Berlin  - Rolling strikes hit the German automotive industry Wednesday as the powerful IG Metall trade union called members off the job in support of demands for early retirement packages.

Munich  - Car accidents can happen all over the place but according to a new survey in Germany, a large number of them occur on the way to work.

London  - The electrically-powered Range Rover is on its way after a newly-founded British producer announced investments of 30 million pounds (60 million dollars) to re-engineer the luxury cross-

Goodwood, England  - Rolls Royce has released details of a new luxury coupe designed to slot into the range below the flagship Phantom.

The "baby Rolls" codenamed RR4 will be fitted with a new engine unique to the company and produced at the Goodwood factory in southern England. The launch of the model is planned for 2010.

The current Phantom limousine and two-door couple use a V12 power unit derived from German maker BMW which owns the marque.

Chairman Ian Roberstons said the new model was designed to expand the appeal of Rolls-Royce which competes in the ultra-luxury market against Bentley and Maybach.

Grafschaft-Gelsdorf, Germany  - A band of racing enthusiasts hopes to attract a well-heeled clientele to a new sports roadster named Veritas which revives the name of Germany's pioneering post-war

Tokyo  - Japanese car manufacturers aim to counter the twin challenges of climate change and spiralling oil prices with a range of affordable hybrid cars which run on both petrol and electricity.