The auto industry as well as auto consumers have been anticipating the unveiling of Tata Motors' small car. The automaker announced last year that they will be manufacturing the world's cheapest car which they will be aiming to sell to millions of Indian customers. Recently, the Tata Nano was unveiled by the automaker.

The North American International Auto Show is just around the corner and the auto industry is buzzing with excitement. The said event will be the stage where most major automakers will be unveiling their newest concept and production vehicles. Automakers will not be the only ones exhibiting at the event as other companies also involved in the auto industry will be present there. Johnson Controls, a company which describes itself as "the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel", will be showcasing their newest innovative developments. The NAIAS will start with the media and invited guests present on Sunday, the thirteenth of January and the event will be opened to the public from the nineteenth of the month until the 27th.

Dearborn automaker Ford may have seen its market share in the all-important United States auto market drop, but it seems to be gaining ground in the European auto market. The Auto Channel recently reported that the automaker has reached record number of vehicles sold in Europe for the year 2007. The automaker announced that last year, they have delivered 1,863,600 units in Europe. That figure corresponds to a sales increase of 5.4 percent. With sales dropping in the United States, the automaker sees a glimmer of hope in their European operation. Market share of the automaker has improved by 8.9 percent. This increase in sales is said to be the result of the automaker offering new and stylish vehicles in Europe.

A hot new supercar will be unleashed by Mazda Motor Corp. to entice Metro Detroit. Yes, the company's Furai, an awesome supercar which is engineered to pull crowds closer, flaunts catchy lines and superb performing mid-mounted rotary engine. The supercar will make its official debut at this year's North American International Auto Show. The Furai, which means "sound of wind," is the fifth model in Mazda's lineup to sport the automaker's new design direction. It all started with the Nagare sports car which was launched at the Los Angeles Motor Show last year. Now, it's the Furai that will continue its legacy.

Peugeot Sport is one of the ten manufacturers who have signed up for the fourth annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test scheduled from January 28 to 30 at the Sebring International Raceway. The manufacturer will be joining test regulars such as Audi Sport North America, Penske Racing and Dyson Racing from the Porsche camp, Intersport Racing, three Acura teams, and Mazda's B-K Motorsports. The striking list of manufacturers joining Peugeot in the three-day Test has representations from Dodge, Ferrari, Ford and Panoz. The event serves as a warm-up for the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring showcased by Fresh from Florida on March 15, the opening race for the 2008 ALMS.

The North American International Auto Show is just around the corner. The said event is one of the biggest of its kind and it can be expected that this year's staging of the event will draw a lot of major automakers. But large automakers like General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler will not be the only ones who are going to unveil their newest vehicles. Niche automakers like Quantum Fuel Systems will also be showcasing their newest vehicle at the forthcoming event.

Musical and generous. That is what Honda Motor Co. radiated when it donated $1 million to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The donation will allow more children to participate in the youth training program of DSO. The second largest Japanese car maker's first major gift to DSO is by far the most sizeable thing it has given to an American arts organization. The donation will be used to fund the Power of Dreams String Project, which will provide introductory music education and string training in Metro Detroit communities where opportunities for children are nonexistent or families could not afford the instruments or lessons, according to the Detroit News.

Dearborn automaker Ford is in the middle of implementing its turnaround plan. With market shares constantly decreasing, the automaker needs to find a way to get back into the race in the auto industry. Although the United States auto market is the most important auto market today, Ford is not neglecting its operations outside the country. Recently, The Auto Channel reported that the automaker has earmarked $500 million to expand its presence in the exponentially growing Indian auto market. This announcement by the company reaffirms its commitment to growth in the said Asian country. One of the areas that Ford is focusing on is the increased output of their auto assembly plant in India. Part of the budget for their Indian operation expansion will go to the expansion of their Chennai auto assembly plant.

Chrysler LLC, now going single after the divorce with Daimler AG, is etching sales milestones. The Auburn Hills automaker reported sales rise of 15 percent outside of North America and six percent in Canada. Chrysler announced last Monday that it had its best-ever year in overseas markets, selling 238,218 cars which represents about nine percent of total sales. The automaker also increased sales in Canada which is likely to counter the losses in the United States last year.

The increasing price of gasoline has forced many consumers to purchase smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles. It has also meant the decline in sales for American automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler which are known for manufacturing large vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks. Further concerns about the increasing price of petroleum fuel were uncovered by a poll conducted by Wall Street Journal and NBC News.