The German ZDK dealer's federation has pronounced unanimously in favour of maintaining the September 2005 date for the abolition of dealer territories under the motor industry new block exemption, after a week of what the organisation describes as sometimes controversial debate.
VW has launched a free air conditoining offer across the Golf Mk 5 range, representing an effective discount of €1,225 or an average 8%, only three and a half months after the model's continental launch.
The OFT is consulting on new guidance for the motor retailers who sell vehicles with no face-to-face contact - such as online, by mail order or by telephone. A mandated cooling-off period is the main concern.
According to Glass's Information Services, sales of most new luxury saloons have fallen back or remained static, losing out to large prestige 4x4s and large prestige saloons.
For the second year running, Interleasing has beaten 22 major leasing companies to come top in APD's 2003 Landmark Post-Sale CSI Survey, while ALD Automotive, named the best company in this year's Landmark Pre-Sale CSI survey, also topped the Pre-Sale CSI chart last year.
Bankers Integration Group (BIG), the developers of BIGFNI, a web-based financial interface that links lenders with dealers, announced the addition of Jacques Nasser, former Ford Motor president and chief operating officer, and Roy Roberts, former General Motors vice president of marketing, as investors at the NADA Convention ending today at Las Vegas.
In his address to the National Automobile Dealers Association's (NADA) 87th Annual Convention & Exposition NADA 2003 Chairman Alan Starling praised the US auto retail industry's progress on ethics and communications over the past year. He said the coming years will be defined by a mutual “respect” between dealers and auto manufacturers, government and media.
Land Rover dealers were left counting the cost of strike action
It is doubtful that franchised dealers or carmakers will have been too shocked to discover before Christmas that the Office of Fair Trading was publishing a report criticising the UK service and repair market. The British motor trade has grown accustomed in recent years to attacks from consumer groups.
When you're on to a good thing, stick to it. The original Golf-based Octavia is the car that took the Skoda brand out of the bargain basement and made it the smart choice for thinking buyers who want quality, functionality and value for money.
Volvo dealers can expect a flurry of new car launches over the next five years as Ford positions the marque as its volume brand within the Premier Automotive Group.
Used car dealers are enjoying good times in Britain, reporting better performance last year than in 2002 and overwhelmingly predicting an even better 2004.
Franchise dealers with manufacturer-approved or specialised body repair facilities could be invited to join accident solutions company ABS' 240-strong repairer network; it believes the recent block exemption changes will make it easier for them.
Honda's consolidated net income for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2003 totalled Y151.0 billion (US$1,410 million), a year-on-year increase of 31.2%.
Proton is also offering a new four-year free servicing offer for new Proton buyers of selected models in the coming two months, alongside a more conventional free winter check at its network's dealerships.
Dealers have less than a year to comply with new insurance regulations or face being unable to sell insurance, warns the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).
Motorists would back putting all of the £42 billion they currently pay in tax onto fuel, scrapping the tax disc and abandoning plans for future road user charging, says the RAC's latest annual Report on Motoring.
Datamonitor's Business Review newsletter reports that MG Rover has expressed an interest in Slovakia as a potential location for a new €200 million vehicle assembly plant.
The Body Repair Industry Campaign BRIC says it's delighted with the approach adopted by the OFT to the ABI's General Terms of Agreement (GTA) in relation to credit hire arrangements for non-fault drivers. The OFT has given the GTA conditional exemption after changes were made.
UK Skills is encouraging companies and individuals from the automotive industry to enter to enter for this year's National Training Awards, which last year attracted over 1,000 entries.
Some 30,000 US franchised car dealers convene in Las Vegas today, 30 January for NADA's annual convention.
A new online car wholesaling facility launched by UK Supplied (UKS) is offering independent and franchised motor retailers the chance to directly source delivery mileage cars at fleet discounts.
Click on the links below to view pages from the January 2004 issue of Autortrade.
Reg Vardy has become Renault's biggest independent retail partner in the UK with the opening of two dealerships in the east of Scotland.
TRW Automotive is closing the doors to its steering and suspension plant at Luton in a bid to cut costs and boost efficiency.
LDV, the light commercial vehicle manufacturer, has secured £45 million from an equity syndicate in a bid to drive forward expansion. The syndicate, which is being led by 3i, is made up of European Acquisition Capital and Baring English Growth Fund and takes the figure for total funding raised to £90m.
Fiat Auto is launching a major overhaul of its 175-strong dealer network, AM can exclusively reveal. And as our pictures of the Alfa Romeo side of the business show, the revamp will provide UK dealers with dramatic new looks aimed at boosting the image of the franchise.
Derek Cook, the former chairman of the failed DC Cook motor group, is set to take over the loss-making Virgin Cars operation for an undisclosed sum. Cook, who is running Virgin-rivalling Motor Solutions, is expected to take a 25% stake in the business, which will still trade under the Virgin brand.
Daewoo Cars, the former sales and distribution operation for Daewoo vehicles in the UK, has finally gone into liquidation. Accountancy firm Baker Tilly, which is handling the move, says there are approximately 600 trade and business creditors – including parts and components suppliers – owed about £125m. It has also notified about 38,000 former Daewoo Cars customers
