Ford has submitted its business plan to the US Congress to demonstrate its vision to return to profitability, in order to secure a bridge loan from the government. The US carmakers, Ford, GM and Chrysler have all call for government aid to help see them through hard times. Washington responded by demanding that the big three prove that they can recover their business to reassure the US taxpayer that a state hand-out would not be squandered. Ford’s rescue mission business plan  includes ... read more

 Even those vehicles that don’t exactly fit the description of a ‘green car’ are adopting a more environmentally conscious outlook in an effort to expand their appeal. The latest is the Ford Kuga crossover, with three new additions of the vehicle introduced providing lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions combined with greater power and torque. The Kuga 2.0litre TDCi crossover retains the style and refinement of the existing Kuga but combines it with emissions of just 159g/km. ... read more

Dealers are being instructed that a new marketing approach is needed to sell green cars. Dealers need a different approach to reach customers for the new environmental sub-brands that motor manufacturers are starting to apply to mainstream, motor industry consultancy Network Automotive advises. Vehicles such as Volkswagen’s Bluemotion range and Ford’s Econetic models have such a strong selling points in their environmental credentials that retailers need to make sure they make the most of ... read more

 The LA Auto Show may open to the public tomorrow, but there won’t be much home-grown talent on display on American soil. Whereas foreign competitors are busily launching a cluster of new vehicles and green cars at the annual showcase, such as the BMW Mini E, an electric two-seater, General Motors and Chrysler will be virtual no-shows at the event as they are not sending any senior executives or holding any Press conferences. Ford will be represented at the event but will face stiff ... read more

 With the US motoring industry in trouble, with General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all reeling from the effects of the credit crunch, Washington is weighing up a potential bailout - but there may be green strings attached. As car manufacturers in countries around the world, and particularly in Japan, have left the US auto industry behind in their development of green cars President-elect Barack Obama called for an end to a reliance on oil. Now with the automobile market shifting towards more ... read more

With the news of job losses at manufacturing plants of companies such as Nissan, Honda, Land Rover and Ford, trade union Unite has called for assistance from the government to avert a repeat of the economic impact felt at the collapse of MG Rover in 2005. According to research released today by the University of Birmingham, The Work Foundation and Birmingham Business School, a study sample of the 6,300 people who lost their jobs as a result of the closure of MG Rover’s Longbridge plant, 90 ... read more

Following numerous tales of downturn and struggles within the U.S motor industry, the White House may finally be offering hope to car manufacturers.   “Congress will have a chance to meet next week, and if they decide to move forward with something additional [for carmakers], we will be able to listen to their ideas,” said Dana Perino, White House press secretary told the Financial Times. Meanwhile the America’s largest carmaker, General Motors (GM) woke to find their shares ... read more

The UK new car market fell in October at its fastest rate since 1991, industry data shows. New car registrations fell 23 per cent in October to 128,352 units, according to figures released by Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today. It is the sixth consecutive month the motor industry has seen a downturn. Overall car sales this year are down 8.8 per cent compared with the same time last year. However the rising popularity of diesel cars continued. With many of the greenest, ... read more

 With more motorists thinking green than ever before, the Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year award has taken on added significance in the industry - and now the 2009 contenders have been unveiled. The five finalists competing for the title of 2009 Green Car of the Year are: - The BMW 335d - Ford Fusion Hybrid - Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid - Smart Fortwo - Volkswagen Jetta TDI The five models have all attained important milestones for their manufacturers. The Volkswagen and BMW ... read more

After achieving success stateside with the Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford has plans to add more hybrid models to its range for the 2010 model year. The green cars making their debut next spring will be hybrid versions of the Fusion and Mercury Milan models. These are expected to beat the Toyota Camry Hybrid by at least 5mpg as they attempt to break the stranglehold Toyota has locked on America’s car buying public. As an added bonus the 3.0 litre model will also be flex-fuel and can run on ... read more