General Motors CEO Dan Akerson and his wife, Karin, will donate $1 million today to start a Habitat for Humanity initiative called Leaders to ReBuild Detroit.

Honda is expanding the role of North America COO Tetsuo Iwamura -- making him the automaker's second-highest global executive and marking the first time such a position has been based in the United States.

In 1988 Bryan DeBoer was fresh out of college with a degree in computer science and no plans to work in the auto industry. But his dad, Lithia Motors founder Sid DeBoer, needed someone who could work with spreadsheets to organize data at Lithia.

Lithia Motors said today its fourth-quarter net income surged four-fold, let by a 41 percent rise in new vehicle revenue. Net income for the fourth quarter was $18.7 million, or 71 cents per share, compared with $4.

Ford is pouring $3.8 billion into its global pension plan this year and will invest its plan assets more heavily in bonds, as the automaker moves more aggressively to minimize its pension risks in a shaky market.

Ford boosted annual compensation for board members by 25 percent and will pay 29 percent more to Edsel Ford II, its founder's great-grandson, for his work as a director and consultant.

A crash-test dummy designed to resemble a 10-year-old child has been added to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's family of test dummies to evaluate child safety seats and boosters made for children weighing more than 65 pounds.

Daimler has reduced the compensation of CEO Dieter Zetsche, despite posting record profit in 2011. Zetsche's reward for 2011 is currently calculated at 8.65 million euros ($11.

General Motors said today it has named Jon Lauckner vice chairman and chief technology officer, effective April 1. He will replace Tom Stephens who retires on that date.

Mazda said today it was looking to raise up to 162.8 billion yen ($2 billion) in its second public share offering in 2-1/2 years, underscoring the Japanese automaker's vulnerability to the stubbornly strong yen.

Ford will take the wraps off the Tourneo Custom concept next month at the Geneva auto show, a styling exercise that shows the design direction for the redesigned Ford Transit.

Automotive News Europe will launch its Global Monthly E-Book on March 5.

French car parts maker Valeo forecast flat operating profit this year as it expands in emerging markets while automotive production declines in Europe. The company posted a 13 percent rise in 2011 sales to 10.9 billion euros ($14.

PSA might just amplify its problems if it ties up with GM's European arm.

General Motors has invested $70 million in a distribution center in Dubai to supply parts for Chevrolets and other vehicles as the world's largest automaker expands in the Middle East.

Daimler has reduced the compensation of CEO Dieter Zetsche, despite posting record profit in 2011. Zetsche's reward for 2011 is currently calculated at 8.65 million euros ($11.

Bentley has appointed its first regional director for China to reflect the growing importance of the region. The brand has also named a new regional director for Europe.

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor has opened its first European factory as part of its strategy to lift sales in the region. The plant in Bulgaria will assemble 50,000 units a year.

General Motors and PSA are in talks about a possible alliance, PSA CEO Philippe Varin told the French government, following earlier news reports about the discussions. The talks are focused on sharing vehicles and parts.

German supplier Continental plans to pay its first dividend in four years after posting a gain in 2011 profit. The company said the payout of 1.50 euros, will amount in total to about 300 million euros or 24 percent of net income.