Ken Ma appointed VP Design at Chang'an

Former Shanghai Automotive Technical Center (SATC) design director Ken Ma joined Changan Automobile Group as vice president of the firm's Engineering Research Center late last year. Ma's new role puts him in charge of the Group's global design department, reporting directly to Changan group chairman LiuPin Xu on all design matters. But the move also effectively places him in the highest design position at any mainstream automotive company in China – a breakthrough for the country's automotive design industry.

VW Nils single-seater electric car concept (2011) news

This is Volkswagen's new Nils concept car - a radical single-seater electric car designed purposefully for the solo urban commuter. Ever wondered why so many cars in cities have just one occupant in the rush hour? VW says 90% of German commuters travel solo.

New Peugeot 301 introduces new Peugeot numbering

Peugeot 301 The new Peugeot 301 saloon is revealed ahead of a Paris 2012 debut, launching Peugeot’s new numbering for its models. It’s not a car we’ll be getting in the UK and Europe, but the new Peugeot 301 is important nonetheless as Peugeot expect it to be one of their biggest sellers. Coming in at 4440mm long – which is a bit bigger than a 308 but smaller than a 508 – the Peuegot 301 is a saloon car that’s being built in Spain and aimed at the car markets in Turkey, Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Middle East and Africa.