Employees of Dennis, the vehicle chassis-maker owned by Mayflower, stand to bear the brunt of a deficit in the company's pension scheme
Ford further strengthened its vehicle sales in Europe during March, and has announced that it took a 9.8% share of the overall European vehicle market for the month and completed the first quarter of 2004 with a total share of 9.2%, ahead of the previous year
TRW Automotive Aftermarket has launched an extension to its friction programme. This addition, which is the first in a series of range extensions planned for 2004, will add a further 81 UK specific part numbers across a range of products and applications
Goodyear Tire & Rubber, the world's largest tyremaker, on Monday said it would cut $65m from its net income reported between 1997 and 2003 as a result of a four-month internal inquiry into the company's accounts in Europe and the US
March saw record new car registrations despite fears that a fire, which damaged BT phone lines across much of the west country and the north-west, would affect the final figures
MasterFit is to become the sole service franchise for the Vauxhall brand, the manufacturer has announced – a plan hatched a while ago but now coming to fruition with the growth of outlets from a current 250 to 400 by the year-end.
Vauxhall has assembled a new aftersales management team under aftersales director Paul Daly, following its announcement that MasterFit is to be the brand's sole aftersales franchise.
Hyundai says it is the UK's first distributor to give dealers and their customers the facility to compare its cars against the opposition at the touch of a button, with fully independent data including price, performance, equipment, warranty, specification, etc.
Having just made deep price cuts of up to 56% on 200 part numbers, Subaru has now launched a three years' free servicing offer, along with 0% finance on the Impreza 2.0 GX.
BMW has outpaced rival Mercedes-Benz with a higher-than-expected 14.5% increase in second quarter profits and by reconfirming its forecast of record earnings for the full year.
People carrier with a purpose
Diesel is re-shaping the new and used car markets – its share of the European Union new car parc has doubled from around 20% in recent years. And although the UK diesels have continually underperformed that level of growth it is has now reached nearly one in three new registrations.
Who'd be a carmaker executive in the UK? MG Rover directors are facing intense public, media and Government scrutiny over allegations of asset stripping
Last spring, AM reported the results of research into selling cars to the over-50s – they felt neglected and ignored by retailers and manufacturers, despite having more money to spend than all other consumer groups put together.
The Government is determined not to make the same mistakes again. In 1998, when then BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder dropped the bombshell at the British motor show that he would close subsidiary Rover's Longbridge plant unless it made huge cost savings and efficiency gains, MPs were caught completely cold.
Speaking at the recent AM Aftermarket Conference, Guy Liddall, of Motor Trade Selection, revealed how the present shortage of vehicle technicians could build into a crisis.
Vauxhall is the latest carmaker to respond to the emerging threat of insurer-mandated aftermarket parts in the body repair sector. Retail prices for 28 of Vauxhall's most popular bumper parts have been cut by an average of 19%, while the retail price of lighting has been reduced by an average 21%.
Divisions are growing between the sales and repair divisions of the retail motor industry over the attempt to outlaw rogue traders and win consumer confidence.
A new DaimlerChrysler brand centre has opened in the West Midlands. Drayton Group has created a multi-brand super-site by adding the ChryslerJeep franchise to its existing Mercedes-Benz and Smart dealership in Wolverhampton.
Arnold Clark Automobiles has posted a storming set of results for 2003 after a major buying spree in the first six months of the year.
Strong performances from Fiat and Mazda mean they have jumped up the satisfaction chart in the latest RMI dealer attitude survey.
Ford Retail UK, the carmaker's wholly-owned dealer group, is set to storm into the AM100 top 10 after Ford of Europe contracted to buy Jardine Motors Group's 51% share in Polar Motor Group, its joint venture.
Just three per cent of car retailers are currently compliant with tough new money laundering regulations, new research suggests
Lost franchises, notably two BMW outlets, and large investment in new premises are blamed for a massive slump in pre-tax profits at premium retail group William Jacks.
Fears about the future of car production in the UK have prompted the head of a leading trade union to tour two major vehicle manufacturing facilities
Ford of Britain has officially launched an elite franchised network of 115 light commercial vehicle sales and 95 service operations.
Acquisitions pushed HR Owen to a new record turnover in 2003, up 9% from £490m to £534m. However, the retail group suffered a pre-tax loss of £3.3m against a profit of £2.3m in 2002.
Wilfried Steffen, DaimlerChrysler UK president and chief executive officer, intends to give the UK a stronger voice within the international group on issues such as product planning and customer demands.
Dealers could see used car values fall over the next 12 months as the market comes under increasing pressure from record new car sales.
Glenvarigill Motor Group, bought by its management from whisky distiller Drambuie in 2002, sold two Renault outlets last month as the board reviews its franchises.
