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Honda reaches milestone: Millionth vehicle made in U.S.

Honda surpassed 1 million vehicles made in the United States for the first time in a year in 2007, the Japanese automaker announced this morning, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Honda made 1,015,462 vehicles in 2007 in the United States, up 4.2% from 2006. Total North American production rose 3.4% to 1,432,731 vehicles.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:00 AM to Honda | Permalink | Comments 0

India's Tata unveils the world's cheapest car

NEW DELHI - India's Tata Motors unveiled the world's cheapest new car on Thursday, bringing car ownership closer for millions of poorer consumers in emerging markets but raising environmental concerns, according to Reuters.

The 4-seater Nano, with an engine around 625cc, will have a dealer price of 100,000 rupees ($2,500), about half the cost of the cheapest car on today's market, a 25-year old model from Maruti Suzuk, Tata's main rival.

The Nano will go on sale later this year, the company said.

"Let me assure you and our critics the car we have designed will meet all safety norms and all foreign environmental criteria," Chairman Ratan Tata said as he proudly unveiled what had been dubbed the "People's Car" at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:45 AM to India | Permalink | Comments 1

Toyota in Tight Race for No. 1 With GM

TOKYO -- Toyota said Thursday that its global group sales rose 6 percent last year to 9.37 million vehicles, making for a tight race against General Motors, the world's largest automaker, according to the Associated Press.

GM has not released its annual sales tally but earlier estimated 2007 sales would come to 9.3 million vehicles.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:43 AM to Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0