BMW is urging dealers to expand their aftersales facilities or set up satellite operations to absorb mounting demand for servicing and repairs. But the company says it is also prepared to approve independent operations in areas where dealers are not willing to make the necessary investment, as long as they meet its standards of service.
European Motor Holdings is looking to make several acquisitions this year to strengthen its relationships with key partners including BMW, VW/Audi and Premier Automotive Group brands.It has built up a substantial war chest, which will be boosted this year by an estimated £4m territory release payment from Daimler-Chrysler for terminating EMH's London dealers.
Bernd Pischetsrieder replaces Ferdinand Piech as chief executive of Volkswagen, determined to prove a point after his mishandling of Rover prompted an ignominious departure from BMW.
BMW will be piling pressure on the Government to ensure zero emission engines are built in Britain.
North-west retailer Blue Bell BMW has acquired Lookers' dealership in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
BMW is to launch a five-year/75,000-mile service and maintenance package for the new 7 Series, which goes on sale in spring.
BMW says it will meet its target to build a new £60m Rolls-Royce headquarters and manufacturing centre at Goodwood in order to deliver a new car in January 2003.
BMW has donated £300,000 to Ben to mark the launch of Mini and work starting on a Rolls-Royce plant at Chichester.
Two years ago, Mini was Automotive Management's car of the century - now BMW's charismatic reborn model is the editorial team's car of the year.
Joachim Milberg is stepping down from his position as chairman of the BMW board of management.
Volvo has the BMW X5 in its sights with the launch of its new sport utility vehicle, the XC90, which will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January.
The Halliwell Jones BMW Group, based in Warrington, Chester and Southport, has appointed Rob Andrew as group corporate sales manager.
BMW will not be at next year's Birmingham motor show, believing it can use the £1.5m-plus cost more effectively as it sets a 100,000 sales target, combined with Mini.
Vauxhall and Opel are to produce a new large car which General Motors' European engineers believe will offer a radical alternative to Mercedes' E-class and BMW's 5 Series.
BMW GB expects to reach a record 80,000 this year and managing director Jim O'Donnell has set a target for 2002 of more than 100,000 with Mini included.
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.
I remember when the actress Jennifer Aniston had a nose job. I thought, 'what's the point of that?', but looking back at old episodes of Friends, it has made a definite improvement. The thought came into my mind because BMW has applied the same 'if it ain't broke, make a few adjustments anyway' attitude to the 3-series.
BMW premiered the 163bhp Mini Cooper S at the Tokyo show to capitalise on the Japanese public's enthusiasm for the marque. The model goes on UK sale next June, priced around £15,000.
BMW Financial Services Group and Alphabet, its mu;lti-marque leasing company, united for an invitation-only sale at BCA Nottingham which saw 330 cars offered to 213 registered buyers. 305 cars were sold, equivalent to a 92.5% conversion rate.
BMW says the economic impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US is 'manageable' and it will meet its financial targets for the 2001 financial year.