Renault, Nissan open to GM alliance talks

PARIS (Reuters) - French carmaker Renault SA and its Japanese partner Nissan Motor Corp. said on Monday they were prepared to start talks with General Motors Corp. about forming an alliance that would create the world's largest auto group.

Renault's board met to discuss a proposal made by billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian intended to prod GM into consideration of an expanded alliance ...

Ford shifts focus from hybrids to biofuels
In a sharp shift of strategy, Ford Motor plans to focus less on hybrid technology and more on a wider range of alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered engines, Ford Chief Executive Bill Ford told employees of the automaker.

Ford backed away from a commitment made last fall to build production capacity for 250,000 hybrid vehicles by the end of the decade, calling that goal "too narrow" ...

GM says 35,000 workers accept buyouts
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday that 35,000 workers -- or almost a third of its hourly work force -- had accepted payouts to retire and leave the company, topping expectations and putting the world's largest automaker two years ahead of schedule on planned job cuts.

Also, Delphi Corp. (DPHIQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research), a former GM p...

Hyundai lands in top 3 for quality
Porsche and Hyundai leapfrogged to the top of the influential J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, potentially boosting sales at both automakers as consumers continue to focus on quality as a leading factor in buying decisions. Porsche, known for its sometimes temperamental sports cars, ranked first among brands in the survey, which is based on buyer reaction after 90 days of ownership. Porsche, wh...