BMW 5-series remains a top retail choice after six years in the showroom. Even 1996 cars look fresh, and they're now less than half the price of their newer counterparts - making as little as £10k for an average mileage 520i on 96P.
<B>Fiat Ducato: </B>A restyled front end with new bumpers and light clusters. Powertrain options include a new Sofim 111bhp 2.3 JTD to go along with the 2.0 and 2.8-litre common rail diesels and the 2.0-litre petrol. Other new technology includes a TV for rear vision and Connect, Fiat's telematic system.
Unipart Group of Companies is signalling the start of a major recruitment campaign as it strives to find the right candidate to head its European aftermarket arm. The firm told the City that Paul Forman, managing director of its European aftermarket division, will leave at the end of the year. Forman will become chief executive of plastics company Low & Bonar.
Mediobanca is poised to pay Fiat around £502m for a 34 per cent stake in Ferrari. Analysts believe the price is too high.
Universal Salvage is considering closing its Corby site in Northamptonshire as it looks to reduce its cost base after losing the Direct Line business.
European Union sources claim Commissioner Mario Monti will agree to the European Parliament's recommendations to delay introducing the location clause element of the revised block exemption rules until 2004 or 2005.
Car components, defence and aeronautical group TRW has failed to beat off buyout bids from its American rival Northrop Grumman Corporation.
<B>Ford</B> still dominates the 1801-3500kg sector with its Transit van, though sector sales are down. It sold 14,140 models in the first quarter (2001: 14,734), compared with Mercedes-Benz in second place on 4787 registrations. Ford also leads the sub-1800kg sector, though its year-to-date sales, at 5631, only just nudging out Vauxhall, on 5562, and Citroen, on 4289.
Large dealer groups, rather than supermarkets and internet giants, could drive a new third tier of automotive super retailers predicted to emerge in the wake of block exemption revisions. The new breed would, effectively, wholesale cars to other retailers, say industry insiders.
DaimlerChrysler UK has purchased a site in Manchester to house its seventh Mercedes-Benz Direct used car operation. The company is looking for a further two sites in London, and is targeting a total network no larger than 10 outlets.
Dealers are dead. But don't order the flowers just yet, say speakers at this year's AM Spring Conference. They believe the automotive sales and aftersales industry can look forward to a bright future, despite the threat of major upheaval in the traditional business environment. The secret? Think like retailers, stay close to customers, and encourage staff retention.
LCV sales are dictated by the state of the economy - much more so than cars. The majority of vans are purchased by businesses and they will only invest when the market is buoyant.
Britain may be heading for a three-tiered franchised dealer system, despite recent efforts by carmakers to develop single-tier networks. Industry figures say new chains of small, independent 'retail' dealers - reporting into main dealers - are already emerging in response to market changes.
DaimlerChrysler is tightening its grip over Mitsubishi Motors, in which it holds a 37 per cent stake, with the appointment of German Gunter Butschek to manage the NedCar plant in Holland. Butschek, a rising Daimler-Chrysler star who has run the company's South African operation, takes over as chief executive and president of NedCar next month, subject to anticipated approval by the Dutch firm's works council.
Ford has decided its forthcoming Focus-based multi-activity vehicle will be available with a five-seat configuration only after extensive customer research showed there was no market for a seven-seat variant.
Shell Auto Finance, the venture launched less than a year ago by Shell Capital, is being put on ice. The firm told the 400 dealers selling its vehicle finance on June 7 that it would stop writing new business immediately.
The theme of the spring conference, “dealers are dead”, is a recurrent one. Each time it reappears, the rumours of demise are found to be premature - with some reservations. So it is this time. Dealers must emulate successful retailers in other sectors, make good use of technology, work to retain customers and stop giving away profit opportunities. Carmakers are not well suited to retailing and no-one can see a “category killer” way of shifting metal waiting in the wings for the right moment.
Cars are the glamour side of the automotive retail business. Even among the commodity brands, a new car launch is usually backed by a glitzy, high profile ad campaign on prime time TV and in quality publications. Cars look good, feel good. But with slim margins they don't always make a lot of money.
The motor industry has never been so competitive. Not only are car prices falling, but also dealers are now facing the threat of new entrants such as supermarkets and virtual retailers in the market place. Indeed, in a recent survey of industry experts by consultancy firm Accenture, traditional dealers' profits are predicted to drop by as much as 40% by the year 2010.
The UK's first biodegradable organic spill system is being offered to garages and workshops through Unipart Group of Companies' distributors Partco Autoparts and Brown Brothers. UGC says its Taskmaster Iso18 offers a cleaner, safer and quicker alternative to standard granules, holding 14 times more liquid and absorbing spills three times quicker than traditional clay.
Guinness Peat Group has been steadily increasing its share in the Ryland Group over the past two months, sparking speculation that it is preparing a takeover bid. The venture capitalist now has a 29.9 per cent stake in the £642m turnover dealer group, which is at No 12 in the AM100.
Caffyns has posted record turnover in the year to March 31 of £160m, up £20m on the previous 12 months.
The John Clark Motor Group, ranked 60th in this year's AM100, has opened a Skoda dealership in Aberdeen.
Korean automotive components maker Mando Corporation has thrown its hat into the ring to challenge Bosch and Delphi for OE and aftermarket supremacy. The company, which operates three plants and employs 3200 people in its home country, clocking up brake, steering, airbag and suspension system sales worth £0.63bn last year, is reported to be going all out for global growth.
A new car supermarket has opened a £11m 10-acre site in the Midlands and is drawing up plans to launch five more outlets in the UK. Available Cars says it wants to change the way people buy vehicles and says its new operation near Castle Donnington will eventually create 90 new jobs.
Peter Horbury, the new head of design at Ford's Premier Automotive Group, wants to share design ideas across the operation, but recognises the need for brand individuality. He says his role involves “bringing people together to stay apart”.
NGK spark plugs will be exclusively fitted as original equipment on petrol versions of the new Volkswagen Phaeton.
Components and parts maker Visteon has won two major supply awards from Toyota Europe Manufacturing.
