Volvo has struck a deal with Pininfarina to develop its next-generation convertible.
Daihatsu's major sales offensive continues as it strives to grow its retail network to 120 sites by 2005.
Reg Vardy, one of the UK's largest motor retailers, has added four more dealerships to its network as part of a relentless expansion strategy.
Motability Direct has reached a new landmark with the sale of its 100,000 car online.
BCA Europe's new chief executive Jon Olsen is pushing ahead with an ambitious expansion plan for the auction group following the retirement of his predecessor, Tom Gibson, earlier this year.
Lookers Group is involved in discussions with BMW and Mercedes-Benz as it looks to add the two premium brands to its portfolio.
Bentley retailer Broughtons has sold its Birmingham site to the Sytner Group to finance a new site in the Thames Valley.
Sales of prestige car models are fetching more than 20 per cent above CAP figures, according to Manheim Auctions.
UK car production climbed 9.5 per cent over the last three months but output for the year to date is down 0.3 per cent, according to the Office of National Statistics.
The future of car tyre production in the UK hangs in the balance after one of the world's largest manufacturers announced it was moving production to mainland Europe.
There is nothing wrong with the Ford Fusion, despite what others in the media would have you believe.
A national accreditation scheme for body fitters, painters and panel repair technicians has been launched by the Institute of the Motor Industry and training organisation Thatcham.
Any suggestion that Volkswagen light commercial vehicles were ever treated as second class product and its customers as less important than the manufact-urer's new car buyers should be history by the end of this year.
Dealer management systems provide the easiest route for repairers to meet new responsibilities outlined by the Health and Safety Executive, according to DMS provider Pinewood.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. have established a new joint equity company, Nissan Motor Light Truck Company Ltd.
Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) says virtually all its retailers have signed contracts before the October 1st, 2003 deadline and with support from local dealer associations, including the European Mitsubishi Dealer Association (EMDA).
Federal-Mogul Aftermarket UK has signed a major distribution deal for its Champion brand with the buying group FSG.
Failure by car manufacturers to finalise agreements prior to the introduction of the new Block Exemption regulation could leave dealers in a legal limbo, warned the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) on the eve of the new regulations coming into force today, 1 October.
Today, a major part of the new EU rules on motor vehicle distribution that entered into force on 1 October 2002 will become effective, announces the European Commission. The transitional period for all contracts that expired after 1 October 2002 ends today.
German lawyers quoted in a feature article on dealer sales and aftersales contracts due to take effect from today, 1 October across Europe in Autohaus, the German trade publication, suggest legal conflict is likely to erupt over the the new Block Exemption
Responding to the minimum wage increase, Nick Jones, RMI human resources director, said: “The Government's decision to increase the national minimum wage will affect the industry's NJC Agreement on minimum pay rates. The rate for unindentured junior employees aged 18 will rise immediately from its current level of £3.60 to £3.80 per hour. Those few adult employees on the bottom grades of the NJC pay scales will rise from £4.20 to £4.50 per hour.”
A company in a dominant position, which operates a system of loyalty rebates and bonuses for its dealers, thereby strengthens its position to the detriment of other operators and thus impedes normal competition, confirmed the European Court of First Instance this week in its judgment on Michelin's fine appeal.
Glass's Market Intelligence Service suggests that the residual values for prestige convertibles (e.g. Mercedes CLK Cabriolet, Audi A4 Cabriolet) and larger 4x4s (e.g. Range Rover, BMW X5) aged one- to three-years-old out-perform those of the rest of the market.
The government-supported mobility charity Motability, which operates preferential finance provision for disabled motorists, has appointed Don Brereton as director, to succeed Noel Muddiman.
According to Kelley Blue Book's latest US "New Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study" on vehicle finance options, 70% prospectived new car buyers plan to research financing online and 54% plan to obtain finance befre visiting the dealer, while only 46% of respondents indicate that they intend to finance their purchase at the dealership.
Nissan Motor has declared its intention to halve new model development costs within two years, partly by cutting its Japanese vehicle platforms by two thirds from 15 to 5, and also by halving the time taken to bring new models into production.
This is the date that DVLA's range of 04 personalised registrations will be made available to purchase, enabling motorists to be ready with their new vehicle complete with a specially selected registration before the 04 plate change in March.
The European Commission has adopted an eSafety Communication, laying down a set of measures for supporting the industry in developing safer and more intelligent vehicles and enabling their rapid introduction into the market. The goal is halving the number of road deaths in Europe by 2010.
In the first of what is likely to be many consumer media reports on the inception of the new Block Exemption, National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) director Alan Pulham told today's Independent newspaper that the delay in many manufacturers issuing new Block Exemption-compliant contracts was putting undue pressure on dealer networks.
Parliamentary committee will vet capacity of government departments to deal with end-of-life vehicles
