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News watch April 2010: today's auto industry news

Welcome to CAR's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hourThursday 29 April 2010• The European Commission has published a document outlining plans to encourage the take-up of electric cars. It includes a strategy for a common charging socket (Financial Times)• BMW has leapfrogged Toyota as the world's most valuable automotive brand, according to the BrandZ Top 100 survey.

Aston Martin expands personalization scheme

Aston Martin, the UK's ‘coolest brand', is set to increase its offerings of unique products. The British carmaker has announced that the ‘Works Tailored' personalization and customization department is expanding as part of a six-month development plan within the brand. The recently formed ‘Works Tailored' department, which works in close collaboration with engineers and designers, offers owners of Aston Martins of any age the chance to personalize their car to their exacting standards.

BMW M8 would have had McLaren F1 V12

BMW M8 - complete with the V12 that ended up in the McLaren F1 The BMW 8-Series sat at the top of the BMW range throughout the 1990s, a two door BMW Coupe with a V8 or V12 engine. But despite sitting as the halo model in the BMW range it never spawned the ultimate version – the BMW M8. Except it did.