News - Page 1664

CD Bramall has appointed Charlotte Murray, as internet administration manager to implement the company's rapidly developing internet and online marketing strategy.

Becoming top brand in the demanding Sewells dealer attitude survey is a major achievement by Porsche Cars Great Britain. Managing director Andy Goss talked to Tony Willard.

Automotive e-business specialist, Autohit plc has confirmed that it will shortly announce a series of strategic partnerships with blue chip financial institutions and leading online service providers looking to capitalise on the growing number of car buyers using the internet.

Lookers has acquired Broadfields Land Rover in Bishops Stortfield for an undisclosed sum.

Fast-fit centres could generate thousands of pounds in profits if the European Commission lifts restrictions contained in the car distribution block exemption.

Daewoo is to recall approximately 3,000 of its Nubira CDX models due to a possible fault with the fuel filter. The recall is a precautionary measure.

MG Rover has confirmed the purchase of the Qvale Automotive Group and will use the technology behind the Italian company's Mangusta sports car for a new vehicle.

New trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt this week outlined plans for a clamp-down on price-fixing cartels which include a threat of jail sentences for company executives.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is warning dealers to brace themselves for an erratic end to the year after sales in May rose for the eighth consecutive month. Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive, believes demand patterns may be affected by the introduction of the new registration plate format in September.

Dealers remain overall the most popular source for buyers of used cars, according to a survey of consumers carried out by vehicle information firm HPI. Men, though, are more inclined to scour the private advertisements for a used car.

Cars imported from mainland Europe are now achieving similar residual values to UK versions.

New European legislation is set to shake up the used market, forcing retailers to accept greater responsibility for the condition of cars sold.

Dealers are sacrificing used car profits by failing to properly assess reconditioning work required on part-exchange vehicles. Manheim Auctions, which carried out a survey among its dealer customers, reports a “disappointing level of attention” given to part-exchange appraisals.

Market conditions during June have generated a mixed response from dealers. Some are witnessing unexpected buoyancy in the retail sector while others believe the market has finally dropped off and are preparing for a tough few months.

Recent weeks have seen growing speculation that residual values are falling and that this reflects an underlying weakness in the marketplace. However, this decline falls into the area of seasonal variations, which does not necessarily mean that the underlying (or year-on-year) trend is downwards.

Design chief Jong-Suh Park has revealed an ambition to make Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary an equivalent to Peugeot-Citroen. Mr Park and NM Kim, senior executive vice president of Hyundai international business operations, are modelling future platform strategy on the French group.

Appalling weather conditions failed to dampen the spirits of the Bentley team at the weekend's Le Mans 24 Hour Race having made a return to the sport in triumphant style.

A small number of leading figures in the motor industry have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours

Vauxhall is targeting the independent garage service sector and its own dealer network with a promotion to help its Trade Club members and MasterFit Centres achieve cost savings across its parts and accessory ranges this summer.

Goodfellows, the Walsall Peugeot dealership, has become one of the first in the country to adopt the manufacturer's new corporate identity.

Manheim Auctions, Bristol hosted the site's first multi-manufacturer sale of nearly 200 vehicles from seven different vendors including Alphabet, Daewoo Cars, Fiat Auto (UK), Ford, Kia Cars (UK), Mitsubishi and Volkswagen.

Alfa Romeo's new 147 made its auction debut at a special sale held at BCA Nottingham, where it proved the star of the show averaging nearly 90% of list price.

Smart, the wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, is to continue its exploration of alternative ways of selling cars - and seek closer links with Mercedes dealerships.

The RAC has been rated Britain's most satisfying roadside rescue and recovery organisation in the latest annual survey from JD Power and Associates, regaining the title from the AA.

Delphi Aftermarket Operations has launched a new scheme to offer courtesy cars from as little as £5 a day.

Two models in the new second-generation BMW 3-series Compact range are to go on sale in the UK on August 16.

Senior white collar redundancies are expected to follow the announcement of a radical management restructure at Mitsubishi Motors.

The first fruits of BMW Group's £22 million skills training programme at its Hams Hall, Warwickshire, engine plant have been harvested in the form of a batch of NVQ awards to employees.

Britain's fourth largest motor retailer has opened a £1.8 million Toyota dealership – the first in the country to use the Japanese car maker's 'new retail concept'.

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