EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO BOW TO CARMAKERS: The European Commission is set to bow to pressure from the car industry and introduce a higher minimum emissions standard than initially proposed.
The 27-strong commission is expected to vote today on proposals to impose a mandatory CO2 emissions limit of 130g a kilometre on all new cars from 2012. Its original plan to set the target at 120g was shelved last week after a furious dispute. (See page 2)
PERSONAL BILLBOARDS: Mini USA is the first car firm to join forces with a new interactive billboard system that personalises messages on the roadside advertisements to the owner of a passing car.
When a MINI owner drives by the billboard, a targeted message appears (see above). Each owner tells MINI what to show when they drive by, such as "Jim, you are a God".
If the pilot program is successful, MINI plans to put up more billboards in more cities and allow every owner to participate. The scheme is being run on a pilot basis in four US cities including New York and Chicago.
TOYOTA SETTLES CLASS ACTION: Toyota has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit in the US that claimed oil sludge build-up damaged the engines of some Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the US.
The settlement is the latest setback for the Japanese car firm, which has seen rapid growth in the US market mainly because of its reputation for offering safe and reliable vehicles.
The company saw sales rise 13 per cent last year, but has been hit by quality problems and vehicle recalls. Last month, it recalled 533,000 SUVs and pickup trucks to repair faulty components. The settlement covers about 3.5 million vehicles, Toyota spokesman Xavier Dominicis said.
AA NOW OFFERING CAR LOANS: AA Ireland is offering car loans for the first time. Available to members and non-members, the new service offers loans with interest rates starting at 7.5 per cent, depending on the value of the loan. The offer also includes a 20 per cent discount on the cost of an AA Vehicle Inspection before they buy.
BMW'S WORLD RECORD: BMW global sales hit a record high during 2006, boosted by new versions of its 3-Series models (above). The company said sales jumped by 5 per cent to €49 billion, as the group sold more than 1.37 million vehicles worldwide.