Schmitt Steering Wheel on 2040-parts.com

Who's Where: Nicolas Huet named PATAC exterior design director

Nicholas Huet has joined PATAC as exterior design director. Based in Shanghai, he will report directly to design director Holt Ware. French-born Huet, who spent 20 years at BMW as a designer, is in charge of the exterior PATAC design department, working on Chinese-specific programs as well as GM Global programs.

Spyker said to be General Motors' only candidate to buy Saab

Spyker Cars NV is the only buyer under consideration for the Saab brand and is seeking to line up funding that will satisfy General Motors Co., a person with direct knowledge of the situation said. Financing has been a main obstacle to a deal, said the person, who declined to be identified because the information isn't public. The proposal from Spyker, a Dutch sports car maker, had included a Russian partner that GM rejected, and Spyker was seeking to arrange financing that didn't include that partner, the person said.

Government driving down electric avenue

THE GOVERNMENT is to lead by example by buying more than 150 electric and plug-in hybrid cars for its fleets. All fleet managers will have funding allocated with a view to buying ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEVs) to replace older vehicles as part of the their normal working life cycle. According to Westminster sources, a long-term plan is in place to make such cars and vans entirely commonplace.