda Siel Cars India said it is cutting rates of sedans by up to Rs 5,000 with effect from Sunday on account of the reduction in central sales tax. "We have received notification from the government on the central sales tax cut from 3% to 2% announced in the Budget. Hence we are reducing the prices of our models City and Civic to pass the benefit to consumers,' a Honda Siel Cars India official said.

Government is set to get tough to ensure road worthiness of commercial vehicles, including public transport buses, plying on the roads. Taking a serious view of the poor condition of many of the vehicles plying on the roads, the Government is set to come out with new automated inspection and maintenance (I&M) programmes to test the vehicles while involving private players for setting up testing facilities.

Government should cut import duties on eco-friendly cars