An auto parts manufacturer has announced that it is creating 100 new jobs as the UK car industry continues to grow in strength, the Express & Star reports.

ThyssenKrupp Tallent, based in Cannock, Staffordshire, had to shed more than 300 jobs during its lowest point of the economic crisis, but this latest news suggests it is returning to good health.

The firm is looking for recruits to join its factory team, which produces structural under-body parts for many leading car brands, and some of the jobs will be permanent, the news provider said.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, told the newspaper: "Headline figures demonstrate a steady improvement in home and export markets.

"But the industry will continue to face tough market conditions with the scrappage scheme closing and limited access to finance and credit."

The car parts manufacturer also has factories in India, Belgium, the USA and China.

With the Le Man 24 Hours just five weeks away, Audi driver Allan McNish is preparing with a full ‘dress rehearsal’ in Germany next Sunday (May 9th).

The Scotsman has won the event twice in his illustrious career and he will be joined by eight teammates, who will all be driving the latest Audi R15 TDI Plus sports-prototypes in a 1,000km preparation race at Spa-Francorchamps.

"We’ll face our fiercest rivals for the first time this year, the factory Peugeot team, which also has a three-car entry at Spa and then Le Mans in June," McNish said.

Spa is the second round of the Le Mans Series (LMS), with McNish and Italian teammate Dindo Capello having won the Paul Ricard LMS event earlier this month.

The Le Mans 24 Hours is the world’s oldest sports car endurance race and has been held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France.

The European Union’s (EU’s) move towards an eco-friendly motoring industry has taken a step forward with the publication of the Communication on Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles.

Published yesterday (April 28th) by the European Commission in Brussels, the document outlines the key framework conditions for a viable transition to sustainable mobility in the EU.

Ivan Hodac, secretary general of ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, said: "We support the Commission in its goal to facilitate a rapid deployment of clean and energy efficient vehicles by embedding the innovative force of the European automobile industry in a smart police framework."

Manufacturers are increasingly looking to electric-powered and hybrid cars to cater to the eco-market, which has been boosted by government incentives and tax breaks for the owners of such vehicles.

Figures from Clean Green Cars revealed Toyota as the most environmentally-friendly car manufacturers, emitting significantly less than the target figure set by the EU.

The AA has found out what policies British motorists want the government to implement in the run-up to the general election, which takes place on May 6th.

According to the car insurance firm, 53 per cent of drivers said they want politicians to deal with the rising costs of owning a vehicle, while a similar number (51 per cent) thought tackling the problem of MOT and registration dodgers is a priority.

Drink and drug drivers are also on electors’ minds, the survey showed, with 32 per cent of car owners believing it to be an important election issue.

"Drivers in the UK are nervously watching UK politicians side-step the crucial motoring issues that could decide how 43 million driving licence holders will go about their daily lives in the next four years – and if they can afford it," the AA said.

What Car recently reported that 81 per cent of motorists across the continent are driving on under-inflated tyres, but they could cut a collective £4.6 billion off the cost of fuel by making sure they keep up the maintenance task.

An increasing number of European Union (EU) member states are turning to CO2-based taxation or incentives for electric vehicles, according to ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Assocation.

The ACEA’s annual tax guide reveals that 17 EU member states are presently levying CO2-related taxes on passenger cars, while 15 governments provide tax incentives for electirc and ultra-low carbon vehicles.

Incentives for electically chargeable vehicles are now applied in all western European countries, with the exceptions of Italy and Luxembourg.

Motorists who own such vehicles see receive benefits in the form of tax reductions and exemptions, as well as bonus payments and savings on the cost of buying the cars in the first place.

In a statement, the association said: "Tax measures are an important tool in shaping consumer demand towards fuel-efficient cars and help create a market for breakthrough technologies."

The Energy Technologies Institute launched a £4.5 million research programme in March to identify the economic, technical and cultural barriers that the electric car industry could face.

