BRIEFS - Honda to scrap joint venture

•  Honda to scrap joint venture

TOKYO (AP):

Honda Motor Co says it will sell its 26 per cent stake in a motorcycle joint venture in India.

Honda said Thursday it would pull out of the venture - Hero Honda Motors Ltd, which was built in 1984.

With annual production capacity of 5.4 million units, Hero Honda Motors is India's biggest motorcycle maker.

While ending the joint venture, Honda said it would expand its presence in India. Honda runs a wholly owned motorcycle unit in the country, and plans to build a near wholly owned motorcycle unit in the country, and plans to build a new motorcycle plant with production expected to begin in 2011.

• Chinese firm mulls over electric cars

SHANGHAI (AP):

China's BYD Auto and the Housing Authority of Los Angeles have launched a trial programme for a fleet of BYD electric cars, as the battery-maker turned car company moves a step closer toward its goal of vehicle sales in North America.

Company spokesman Paul Lin said Thursday that BYD, which is backed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, is aiming at United States (US) sales of its K9 electric bus next year and hoping to begin sales of its E6 electric car in the US by 2012 - two years later than originally planned.

• Brio for India

Honda has released a new small car for the Indian market called the Brio. It will be available to the Indian market for 2011.

The Brio will be powered by an i-VTEC 900cc three-cylinder engine producing 70hp. Airbags and ABS will also be offered on the Brio.

• Ethios hits the market

Toyota took four years to develop the Ethios sedan for the Indian market.

Ethios is expected to do battle with the likes of the Nissan Mirca, Ford Figo, VW Polo Suzuki Swift and the new Honda Brio.

The car will be powered by an 88-hp, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission.

• Corolla gets makeover

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best selling cars for Toyota in North America. Already 228,000 have been sold since the start of this year.

The 2011 Corolla has a few changes to the compact sedan, which has a new front end and minor equipment additions.

The car will be available in three trim levels, the base model, the LE and the S. Safety has been a big issue for the company and all cars now have a brake-override system that cuts the throttle when both the brake and accelerator pedals are depressed. ABS, stability and traction control, brake assist, and brake-force distribution all became standard for 2010.

The Corolla will be powered by 1.8L four-cylinder engine that produces 132 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic transmission are also available. Fuel economy will be 28mpg city/ 35mpg hwy for the manual and the automatic will be 26 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 34mpg highway.