These are the news headlines for this past week that I simply could not get to. They are obviously important, but I could not find time.

Should I make this a regular Sunday morning post, so that you can catch up on the items I missed? Drop me a note and tell me what you think. Would this be helpful to you?

Europe will end 18-month sales slump with positive April

Strong April UK car sales and a solid rebound in Germany last month will help western Europe end 18 consecutive months of year-on-year declines, analysts predict. But market watchers stopped short of saying Europe is on the verge of an extended rebound.

LMC Automotive calculates that April sales grew 2 percent to 1,016,693 units, while the year-to-date total — 3,932,340 units — is still 7 percent below the same period last year.

Analysts at R.L. Polk estimates 1,014,152 sales in western Europe for April, resulting in the same figures at LMC, 2 percent growth for the month and a 7 percent decline through April. Official new-car sales figures from industry association ACEA will be released May 17.

While everyone would love it if April’s rise was the beginning of an extended turnaround from a slump that began in October 2011, the truth is that last month’s rise could be a one-off.

BMW M3 has been sold out

One of the most successful models that came out of BMW’s assembly line is the 3 Series. As such, the upgraded version of it from the M division is also in high demand.

Unfortunately, as Friedrich Nitschke (M division head) stated, the current version of the BMW M3 is sold out.

The making of LaFerrari

Ferrari’s limited-edition supercars are special. Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo says the new LaFerrari is no exception because of features such as the supercar’s gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, F1-inspired carbon fiber cockpit and a state-of-the-art aerodynamics.

Mercedes Citan vans recalled over faulty airbags

Daimler is recalling 3,500 Mercedes-Benz Citan vans in Europe because of faulty airbags. The Citan is a derivative of the Renault Kangoo and recently scored only three out of five stars in an NCAP test.

Opel will offer cheaper loans after taking finance in-house

Opel expects to boost the proportion of cars sold on financing with the offer of cheaper loans and leasing deals now that it has taken its German banking license back

Mercedes brand sales rise 12% in April on Asia, Europe

Daimler said vehicle sales of its Mercedes brand rose 11.7 percent last month, powered by double-digit gains in Asia and Europe

New BMW 3 Series GT xDrive arrives in the UK

BMW officially announced that the new 3 Series Gran Turismo will be offered with four-wheel drive, xDrive system in the UK.

Starting at £30,335, the xDrive system will be available only on the BMW 320i GT and adds £1,500 to the standard model.

In the official press release, BMW states their “all-wheel drive system can prevent oversteer or understeer by sending torque only to the specific place where it is needed.” This will make the car more stable and safe but will also reduce the joy on track.

Caterpillar to lay off 300 employees by July
Earth-moving equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. said Friday will lay off an additional 300 employees in Decatur, Ill., by July.

Peoria-based Caterpillar said in April that it planned to cut roughly 500 workers at that facility. Together, the 800 layoffs represent about 20 percent of the plant’s workforce.

Citroen reinvents itself
French automaker wants revised C-line to complement near-premium DS cars

Peugeot and Citroen have suffered for years because car buyers have trouble distinguishing one brand from the other. Citroen CEO Frederic Banzet is determined to change that.

Speed limit for new vans back by EU Parliament committee

The top speed of vans in the European Union should be electronically limited to 120 km (75 miles) per hour, according to a proposal backed by the European Parliament’s environment committee.

The plan is part of a debate on how to cut carbon emissions and improve the fuel efficiency of Europe’s vehicles. It would only become law if approved by EU member states.

Toyota quarterly profit rises to $3.17 billion

Toyota more than doubled its fourth-quarter net profit as the yen’s depreciation helped the automaker export more profitably and U.S. sales of the Avalon sedan and Tacoma pickup were strong. The company posted net profit of 313.9 billion yen ($3.17 billion), compared with 121 billion yen last year.

GM to discuss labor woes with S. Korea president, union rep says

GM will discuss labor woes in South Korea with the country’s president, the automaker’s CEO was quoted as saying by its Korean union, a move that could complicate already troubled relations with its work force in the country. GM makes most of the Chevrolet vehicles it sells in Europe in Korea.

