Business - Automotive

BOISE, Idaho - Mining for cobalt — an element used in hybrid car batteries and jet engines — could get under way in the central Idaho mountains in 2011, after a Canadian company says it won initial federal approval for the plan. Full Story »

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co has replaced the head of its mass-market Chevrolet brand as the management shake-up continues at the top U.S. automaker. Full Story »

DETROIT - General Motors has replaced its Chevrolet brand manager after just five months as it continues to shake up top management. Full Story »

RALEIGH, N.C. - Consumer advocates argued Wednesday that Congress should include auto dealers under the oversight of a proposed finance industry watchdog. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit against Conseco Inc insurance and finance company over allegations of fraud in the $1.4 billion sale at auction in 2003 of the General Motors Building in New York. Full Story »

LANSING, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. officials are asking Michigan legislators to give the automaker around $120 million in tax credits earmarked for companies that develop batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. Full Story »

FRANKFURT - German carmaker Daimler AG has reached an agreement that gives job security until the end of 2019 to 37,000 employees at its biggest plant in Germany, a spokesman said Wednesday. Full Story »

TOKYO/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Volkswagen AG will buy a one-fifth stake in Suzuki Motor Corp (7269.T) for $2.5 billion, tapping the Japanese firm's expertise in small cars and dominance in India as VW seeks to become the No.1 automaker. Full Story »

TOKYO (AFP) - German car giant Volkswagen will take a nearly 20 percent stake in Japan's Suzuki for more than 2.5 billion dollars, giving VW a solid footprint in the Indian automarket, the companies said Wednesday. Full Story »

LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Long Beach City Council has approved a proposal to offer $28.6 million in financial incentives to Tesla Motor as the electric carmaker decides where to build its assembly plant. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors and Chrysler would be forced to resolve disputes arising from their plans to close more than 2,000 dealerships, under a Congressional proposal agreed late on Tuesday. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - House and Senate leaders proposed a compromise plan Tuesday to give shuttered General Motors and Chrysler dealers an appeals process to keep their showrooms open. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chrysler is willing to let market share slide in the short term to further its longer restructuring goals, the company's chief executive said in a presentation of his business plan to members of Congress on Tuesday. Full Story »

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it could invest up to $500 million in Michigan for the development and production of batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles if it wins state tax credits. Full Story »

DETROIT (Reuters) - The board of General Motors Co will get an update on the search for a new chief executive by next month as a recruiting firm compiles a short list of candidates, a person familiar with the process said. Full Story »

DETROIT - General Motors Co. is close to replacing its chief financial officer after finding a candidate to take his job, its CEO said in a Web chat with reporters on Tuesday. Full Story »

e DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford is going to Washington to present recommendations to the Obama administration from a three-day summit in Detroit on manufacturing, energy, technology and the environment. Full Story »

DETROIT (Reuters) - The board of General Motors Co will get an update on the search for a new chief executive by next month as a recruiting firm compiles a short list of candidates, a person familiar with the process said. Full Story »