For a Lie group $G$, we show that the map $C^\infty_c(G)\times C^\infty_c(G)\to C^\infty_c(G)$, $(\gamma,\eta)\mapsto \gamma*\eta$ taking a pair of test functions to their convolution is continuous if and only if $G$ is $\sigma$-compact. More generally, consider $r,s,t \in \mathbb{N}_0\cup\{\infty\}$ with $t\leq r+s$, locally convex spaces $E_1$, $E_2$ and a continuous bilinear map $b\colon E_1\times E_2\to F$ to a complete locally convex space $F$. Let $\beta\colon C^r_c(G,E_1)\times C^s_c(G,E_2)\to C^t_c(G,F)$, $(\gamma,\eta)\mapsto \gamma *_b\eta$ be the associated convolution map. The main result is a characterization of those $(G,r,s,t,b)$ for which $\beta$ is continuous. Convolution of compactly supported continuous functions on a locally compact group is also discussed, as well as convolution of compactly supported $L^1$-functions and convolution of compactly supported Radon measures.

On a compact connected group $G$, consider the infinitesimal generator $-L$ of a central symmetric Gaussian convolution semigroup $(\mu_t)_{t>0}$. Using appropriate notions of distribution and smooth function spaces, we prove that $L$ is hypoelliptic if and only if $(\mu_t)_{t>0} $ is absolutely continuous with respect to Haar measure and admits a continuous density $x\mapsto \mu_t(x)$, $t>0$, such that $\lim_{t\ra 0} t\log \mu_t(e)=0$. In particular, this condition holds if and only if any Borel measure $u$ which is solution of $Lu=0$ in an open set $\Omega$ can be represented by a continuous function in $\Omega$. Examples are discussed.