The federal government is now officially out of the car business.

GM's closure of its auto plant in Bochum, Germany, will be the first major closure of an auto plant there in 60 years.

Ford's latest business results are in and the numbers are good. The company made $1.2 billion in profit from April through June. Robust pick up trucks sales and a strengthening U.S. economy get the credit.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all saw significant gains in U.S. sales during 2012.

The government is on track to lose money on the GM bailout. But would doing nothing have cost more?

General Motors has just announced it is going to buy back 200 million of its shares from the Treasury Department, which plans to sell the rest of its GM shares in the next year or so.

Car makers are headed for a record year for sales. Never mind a sluggish U.S. economy and a European recession.

According to a piece in this morning's Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Treasury's welcome at General Motors is wearing thin. GM is reportedly pushing for the government to sell most or all of its remaining stake — currently about a quarter of the company. But the Obama administration seems to be in no hurry to exit.

When the government divests more than 500 million shares of General Motors, stock acquired in the bailout deal could affect the price.