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/ 14 January 2008

‘Cars aren’t just for driving any more’

Advances in digital technology are set to transform the automotive world, making cars safer, more efficient and more fun to drive, says General Motors chairperson Rick Wagoner. His speech at last week’s Consumer Electronics World, the world’s largest technology fair, signified how fast cars are integrating electronic gadgets.

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/ 13 January 2008

Romney, McCain debate jobs in depressed Michigan

Republican rivals Mitt Romney and John McCain clashed on Saturday over how to revive the depressed economy of Michigan, as the most open United States presidential race in decades approached its next big test. Romney needs to win the Republican primary here on Tuesday after losing Iowa to former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and New Hampshire to McCain.

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/ 13 January 2008

US automakers face onslaught in 2008

After years of crisis, the big three United States automakers face another brutal year with demand expected to dip again due to an economic downturn threatening to snuff out 2007’s timid recovery. The world’s major automakers will exhibit upcoming models and the concept cars of the future from Sunday as media previews kick off for the Detroit motor show.

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/ 19 October 2007

SA govt against apartheid lawsuit in US

The responsibility of addressing South Africa’s apartheid past lies within the country itself and not the United States courts, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla said on Friday. In a statement issued by her office, she reiterated the government’s stance against the case brought by a group of apartheid victims in US courts.

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/ 15 October 2007

US court gives hope to apartheid victims

Victims who filed suit for $400-billion against United States businesses allegedly complicit with the former South African apartheid regime have found new hope following a federal court ruling in the US. "The appeal court decision is a major victory," said Michael Hausfeld, a lawyer for the victims on the heels of Friday’s decision by a Manhattan federal court.

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/ 13 October 2007

US court gives nod to apartheid claims

A United States appellate court on Friday allowed claims brought by victims of apartheid against dozens of major companies to go forward, saying a lower court erred in ruling it did not have jurisdiction over the matter. The plaintiffs include South Africa’s non-profit Khulumani Support Group.

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/ 25 September 2007

New Captiva: More Hugh Grant than Bruce Willis

Last week, at the Gauteng launch of its reborn Uno, Fiat kicked off proceedings by setting us loose on a section of the Carnival City casino off-road route. This seemed a little strange until we heard that the Italian company now includes a raised-body version of the Brazilian-built hatch in its line-up, intended to make it more suitable for those pesky African and South American dirt roads.

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/ 19 September 2007

Strike brings Volkswagen SA to its knees

Volkswagen South Africa is ”on the brink of disaster” because of the motor-industry components strike, MD David Powels said on Wednesday. The six-day-old work stoppage has so far cost the company a production loss of 500 cars per day. Volkswagen’s Uitenhage plant has been brought to a standstill.

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/ 10 September 2007

SA auto-parts workers to strike, says union

More than 50 000 South African vehicle-component workers are set to go on indefinite strike on Wednesday after a breakdown in wage talks, the main metalworkers’ union said on Monday. Mziwakhe Hlangani, spokesperson for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, said in a statement the strike would affect automotive-component suppliers.

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/ 6 September 2007

Brangelina’s car

General Motors (GM) is making a point of acknowledging girl power with the launch of the Chevrolet Captiva. Using the blockbuster movie <i>Mr & Mrs Smith</i> as a premise, GM went to great lengths to accentuate the versatility and over all appeal of its latest SUV.