We have talked before about how the ‘ups and downs’ of the market for mechanical servicing and repair can favour market players. In AM last February, we called this the ‘do nothing scenario’.
The AA is to completely withdraw from service and repair after selling 50 of its loss-making centres to Nationwide Autocentres.
Subaru is hoping a pilot scheme launched this month for Impreza servicing will be rolled out to encompass its other model ranges early next year.
Angry backers of the AutoExcel show have criticised the indecisive attitude of the aftermarket industry for causing the event’s demise this week.
Mixing the big presence of the Phaeton, Golf components and the bold new grille of recent VW concept cars, the all-new Passat is on its way.
Automotive retailers are facing a meltdown in finance business unless they wake up to the threat posed by the direct lenders.
Rolls-Royce has taken action to reassure its dealers worldwide following the sudden resignation of its chairman and chief executive Karl-Heinz Kalbfell on Monday.
Buyers are being sought for South Cleveland Garages group’s 10 businesses, after the automotive retailer went into receivership last week with unspecified debts.
Pendragon has paid Hartwell around £4.5m for the freehold of a Cardiff dealership with the Citroen and Chrysler Jeep franchises.
Southampton-based Volkswagen and Audi dealer Testwood Motor Group has been split up and sold off after two of its three directors – Melvyn Hobson and David Henley – decided to retire.
The demise of AutoExcel should not be interpreted by organisers of the UK’s other aftermarket shows as a signal that they are meeting the needs of the industry.
European Motor Holdings has ridden the crest of strong premium brand sales by posting its best ever first half results, which contrast with recent figures published by some retail groups.
More than 250 workers at Middlesborough-based South Cleveland Garages were sent home without pay at the end of last week after the seven-outlet group’s bankers put it into administration under PricewaterhouseCoopers on 14 October.
A huge rally is to be held as part of a union campaign to save production of Jaguar cars in Coventry.
More than 30,000 repair outlets will be forced into closure by 2008 across Europe.
A VW dealer will soon acquire the Audi franchise for the first time, and in the same area, which Volkswagen UK hopes will end speculation among its retailers that dual VW/Audi representation is barred.
The John Martin Group has opened its first Mazda dealerships, as forecast earlier this year.
Mitsubishi Motors UK has created two new dealer development positions as it looks to improve its level of service to the 142-strong UK dealer network.
Vauxhall’s production plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton will face another round of job cuts as parent General Motors looks to drastically cut costs by shedding one-fifth of its workforce in Europe.
Vauxhall, Saab and Mazda did not raise any objections to Nidd Vale’s new open-plan multi-franchised dealership in Harrogate, Yorkshire. The expanded showroom now has the capacity for 110 cars.
In January Robert Bosch will launch ESPerience, a training programme for UK car dealership sales staff, to try to raise awareness of its Electronic Stability Program (ESP).
A new online marketing initiative that, since mid-September, has offered Toyota centres a ‘risk free solution to managing used stock’ will be rolled out to other franchised dealer networks early in 2005.
Customers buying a used car from the MG Rover Direct supersite at Longbridge might get an unexpected bonus – a car that has been driven by a celebrity.
A complaint concerning Citroen placing a minimum standard on showroom space for its franchisees has been thrown out by the Office of Fair Trading, to the dismay of the RMI.
Dealership sales staff could be missing out on one in 10 deals because they are not persistent enough in following up potential sales leads.
More than 4,000 dealerships were visited during a six-day charity drive this month which has raised tens of thousands of pounds for motor industry charity BEN.
Caterham has launched an all-new version of the Seven, the CSR, which is powered by a Cosworth developed 2.3-litre Ford Duratec engine.
Helphire Group expects to turn its newly acquired claims management specialist Albany Group – which last year posted operating losses of £4m – into profit within 18 months.
Sam Burton, the managing director of Subaru and Isuzu UK, is set to leave the company at the end of November.
A complaint against the Colt Car Company over an “irresponsible” advertisement for its Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII has been partly upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority.
