It has been learnt that an electric version of Daimler's popular Smart car's batteries would be made by Tesla Motors Inc.

The customers would be able to buy the new version of Daimler's two-person Smart by the end of this year. Tesla, based in San Carlos and was initiated by Elon Musk, makes and sells an electric sportscar called the Roadster. At one point of time, Tesla even eyed New Mexico as a site for building its manufacturing plant.

A perfect prototype of a supercar, which operates on the energy of wind and is capable to reach up to the speed of 155 mph, would be completed by a California-based company.

If adhered to the reports, then the car, which will be two-seater and environment friendly, will be outfitted with paper-thin solar paneling, which would fully charge the battery in just six minutes due to new prototype batteries.The car will run up to 200 miles with fully charged batteries.

London, Jan. 14 : Car giant Jaguar Land Rover is to axe 450 employees, including 300 managers, as part of a cost-cutting exercise, the company has announced.

According to the Daily Star, the cuts follow the "severe reduction" in demand for new cars.

Jaguar Land Rover also announced that managers will not receive any bonuses this year, while pay rises have been deferred to October.

Detroit  - US carmakers have to walk a very fine line at this year's Detroit auto show, keenly aware of the economic realities that hovered over what is usually a glittering affair.

After pleaded with the US Congress for emergency loans to stay alive, US manufacturers are being careful to avoid the kinds of expensive-looking exhibits that could smack of hypocrisy - and a waste of taxpayer money.

Dusseldorf, Germany - Luxury German car manufacturing group Daimler is intensifying its work on a new strategy to improve its range of vehicles adjustment to climate protection requirements, the German economic news weekly magazine Wirtschaftswoche reported.

Stockholm - The new Volvo S60 concept unveiled ahead of the Detroit Auto Show later this month features a revolutionary new driver safety system which brakes the car automatically to avoid a collision with a pedestrian.

The technology, know as Collision Warning with Full Brake, monitors the road ahead using both radar sensors and a camera. It recognizes not only other vehicles, but pedestrians who step into the path of the car. The system will be available in the production version of the S60 four-door coupe which is due to enter the showrooms in late 2009.