General Motors investment rating has been cut by two steps to ‘B’, five levels below investment grade, by Standard and Poor’s, the investment research firm.
Wicliffe Motor has secured a Renault franchise at its Stroud dealership and a Fiat franchise in Gloucester.
Prodrive is using the 2006 Autosport International show for the world premier of its new P2 sports car in January.
BMW’s ‘special sales’ programme will allow internet bidders to compete against buyers in the auction hall next year, by utilising BCA’s ‘Live Online’ service.
Motorpoint, the car supermarket, has been given the Black Horse Motor Finance seal of approval, with ‘platinum’ status awarded across all its sites.
BMW has confirmed that a production version of the show-stopping Z4 coupe concept, first unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, will go on sale in the UK in summer 2006.
BCA has been awarded the ‘UK Vehicle Remarketing Company 2005’ by the Institute of Transport Management.
A second wave of Retail Motor Industry Training (ReMIT) apprentices have joined ranks of Ferrari, under the Ferrari modern apprenticeship scheme.
Ford's premium brand Jaguar is not for sale, the head of Ford's European business told Reuters on Monday, dismissing talk that the second biggest U.S. carmaker might part with the loss-making brand.
The new Lexus Centre in Milton Keynes has opened after three years of planning and development and an investment of over £4.5m.
Inchcape will enter a close period on January 5 ahead of its preliminary results announcement, for the year ending December 31, on March 6.
Hyundai Motor UK (HMUK) has appointed former MG Rover director of franchising, Guy Pigounakis, as its new UK sales director.
Toyota has revised its five-door Corolla colour collection for 2006.
Seat UK was this week “in negotation” with its Bristol dealership Eastgate Seat, whose future has been at the centre of speculation among rival dealers in the city.
Proton Cars UK will be increasing its brand and product awareness activity with a £1.5m marketing campaign including television, outdoor poster sites and regional press in February.
Mazda will unveil two world premieres at the 2006 North American International Auto Show; the Kabura compact sports coupe concept and the CX-7, a crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Smart has launched a pink Fortwo.
Two Retail Motor Industry Federation members have won at this year’s Garage of the Year Awards, which was held at the federation’s Northern Ireland annual dinner.
Chinese carmaker Nanjing Automobile will miss its year-end deadline to finalise plans for reviving production at the MG Rover site.
Lookers is poised to make a £466m offer for Reg Vardy, outbidding Pendragon’s previous offer of £450m, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The Institute of the Motor Industry will have journalist and broadcaster John Humphrys at its annual dinner on March 14 at the Savoy in London.
The 2006 Jeep Cherokee will now come equipped with ESP (electronic stability program) and a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard across the model range.
BOC Industrial is bringing out its welding and cutting manual, BOC Tradefile, in a new hardbound catalogue and for the first time in the UK is to make it available to retail teams and over the counter at selected BOC Industrial trade outlets.
Mazda Motor Europe sales were up by 1% year-on-year last month, with 20,422 vehicles sold.
Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre, has announced that Pierre Lefevre, chairman and chief at Groupama and a member of the ABI general insurance council, will take over from Andrew Torrance as chairman of the board.
An aftersales consultantcy company has defended the UK’s mechanics following a recent article published by Direct Line, entitled ‘Cowboy Mechanics’.
Mercedes-Benz will reveal its new seven-seat SUV GL-class at this year’s North American International Auto Show in January.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation has appointed Beryl Walsh-Atkins as director of member relations, following the group’s restructuring.
Automotive Data Processing (ADP), the US transaction processing and information systems supplier has, acquired Kerridge, the UK automotive computer provider, for approximately $300 million (£171.3m) in cash.
Skoda sales reached a total of 2,560 in November, resulting in year-to-date sales of 34,989.