Mitsubishi has revealed details of an improved Outlander crossover, with a range of new features on offer.

The new Outlander range includes an overhauled exterior, complete with a jet-fighter grille, a new skid plate and chrome bezels for the front fog lamps.

A twin-clutch SST transmission makes the car more environmentally friendly, while the electric time and alarm control system has been upgraded and the braking efficiency is greatly improved.

The first available derivative of the new range will be the Juro Special Edition, set to go on sale from July 1st.

Offering a 2.2 diesel engine and a choice of manual or SST auto transmissions, the Juro also comes with leather seats as standard and newly-designed 18 inch alloys for a price of £25,999.

In March this year, the Japanese car manufacturer announced the pricing and specifications of its firs electric model, the i-MiEV, which, it said, would be extremely inexpensive to run. They will cost £33,699.

Ford has unveiled a limited edition model based on its popular Fiesta Zetec-S.

Only 650 of the new Fiesta S1600 cars are available, and they come with a standard specification that includes alloy pedals, heated leather sports seats and a choice of engines.

The sporty model boasts a unique front bumper with flared lower valence panel, extended side skirts, large rear spoiler and allow wheels.

Available with a 1.6-litre, DuratecTI-VCT engine or enhanced 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, the model also comes with side airbags, motorsport-branded floor mats and costs £16,655.

Gill Palmer, Ford of Britain’s Fiesta product manager, said: "Since its introduction, Fiesta and sporting pedigree have never been far apart and the latest incarnation of that is S1600, bringing extra motorsport feel to the award-winning Fiesta style and driving quality."

The Ford Fiesta is Europe’s best-selling car in 2010 so far, with a total of 140,496 sold, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.

Motorists on a tight budget can take advantage of some bargains left in the wake of the scrappage scheme.

Late 1990s cars are cropping up more frequently on the used car market, offering great deals to buyers looking to save money.

Independent motoring expert HonestJohn.com said: "Reports that late 1990s cars had all but disappeared due to the scrappage scheme seem to have been greatly exaggerated.

"You couldn’t move for late 1990s cars at the auction I went to on Monday and there were plenty of bargains to be had, which is great news for motorists who are on a tight budget but still want a decent set of wheels."

A Times Online article advised used car buyers to ensure they give any potential purchase a thorough examination before completing the deal.

Buyers should check the car inside and out, and definitely make sure to take it for a test drive as this can show up other potential problem areas.

British motorists seeking ways to combat the sharp rise in fuel prices can take advantage of some expert advice.

The website PetrolPrices.com gives drivers the chance to search for petrol stations within a certain postcode to find the cheapest place to fill up their tanks.

Prices have hit as much as £1.20 per litre in some places during recent weeks, but there are ways to limit the expense by focussing on fuel efficiency.

Avoiding regular changes of gear, thus reducing engine revs, is one way to make a tank of petrol go further, while opting for the highest possible gear on quiet roads also helps.

If possible, motorists should avoid weighing the car down with extras such as roof racks and other heavy equipment.

Average petrol prices reached an all-time high of 119.9p in March, an increase of 10.02p on prices at the beginning of the year, breaking the previous record set in 2008, according to the AA.

Retesting over-70s will not help reduce accidents as they are safer on the road than younger drivers, a report has claimed.

The RAC Foundation announced that mandatory retesting for elderly motorists would be hard to enforce, and it would also impact negatively on pensioners.

Importantly, the motoring organisation found that over-70s are among the safest drivers on the road. Over 53 per cent of them hold a driving licence, and 63 per cent of all trips that they make are in a car, either as the driver or a passenger.

Professor Stephen Glaister, the RAC Foundation’s director, said: "We are unlikely to see retesting at 70 because, despite the myths, older drivers are no less safe than other age groups."

Figures from the Department for Transport released in February found that the total number of casualties on the UK’s roads fell by five per cent in the first nine months of 2009.