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General Motors Co. said Tuesday that the automaker sold 4.85 million vehicles globally during the first half of 2013, up 3.9 percent from the same period in 2012 as North America and China posted strong gains. Global sales for GM in Europe fell 6.5 percent during the first six months of the year, while sales in South America also slipped by 1 percent.

GM’s six-month tally may help the automaker gain some ground on Toyota Motor Corp. for the global sales crown. Toyota, which plans to release global sales for the first half of 2013 on July 25, has sold more than 4 million vehicles worldwide through the first five months of 2013. GM’s first-half figures were slightly ahead of Volkswagen AG, which said Friday it had 4.7 million global deliveries for the first half of 2013, up 5.5 percent from the 2012 period.

Production of an all-new version of the Chrysler 200 — the standard-bearer of the automaker’s Imported from Detroit image — will begin in the first quarter of 2014.

That version of the midsize sedan will be produced in Sterling Heights, where Chrysler is spending about $1 million to build a new paint and body shop as well as two nearby stamping plants.

DETROIT – General Motors received eight Vincentric 2013 Best Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Value in America™ awards, with no manufacturer earning more awards. In addition to vehicle awards, GMC was honored as the best truck brand.

“General Motors received awards in a wide-range of segments,” said David Wurster, president of Vincentric. “It’s clear that GM’s strong product portfolio and CPO program provide measurable value to customers.”

DETROIT – A special long-form ad for the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, featuring an original song by Grammy-nominated recording artist Will Hoge, will air near the final round of the Chevrolet Home Run Derby on Monday, July 15 on ESPN. “Strong,” which debuted July 4 in Texas, and a new spot, “Her Horse” will be shown during the Major League Baseball® All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16 on FOX.

Chevrolet has been the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball since 2005 and is a first-time sponsor of the Home Run Derby pitting sluggers from the American and National leagues against each other to benefit designated charities with the winning hitter receiving a new Silverado full-size pickup.

Pope Francis has chosen to be driven in a comfortable, but modest Ford Focus.

Compared to predecessors, who chose Renault, Mercedes, and other luxury cars, Pope Francis is committed to religious austerity.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI- Chrysler Group LLC showed off its new state-of-the-art paint shop Tuesday in Sterling Heights, which is expected to save the automaker a “significant” amount of money.

The all-new 425,000 square-foot paint shop (nearly 898,00 square feet including all three levels) is part of a previously announced $850 million investment by the Auburn Hills-based automaker. 

John Powell, Chrysler senior manager of paint facilities, planning and launch, said the new facility is about 85 percent complete and is expected to go online early next year.

If the Bat Cave ever needed remodeling, the Caped Crusader would have a tough time fitting plywood and plaster into the Batmobile. Instead, he might want to use this customized Ford pickup. Called the Crime Fighter, it will be shown at this week's Comic-Con convention in San Diego.

The most surprising thing about the Crime Fighter, which looks pretty much like a Ford (F, Fortune 500) F-150 in a Batmobile costume, is that you can actually buy one for yourself. Galpin Auto Sports of Los Angeles will build one for anyone who's willing to pay an additional $30,000, over the cost of an F-150. New F-150s range in price from about $25,000 to over $50,000 plus options.

DETROIT – Chevrolet sold a record 2.5 million vehicles around the world in the first six months of 2013, up 1.4 percent over the same period in 2012, and achieved its 11th straight quarter of increased sales on the strength of new products like the Onix subcompact car in Brazil, Impala full-size sedan in the U.S. and Colorado midsize pickup in Southeast Asia.

Overall, General Motors Co. posted sales of more than 4.85 million vehicles in the first half of 2013, an increase of nearly 4 percent over the same period in 2012.

DETROIT – General Motors today reaffirmed its commitment to further reduce the energy used and the environmental impacts of building and operating an automobile, detailing product goals and tracking progress toward its 2020 manufacturing priorities in its 2012 Sustainability Report.

The report covers energy, emissions, waste reduction and other areas that drive long-term sustainability.