SHANGHAI, China-Ford Motor Co. posted a 30 percent year-over-year sales increase in China in 2007, selling a record 216,324 vehicles. MORE

LAGRANGE, GA-Korea-based Kia Motors has begun the process of hiring 2,500 workers for its new West Point production plant. MORE

TOLEDO, OH-Slow auto sales are taking their toll on another Toledo area auto factory, with 230 hourly workers to be laid off indefinitely at the Chrysler Toledo machining plant. MORE

MEXICO CITY-Even as the Big Three lay off workers, Mexico’s automotive sector continues to grow. MORE

CHENNAI, India-Ford Motor Co. will invest $500 million to expand its current manufacturing facility in Chennai and construct a new engine manufacturing plant by 2010. MORE

BANGKOK, Thailand-Volkswagen and Tata Motors have both submitted applications to build assembly plants in Thailand for the Asia-Pacific market. MORE

GUANGZHOU, China-Recent reports say some Chinese companies routinely shortchange their employees on wages, withhold health benefits and expose their workers to dangerous machinery and harmful chemicals, like lead, cadmium and mercury. MORE

AUBURN HILLS, MI-At the end of this month, Chrysler LLC will lay off 1,096 workers at its assembly plant in Belvidere, IL, to combat falling sales. MORE

HANOI, Vietnam-According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, in November 2007, association members sold 4,583 vans, pickups and trucks, an increase of 1,000 units over October 2007. MORE

TOKYO- Toyota, already the world's most profitable and valuable carmaker, said on Wednesday it expects to sell 9.85 million vehicles in 2008, up from an estimated 9.36 million in 2007. MORE