Vauxhall took the lion’s share of the UK’s passenger car market last month, with a total of 19,058 registrations – a mere 5.93 per cent down from the same period in 2007, despite the UK’s sharp economic decline.

General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 221,983 vehicles in December, down 31 percent compared with a year ago. However, total deliveries were 67,000 vehicles more than November's result, up more than 43 percent month over month.

One can see how bad is the market for the carmakers when they launch an assurance program that covers job loss. Remember years ago when the economy was bad we have seen zero percent financing and car deals. It's not enough now to drive sales and Hyundai is launching an assurance program that will cover job loss.

Ford Motor Company welcomes action to provide emergency fundin to GM and Chrysler and basically says no thanks, we are in a different position and don't need short term help.

The U.S. President George Bush speaking on TV announced that "allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action." The federal authorities will provide $13.4 billion in loans to Detroit automakers, the White House said Friday. However, Bush says the car makers must pay back the loan.

Chrysler yesterday has announced that it will stop the production of cars for a month. As the auto bailout talks have stalled - perhaps rightfully until the U.S. carmakers start making better cars - GM had also six days ago announced "significant production cuts for Q1 '09."

The persistent market slump has forced China’s automakers to slash their previously set sales targets, said sina.com today. Except a few auto companies, such as Dongfeng Honda and Dongfeng Nissan, most automakers in China are unable to reach their output and sales goals by the end of the year.

U.S.-based General Motors said Friday three plants in Mexico and three plants in Canada will close temporarily as it slashes production to cut costs. The president of the Canadian Auto Workers union Ken Lewenza said about 30,000 people will be without work for weeks, and that millions of jobs are at stake.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says a minority of GOP senators killed the bipartisan bill for bridge loans for U.S.-based automakers by requiring workers and retirees to make the majority of the sacrifices. UAW applauds statements by White House and Treasury; urges immediate action to release funds for auto companies

The Bush administration and Democratic lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement to provide the struggling U.S. auto industry with $15 billion in emergency loans.

Some Congressional staff and some car company executives understand that pre-packaged bankruptcies of GM (GM) and Chrysler may be the only effective ways of saving the companies.