Changes in retail habits as a result of the market availability of late plate vans on the market could have a disastrous impact on older van values, CAP Red Book has warned.
MG Rover's on-going talks with Tata over a joint venture for the production of a small Rover have come to fruition – the partnership will produce a new vehicle in 2003.
Honda's Swindon Plant will have achieved a record production total of more than 176,000 units by the end of this year – an increase of 55 per cent on last year's total.
The scale of the UK Government's indebtedness to the hard-pressed motorist has been revealed by a tax revenue analysis by the SMMT.
Ford has submitted a planning application for three 1.8 megawatt wind turbines at its Dagenham car plant. The aim is to provide the total energy requirements for the carmaker's new “Clean Room” assembly hall which will expand production of diesel engines.
A new report to be published next week points to a 64 per cent rise in the value of mergers and acquisitions in India last year at $9.2bn.And Suzuki's seizure control of the country's largest carmaker was the largest automotive acquisition – and possibly most controversial.
Plans by Ford to sell its Think Nordic electric battery-powered car business are being hailed as a further vote of confidence in hydrogen fuel cell technology as the way forward for the global automotive industry.
Workers at MG Rover's Powertrain subsidiary have voted in favour of a 2.2 per cent one-year pay deal, according to the <i>Birmingham Post</i>.
A joint venture company between Howard Basford and consultancy/training company Partnership Solutions may be on the horizon. HB directors Andy Johnson and Tim Dunkley of PS have confirmed that they are exploring the opportunity.
According to Associated Press, Ford Motor Co. has agreed to pay state attorneys general £31m to end claims that the carmaker's advertising fails to disclose the rollover risk involved with driving sport utility vehicles.
Debt-ridden Daewoo Motors India, which has been up for sale since November 22, has now received bids from the Ashok Leyland-Sundaram Clayton combine, Rico Auto and Machino Plastics. The bidding process has been extended as firms such as Tata Engineering, Ford and the Jay Bharat Maruti group have also expressed interest.
Unipart Mechanical Repair Division is launching a new braking systems promotional programme for 2003. The campaign exploits the aftermarket's first text messaging (SMS) campaign as well as traditional customer communication channels to deliver prizes to IMT customers.
City Credit will be selling Close Motor Finance products after a new partnership deal was signed today. The Surrey-based brokerage has been working with Close since April after previously selling products from Close's biggest competitors.
Original equipment suppliers Sachs Boge has restructured. Independent sales and marketing consultant Derek Aldred is the new acting managing director until a permanent appointment can be made. He replaces Martin Hurley who leaves the company following a serious illness.
Capital Bank Motor has launched a new Internet portal, which brings wholesale and retail point of sale finance systems together into one environment – a first for the motor finance industry says the company.
VW chief Berndt Pischetsrieder has denied media suggestions that his company is in direct talks with Fiat Auto management as possible partners in the restructuring deal for the ailing carmaker. But he admitted that the Audi subsidiary was in talks with Maserati about “cooperation”.
Clean fuel-cell cars powered by hydrogen could be a reality 30 years ahead of the Government's previous estimates, according to a new report commissioned by the Department for Transport.
The Crown Prosecution Service says it is to take a tougher line on cases of death caused by dangerous driving. Some prosecutors were incorrecly bringing the lesser charge of dealth by careless driving, it says.
Virgin Cars intends to enter the corporate sales market – offering contract hire and lease purchase to the fleet and business user. The service will come to market in the New Year but with a full launch earmarked for April.
The seasonal warning to drivers not to leave their Christmas purchases visible in their vehicles has come from the RMI. The solution is simple, the Federation is telling the public – lock valuables in the boot out of sight.
Nine managers who formed Yes Car Credit are to share up to £62m after agreeing to sell the business to Provident Financial for up to £141m. Provident is paying £53.1m in cash and loan notes, plus a deferred amount of up to £88m due in June 2004.
Trading in Brilliance China Automotive shares was suspended shortly after the market opened on Wednesday, according to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. No other details were immediately available.
Mitsubishi Motors says it hopes to grab half of China's burgeoning market for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) by 2010 with its Pajero and Pajero Sport models.
A new AA report points to a breakdown in the relationship between road users and the Government. The AA claims that the report, which was the result of interviews with 1000 motorists, suggests motorists believe the Government's transport planners are “revenue-driven” and don't understand how ordinary people live their lives.
BMW is to unveil its first-ever diesel coupe next March – although it will be a further year before a right hand drive version is available. The BMW 330Cd will feature the new 3-litre diesel delivering 204bhp, which represents an extra 20bhp on the current 3-litre diesel offering.
New Fiat chief executive Alessandro Barberis has suggested that the struggling carmaker's painful restructuring plan agreed with creditor banks would continue. And in a markedly downbeat speech about the struggling carmaker's medium term future – he said signs of recovery would only come at the end of 2003.
SUVs may be subject to a new “rollover rating” in the United States as safety organisations look to cut the 10,000 rollover-related deaths on American roads. According to a report today on CBS News, rollover death rates are climbing as people trade in their cars for high-riding, less stable pickups and SUVs.
The two main Japanese carmakers are bullish about 2003 vehicle sales. Honda today says it expects sales to be up 10 per cent to a record 3.1 million. And yesterday Toyota said 2003 would see 6.5m unit sales – up 5 per cent.
Jaguar in the United States is poised to launch an advertising campaign specifically targeted at gay consumers, according to a story in today's <I>Detroit News</I>. This follows a Ford study which pointed to the need for new strategies for selling to 14 million gay US consumers who have an estimated £281m in purchasing power.
BMW is set to unveil its new xActivity fwd concept vehicle at the Detroit Motor Show on 5 January. The sports activity vehicle - which will be denoted X3 - combines X5 looks but with a unique frame-structure convertible roof.
