The German ZDK dealer's federation has pronounced unanimously in favour of maintaining the September 2005 date for the abolition of dealer territories under the motor industry new block exemption, after a week of what the organisation describes as sometimes controversial debate.
VW has launched a free air conditoining offer across the Golf Mk 5 range, representing an effective discount of €1,225 or an average 8%, only three and a half months after the model's continental launch.
The OFT is consulting on new guidance for the motor retailers who sell vehicles with no face-to-face contact - such as online, by mail order or by telephone. A mandated cooling-off period is the main concern.
According to Glass's Information Services, sales of most new luxury saloons have fallen back or remained static, losing out to large prestige 4x4s and large prestige saloons.
For the second year running, Interleasing has beaten 22 major leasing companies to come top in APD's 2003 Landmark Post-Sale CSI Survey, while ALD Automotive, named the best company in this year's Landmark Pre-Sale CSI survey, also topped the Pre-Sale CSI chart last year.
Bankers Integration Group (BIG), the developers of BIGFNI, a web-based financial interface that links lenders with dealers, announced the addition of Jacques Nasser, former Ford Motor president and chief operating officer, and Roy Roberts, former General Motors vice president of marketing, as investors at the NADA Convention ending today at Las Vegas.
In his address to the National Automobile Dealers Association's (NADA) 87th Annual Convention & Exposition NADA 2003 Chairman Alan Starling praised the US auto retail industry's progress on ethics and communications over the past year. He said the coming years will be defined by a mutual “respect” between dealers and auto manufacturers, government and media.
Volvo dealers can expect a flurry of new car launches over the next five years as Ford positions the marque as its volume brand within the Premier Automotive Group.
When you're on to a good thing, stick to it. The original Golf-based Octavia is the car that took the Skoda brand out of the bargain basement and made it the smart choice for thinking buyers who want quality, functionality and value for money.
It is doubtful that franchised dealers or carmakers will have been too shocked to discover before Christmas that the Office of Fair Trading was publishing a report criticising the UK service and repair market. The British motor trade has grown accustomed in recent years to attacks from consumer groups.
Land Rover dealers were left counting the cost of strike action
Used car dealers are enjoying good times in Britain, reporting better performance last year than in 2002 and overwhelmingly predicting an even better 2004.
Franchise dealers with manufacturer-approved or specialised body repair facilities could be invited to join accident solutions company ABS' 240-strong repairer network; it believes the recent block exemption changes will make it easier for them.
Honda's consolidated net income for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2003 totalled Y151.0 billion (US$1,410 million), a year-on-year increase of 31.2%.
Proton is also offering a new four-year free servicing offer for new Proton buyers of selected models in the coming two months, alongside a more conventional free winter check at its network's dealerships.
Dealers have less than a year to comply with new insurance regulations or face being unable to sell insurance, warns the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).
Motorists would back putting all of the £42 billion they currently pay in tax onto fuel, scrapping the tax disc and abandoning plans for future road user charging, says the RAC's latest annual Report on Motoring.
Datamonitor's Business Review newsletter reports that MG Rover has expressed an interest in Slovakia as a potential location for a new €200 million vehicle assembly plant.
The Body Repair Industry Campaign BRIC says it's delighted with the approach adopted by the OFT to the ABI's General Terms of Agreement (GTA) in relation to credit hire arrangements for non-fault drivers. The OFT has given the GTA conditional exemption after changes were made.
UK Skills is encouraging companies and individuals from the automotive industry to enter to enter for this year's National Training Awards, which last year attracted over 1,000 entries.
Some 30,000 US franchised car dealers convene in Las Vegas today, 30 January for NADA's annual convention.
The pick-up to pep up the Isuzu network
David Coop, Citroen's new network development director, is looking to fill 37 open points this year, targeting retailers who are “good at new, used, private, fleet and LCVs”.
Ford retailers received a boost this week after a leading used car guide revealed three of its best selling models had firm residual values. CAP Black Book rates the Focus, Mondeo and Fiesta – all permanent fixtures in the list of top sellers – as strong used car performers.
Pendragon's acquisition of CD Bramall will create by far the largest retail group in Europe. The two billion-pound turnover companies will combine to produce revenues exceeding £3.5bn, almost twice their nearest UK rival.
The UK automotive industry is losing £163m a year in wasted business post, according to a shock new report. Research by Royal Mail shows that 69% of all business letters have one or more errors like being incorrectly addressed.
The recent mystery shop of MoT stations by Which? found that only eight out of 36 MoT tests were carried out correctly.
Rover has given a strong hint towards future design direction by revealing a new look for the 75. Changes to the front and rear aim to give the car a premium look like core rivals from BMW and Audi.
Porsche has seen profits rise as strong sales of the Cayenne sports utility vehicle offset a sharp drop in demand for the Boxster and 911.
Land Rover dealers were left counting the cost of strike action this week after the company's workforce downed tools on Monday. As AM went to press, all of the 8,200 workers at the carmaker's Midlands plants in Solihull were believed to have mounted picket lines.
