American Autowire Backup Light Switches 01993310 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota to close Australian design studio

Toyota designers at its Technical Center Asia Pacific Australia (TTCAP-AU) are to lose their jobs as part of Toyota's decision to scale back the facility's activities as well as halting all manufacturing within the country by 2017. The TTCAP-AU, which carries out all its Australian design and evaluation operations, employs 150 designers and modelers and it's possible that its activities with the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion models could be scrapped, raising doubts over its future. Around 2,500 employees at Toyota's Altona manufacturing plant are expected to lose their jobs, although the effects are likely to be wider ranging.

Industry pulse: NHTSA administrator David Strickland talks distracted driving

Editor's note: In an exclusive interview with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator David Strickland, Melanie Batenchuk of Be Car Chic asked about distracted driving and the agency's combined efforts with the Department of Transportation to curb this bad behavior. David Strickland has been championing safer, distraction-free driving since the beginning of his tenure at NHTSA in January 2010. Strickland has been working tirelessly toward this goal alongside stakeholders such as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, private-sector executives, automobile manufacturers and safety advocacy groups.

Citroen DS3 – the Conigurator

  The Citroen DS Inside Concept Configurator - build your own Citroen DS3 But yet another part is to involve the car-buying public, so Citroen has launched an on-line configurator for the yet to be released Citroen DS3, their small ‘Luxury’ car that was announced at the Geneva Motor Show as the Citroen DS Inside Concept. The Citroen DS3 is going to pit Citroen against the likes of the MINI and the Alfa Romeo MiTo. Which are tough acts to take on.