Renault grew revenues by 3.8% to €37,525 million last year, and its operating margin rose sharply in the second half-year. The group also benefited from an improvement in Nissan's earnings and finance revenue growth.
Taking no action on reductions in parts discounts is not an option, says the VBRA.
Ford has launched a new series of sales incentives across its model ranges, including low finance rates, additional free features and free insurance on selected models - and cash discounts over £1,400 on selected models.
In its second consecutive year of growth, the RMI has increased its membership beyond 10,000 businesses.
Derek Cook, the former chairman of the failed DC Cook motor group, is set to take over the loss-making Virgin Cars operation for an undisclosed sum.
Land Rover dealers were left counting the cost of strike action this week after the company's workforce downed tools on Monday.
TRW Automotive is closing the doors to its steering and suspension plant at Luton in a bid to cut costs and boost efficiency.
The entire CD Bramall management board, including chief executive Peter Jones and chairman Tony Bramall, will step down once the group's acquisition by Pendragon is complete.
With the final version of new regulations governing the sale of general insurance products due out this week, the Financial Services Authority has said that, even though the legislation does not take effect until January 15 2005, it could take them up to six months to process an application.
Franchised dealer prices for warranties can cost nearly three times as much as an independent insurer, according to new research.
Vauxhall is launching a major bid to almost double the size of its fast-fit operation, making it second in size to aftermarket giant Kwik-Fit.
Flexible MPV brightens up the Vauxhall badge
Now you can downsize ...without downsizing
Pendragon, the UK's largest retail group, has tabled a £230m recommended offer for its closest rival, CD Bramall.
Land Rover's Solihull plant has been hit by a second 24-hour stoppage today, 9 February, involving T&G, Amicus and GMB members.
Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) President & CEO Stefan Jacoby is leaving the company to “pursue other opportunities”. MME says a replacement will be announced soon.
The annualised rate of sales in Western Europe dropped to 13.6m units last month, says forecaster Pete Kelly of J.D. Power-LMC.
Virgin Cars has now merged with Motor Solutions Ltd., Derek Cook's vehicle for new car sales to Makro cash and carry cardholders.
New car registrations were 5.8% and almost 11,000 units up year on year in January at 197,591 units. Fleet registrations were up 9.0% and other business registrations up by 7.2% while private new car purchases climbed for the eight successive month, by 2.5%.
A vote in support of the block exemption's September 2005 end to dealer territory restrictions by a meeting of the German ZDK dealers federation this month followed lobbying to delay the change both from ACEA and the European motor trade trade federation CECRA.
Following this week's 0.25% rise in the Bank of England's base interest rate, Glass's Market Intelligence Service has calculated a rise to 5% would cost only £2.69 a month more on a three-year £6,000 car loan
Research undertaken by software house epyx's '1link Service Network' suggests that its online service management facility can quadruple the efficiency of fleet maintenance controllers.
DaimlerChrysler made an operating profit of $7.2 billion last year, compared to $8.6 billion in 2002. This figure included Chrysler restructuring expenses of $591 million. Total revenues in 2003 fell by 7% to $171.9 billion, though adjusted for currency translation effects, they increased by 3%.
Dana Corporation has named Michael J. Burns chief executive officer, president and a director of the company. Burns, who has been President of General Motors Europe since 1998, succeeds the late Joe Magliochetti, who died in September 2003.
Thatcham, the insurer-funded Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, has made changes to the online Thatcham Parts Guide related to the derivative match feature, a function that allows searching for selected parts across different vehicle models sold by a given manufacturer.
The Energy Saving Trust, which distributes Powershift grants to incentive the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles, has published a paper suggesting the value of individual grants may be reduced by up to 40% in the next financial year.
Dixon Motors has entered all its South Yorkshire dealerships into the Motor Trade Partnership scheme developed by the region's Trading Standards Service. Similar partnerships operate elsewhere in the UK, but dealer take-up has been patchy.
Robert Barris has been appointed as the new managing director for SYUK Cars Ltd, the importer of SsangYong vehicles. He replaces Peter Ellis, who becomes deputy chairman.
The January 2004 edition of the Castrol Business Services Trend Tracker shows Honda and Toyota dealers achieved the best service retention performance last year. VW, Audi Mercedes and Volvo also gave good accounts of themselves.
Adjusted for seasonal selling patterns, January new registrations in the US were at an annual rate of about 16.1 million, which, with declines in market share by GM and Ford, has affected automotive share prices. Forecasts had expected some 400,000 more sales.
