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News watch March 2010: today's auto industry news

Tuesday 30 March 2010• Mercedes has dismissed claims that its Maybach brand is for sale, after reports in the Chinese media claimed Chinese car company BYD was considering a bid for the upmarket offshoot. BYD has also denied the claims (Reuters)• Toyota president Akio Toyoda has promised his company will listen more carefully to customers and react faster in a bid to regain credibility after the Japanese car manufacturer was forced to recall millions of vehilces over safety fears (BBC)• The Obama administration is expected to unveil its finalised fuel economy and tailpipe emissions through to 2016 this week, to coincide with the opening of the 2010 New York auto show (Detroit News)  Monday 29 March 2010• Toyota has agreed to licence the hybrid technology in the Prius to Mazda, which will combine the electric system with its next-gen Sky engines. It’s part of Mazda’s plans to increase the average fuel economy of its vehicles by 30% by 2015 (compared to 2008 levels) and it hopes to have its first hybrid vehicle on sale in Japan by 2013 (Mazda)• Ford and Chinese car company Geely have signed a stock purchase agreement that will allow the latter to acquire 100% of Volvo (along with related assets including intellectual property rights).

Alfa Romeo’s future master plan

Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo’s thrilling new 4C sports car "marks a line in the sand" for the Italian firm, according to head of Alfa Romeo Europe, Louis-Carl Vignon. Speaking to MSN Cars at the launch of the 4C, the Alfa exec confirmed the marque’s future products will be inspired by its new halo model, meaning we’ll see more high-tech, efficient and performance-focused Alfa Romeo’s in the near future. On Bing: see pictures of the Alfa Romeo 4C Alfa Romeo 4C review A new off-roader will make up the heart of the Alfa Romeo range Vignon also outlined that further variants of the 4C are possible, potentially including an open-top spider version, as well as a higher-powered, more hardcore model.

Chrysler posts $239 million operating profit, raises forecast

Chrysler Group posted an operating profit of $239 million in the third quarter and raised its outlook for the balance of the year in anticipation of stronger sales and improved operating performance. The results, released Monday, marked the automaker's third straight operating profit. Chrysler's third-quarter net loss was $84 million, down from $172 million in the second quarter.