China is now the world's second-largest automaker nation after surpassing the US in 2008 and will soon take top spot from Japan, according to a report by iSuppli Corp.

The nation manufactured 9.3 million cars in comparison to 8.7 million in the US, while the company also believes it will produce 8.7 million units in 2009, with Japan producing 7.6 million.

Egil Juliussen, Director and Fellow of Automotive Research at the company, told its official website: "China during the last five years more than doubled its domestic automobile production, while US manufacturing has declined by nearly 50 per cent.

"China, which produces most of its cars for domestic sale, has benefitted from its booming economy and the soaring disposable incomes of its consumers."

http://www.isuppli.com/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=20068

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US has awarded $1.73 million to South Dakota, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming to invest in cleaner diesel projects.

Provided by this year's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the funds will allow the states to install pgm-based diesel oxidation catalysts on school buses to cut harmful emissions.

"This is part of the nationwide clean energy transition that is clearing the air and creating millions of jobs across America," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

"Communities using innovative measures to cut harmful diesel emissions are cutting costs, creating jobs, and keeping people healthy."

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/ba5c3cb6092472ea852575920070cb88?OpenDocument

A host of new diesel-fuelled cars were well received at the recent New York International Auto Show, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

BMW paraded its X5 xDrive35d crossover and 335d sedan models, with the former capable of offering 585 miles per tank and a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline engines.

Meanwhile, Mercedes gave world debuts to its new GL350 BlueTEC SUV and E300 BlueTEC Hybrid sedan model at the show, which took place at the Javits Center.

Nick Crispe, a spokesman for the show, told the news provider: "These are the ones that are breaking that stereotype of diesels being smelly and slow."

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/04/19/2009-04-19_its_not_vin_but_diesel_a_big_hit_at_auto_show.html

Top Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan are all expecting to sell more vehicles in China this year as a result of the country's robust economy.

The auto market in China has been bucking most global trends by recording a sales increase of five per cent to 1.11 million vehicles in March.

Aided by government incentives such as tax cuts and subsidies, the country looks set to recover from last year, when it posted the first non-double-digit growth (6.7 per cent) for almost a decade.

"China's economy and auto industry are continuing their steady growth amid the global economy slowing down," said Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe at a press conference at the Shanghai Auto Show.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/japanese-car-makers-upbeat-2009/story.aspx?guid={B8EA1B67-3108-4255-8DBF-24D50FE6DAA2}&dist=msr_1

New commercial vehicle registrations in Europe fell by 35.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, according to industry association ACEA.

Official figures suggest that demand declined by 32.9 per cent across the continent in March, with registrations dropping by 31.1 per cent in western Europe and 48.7 per cent in new EU member states.

Meanwhile, ACEA confirmed that registrations of new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes fell 32.2 per cent to 147,742 units during the month, while registrations of 16-tonne-plus trucks were down 43.7 per cent.

Sales of commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes declined 37.9 per cent, with falls of 33.1 per cent and 65.5 per cent being recorded in western Europe and the new EU member states respectively.

The figures also showed that bus and coach sales (weighing over 3.5 tonnes) were down by 21 per cent during March, although Germany (31.6 per cent) and France (0.4 per cent) both posted increases.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSLO32962820090424

Finally, Toyota General Strategy Manager Yutaka Matsumoto has heaped praise on the company's first emission-free plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Times reports.

The four-door saloon - which follows the hugely successful Prius hybrid range - features petrol and electric engines and a battery which can be recharged in less than two hours from a normal socket.

Mr Matsumoto explained that the vehicle will have a 15-mile electric vehicle range by the time it is released - a significant development for cities where commuters drive to work in their thousands.

"If I use this car for commuting in Tokyo, I can travel at up to 60mph but there are no emissions whatsoever," he told the newspaper.

Toyota is also expecting to make every model available as a hybrid - and possibly a plug-in - by 2020, he added.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6168857.ece

Ÿ Adfero Ltd