News - Page 1458

Daihatsu is driving down the cost of Fourtrak competitive parts by an average of over 40%, hoping to boost dealers’ service business, winning back customers who have switched to alternative suppliers.

Amicus and T&G members at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant will be balloted for industrial action next week following a mass demonstration through Coventry City Centre planned for November 27.

Toyota has confirmed reports that it is to spend some £400m over the next three years to raise the European performance of it Lexus luxury brand.

SAIC and MG Rover are discussing their joint venture and reports of £1bn in investment are premature, the companies say.

Smaller cars are getting safer for their occupants, RAC Foundation claims as the latest phase of Euro NCAP crash tests are revealed at a press conference at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Daihatsu has announced a new deal for Terios buyers with its new ‘555’ peace of mind offer.

Land Rover is to release an all-new Sport version of the Range Rover.

Jaguar has been named Employer of the Year at the CIMA and Financial Management Magazine awards.

Volkswagen Group’s chaiman, Bernd Pischetsrieder has stated that the rising cost of buying a car is all down to ambitious EU emissions legislations.

Used car dealers are beginning to feel the winter pinch as short days, poor weather and the impending expense of Christmas diverts retail customers away from the forecourt.

Hyundai’s Santa Fe 4x4 has had a facelift and will now be available in two versions, the 2.0 CRTD CDX manual and automatic, priced at £17,995 and the 2.7 V6 automatic priced at £18,995.

Tod Evans has announced that he will retire as the Peugeot Citroen Automobiles UK chairman at the end of December.

Nissan Motor Company, Japan’s second-biggest auto maker, said today it would suspend operations at three of its four domestic plants for five days each this month and next due to a shortage of steel.

The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) has invited representatives from the UK tyre industry to a special meeting in January next year, to explore the possibilities of developing a significant domestic market for winter tyres.

A senior figure in Slovakia's burgeoning automotive industry today called on Welsh and UK manufacturers and suppliers to help her country realise its ambition of becoming the world's largest producer of cars per capita by 2008

Warehouse distributor GP Automotive has rewarded one of its staff with a trip to Las Vegas, following the conclusion of an internal sales competition on Cyclo and Rain Dance products.

Bosch has added a new range of batteries, designed specially for Asian cars and car-based LCVs, to its 'Silver' battery series.

Cardata.co.uk, the used car database, has recorded a 28% increase in the number of people considering a diesel car since the end of the summer.

Isuzu has cut prices on some of its Rodeo pick-up models by up to £2,562.

The head of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler division has borrowed a phrase from rapper Snoop Dogg to thank the US-based Motor Trend magazine – edited by former AM editor, Angus MacKenzie– for naming the Chrysler 300 its 2005 ‘car of the year’.

Donalds Motor Group has opened its third Mazda dealership in the East of England.

The Retail Motor Industry Federation is urging chancellor of the exchequer, Gordon Brown, to reconsider fuel duty in his pre-budget statement, due next week.

TRW is in the advanced stages of planning a network of premium service centres.

Sovereign Rotating Electrics, the remanufacturing company that went into receivership in early October after the failure of Lucas SRE, has been re-launched.

Bodyshop network ABS is to be acquired by insurance claims group Aquilo in a £1.7m deal.

The Bodyshop AM50, published in this issue (see page 27), lists 25 independent bodyshop groups and 11 franchised dealer bodyshops.

Poor communications between the sales reception and bodyshop could be costing retailers up to £1m profit a year in lost sales and repairs.

Workers at the Dynamex Friction plant in north Wales have won their case for unfair dismissal following its re-emergence as a phoenix company last year.

F&I specialist Compliancy Services has urged the automotive retail sector to take immediate action following figures from the Financial Services Authority.

MG Rover is on the verge of a £1bn investment deal for a majority share with the Shanghai Automotive Corporation (SAIC) that will help secure the future of its giant Longbridge plant.