The week's motoring news in brief
Russian Opel bid rumoured
RUSSIAN PRIME minister Vladimir Putin’s government is driving Russia’s interest in GM’s German affiliate Opel, analysts say.
OAO GAZ, the carmaker controlled by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, said it wants to start producing Opel cars in Russia with Magna International if the Canadian parts maker acquires the General Motors European brand.
Russia could make a promise to keep Opel running, giving a Russian-backed bid a big advantage over Italy's Fiat, which faces union opposition due to potential job cuts.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure to help Opel and save jobs to avoid mass layoffs in the run-up to a federal election in September. . (Reuters)
Daimler buys 10 per cent share to partner with Tesla Motors
DAIMLER, OWNERS of the Mercedes-Benz luxury car brand, has bought almost 10 per cent of Tesla Motors to become a partner with the US electric-vehicle manufacturer in developing new powering systems.
Herbert Kohler of Daimler will take a seat on Tesla's board as the two companies co-operate more closely on technology.
The investment provides Tesla with funding for an electric saloon that the closely held company aims to build by 2011.
Daimler's involvement is a powerful endorsement of our technology, Tesla chairman Elon Musk, its largest individual investor, said in the statement.
New SIMI president for 2009
AT THE Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) AGM, director general Alan Nolan officially announced Mike Finlay as SIMI president for 2009. Finlay’s family have been involved in the motor trade since 1936 and he and his brother Gary run the Finlay Motor Group in Newbridge and Naas, main Ford dealers.
Up to €3,000 off price of Mondeo
FORD IRELAND has announced a new offer of up to €3,000 off the price of the Mondeo. This offer allows reductions of €3,000 off petrol models and €2,000 off diesel models.
Prices now start at €22,925 for the 1.6-litre petrol Style model, while the Style 4-door 1.8 TDCi starts at €24,695.
There is also a 0 per cent finance package offered, which customers can opt for in lieu of the price reductions.
The package offers a flexible repayment term of up to 60 months, based on a 25 per cent down payment, saving €3,140 in terms of interest repayments on the loan.
Saab selects three suitors for purchase talks
SAAB SAID it had selected three suitors for continued talks as it sought to extend its grace period under creditor protection.
Saab said in a court filing yesterday to request an additional three months of protection from creditors that it had narrowed the field from 10 potential suitors.
“Among these interested parties, three have been selected to continue negotiations on an acquisition of Saab,” the company said in the document, which was filed in a local court in Vanersborg, southwest Sweden.
“These negotiations will be carried out during the remainder of May in order to select the final candidate,” Saab said in the document.
It would not reveal the identities of the suitors.