Aptera Motors in its latest newsletter asks if "You Thought the iPhone Was Cool." Below is an update from Aptera on where the company stands on its most fuel efficient car production. This car, when in mass production, may help to lessen America's dependence on foreign oil and energy.

In response to a recent media report that Beijing was set to levy emission fees on vehicles this year and a public hearing will be held before the program's kickoff, an environmental official of the capital city said yesterday that charging vehicle emission fees is a policy in consideration and it will not be implemented in 2009, xinhuanet.com reported today.

The latest data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) show that the top three Chinese automakers by sales in 2008 are SAIC Group, FAW Group and Dongfeng Motor. The China Big Three sold 4.57 million vehicles last year, accounting for 48.7% of the country's auto sales of 2008, compared with 46.9% in 2007, xinhuanet.com reported today.

The 13th Shanghai International Auto Show will be held on April 22-28 in Shanghai. Many Chinese and global automakers and their Chinese ventures are set to showcase their new car models at the first big event in China's auto market this year, said xinhuanet.com today.

Volkswagen has recently said its sales in the Chinese market, including Hong Kong and Macao, grew 12.5% in 2008 to 1.024 million vehicles. The figure exceeded the target of 1 million and the growth rate was the fastest of all Volkswagen markets in the world, xinhuanet.com reported.

Engineer's from the British producer of exclusive cars Bentley Motors obviously doesn't care much about world economic crisis.

What is great about going to Auto Shows is just that. It's just a show. There is no pressure to buy. If you have been researching a new vehicle to buy such as the Toyota Prius, Ford Flex or one of the many other choices out there, then going to an auto show is a great way to do your research and have fun at the same time.

A report by China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd (CIMC), the world's largest shipping container maker said yesterday that it had come to agreement on setting up a truck venture with two domestic partners, one of which involved Chery Auto’s stock-holding companies.

In 2009, Mercedes-Benz will launch its first hybrid model S400 BlueHYBRID, a gasoline-electric hybrid based on the S-Class sedan, and a more advanced diesel-electric hybrid version of the M-Class SUV, said cheshi.com today. The two Mercedes-Benz hybrid models may be introduced to China later this year.

Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Corp and U.S. Freescale Semiconductor plan to set up a joint automotive electronics design lab in China. The move aims at developing the electronic systems for next-generation vehicles for the Chinese market and for exports.

BYD Auto is set to launch the automatic model of its F3 sedan by March this year, and the new car will be equipped with the 1.6L Mitsubishi 4G18 engine and priced below 90,000 yuan ($13,200), said xinhuanet.com today.

Zonda Industrial Group said it will appeal the ruling of the bus copyright infringement lawsuit filed by German auto company Neoplan Bus GmbH, china.com said, citing a Zonda executive.