At Porsche's AGM, the company's President and CEO Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking has announced double-digit increases in both profit and revenue for the first half of the company's fiscal year, which began August 1, 2003.
The boards of Pendragon and CD Bramall announced their agreement today on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by KPMG Corporate Finance on behalf of Pendragon to acquire the whole of the share capital of CD Bramall.
Ford Motor Co. has reported a full year 2003 net profit of $495 million, representing a marked improvement on 2002 losses, and aided by a full-year pre-tax profit of $3.0 billion from Ford Motor Credit.
TRW Automotive Aftermarket has announced the move of its Luton manufacturing activity to its Frydlant plant in the Czech Republic. The decision involves a potential reduction of 71 jobs in the UK, and consultations have been started the employees and their representatives.
Figures released for UK car output by the ONS and SMMT show it rose 1.7 per cent to 1,657,558 million units in 2003.
The latest Alliance & Leicester New Car Price Index compiled by the Centre for Business & Economics Research says after three years, upper medium are worth 40.2% of their original price — 14.4 per cent lower than the average for all cars, and that the Laguna and Omega are the best three-year old bargains.
Nissan has announced several management appointments and changes in its sales and marketing operations in Europe, with effect from 1 March.
Helphire Group plc has informed the Stock Exchange that it has agreed to offer an ongoing replacement vehicle service to customers of Centrus Ltd and policy holders of its legal expense insurance product 'Safeguard'.
Mike O'Brien, Minister for International Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs told a CBI meeting on Wednesday that an EC discussion document on the possible introduction of a 'Made in the EU' label proposed by some Member States poses no threat to British businesses who wish to use 'Made in Britain'.
The world's biggest vehicle manufacturer was first off the block yesterday in announcing fourth quarter and full-year 2003 results.
A warranty can cost over twice as much from a franchised dealer than an independent insurer, claims the independent firm Warranty Direct.
A joint venture team of Isuzu Motors Ltd and the directors and senior staff at Isuzu Truck (UK) Limited have bought a majority stake in the UK importer from RAC plc, which acquired the UK Isuzu Truck concession as Lex plc.
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Renault's Boulevard Raspail retail premises in central Paris have become the first of a new format for the brand's metroplitan showrooms where space is at a premium.
Aston Martin has announced a Approved Pre-owned Car Programme that will give its UK customers direct access to pre-owned cars throughout the 18-strong UK dealer network.
A new system that allows service/maintenance providers to view in real time the customer service and pricing they offer to fleets is being launched as a component of epyx's 1link Service Network.
Simulated urban cycle tests carried out on petrol and diesel-powered cars of comparable power ratings by a European environment and energy research programme have produced the surprising result that the petrol vehicle was the most heavily polluting.
Barclaycard looks set to rattle the £11bn F&I market by launching what it claims is a unique new car finance proposition.
AutoExCel, the automotive aftermarket event launching in 2005 at ExCel in London's Docklands, has added further members to its 'Founders Group', taking the total membership over 60.
The venture capitalist CVC CAPITAL Partners Ltd., which bought Halfords in August 2002 from Boots plc, has discussed plans to float at least some of its shares, according to press reports, which mention Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch in connection with the talks.
Automotive solutions provider Ebbon-Dacs has responded to forthcoming regulations covering the sale of motor insurance products with a new electronic compliance product and online dealer awareness and compliance training
Bodyshop magazine reported last week that the US paint manufacturer Valspar had announced the takeover of the Dutch refinish supplier De Beer.
Sport Utility Vehicle Owners of America (SUVOA) yesterday called on Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to step up intelligence and federal enforcement action against The Earth Liberation Front (ELF), a militant environmental group that took responsibility for destroying vehicles at a Santa Fe, New Mexico Land Rover dealership, and US Forest Service construction equipment
Ford Motor's Mercury is the most under-appreciated of brands on the US market for quality, while Ford's Land Rover is the most over-appreciated, according to a report by Wall Street broker Morgan Stanley.
The German government has been stout in its resistance to the European Commission's calls to dismantle the regulations that block foreign bids for Volkswagen, but an EC spokesperson has said, “We are now planning to go ahead with next step in the procedure”, though the matter has reportedly yet to be formally discussed in Brussels.
Glass's Information Services is calling on the Government to introduce new legislation requiring anyone selling a vehicle to ensure that the purchaser's driving licence number is recorded on the V5 registration documents at the point of sale.
From this week Honda customers will be able to book servicing appointments using a new online facility. Any servicing and repair work for any Honda car can be booked at any one of the company's 190 dealers by visiting Honda's website at www.honda.co.uk, or any Honda dealer website.
2003 saw a year-on-year increase in new members of almost 100% for the Institute of the Motor Industry. There were some 2,000 successful applications during the year, bringing the IMI's total membership to just under 25,000.
Warranty Holdings Group, the troubled warranty provider, has appointed AXA to underwrite its business from January.
Reg Vardy, one of the UK's biggest dealer groups, is planning to become one of Europe's largest automotive retailers – buoyed by sales of more than 200,000 cars in its current financial year.
