September will see the introduction of a new registration system with the format 'YA51 ABC'. The first two letters are regional identifiers, the numbers are age identifiers and the last three letters are chosen at random.
Retail demand has continued in a steady vein throughout February. Clean, ready to retail cars are still making strong money, although there is reluctance from the trade to buy cars that require reconditioning work in any way, shape or form.
Motor manufacturers will be vying for the world's attention at the forthcoming Geneva motor show with a host of world debuts.
The Volkswagen Group has announced a record 37.5% rise in profits in 2000, from £1.59 billion in 1999 to £2.19 billion last year. Sales in 2000 reached £53.9 billion (1999: £73.3 billion).
Land Rover has been accused of having a 'chaotic' pricing policy by one of the pioneers of online car retailing.
##DC--left## DaimlerChrysler is understood to be preparing for a shake-up of its senior management team which will see the creation of an executive automotive committee headed by group chairman Jurgen Schrempp.
PSA Peugeot Citroen has set itself a target of 3m vehicle sales this year after today announcing an 80% increase in 2000 in net profits. The growth in sales will come from an accelerated product roll-out.
Land Rover has been forced to cut prices by £3,000 due to the burgeoning market in European imports.
Residual values in the UK have fallen by 6.5% in the last 12 months according to the latest EurotaxGlass's European Used Car Residual Price Index, published by eurocarprice.com.
Dealers are being offered a free route to market for their used stocks of cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles by online stock locator Autopig.co.uk.
OneSwoop today announced the launch of a used car trade-in service on its website, provided through its new partnership with The Internet Car Company.
##Megane--right## The Renault Megane has been voted the 'greenest' small hatchback in the Environmental Transport Association's 2001 Green Apple Awards.
The Institute of the Motor Industry has today launched a method of testing the knowledge of vehicle technicians working towards new national qualifications, via the internet.
The latest prices from BCA, Manheim, Motorauctions Leeds, Brightwells and Premier Motorauctions
##Euro flag--left## The European Commission has issued a warning to manufacturers about restrictive selling techniques after finding new car prices in the UK are still higher than in the rest of Europe, despite reduced list prices and a fall in the value of the pound.
Pendragon boss Trevor Finn has described the company's full year financial results to December 31 which saw a slight fall in turnover year-on-year to £1.4 billion (1999: £1.8 billion) and underlying profits after exceptionals of £12.1m (1999: £15.3m) as “creditable”.
Nissan has played down reports that it is due to make an announcement soon that the new Almera will be built at Sunderland, alongside the Micra. A company spokesman accused the national press of “running away with the facts".
Volvo is launching a website aimed at given open access to its future product plans.
Representatives from leading credit hire/repair firms Auto Indemnity, Accident Assistance, Hallmarque, 3 Arrows, Helphire, National Car Rental and Ellen Group have set up a steering committee to establish a new trade association.
CCC International is to close its loss-making inspection services subsidiary DW Norris and concentrate on its Motor Claims Technologies and related consultancy services business.
General Motors has launched a UK fast-fit company that will provide competition to Ford's FTM network, acquired last year by its subsidiary Kwik-Fit.
Saab GB is looking for up to 35 dealers from its 100-strong network to spearhead a move to secure £40m of parts and accessories business from the independent, non-franchised sector.
Akzo Nobel Sikkens has developed a new generation of waterborne refinish paint systems with the introduction of an improved Autowave product.
Mitsubishi says only about 5,200 vehicles in the UK are affected by a global recall of 1.5m vehicles due to steering faults.
Vauxhall's car plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port will be hit by strike action next week as the biggest workers' union, the Transport & General Workers Union, stage a walk out in protest at redundancies.
Manufacturers failed to win the initiative during the European Commission review of Block Exemption this week, losing ground particularly to the dotcom new entrants determined to win an advantage in the new 'world order'.
Inchcape's biggest shareholder has called for its break-up and the return of £90m to shareholders.
Virgin Cars chief executive Ian Lancaster is talking to the bosses of leading motor retail groups about a possible partnership deal.
Ford Motor Company was this week believed to have acquired WH Group, Europe's largest supplier of mechanical breakdown insurance warranties.
A new enterprise offering UK dealers access to parallel imports is to launched on March 1 by Broadspeed, designed to capitalise on the mounting concern in the market surrounding dealer/manufacturer relationships and the future of Block Exemption. Broadspeed MD Simon Empson explains the new business.
