"Let us never forget September 11 because it will live with us for the rest of our lives, but let us look forward in a positive way" - Tom Madden, BCA Europe customer affairs' director reflects on the market's reaction to the US terrorist attacks.
GE Capital Woodchester managing director Gerard Ryan expects revised Block Exemption to provide a further impetus to consolidation in the motor industry.
The process of change within the motor industry would continue to be driven by market forces but might be accelerated by revisions to Block Exemption, said Grant Thornton Motor Retail client services director Piers Trenear-Thomas.
Supermarket giants will take-over the retail car market if franchised dealers do not adopt an integrated trading system, said business development manager Mike O'Sullivan, of conference sponsor Ebbon-Dacs.
International Car Distribution Programme director Andrew Tongue says the new Block Exemption regulation would be “less prescriptive and more open to experimentation”.
Carmakers and their dealer networks might be able to set up joint arrangements for self-regulation on such important issues as termination notices under revised Block Exemption, said Malcolm Harbour MEP.
An internet site has joined the battle to drive down new van prices after importer Baglan Car Centre and car supermarket Motorpoint announced their intention to join the fray last week.
Volkswagen is calling on contract hire and leasing companies to widen their supplying dealer base in a bid to speed-up delivery times to customers.
Results from the latest auctions by BCA, Manheim, Motorauctions Leeds and Premier Motorauctions Leeds.
Van manufactuer LDV is confident of a succesful – and independent – future, free from its ties with Daewoo, which were cut earlier this year.
The average showroom has been desribed as a 'boring box' which encourages the level of footfall for dealers that would fail to sustain outlets in other retail sectors.
US and European carmakers are planning to cut total output by up to 700,000 vehicles over the next three months in an attempt to avert an industry downturn in 2002.
The expected flood of part-exchanges following the '51' plate change has failed to materialise, according to Manheim Auctions.
The Reg Vardy Group, ranked third in the AM100, has announced an all-auction disposal policy on non-retail part-exchange vehicles and over-age stock.
Jato Dynamics, the automotive intelligence provider, has acquired a 20% stake in sales network tools provider Winterberg Informationssysteme GmbH (WIS), a move designed to bring benefits from shared technology, data sourcing, sales, marketing and customer care.
The Vindis Group has acquired Sargeants Motor World, adding the Skoda brand to this multi-franchise retailer in Cambridge.
Dealers are being warned of a new threat to their businesses, a powerful computer virus that has reaked havoc in the US.
Companies in the auto industry are the worst in the UK for putting the health and safety of their employees at risk, according to a new survey.
Motoring insurance premiums are set to rise as a result of new actions by the Lord Chancellor to increase potential pay-outs to those involved in road accidents.
Research by a UK human resource consultancy suggests company car drivers would pay an extra £600 per year in tax to keep their company car.
Land Rover management and trade union representatives have reached agreement on a two-year pay deal for the workforce, based mainly at the company's Solihull site.
The car industry is set to enjoy a record breaking year with sales well in-excess of 2.3m cars.
Dermot Kelly, Mercedes-Benz UK's director of passenger cars, has branded the debate surrounding the outcome of the September 2002 review of Block Exemption, an “excuse” for inactivity.
'Damning' customer opinions and the growing threat of the emerging dotcoms forced Toyota GB to seek innovative ways to improve its dealerships.
Trevor Finn, chief executive of the UK's largest dealer group Pendragon, has reiterated his support for extended franchised contracts, calling on manufacturers to accept five-year rolling agreements - and pressing dealers to make sure their views are heard in the Block Exemption debate.
Lex Vehicle Leasing has enjoyed its best ever light commercial vehicle performance in a sale at BCA Measham.
Glass's Information Services will bring out the latest editions of its ICME manuals, containing repair times and service schedules for thousands of vehicles, next month.
Experian has made its anti-clocking service, Vehicle Mileage Check (VMC) available on the internet.
DVLA statistics analysed by automotive data specialists Polk show that used car sales in January-June of this year reached 3,761,956 units. Without allowing for seasonal variations, the first-half year total represents a growth rate of 11.3% over full-year 2000 figures.
Jaguar is to extend planned shutdowns at two Midlands factories this autumn.
