[AVANTI R5]

1. GM has acquired acquiring automotive financing operations in Latin America, Europe and China from Ally Financial Inc. (Ally).
2. Two European banks downgraded Fiat SpA from buy to neutral over concerns that the company needs a cash infusion.
3. After the passing of automotive industry icon Carroll Shelby, concerns were expressed that his death may signal the demise of Shelby American. Company officials say they will continue to do business with new models (including one based on the Ford Eco Boost) on the way.
4. Fiat celebrated a milestone. They built the one millionth new Fiat 500. The car has never been as popular in America as Fiat hoped it would be but it’s sold in Europe since 2007 where it has done well.
5. If you were a Toyota or Honda owner in 2012 chances are you spent more time at the service bay than you wanted to. Japan’s two largest automakers had more cars recalled in 2012 than any other for a variety of safety issues.
6. Daimler has taken complete control of the Mercedes F1 team, buying out investors from Abu Dhabi’s Aabar.
7. In more F1 news, Coca-Cola is returning to the F1 fray with its Sweden-based energy drink Burn. The sponsorship will be for the Lotus team.
8. Tata Motors, parent company of Jaguar and Land Rover, is partnering with Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. to build a $1.75 plant designed to create a Chinese-focused brands.
9. AdAge Magazine named Chrysler Group as marketer of the year for their restored motor city pride approach to selling cars.
10. The 2013 Ford Focus earned a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program, something it failed to do in this generation’s first year of production.

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