Honda has launched a 'cash or company car' calculator which will be available on its website or in dealerships. The calculator aims to give drivers a clear indication whether they would be better or worse off by funding their own car under the forthcoming benefit-in-kind tax rules.
Close Consumer Finance, the motor finance division of Close Brothers merchant bank, is planning to double turnover in the next two years. The company is targeting smaller, independent franchised dealers with one or two sites who are looking for a traditional, personal service from their finance provider.
Ford Credit has launched a new motor finance product aimed at 'cash-rich' customers who can put down large deposits. Under the scheme customers make no monthly payments during the two- or three-year agreement period other than the initial down payment.
Abbey National has warned that the overall market for new and used car point-of-sale finance has fallen by 10% year-on-year and described the current performance of its First National retail and motor finance businesses as "disappointing".
Predictions that showroom traffic would slow to a trickle as the effects of recession in the US rippled across the Atlantic have been proved inaccurate after record October sales.
A range of remanufactured cylinder heads has been launched for members of Vauxhall's Trade Club scheme.
Tata has introduced high-specification Safari Access, a 780kg payload, 5-door van.
“The market of the week November 5 continued in much the same vein as the past week, with more enthusiasm, competitive bidding and general overall interest, quite high":
Nissan is beginning a new research project at the University of California, designed to determine the marketability of non-polluting electric 'city cars'.
Car-sharing and car club concepts look set to receive Government funding under its integrated transport strategy.
PSA Peugeot Citroen is backing the benefits of using cooking oil as an alternative fuel to petrol and diesel in a bid to reduce emissions.
Changes to Block Exemption could see leading fleets become car sales organisations, according to a leading industry analyst.
MG Rover has acquired Rover Financial Services from BMW through a newly-formed venture between HBOS and the Phoenix Partnership, called MGR Capital. It has bought the contract portfolio of some 58,000 customers of vehicles leased while under BMW ownership, for a total consideration of £340m.
AM-online is proving to be the place to come for jobs in the automotive sector.
Hyundai showed off the TB (think basic) concept car at Tokyo, a virtually production-ready version of the supermini to be launched at the Geneva motor show next spring. It will reach UK showrooms in September.
Honda UK has opened an £8m flagship dealership in Chiswick, London, which, for the first time, features all its products, from cars to lawnmowers, under the same roof.
Renault will boost Nissan's diesel market share in the UK and Europe by supplying common rail diesel engines for the Sunderland-built Almera, Primera and next generation Micra models.
Hyundai showed off the TB (think basic) concept car at the Tokyo motor show, a virtually production-ready version of the supermini to be launched at the Geneva motor show next spring. It will reach UK showrooms in September.
Being on-line is vital to sales success in the Japanese car market and Jaguar's state-of-the-art mobile phone links to the internet is paying dividends.
Pilot production of the first model in the new MSB (mid sized Bentley) range - a 180mph four-seater GT coupe - has started at the Volkswagen-owned company's Crewe plant.
Mitsubishi Motors' CZ2 concept car, looking a bit like a more trendy version of the Peugeot 206, provides a glimpse at the B-segment model the company will make at its factory in the Netherlands in 2004.
Positive thinking, technological innovation and a new assertiveness from domestic manufacturers were the themes of Tokyo's 35th motor show. It was held as Japan headed deeper into recession and recorded the highest unemployment rate since World War II.
Tokyo motor show was a reminder of the Toyota group's standing in the international motor industry firmament. The third biggest vehicle maker in the world has a domestic market share of around 40%, will sell 2m units in North America this year and is in the middle of a major manufacturing expansion in Europe.
Nissan, whose Sunderland plant is gearing up for full production of Primera from December 17, is determined to solve the problems caused by the UK being outside the eurozone.
The motor vehicle repairs industry is being warned to prepare for an increase in Health and Safety Executive inspections.
UK car supermarket Motorpoint has dismissed speculation of a market recession, reporting instead record sales in September and 'a bumper' October.
BCA believes, on the evidence of the latest sales at Belle Vue, Manchester, Nottingham and Blackbushe, that some buoyancy is returning to the used car market, in particular the prestige and executive sectors.
Mazda Motor has reported an interim net profit for the first time in two years and is optimistic of making a profit this financial year.
Results from the latest auctions by BCA, Manheim, Motorauctions Leeds and Premier Motorauctions Leeds.
October was the best month ever for Land Rover sales, with more vehicles sold so far this year than throughout 2000. The total to the end of October was 39,879 registrations, 13.7% up on the whole of last year.
