Holden to produce smaller cars

Australia’s GM Holden Ltd. has announced that it will build a four-cylinder fuel-efficient car at its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide, Australia, by 2010. The company says the decision reflects changing consumer tastes in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Holden spokeswoman Andrea Matthews says ethanol has a number of benefits over petrol. “Essentially, our entire locally produced range that now runs on petrol is going to be capable of running on 85% ethanol,” she said. (December 6/22, 2008)