Ferrari wants to become more exclusive

Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has lived through many highs and lows, both on the racetrack and at the office. Times are good now. Last year, the automaker had record sales of 7,318 supercars and an operating margin of 14.4 percent

Growing Audi demand prompts TRW to boost output at new Romania plant

TRW will boost production at a new eastern European factory on growing demand from Audi and other automakers. The U.S. supplier plans a fivefold output boost at a steering wheel leather wrapping plant in Baia Mare, Romania, that opened in January.

UK has best April car sales since 2008

UK new-car sales were nearly 15 percent higher in April than a year ago, according to the SMMT, which said 2013 sales would be stronger than it previously forecast

Tesla CEO talking with Google about ‘autopilot’ systems

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the electric-car maker is considering adding driverless technology to its vehicles and discussing the prospects for such systems with Google

What’s next for suppliers in a changing Europe?

Parts suppliers are being tested in the European marketplace like never before. Sales have fallen dramatically and the industry is under enormous macroeconomic pressure.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with Martini livery looks just beautiful

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 911 and 150th anniversary of Martini.

After a five year absence these two companies are back together. Martini Racing will be racing the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Catalunya, Barcelona, Sunday 12 May.

Kia Europe boss sees growth despite tough market

Kia Europe President Brandon Yea believes the brand will continue its growth in the region this year despite tough economic conditions. Kia is sticking to its target

Speed limit for new vans backed by EU Parliament committee

The top speed of vans in the EU should be electronically limited to 120kph (75 mph), according to a proposal backed by the European Parliament’s environment committee

Daimler says it’s in talks with Aston Martin on supply agreement

Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler is in early talks with Aston Martin on supply and technical-cooperation agreements as the sports-car maker seeks to reduce spending on developing models.

Microsoft wants to become key player in auto software

Having reshaped a big piece of the world’s economy around its Windows software, Microsoft Corp. now wants to do the same thing in the car business. What the Seattle giant sees there says as much about the future of cars as it does about itself.

LG Chem to start production at Mich. car battery plant in July

South Korean battery maker LG Chem plans to begin commercial production at its Michigan factory in July and will initially supply its products to General Motors’ Volt electric vehicles

Goss: ‘We have to move the Jaguar brand image forward’

When the topic is luxury brands, Jaguar Land Rover North America CEO Andy Goss wants Jaguar to be mentioned in the same sentence as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus.

Caterham celebrates 40th anniversary with free limited edition pack for the iconic Seven

Caterham Cars is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a free limited edition pack for Seven. The stylish pack is limited to first 40 orders and can be applied to any car in the Seven range from the entry level Roadsport 125 priced at £19,995 to Superlight R500, priced at £42,495.

Volkswagen recalls 91,000 cars in Japan on transmission problems
Move follows similar call back in China

Volkswagen said today that it is recalling around 91,000 cars in Japan, citing potential transmission problems that have already led to the recall of 384,181 vehicles in China.

Ferrari will reduce supercar sales to maintain brand exclusivity

Ferrari plans to reduce sales to fewer than 7,000 vehicles this year to maintain the exclusivity of the brand.

“We made this decision because it’s important also for the dealer cultures,” Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, said at a strategy presentation at the company’s headquarters in Maranello on Wednesday. “Dealers must understand that quality is important, not just quantity.”

China passenger-vehicle sales rise 13% in April

China’s passenger-vehicle sales rose 13 percent in April on rising demand for new models in the world’s biggest vehicle market.

BMW under inspection in India after report of tax probe

BMW has said it is cooperating with Indian authorities after a newspaper reported the automaker is being investigated for possibly owing $120 million in taxes.

Kia Europe boss sees growth despite tough market

Kia Europe President Brandon Yea believes the brand will continue its growth in the region this year despite tough economic conditions. Kia is sticking to its target of boosting annual sales to 420,000 by 2016 in the EU and EFTA markets from 338,000 last year.

Toyota quarterly profit rises to $3.17 billion

Toyota more than doubled its fourth-quarter net profit as the yen’s depreciation helped the automaker export more profitably and U.S. sales of the Avalon sedan and Tacoma pickup were strong. The company posted net profit of 313.9 billion yen ($3.17 billion), compared with 121 billion yen last year

Subprime scrutiny could open a real can of worms

Here’s a disturbing thought: As much as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has upset auto lenders and dealers, it hasn’t even gotten around to the vast category of subprime auto lending.

