BMW today announced that it will not be showing Mini at this year's London motor show. Instead the company is concentrating on creating brand awareness during the launch through a newly re-designed interactive website.
Sytner Group opened an exclusive BMW Store yesterday in Cheapside, in the centre of London's City square mile.
Ex-Formula One racing champion Damon Hill has said he has serious intentions of growing his car retail business after today announcing the acquisition of the Warwick Sytner BMW dealership for an undisclosed sum.
<b>GENEVA MOTOR SHOW:</b> The first all-new car to be introduced by MG Rover since its sell-off by BMW will be a medium sector model designed as a direct competitor to the Volkswagen Golf.
The new March Y-plate sees a number of specification improvements and upgrades to the BMW model range. The M Roadster and M Coupé make a return featuring the engine from the new M3, 3 Series Sport Saloons gain extra specification and a range of 3 Series Sport Tourings make their UK debut.
BMW will be debuting the 3 Series Compact, with the new British-built Valvetronic engine, the X5 3.0d and the M3 with Sequential M gearbox at the Geneva motor show.
BMW has made clear its commitment to prosper as a specialist producer of vehicles - finally laying to rest the ghost of its aspirations to become a volume player - at the opening of its £400m engine plant at Hams Hall.
##X30small--left## MG Rover has this morning unveiled three new MG model ranges due for launch in the autumn which it believes will show the motoring world that eight months after it gained its independence from BMW ownership it is once again a premier player in the industry.
The man behind the development of the new face of MG Rover - the X10, X20 and X30 - revealed that the company used stealth in its dealings with former owner BMW to bring the cars to the public.
Rover - or MG Rover as it is now known - is trying to rebuild itself following a tumultuous year in which the company which was reported to have cost BMW £2million a day was sold by its German owners.
BMW has signed the contracts for 150 dealerships - 95% of the network - to sell the forthcoming new Mini.
MG Rover is blaming a reduction in the volume of parts bought and the need to buy some items from BMW for a price increase.
MG Rover will begin repaying the £500m loan to BMW from 2004 - if it has moved into profit.
BMW dealers are being urged to view the internet as an additional selling opportunity amid reassurances that it does not pose a threat to their 'bricks and mortar' businesses.
Januarys' Detroit motor show will see four world premieres from BMW - plus the US debut of the Mini.
BMW's new Hams Hall engine plant will be starting production as planned in January, three years after construction started.
Prestons BMW in Colne, Lancs, reports that its website is now responsible for generating around 20% of its used car sales.
CarsDirect.com, the US online seller, has abandoned its plans for a European operation headed by Kevin Gaskell, former BMW GB managing director.
BMW's new car is set to arrive in the UK next summer.
##BMW 330d--left## BMW says it is continuing to set new records in vehicle sales, with the 3 Series continuning to take a lion's share of the glory.