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.

The Ashok Leyland and Nissan project will be operational soon. The project started the first step after signing the MoU with the TN government. A land of 380 acres would be acquired to set up the facility.

It will be set up at Pillaipakkam which is located 40 KM away from Chennai. The MoU was signed between the state's industries secretary MF Farooqui, R Seshasayee and Andy Palmer.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu was also present on the occasion. The state government said that the set up of this project would increase the chances of employment in the state. The project is expected to give employment to around 4500 people directly and indirectly.

Tata motors would not resume the work at the project site in Singur. It has separated itself from the between the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress. Tata is not satisfied with the agreement and it has objected to some clauses.

Tata is not in the favor of any intervention in the mother plant and the vendor park. It considers it as an integral part of the project and ruled out any possibility of relocation of acquired land. Tata also termed the text of the agreement as unclear.