Sep. 6--The good news keeps on coming at Ford Motor Co.

A survey from the popular Consumer Reports magazine, released last week, said the percentage of new car buyers who are likely to consider buying a Ford has increased 17% compared with a year ago.

Generally, Consumer Reports found that 81% of those surveyed are likely to consider a domestic brand while only 47% said they would consider buying an Asian brand and 46% said they would consider buying a European brand.

Coming up: Ford shows off a new, 6.7-liter V8 diesel engine for its 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickups on Tuesday.

Chrysler's Aug. sales fall 44% outside U.S.

Chrysler Group LLC sold 9,951 vehicles outside the United States in August, down 44% from the same month in 2008.

The Auburn Hills-based automaker's strongest overseas market was Asia, where it sold 2,907 cars and trucks.

Coming up: Fiat's top purchasing executive, Franco Cavallotti, said the automaker, which owns 20% of Chrysler, will buy about $1 billion in parts from India in 2010. That would be about 5% of Fiat's global purchasing expenses. He said about $700 million of that would go toward Fiat's venture with Tata Motors.

GM fires back at anti-Volt comments

General Motors is swinging back at comments made by the president of Audi of America last week, which included calling GM's upcoming Chevrolet Volt "a car for idiots."

In a story published Wednesday on MSN's Autos Web site, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen criticized electric vehicles and the Volt, in particular the supposed $40,000 price tag the Volt could have.

"No one is going to pay a $15,000 premium for a car that competes with a"Toyota Corolla, he is quoted as saying. "So there are not enough idiots who will buy it."

GM spokesman Robert Peterson responded that he was "surprised Mr. de Nysschen was so quick to insult the intelligence of electric vehicle and Volt enthusiasts. ... EVs will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels -- if that's being 'hoodwinked by our government,' then count me in."

Coming up: HBO is to air at 9 p.m. Monday a documentary called "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant."

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