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Saab on the road to independence

You’ve got to feel for Scandinavian car makers Saab and Volvo. Both swallowed up by big US car makers, and both now being abandoned in a vulnerable position after years of integrating their once independent products in to their parents infrastructure, they must wake up every day wondering if this is the day it all goes bang. Ford is simply trying (increasingly desperately) to off-load Volvo, but GM, which is in a much more precarious position than Ford, has now abandoned its Swedish child in a desperate attempt to appease Congress and survive.

Chrysler details changes to minivan, Jeep Patriot

Wider use of the Pentastar V6, fascia changes and more luxurious materials in the interior are the key changes being made to the Chrysler Town & Country minivan and the Jeep Patriot for the 2011 model year. The changes come as Chrysler works to revive interest in its products after nearly two years of virtually no new-product activity while the automaker worked through a government-sponsored bankruptcy. Earlier this year, Chrysler unveiled the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is now on sale.

Toyota, Nissan shift gears and boost incentives

A day after announcing that its North American factories would be cranking up production sooner than expected, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. unveiled a series of regional cash, interest-rate, and lease incentives on most of its vehicles. Nissan Motor Co.