Transportation

Boeing Co has high confidence that the proposed fix for the lithium-ion batteries on its grounded 787 passenger jet will work, Chief Executive Jim McNerney said on Thursday.

Cadillac chief Bob Ferguson expects the brand to record sales growth of 32% in the U.S. and 50% in China.

Boeing Co said it plans a two-hour flight of a company-owned 787 airliner on Monday, to be followed by ground and flight certification tests of proposed changes to the 787's lithium ion batteries in coming days.

A Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner took to the sky on Monday in the first of two flights aimed at showing that the plane's new lithium-ion battery system meets regulatory safety standards, a key step toward ending a two-month, worldwide grounding of the high-tech jet.

German airline Lufthansa is willing to accept more strikes if necessary, including the participation of its pilots, to get the flexibility it needs, Chief Financial Officer Simone Menne told reporters in New York.

Dutch delivery group TNT Express , which was the target of a failed $7 billion takeover by United Parcel Service , said on Monday it will cut 4,000 jobs over the next three years.

Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau said on Friday that preparations are not yet complete for any test flight of Boeing Co's grounded 787 Dreamliner this week.

Deutsche Lufthansa has canceled more than 500 flights after German union Verdi called on 33,000 workers at the company to go on strike on Thursday over a wage dispute.

The world's airlines nudged up their profit forecasts for 2013, reflecting growing confidence in the global economy and the financial performance of airlines, the International Air Transport Association said on Wednesday.

The premium automaker expects earnings to stagnate this year as costs for new model launches, capacity expansion and fuel-efficient technology eat up higher profits from selling more cars.

The abrupt resignation of Fisker Automotive's founder Henrik Fisker was prompted by disagreements with the company's chief executive over funding and operational strategy, two people familiar with the matter said.

The head of Indonesia's Lion Air said after a placing a record Airbus order on Monday that he would use the aircraft to start up new airline ventures underpinned by strong demand in Asia.

French President Francois Hollande will meet Airbus president Fabrice Bregier on Monday to discuss "a major industrial deal," Hollande's office said in a statement on Sunday.

Boeing on Friday chose General Electric Co as its sole engine partner for the forthcoming 777X, indicating that the U.S. aircraft maker was going ahead with the next generation of its most profitable plane.

General Motors Co's Chevrolet brand is consolidating its global advertising, undoing a partnership created a year ago between Interpublic Group's McCann Worldgroup and Omnicom Group's Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.

Volkswagen , Europe's biggest carmaker, will step up production in fast-growing emerging markets like China to offset deteriorating demand closer to home, it said on Thursday.

A Japanese transport ministry official said on Friday that it knew of past incidents involving circuit boards on Boeing Co Dreamliners operated by All Nippon Airways Co (ANA), but authorities do not think they are linked to the jet's battery problems.

French carmaker Renault has won support from workers for a nationwide deal on pay and conditions to boost its competitiveness as a second union gave its backing to the move on Wednesday.

Car sales in Europe are at the low end of expectations and the market is likely to remain shaky for at least five years as the region implements austerity measures to cut its debts, industry executives warned on Tuesday.

Europe's ailing car market has weakened further in recent months; and with no signs of recovery, some industry leaders hope governments will relax their opposition to plant closures and job cuts needed to restore profits.