Mercedes-Benz fined $28.9M for violations

Mercedes-Benz fined $28.9M for violations

WASHINGTON — Mercedes-Benz’s U.S. division paid a $28.9 million fine in December for violating federal fuel efficiency requirements, the government said Tuesday.

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC paid the fine for imported passenger cars from the 2007 model year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

NHTSA assessed more than $37 million in fines from six automakers in 2008, records show. Many manufacturers of luxury vehicles consider the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, fines as the cost of doing business.

The fines were established to ensure that vehicles meet basic gas mileage standards.

Alcoa cutting jobs, contractors, output

PITTSBURGH — Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. says it’s cutting about 13 percent of its global work force and slashing spending and output due to the economic downturn.

The Pittsburgh-based company says 1,700 contractors also will be cut and that it’s implementing a global salary and hiring freeze.

As a result of its actions, Alcoa expects fourth-quarter charges of between $900 million and $950 million. The company expects to report quarterly results Monday.

Associated Press