A busy 2010 for the car industry

After a dismal 2009, sales bounced back for just about every automaker to bring much-needed optimism and prosperity. But there was much more to 2010 than simple economics when it comes to the world of motoring.

Toyota President and Chief Executive Officer Akio Toyoda had to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in February for not recalling potentially faulty vehicles quickly enough.

The year that closed yesterday was an eventful one for the motor industry, not to mention a welcome one. After a dismal 2009, sales bounced back for just about every automaker to bring much-needed optimism and prosperity. This was especially true for General Motors and Chrysler, which both went through bankruptcy in 2009 but seem healthier than ever now.
But there was much more to 2010 than simple economics when it comes to the world of motoring. Here is a rundown of the events that shaped the year, here and abroad.
 
January The Big Three were more upbeat at the Detroit motor show than in 2009. GM's offerings included the Cadillac XTS Platinum concept, the GMC Granite concept truck and the Chevrolet Aveo RS. Ford exhibited the Ford Fusion hybrid, the Transit Connect compact van and the new Focus.
Chrysler unveiled the new 300 S6 and S8, with Fiat's Lancia Delta rebadged with Chrysler's star.
Toyota recalled eight models over sticking accelerator pedals, after a 2009 recall over floor mats.
Harley-Davidson announced plans to sell its bikes in India, while Aston Martin's small car, the Cygnet, got the green light to go into production. It is expected to go on sale in the US in 2012.
 
February After General Motors offloaded Saab, Dutch sportscar manufacturer Spyker bought the Swedish badge for US$400 million (Dh1.5 million).
Nissan announced that its Leaf electric car would roll out to the US and Japan by the end of 2010.
Toyota's president and CEO Akio Toyoda told US Congress that he was "deeply sorry" for the company's handling of safety issues concerning recalls and possible brake malfunctions.
 
March Formula One began with Fernando Alonso winning the Bahrain Grand Prix and Jenson Button winning the Australian race, heralding the start of a tightly contested season.
The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge tested off-road cars and bikes on Liwa's dunes. The overall winner was Leonid Lovitsky, a Russian driver in a BMW driving for X-raid GMBH.
Mitsubishi wound down its Ralliart performance car operations.
 
April The Beijing Motor Show saw a quirkier star attraction: the ZAP electric SUV/taxi. It was tested at the Korea Electric Vehicle challenge in March and April in a 220km rally with three recharge stops.
In the UAE, petrol prices rose from Dh1.37 per litre to Dh1.52 per litre; an 11 per cent increase.
Christophe Hissette, a UAE-based Belgian racing driver, was killed on a practice lap in the last Radical race of the season at Dubai Autodrome. He was 29.
 
May Tata's investigation on a series of fires in Nano cars concluded that the cars are "safe and robust and fires were isolated." Free inspections were offered by the Indian automaker.
Austin, Texas, was named as the location for the US Grand Prix, debuting on the F1 calendar in 2012.
In the UAE, a video appeared on YouTube of drivers performing stunts on Sheikh Zayed Road. The two drivers, one of whom is a police officer, were charged with endangering the lives of others but only ended up with Dh1,000 fine.
 
June The Isle of Man ran the TT Zero race, an electric motorbike race that replaced the TTXGP. The race takes in one 60km lap around the Snaefell Mountain road. The race was won by American rider Mark Miller.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans was won by Audi, its ninth overall win and sweet revenge for losing to Peugeot the year before.
Fisker Automotive got one step closer to launching its extended range electric car after raising the $189 million (Dh700 million) in funding it needed to be able to secure US government loans.
 
July Royal Enfield, the Indian motorcycle manufacturer, announced it was expanding production from 52,000 units last year to 70,000 bikes this year and 90,000 in 2012.
 
August Mini announced that it will enter international rallying with its new Countryman. A race version was being developed for competition in the WRC in 2011.
Geely officially became the owner of Volvo, after talks to buy the Swedish marque from Ford. AFP reported that the Chinese carmaker paid US$1.5 billion (Dh5.5 billion) for Volvo, less than a quarter of what Ford paid in 1999.
 
September Aston Martin announced it will return to Le Mans racing in the LMP1 category with an open-cockpit design. The new car will race this year and will sport the classic Gulf colours.
 
October Abu Dhabi launched its paid parking programme, Mawaqif, with the first area encompassing Liwa to Baniyas streets and from Hamdan to Khalifa streets. The city plans to have 75,000 paid parking spots across the city.
In a surprise announcement, Lotus debuted five new cars at the Paris Motor Show and said it will build them all in the next five years. The small car maker, owned by Proton in Malaysia, plans to move upscale to compete with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.
Bonhams netted US$4.4 million with a car auction in Dubai, including setting two records for BMW sales with a 1979 M1 ($264,000) and a 1975 CSL ($218,00).
 
November Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing the F1 driver's title in the process.
General Motors became the first global automaker to sell two million cars in China.
Pascal Grosjean, 39, from Switzerland, became the second racer to die at the Dubai Autodrome in less than a year after he was hit on his motorcycle after winning a race.
Mubadala, the investment company for Abu Dhabi, sold back its five per cent stake in Ferrari to Fiat.
General Motors had the biggest IPO in US history when it went public, and used it to pay back more than $13.5 billion (Dh50 billion) in government loans.
 
December Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport decreed that, by the end of the month, all residents from the Corniche to Defence Road will have to pay for parking under the Mawaqif programme.
McLaren unveiled its MP4-12C in the UAE, part of a GCC tour with the supercar that is set to go on sale this summer.
The Abu Dhabi International Motor Show highlighted a few Middle Eastern debuts, but it was also marked by the absence of many major automakers, including Volkswagen, Honda and Renault.
Toyota was fined US$32.4 million (Dh119 million) by the US government for failing to act quickly enough on recalling vehicles with potential brake problems. In total, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million cars in the past year for various defects.