Detroit - No one gets to choose their birthday. That goes for people as well as corporations. Next week, a US industrial giant will mark its centennial, but it couldn't be coming at a worse time.

General Motors, once the largest US corporation and the world's leading automaker, will turn 100 on Tuesday. CEO Rick Wagoner says GM will begin its second century in the midst of fundamental changes in the auto industry.

Berlin  - Luxury carmaker Porsche hit a bump Friday in its plans to win control of its big brother Volkswagen, with Porsche directors suffering defeats in key votes at a Volkswagen Group board meeting.

After 40,000 Volkswagen workers rallied at VW's Wolfsburg headquarters Friday morning in support of state influence on the company, labour leaders were jubilant at the setback for Porsche.

During the afternoon the board forbade direct contacts by Volkswagen's premium-car division Audi with Porsche executives.

Berlin - Some 30,000 workers rallied at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters Friday in support of retaining the "VW law" that gives enhanced rights to the German state of Lower Saxony, in the face of calls for its abolition from the European Commission.

The rally was called after the commissioner for the European Union's internal market and services, Charlie McCreevy, said this week he would take the German federal government to the European Court of Justice over the issue.

London, September 12 : Cars that can shrink into tight parking spaces, are wind-powered, and can even do a u-turn on the spot are among the 29 vehicles that have made the shortlist for the Peugeot Design Contest 2008.

The list even includes a car that can bend in the middle to allow the driver a better view of the road ahead, and a two-wheeler that is operated by a joystick rather than a steering wheel.

Participants in the event were told to concentrate on environmental awareness, social harmony, interactive mobility and economic efficiency, while retaining the Peugeot style.

Ying Hui Choo, a participant from Singapore, said that his Peugeot Blade is designed for "pure driving enjoyment".

According to the figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), sales of passenger cars dropped for a second consecutive month during August, as rising interest rates and higher costs kept potential investors at bay.

The SIAM data disclosed that domestic car sales for the month (Aug 2008) fell 4.38% to 94,584 units, as compared to 98,893 units during the corresponding period last year (Aug 2007).

The Indian car sales fell for the first time in over two and a half years in July.

Following rejection of changes in land-pattern, the prospect of ending the Singur issue appears to be heading nowhere. Trinamool Congress is adamant in its demand of returning 300 acres of land in the factory site to farmers, though commerce and industry minister of the state, Nirupam Sen made it clear that no land from the company's main plant or from areas for its ancillary units would be given back.