AFP - Volkswagen said Friday its supervisory board had cleared the way for its planned takeover of sportscar maker Porsche, as Europe's biggest carmaker ratcheted up the quest to become world number one.

AP - German carmaker Volkswagen AG said Friday its supervisory board had approved certain agreement contracts for the planned merger with German sportscar builder Porsche, taking the companies one step closer to completing the deal.

AFP - GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co. said Friday it had started shipping new mini cars to Europe as the South Korean unit of US auto giant General Motors Co. seeks to expand global sales.

AP - U.S. auto sales could top an annual rate of 10.8 million in November, General Motors Co.'s top sales analyst said Thursday.

AFP - German semi-conductor maker Infineon on Thursday upgraded its turnover and profits forecast over the next 12 months because of higher demand from the auto industry and cost cuts.

AFP - South Korea said Thursday it is ready for talks to ease US automakers' concerns about a stalled free trade agreement, as US President Barack Obama cautioned that several issues must still be settled.

AP - A solid majority of Americans recognize the need to help the environment, although there are some things — like buying a hybrid car or taking mass transit — that people often talk about, but don't necessarily act on.

Reuters - U.S. carmaker General Motors could cut between 9,000 and 10,000 jobs as part of its restructuring of its European operations, Nick Reilly, interim head of GM's European business, said on Tuesday.

AFP - The EU commission has invited General Motors and EU economic ministers to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the future the US automaker's Opel and Vauxhall plants in Europe, an EU spokesman said.

AFP - European Union Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen will meet next Monday with EU economy ministers and representatives from General Motors to discuss the future of GM unit Opel, a German newspaper reported.