The sale of all Lex Retail's franchised dealerships and four bodyshops marks the end of an important chapter in the history of UK motor retailing. Five years ago, Lex headed the AM100 with 104 new car outlets and a £1bn turnover.
Morgan plans to raise annual production by 100 to 650 following a £2m investment in Aero 8, its first all-new model since 1936, of which up to 250 a year will be built.
Toyota, whose new MR2 sportscar hits UK showrooms in the spring, will introduce a two-wheel drive new RAV4 as an entry-level derivative.
The swoop for 32 Lex dealerships and four bodyshops was a Trevor Finn classic: buy while the market is down and your rivals are least expecting it.
Rover has issued a “precautionary recall” for 20,000 flagship 75s worldwide - 8,552 in the UK - as EU officials cast fresh doubts over the future of its Longbridge plant.
Autobytel UK executives believe they are close to ending a long dispute with Volkswagen Group UK. Last year, VW and Audi dealers were warned not to sign with the internet-related company.
BMW dealers are to be offered a chance to sell the new Mini in a move that will clearly position the car away from Rover and as a separate brand within the Group.
UK dealers are rushing to join new internet sales business OneSwoop.com “in their hundreds”, according to co-founder and chief executive officer Roeland van de Ven.
Mitsubishi is to sell more than 2,500 nearly-new cars direct to the public in an attempt to clear central stocks and support residual values.
Dixon Motors, now backed by £65m from a syndicate of banks, was this week expected to reveal a major internet initiative.
Derek Lindop, this week elected chairman of council at the Institute of the Motor Industry, was reluctant to work with Roy Ward who resigned suddenly as director general.
UK dealers representing BMW Group's five brands have been warned they must accept change, including the influence of the internet.
Vauxhall is poised to go head-to-head in a price war with Suzuki when the manufacturers launch their microcars, the Vauxhall Agila and Suzuki Wagon R+ which are the result of the first joint venture since the US and Japanese groups formed a business alliance.
Ferrari UK boss Stuart Robinson believes the new 360 Spider will account for half its sales. He said the coupe had taken two-thirds of the company's orders.
Senior executives of Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler and Renault/Nissan were at the Geneva motor show this week briefing dealers and suppliers on why they have formed the world's largest virtual marketplace.
The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association's national helpline has been plagued with technical problems.
Dealers can improve the way their cars are electronically marketed by using the latest interactive technology.
The Direct Line Group is investing £50m into selling new and used cars on the internet.
Renault has ruled out any possibility of dual franchising with its Nissan affiliate in the UK, despite widespread speculation last year that it planned to merge the two networks by 2002 (AM 222).
Roy Ward resigned as director general of the Institute of the Motor Industry during a council management meeting.
The Institute of the Motor Industry reports a major drop in the number of women employed in the motor industry, despite rising numbers of female car buyers.
Dealers are fearing another bout of forced registrations as 20-day figures revealed February down 11.27% on last year, at 57,301 units.
Ford light commercial dealers are to play a key role in a plan to make new Transit appeal to a wider range of potential customers in an effort to win back former owners of the previous model and to persuade buyers to stay loyal to the brand for aftersales.
Carmax, the American used car supermarket chain, advertises on television that it buys cars as well as sells them.
Rival carmakers believe Ford's 1,500 job cuts at Dagenham are the first phase of a plan that will lead to the eventual closure of the east London plant.
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.
