News - Page 1322

Pendragon chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, is today urging Lookers’ shareholders to accept its all share offer for the company, in a last ditch effort of persuasion before the deadline for acceptances on Thursday.

Cadillac is launching its midsize executive saloon, the BLS, on a tour of motorway service stations, supporting the charity SPARKS.

Family-owned Kent-based retailer the Whitehouse Group is in negotiations to sell all except one of its franchises.

The automotive industry is rocked again with the news that Peugeot is to close its Ryton Plant in Coventry, with the loss of 2,300 jobs.

NedCar assembly plant employees have voted to strike today against Mitsubishi and DaimlerChrysler’s decision to axe the Smart ForFour model, which was announced at then end of March.

TVR has temporarily laid off half of its workforce due to a slump in orders for its sports cars.

Chevrolet has achieved its single best sales month on record in the Motability market.

The number of people driving to work has plummeted in two years - while the number using trains and buses is up five-fold.

Here’s Aston Martin’s next shot at the Porsche 911: a Vantage cabriolet. Caught testing on British roads, the open Vantage will be unveiled this autumn, with first deliveries in early 2007.

Honda UK’s official announcement that it is launching dedicated Business to Business sales centres across its franchised dealer network after an eight month trial is another sign that the company views the fleet sector as an opportunity for growth.

Council leaders and Government agencies have pledged to work together to support Peugeot's workforce following this week's announcement that the Ryton plant is to close.

Sir Digby Jones will join Ford of Europe and the Premier Automotive Group, after he steps down as director-general of the Confederation of British Industry at the end of June.

Lookers has gone on the offensive against rival Pendragon’s aggressive takeover plans, citing its latest financial results as a reason to remain independent.

Jack Barclay, the London Bentley dealer, will be previewing the new Continental GTC at this year’s London Salon Prive four day party.

Volvo’s 2007 model year XC90 will make its UK debut at the British International Motor Show in July, when it is also expected to arrive in showrooms.

Activant Solutions, the automotive aftermarket business solutions provider, has launched a new online business advisor, which provides factors, retailers and suppliers operating in the UK aftermarket with information on what’s happening across their business.

Diesel is set to break through the £1 a litre barrier this summer.

Unions have slammed Peugeot’s decision to close its Ryton plant in Coventry, claiming it was easier for Peugeot to close a plant in the UK, rather than in France.

Hyundai has made a public apology and pledged to donate to charity, following the arrest of executives in the ongoing investigation of bribery charges.

Chevrolet is giving away £200 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers with any new car purchase.

Lexus has included a new 3.5-litre 272bhp V6 engine in its new RX 350 line-up, which is on sale now, priced from £31,890 on-the-road.

Audatex has been bought from Automatic Data Processing by Solera, a provider of technology solutions, shared services and consulting for the insurance and claims industries, for an undisclosed sum.

Changes in company ownership are a growing part of business life as the retail industry consolidates, but any changes can be made much easier for employees if they know where they stand.

PSA Peugeot Citroen will close its Ryton plant by next summer, despite guaranteeing its future until 2010.

Final negotiations are being discussed for the last stages of the multi-million pound refurbishment for the Horizon Motor Group by 4d Design & Build.

Isuzu has cut more than £3,000 off the price of its Rodeo Denver ‘lifestyle’ pickup compared to the original 2004 launch price.

Dealers are being advised to review their training contracts following a legal ruling that has changed an employer’s ability to dismiss trainees on Modern Apprenticeship schemes.

The Learning and Skills Council recently announced new funding rates for motor industry apprenticeships in England and it is not all doom and gloom.

In October 2003, Scottish and Newcastle UK announced its intention to open two state-of-the-art bottling lines in a purpose-built plant based at Tadcaster brewery.

It’s quick, powerful and undoubtedly eye-catching, but the Crossfire has so far failed to attract as much interest from new buyers as the Audi TT, Nissan 350Z or Mazda RX-8.