Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corp said Tuesday that its global sales in 2008 fell 4 per cent from the year before as consumption waned amid the global economic slowdown.

Despite the sales drop to 8.97 million cars, Japan's leading automaker said it still expected to become the world's top automaker by sales, overtaking General Motors Corp for the first time. In terms of global production, Toyota became the world's top auto producer in 2007.

New York/Rome  - The Italian car manufacturer Fiat and US- based Chrysler were discussing a strategic partnership, according to reports Monday in the Wall Street Journal and the trade magazine Automotive News.

Under such a deal, Fiat could gain access to the US market for its small and mid-size cars, fulfilling a long-standing wish by the Italian company to get an affordable foothold in the US, the reports said.

In particular, the Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo are being singled out in the talks, the Wall Street Journal reported from Rome.

Washington  - The investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns the beleaguered car manufacturer Chrysler, plans to cut nearly 10 per cent of its worldwide staff, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, quoting people close to the operations.

The company employs about 275 investment and operational professionals.

A Cerberus spokesman did not confirm the plans but told the Journal that any action it took would "be consistent with the best interests of our investors"

New York  - The loss-plagued Swedish car manufacturer Saab is to be split off as a separate business by owner General Motors to make it more attractive for a purchaser, the US trade magazine Automotive News reported Monday.

GM has been searching for months in vain for a purchaser for its Saab branch.

Stock market analysts have maintained ‘buy’ rating on Ashok Leyland stock with a short term target of Rs 16.5.

According to analysts, interested investors can purchase the stock on declines with a stop loss of Rs 14.3. If the stock market remains positive in the coming days, the stock pricing becomes more attractive, and reach above Rs 17.5.
 

Automobile giant, Bajaj Auto posted 22.43 per cent decline in net profit for the quarter ended December 2008. Its net profit stands at Rs 166 crore as against Rs 214 crore in the same period last year.

Decline in vehicle sales and tight liquidity conditions contributed to the decline in profit for the quarter under consideration.

Company's turnover declined 15.84 percent and currently stands at Rs 2,141 crore. It sold 493,748 units of vehicles with 31 per cent decline as compared to 713,135 units sold in the same period last year.