Motoryzacja

RICHMOND, Va.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Auto parts retailer AutoZone Inc. said today its fiscal first-quarter profit fell slightly amid higher expenses and weak domestic same-store sales in a tough economy.

Toyota Motor Corp. said its fourth-quarter profit plunged 28% — primarily due to lower sales and earnings in the Untied States, currency exchange rates and rising raw material costs — and forecasted a similar earnings drop of 27% for its current fiscal year, pushing shares down more than 4% in morning trading.

BERLIN — Luxury automaker BMW AG said today that its first-quarter profit fell 17% because of a one-time charge taken to better insulate the company from lower used-car prices and the risk of defaults on loans for leased cars in the United States.

TOKYO -- Nissan reported a 26.6% jump in third-quarter profit Friday and maintained full-year forecasts, with strong sales appearing to quell concerns about a U.S. slowdown and a strong yen. Profit at Nissan Motor Co. rose to 132 billion yen ($1.24 billion) for the fiscal third quarter, from 104 billion yen the same period the previous year.