Stilo was the replacement for the Bravo/Brava, with a sporty-looking three-door and family-orientated five-door. The Multiwagon estate joined the line-up in 2003 and benefits from a huge load area.
The AM Index gives an overview of three-year/30,000-mile used car values across every sector. Each month AM, in conjunction with pricing data provider CAP, puts the spotlight on one sector – this month it’s upper medium cars.
Dealer groups have further strengthened their grip on new car retailing and now control over 71% of the UK’s new car sales points. The number of franchise outlets have fallen to 5,490, the lowest number since analysis began in 1976.
Transport and General Workers’ Union members at Aston Martin in Gaydon, Warwickshire have voted to take strike action in a dispute over pay.
Volvo is upgrading and refining its dealer network by introducing selected Volvo Business Centres to provide a more comprehensive service for fleet customers.
Renault has been accused by a former employee of deliberately downplaying a design fault that causes the bonnet of some of its cars to open while being driven.
Ford is to close a Warwickshire foundry which makes parts for the firm’s vehicles, with the loss of 365 jobs, it was announced today.
Citroen UK will appointment Stuart Hodge as its new after sales director on April 2.
HR Owen has posted pre-tax profits of £2.3 million for the year to December 2006, compared with a loss of £12.8 million a year earlier.
Bonusing dealers on enquiry management has helped Mini to sell more new and used cars.
The new owners of Aston Martin must prove themselves capable of making a niche brand prosperous, says Garel Rhys, automotive professor at Cardiff University business school.
Dealers could add another £250 profit on each used car and increase stock turn by a third, claim the developers of a new business intelligence system launched in the UK this month.
Leeds-based DM Keith has added a fourth dealership to make it the largest UK Škoda retailer, with a likely turnover this year of £24m.
Nick Crawford has been appointed as BMW outbound manager at Mondial UK.
Last month we looked at how keen negotiation by dealer groups in the procurement of warranty products can lead to compromise in both product coverage and agreed labour rate reimbursement.
A second US-based dealer group has begun building a business in the UK.
Subaru has unveiled its first diesel engine for the UK market, the Boxer Turbo Diesel.
It is still a commonly held myth that customers lose their right to reject a vehicle and reclaim the purchase price even though they’ve opted to have it repaired when a fault comes to light.
In last months articles we brought to your attention a case where a tyre and exhaust centre had been prosecuted for making false claims about what repairs were necessary when a customer asked for a ‘pre-MOT check!
As any client will know, it is never an exact science when putting a case before the Judge in the County Court small claims or otherwise.
Many clients with Consumer Credit licences will have been approached by their credit providers to ensure they have a complaints procedure and the other necessities required from April 6, 2007 to deal with consumer complaints.
Renault has this afternoon strongly denied claims made by its former PR manager Graeme Holt that it had ignored safety concerns surrounding the bonnet catch of its Clio II and Campus models.
Strong demand in the retail used car market during the first quarter of 2007 has brought an increase in sales compared to the same period last year – and this has led to a rise in used car trade values.
In a recent case (Blackburn etal v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police), it was held that a scheme-awarding bonus for police officers available to work at night was discriminating against women.
A number of clients will be aware that there are two approved routes to deal with as employee grievance.
Clients will be aware that when the number of employees exceeds four (i.e. five or more) then there is a legal requirement to have a written Health and Safety policy.
We have had a number of queries concerning slipping on floors due to wet/frosty conditions where it appears, in one case a customer, and in another an employee, are fraudulently trying to claim for injuries sustained.
Connaught Motor Company is setting up its global manufacturing and R&D headquarters in Wales.
The Volkswagen Group UK is working with Audatex to provide its approved paint and body network with a Volkswagen Group Estimator Accreditation Programme.
Central Scotland Audi has successfully opened a new dealership in Ayr.
