Automotive retailers are set to face a new challenge from an old market player - the oil industry.<p>
Mitsubishi Motors UK is preparing to relaunch its Red Zebra used car programme in October to cope with an expected increase in capacity over the next two years.
Martin Leach, the British president of Ford of Europe, has quit the company just one year into the job and after the manufacturer revealed a second quarter loss of £326m.
Strict new rules aimed at cracking down on car finance frauds come into force next month, requiring dealers to run tight ID checks on all credit applicants.
Sunwin Motor Group, one of Yorkshire's largest traders, has bought the Renault franchise for Preston and Blackpool following Caledonia's decision to split with the marque.
Garage owners could find themselves in the dock as part of a major negligence crackdown by police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Retailers are set to claim more than £240m in overpaid VAT, according to financial experts.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation has called in specialist head-hunters to seek out a new boss for its newly-created aftermarket and used cars division.
Hyundai, South Korea's biggest carmaker, saw quarterly profits increase by 86 per cent thanks to strong European and US demand.
David Callery, managing director of the Factoring Service Group, has resigned after 12 years to join Leyland Auto Electrical and Diesel as managing director.
Ryland Group chairman Peter Whale has warned shareholders that the company will lose its franchises unless questions over future ownership are settled urgently.
CD Bramall has consolidated its position among the top dealer groups in the UK with a strong set of results for the six months to June 30, 2003. Pre-tax profits rose 28 per cent to £17.1m and turnover soared 57 per cent to £905m following last year's acquisition of Quicks.
Saab will take the wraps off a new sports hatch concept (pictured below) at next month's Frankfurt motor show as it prepares to launch the 9-3 estate next year.
Motorhouse 2000, one of the UK's largest car supermarkets, has opened a new site boosting next year's projected turnover to £150m.
Black Horse Motor Finance has been forced to speed up the introduction of its new approved dealer scheme after an unprecedented level of interest from retailers.
Volvo will reveal its all-new S40 at next month's Frankfurt Show. The new S40 will be the first Volvo built using Ford-based hardware and component sets since the Swedish carmaker was acquired by the American giant in early 1999.
Aston Martin faces further industrial action this week after the Transport and General Workers Union announced strike dates.
Major dealer groups are preparing to reposition themselves as 'superfactors', wholesaling all-makes replacement parts to the aftermarket.
Mark Quinn last week stepped down as Kia Cars UK managing director after Korean parent Kia Motors Corporation took control of the sales, marketing and distribution operation from MCL Group.
Johnsons Cars, the premium franchise dealer group, is set to launch a new contract hire company - Jcar - as it targets the corporate market.
New cars are becoming more reliable but the number of recalls is increasing, latest research shows.
AA Business Services is investing more than £7.5m in a national mobile tyre-fitting network. The first 50 vans will hit UK roads on September 1, with the fleet increasing to 150 vehicles early next year.
Car retailer Reg Vardy has launched one of the biggest parts supply operations in Britain with the opening of a 22,000 sq ft centre near Durham.
Dealer giant Lookers has completed its takeover of the Birmingham market area for Vauxhall with the purchase of Elt Brothers, a privately owned retaler in Yardley, south of the city centre.
Pendragon, the UK's largest car dealer group.and No 1 in the AM 100 listing for the fourth year in succession, has sold freehold property in Tower Hamlets, East London, for £8.2m.
Consumers will be faced with higher servicing and repair bills once the revised block exemption regulations take effect, despite claims by the Consumers' Association that prices are set to fall.
Well documented fears of skills shortages in the industry have prompted Forte Lubricants to sponsor basic training in the use of diagnostic equipment for independent vehicle technicians.
Robert Bosch is on target to open a new £125m automotive development and engineering centre near Heilbronn, Germany, next summer.
