New York  - US automotive giant General Motors Corp on Thursday reported a 30.9-billion-dollar loss in 2008, the second- biggest in its 100-year history.

The final year tally came after fourth-quarter losses of 9.6 billion dollars, a figure that underscores the dire situation the company finds itself in as it battles for survival.

The losses came as sales plunged by double-digit figures in the recession-hit US economy. For the full year, sales dropped 17 per cent to 149 billion dollars.

Berlin/Ruesselsheim - Thousands of workers employed by General Motors in Europe took to the streets Thursday to demonstrate against the giant US carmaker's sweeping restructuring plans and to save their jobs.

The protests came as GM's German offshoot Opel prepared to unveil a rescue plan for the German operations and the government in Berlin stepped up its criticism of the US-based auto group amid a deepening crisis in the global car industry.

Nano, the cheapest car in the world, is all set to hit Indian roads by the end of March, turning Ratan Tata's dreams to produce 'the people's car' into reality.

The company will organise a function on 23 March in Mumbai to launch Nano in the presence of renowned personalities from business, political and social sector.

The company said in a statement, "The car will be on display at Tata Motors dealerships from the first week of April. Bookings will commence from the second week of April."

BMW India announced the opening of infinity cars showroom in Worli, its dealership facility in Mumbai.

Infinity cars brings to Mumbai the BMW standards of sales and service and the same international experience as any BMW dealership worldwide.

The new showroom is located at Seth Motilal Sanghi Marg, opposite Nehru Planetarium in Worli and the workshop is located in Chembur. The showroom and workshop are headed by. Pooja Choudary, Managing Director, Infinity cars.

Finally the time has come to drive Tata Motors much awaited and the world's cheapest family car ‘Nano’.

Today, the company announced that it will roll out ‘Nano’ on March 23 in the Mumbai market.

The launch would happen at a function to be held in Mumbai.

The company also said that the bookings for the car will start from April 2009.

In a major declaration, the company said, “The cars will be on display at Tata Motors dealerships from the first week of April 2009. Bookings will commence from the second week of April 2009.”

Stockholm  - Troubled Swedish car maker Saab was hit by another blow Wednesday as the Swedish Customs agency halted the flow of imported parts for its assembly over unpaid customs duties, Swedish radio news reported.

Last week Saab filed for bankruptcy protection and launched a reorganization process after its US owner General Motors said it planned to shed the loss-making brand.

Saab cannot import parts for its cars or export assembled cars from Sweden until it can show it can pay the customs duties, the report said.