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Munich – The compact Audi Sports Utility Vehicle, the Q5, the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 received a top five-star rating in the latest EuroNCAP crash test while the Suzuki Alto failed the safety test.

Wolfsburg, Germany  – Volkswagen and the Chinese car maker BYD (Build Your Dreams) have signed a memorandum of understanding on building hybrid and electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries, according to a VW statement.

Munich  – BMW has no plans for forming a partnership with other manufacturers on battery powered electric vehicles and has its own plans to mass-produce “megacity” e-vehicles by the year 2015, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has announced.

Cologne  – Motorists should take care to load their roof box carefully to avoid accidents as it can affect the roadholding of the car, according to safety experts.

Washington  – The US Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the sale of ailing automaker Chrysler to Italy’s Fiat, lifting a stay placed on the deal a day earlier.

Madrid/Rome – There was a general sense of satisfaction in Spain at the signing of Brazilian superstar Kaka by Real Madrid, which was officially announced early on Tuesday.

Luxembourg  – European Union finance ministers were Tuesday debating controversial plans by Brussels for common supervision of the bloc’s financial system amid opposition from Britain and central European countries with a high concentration of foreign-owned banks.

Berlin  – German exports dropped more than expected in April, data released Tuesday showed, as Europe’s biggest economy battles to emerge from its deepest recession in more than six decades.

Hamburg  – For five decades, Beatles fans have made the pilgrimage to Hamburg in hopes of following in the footsteps of the Fab Four, who got their first recording contract and their first rave reviews in the German port city.

Wennigsen, Germany  – Visitors to South Africa can take an eight-day guided detour to see the Garden Route between the Eastern and Western capes.