Spyker welcomes BAIC
The Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) - which was deeply involved in Saab's plans when Koenigsegg was still being talked about - is apparently interested in buying into Saab, even now when it has been taken over by Spyker. BAIC bought the tools to the old 9-3 and 9-5 models and will be manufacturing and selling them under their own name, primarily in China.

 
Toyota
Toyota has agreed to pay fines in the amount of $16.4 million to the US government for their delay in reporting the gas pedal problem on their vehicles. Toyota will have a lot of lawsuits from people affected by the gas pedal defect to look forward to.
 
 
AB Volvo sees the light
AB Volvo's quarterly report was much better than analysts had forecast. Improvements on the Asian and South American markets helped, as did the company's success in bringing down costs. Things are still tough on the US and European truck markets.

  
Hot automotive news tops headlines
The automotive industry topped trade and industry headlines in the first quarter of 2010. Saab 60 times, Spyker 31, Swedish Government 26, GM 25, Volvo CC 22, Geely 21, AB Volvo 14, Ford 10, SEB 9 and HM 8.

 
Volvo CC operating at profit
After three years of losses, Volvo CC is showing profits for the first quarter of 2010. Following the layoff of 6,000 employees in 2008, Volvo CC is now planning a rehiring phase.

Scania on the up and up
Scania increased profits to SEK 2 billion during the first quarter of 2010. The results were so much better than expected that Scania announced a positive profit warning the week before the interim report went out. Asia and South America look good and there are signs of improvement on the Northern European market, but things are still very uncertain in Southern Europe.

 
Think Electric
The Norwegian electric vehicle Think is now being mass-produced in Finland by Valmet Automotive. An all-new Think model will be launched In 2012.

  
VW tightens grip on Scania
VW is demanding the resignation of Scania's Vice Chairman and insisting that he be replaced by someone from VW group management.

 
Starting to look brighter at GM
GM is announcing mid-year results after reconstruction and reports a loss of 4.3 billion dollars. All curves are pointing upward and GM has started repaying its governmental loans.  If vehicle sales continue to increase in the US as they have during the first quarter of the year, GM may very likely report a small profit for 2010.

 
Electric vehicle procurement in Stockholm
The City of Stockholm's environmental division is coordinating an electric vehicle procurement in which 100 partners - companies, organizations and municipal entities - will be invited to participate.  The objective is to get electric vehicles onto the streets of Stockholm in large numbers by 2011. Over twenty automotive companies have been invited to participate in the procurement process.

 
VW invests in China
In 2010 and 2012, VW will be investing about SEK 60 billion in China - building two new factories and introducing seven new models into the country.