Trevor Finn, Pendragon chief executive, said the wait for the Competition Commission report findings, expected in the next month, was causing great uncertainty.
The relationship between manufacturers and dealers often resembles that between a master and his servant in times long gone. It is out of tune with modern practice, notions of fairness and equality of bargaining position.
Michael Smyth believes he understands the difference between opportunism and taking pride in building a profitable, forward-thinking business which serves a community.
DaimlerChrysler is aiming to increase its UK market share of the medium commercial vehicle market from 15.2% to as high as 20% during the next four years.
New EU measures, which are worrying for dealers, were brought into force on March 1 as part of the Data Protection Act 1998.
There was jubilation on the Iveco stand at the Amsterdam European road transport show for commercial vehicles as its Daily City 2000 model was voted 'Van of the Year'.
A nine-month programme of reorganisation and dealership sales has stemmed the losses at DC Cook.
Peugeot dealers will be at the forefront of the company's plans to sell cars over the internet, said Peugeot UK managing director Tod Evans.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has rapped the Government's decision not to take action on the VAT loophole enjoyed by insurer-owned bodyshops, which do not pay tax on repairs.
Credit hire and repair firms are forging ahead with relationships aimed at improving their credibility, after the long-awaited ruling on the Dimond v Lovell appeal case was delayed for up to two months.
Lex Service has paid £5m for a 30% stake in Autohit, the internet-based stock locator, with an option to increase its share “significantly” in due course.
Motor retailers were angered by the decision of Government minister Patricia Hewitt to speak at the launch of the OneSwoop.com online car import service this week.
Computer software supplier Arcs is heralding an end to the approved repairer concept and expensive estimating systems with the launch of three products, including an internet-based estimating programme.
The newly formed Association of Body Repairers (ABR) has been coolly received by rival trade bodies the Retail Motor Industry Federation and the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association
Online car sales are stripping manufacturers of their protective clothing, leaving them exposed to deal direct with customers.
The latest insurance industry merger proposal, confirmed last week by Norwich Union and CGU, has left repairers contemplating the potential business impact.
Peugeot intends to steer increasing volumes of accident repair work through its franchised bodyshops with its new online insurance service.
UK new car buyers are becoming increasingly attracted to the internet, but use it to window shop rather than to buy according to research by Fletcher Research.
Avis Europe is to launch an internet site in late summer to dispose of its ex-rental cars. The move could result in 12,000 nearly-new cars a year in the UK being offered direct to the public.
Manchester-based RRG, the Toyota/Lexus and Peugeot group, has returned pre-tax profits of £2.1m for 1999 on a turnover of £150m, despite tough trading conditions late in the year.
Pendragon, which tops the AM100, is to lead the motor retail group fightback against the growing wave of internet-linked cut-price car sellers.
East Anglian dealer group John Grose has promoted Tim Adjemian to new car sales manager for the Ford central marketing area.
New Stratstone of Mayfair managing director Keith Woods has ambitious plans to make the dealership the epitome for “everything Jaguar and Aston Martin”.
Toyota hopes to offset last year's slide in fleet registrations by spreading sales across its dealer network and intensifying support through a newly-appointed fleet team.
Geoffrey Long believes the enthusiasm he brings to his new director's position at Sanderson Bramall Motor Group will rub off on his staff.
Steven Landry has been appointed president of Chrysler Jeep Automotive - Europe, taking responsibility for sales, marketing and service of Chrysler and Jeep products.
The wealthy Thames Valley region spreading from Marlborough in the west to the Essex estuary covers the traditional stockbroker belts of Surrey, Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire. It is Ford's own country, the carmaker employs thousands in the region, so it's hardly surprising that Thames outperforms national sales. The surprise though is the appearance of BMW in the top 10.
In the second of the series looking at sales trends across the UK region by region, the spotlight falls on the Thames Valley. The analysis of the figures from DVLA has been carried out by automotive analysts Polk. It covers new car registrations, used car sales and vehicles in operation (the car parc) by manufacturer and model. All figures and tables relate to the period from July 1998 to June 1999.
Roger King is leaving the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders after eight years following his failure to be appointed chief executive.
Claims by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders that new car buyers are returning to the market have been dismissed as “rubbish” by franchised dealers.