Sure, the bureau has targeted dealer reserve in prime-risk lending. And now the bureau is reportedly looking into F&I products as well.

Shell Lubricants and Kia Motors Europe extend technical partnership

Shell Lubricants and Kia Motors Europe have renewed their technical partnership agreement, reconfirming Shell Lubricants as the car manufacturer’s preferred European motor oil supplier. The initial five-year agreement has now been extended to December 2016.

Agenda and speakers announced for 2013 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo

Sponsored by leading OEMs, fuel suppliers and vehicle technology providers, ACT Expo taking place June 24 to 27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. is North America’s largest clean vehicle technology event dedicated to all alternative fuel types.

ACT Expo 2013 will provide the latest updates on alternative fuels and clean vehicle technologies for all weight classes including propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid-electric, liquefied natural gas (LNG), all-electric, renewable fuels, and hydraulic-hybrids. Market trends—including innovative fueling technologies, dual-fuel options, and new vehicle and engine technologies—will be highlighted at the three day event during keynote, plenary, and breakout sessions, and displayed in the exhibit hall and ride-and-drive.

Tesla Model S all-alectric sports car earns top overall test score

The Tesla Model S, an all-electric luxury sports car, has earned the highest score in Consumer Reports’ ratings: a 99 out of 100.

The $89,650 EV, built by a small automaker in Palo Alto, Calif., performed better, or just as well overall, as any other vehicle—of any kind—ever tested by Consumer Reports.

“The Tesla Model S is packed with technological innovation,” said Jake Fisher, director of Automotive Testing for Consumer Reports. “It accelerates, handles and brakes like a sports car, it has the ride and quietness of a luxury car and is far more energy efficient than the best hybrid cars.”

Sakor Technologies releases test system for electric vehicles

The system features one or more AccuDyne AC motoring dynamometers, a high voltage DC battery simulator and a DynoLAB PT data acquisition and control system. The testing system has been used extensively by major HEV manufacturers, including Tesla Motors, UQM Technologies and Magna Electronics.

The complete turnkey testing system can be configured to automate all types of performance, durability and quality control testing, including complex in-use and road load simulations for both drivetrain components and electric motors and drives.

Geico hands out scholarships and tool grants

The Collision Repair Education Foundation and Geico Philanthropic Foundation are proud to announce the winners of Geico’s national Scholarship and Tool Grant competition. The Geico Scholarship and Tool Grant program provides each selected student with a $1,000 scholarship and $1,000 (retail) in tools.

Renault-Nissan parts warehouse in India nearly destroyed by fire

A major warehouse supplying parts to a Renault-Nissan plant in India was almost destroyed by fire early on Thursday, but the incident is unlikely to affect alliance operations

Ghosn sees more tough times in Europe

Carlos Ghosn, who heads both Nissan Motor Co. and Renault, said today that while he expects Nissan’s annual global retail sales to reach a record this year, he also expects the European market to face yet another tough year. ”The European consumer is confused, he doesn’t know when Europe is going to get out of this crisis.”

“I think 2013 is going to be tough and I don’t foresee any growth in Europe probably before the end of [Nissan’s] mid-term plan, which means not before 2016, or even later,” Ghosn told a news conference at Nissan’s headquarters in Yokohama, following the release of the Japanese carmaker’s fourth-quarter earnings.

Kia Europe boss sees growth despite tough market

Kia Europe President Brandon Yea believes the brand will continue its growth in the region this year despite tough economic conditions. Kia is sticking to its target of boosting annual sales to 420,000 by 2016 in the EU and EFTA markets from 338,000 last year.

We believe we will sell more cars this year than we did last year. The market situation is tough but we expect moderate growth. Our goal is to approach our target carefully as if we were running in a marathon.

Corvettes from 2005-2007 being probed over headlight problems

Federal auto safety regulators have launched a preliminary investigation into the Chevrolet Corvette from model years 2005 to 2007, citing dozens of complaints that the car’s headlights can turn themselves off without warning

VW to build factory in Changsa, China, report says

VW Group will build a factory with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles in Changsa, Hunan province, China, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said on Saturday