The new car sector suffered a 5% drop in registrations last year compared to 2004 to 2,439,717 units.
Workers at car component company Unipres (UK) Ltd in Washington, Tyneside which supplies body parts to Nissan and Honda are being balloted on industrial action over plans to introduce Saturday working.
BMW Group has achieved record UK sales in 2005 with over 156,000 BMW and MINI vehicle registrations, an increase of 9% compared to 2004 and in a market down by 5%.
Vauxhall has launched its biggest servicing and repair promotion for its MasterFit centres.
Smart has launched a refreshed website across its retail network.
Subaru is to launch its first microsite, dedicated to the 2006 Impreza range.
Mazda is presenting Kabura, a sportscar concept at this year’s North American International Auto Show.
General Motors sold 392,041 new cars and trucks in the US in December, down 10% from the same month a year ago.
The Indian utility vehicle and agricultural tractor manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra Limited (M&M) has acquired 98.6% shares in Stokes Group Limited from its existing main shareholders, the Jennings family, who had controlled the firm since 1938.
Saab is celebrating two decades of convertible sales success by introducing a 20th anniversary model, the 9-3 Convertible Cerulean special edition.
Perrys Peugeot, in Bletchley, has signed a deal worth potentially £500,000 to supply vehicles to Allied Bakeries - one of the UK’s largest bakers.
Ford has achieved its first full year increase in US car sales since 1999 by the end of December 2005.
Peter Cameron, operations director at The Bridewell Group and director of Network Automotive Management, is to retire this month after more than 40 years in the motor industry.
Volvo is extending its three year/60,000 miles free service plan to the XC90.
The Fox, Volkswagen’s new entry level small car, will go on sale at the end of April with prices starting at £6,595.
The cost of running the average new car has grown to nearly £5,000 a year, or £14 a day, according to the latest RAC Cost of Motoring Index.
Dealers are being warned to check the history of used cars due to rising numbers of insurance write-offs going on sale.
FSA (Financial Services Authority) insurance regulations threaten to damage the retail motor trade and restrict consumer choice, says the Retail Motor Industry Federation.
Vauxhall was almost the only manufacturer to pre-register vehicles in November, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Renault increased global sales by 1.7% in 2005 to 2.53 million vehicles sold.
What models are coming up and when they are on sale in the UK.
Used car values are set to fall at an increased rate this year, according to EurotaxGlass’s, caused by a continued slowdown in sales of new and used cars, coupled with an increase in the supply of nearly new vehicles entering the used market.
Dealers are being warned to face tougher negotiations from car buyers across the UK. Motor retailers in Wales are the most likely to have a harder time trying to please customers, according to a poll by Experian, the global information solutions company.
Malcolm Wade, previously managing director of the Cadillac & Corvette UK operation, has taken over the position of director sales.
Virgin Cars, launched in 2000 by Sir Richard Branson with the promise of revolutionizing the way cars are sold, has ceased trading.
Asian carmakers are poised to claim much more of the global market at the expense of North American and European producers.
Michelin has announced a global tyre recall of 10,000 tyres fitted on luxury cars.
Group Lotus is launching a long-term expansion programme to triple production and launch new models.
Volkswagen has attracted six bidders for its Europcar vehicle rental business, including one from rival Sixt.
Nicola Howlett, project manager at Top Technician, plans to freefall 10,000ft on April 8 to raise money for motor industry charity BEN.
