(December 10, 2012) WASHINGTON — The government today released a new analysis indicating that highway deaths fell to 32,367 in 2011, marking the lowest level since 1949 and a 1.9 percent decrease from the previous year. The updated 2011 data announced today by the National Traffic Safety Administration show the historic downward trend in recent years continued through last year and represent a 26 percent decline in traffic fatalities overall since 2005.

(December 10, 2012) RUESSELSHEIM — Adam Opel AG management today informed its employees that vehicle production is planned to end in Bochum at the end of the current Zafira lifecycle — expected  in 2016.

In June, Opel announced that no successor to the current Zafira is planned to be allocated in Bochum in view of the shrinking European car market and the overcapacities in the automotive industry. Despite intensive efforts this situation could not be changed, Opel said.

(November 10, 2012) The BMW Group experienced growth on all continents in November and achieved another record month in sales. With 170,932 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles delivered worldwide, sales were 23% higher than in the same month last year  when 138,954 were sold.

(December 10, 2012) DES PLAINES, Ill. — The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says progress is being made in identifying and removing thousands of vehicles damaged beyond repair by Sandy. The estimate of 230,000 insurance claims for vehicle damage in the areas affected by Sandy remains unchanged.

Many of those vehicles were flooded and are being towed to holding areas where they will be loaded on car haulers and taken to facilities to be crushed.