(January 28, 2010) DETROIT — Ford posted a fourth-quarter profit today and swung to a profit for the year with the help of accounting gains while forecasting an operating profit for 2010. Ford had previously said it would not be “solidly profitable'' until 2011.

(January 27, 2010) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda today began operation of a next generation solar hydrogen station prototype at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., intended for ultimate use as a home refueling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles.

(January 26, 2010) Toyota remains the world’s largest automaker, according to sales data released Monday in Tokyo. Vehicle sales for Toyota and its affiliated brands, including Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino, totaled 7.81 million vehicles worldwide for calendar year 2009, compared with 8.97 million vehicles a year earlier.

Overall, sales declined by 13 percent compared to 2008, particularly in the United States and Japan, Toyota’s two biggest markets. Sales increased in China, which passed the U.S. as the world’s largest auto market last year.

(January 26, 2010) WASHINGTON — Chevrolet announced that greater Washington D.C. will be an initial launch market for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range. The nation’s capital and its suburbs join California and Michigan as the initial retail markets where Chevrolet will sell the Volt to consumers.