General Motors Europe president Mike Burns surprised many in the automotive industry last week with the announcement he is moving to become head of leading US parts supplier Dana Corp.
Perrys has taken the first steps towards patching up its relationship with Ford after purchasing two dealerships from Pendragon.
Controversial Government plans to end heavy discounts on green fuels have sent shockwaves through the UK motor industry.
2003 should have been a tumultuous year in the UK aftersales market. The long-awaited changes to block exemption came into force and many of the key changes affected aftersales with the objective of unshackling competition.
Forget Europe and America – the real growth market is South-east Asia. Every global manufacturer is diverting its resources to China and Japan as these two massive markets open up to foreign investment.
During the course of last year our research has revealed improvements in the professionalism and business standards of many used car operations.
An analysis of manufacturers' offers in the retail sector.
In its second annual report recently issued for the period to 31 July 2003 to the BRIC Steering Committee, the campaigning bodyshop organisation levels sharp criticism at the RMI and VBRA, whose merger plans were announced in December.
Effective today, Mitsubishi Motors Europe B.V. (MME) is taking over the distribution of its vehicles in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, following the termination of the distribution agreement with MMC Automobile AG (MAAS), its previous distributor, on December 9th, 2003, in the wake of the collapse of its then owner, the Erb Group.
A new online car wholesaling facility launched today is sourcing new and pre-registered cars from suppliers currently covering over twenty marques.
ReMIT, the training arm of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has appointed its Operations Director, Lee Acton.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has appointed a new head of aftermarket and used vehicle sales for the independent garage sector.
ACEA Western Europe new registrations for December 2003 totalled 969,787 units, representing a decrease of 1.8 % (- 1.9 % in the EU-15) with respect to December 2002. This drop was mainly due to the significant decrease experienced by three countries (including Italy), while all the other markets showed increases.
Having previously alerted its members that some manufacturers would be reducing their parts margins to their main agents, with an impact on the terms available to body repairers, the VBRA says repairers are now reporting reduced trade discounts.
With its acquisition of two Renault franchises in Edinburgh and Livingston, Reg Vardy plc has become the marque's biggest franchise holder, and edges nearer to its 2005 target of 100 outlets, with a current 84 dealerships across the country.
A judge in the case brought by Kirk Kerkorian against Juergen Schremmp and other DaimlerChrysler executives concluded on Monday that there was no evidence that Daimlerchrysler had deliberately withheld evidence.
Fiat chairman Umberto Agnelli said this week that the group will seek compensation from alliance partner General Motors for the value of the put option to acquire Fiat Auto, which GM recently confirmed it did not intend to exercise.
In what is believed to be first action of its kind, lawsuits were filed this week against Snap-on Tools, Inc. on behalf of wives of former Snap-on franchised tool dealers, alleging they were harmed by the company's "false, fraudulent and misleading representations" that not only led to the collapse of their husbands' franchises, but also resulted in the loss of the wives' own money and family savings.
First Stop, the Bridgestone-backed fast-fit tyre programme, is looking to forge new relationships with independent service garages as it strives to grow its network.
Automotive industry suppliers are losing faith in the world's biggest carmaker, according to a new report. A satisfaction survey published by SupplierBusiness.com claims that suppliers' trust in General Motors has fallen sharply over the last two years.
Bharat Forge, India's largest exporter of vehicle components, has bought German forging company Carl Dan Peddinghhaus (CDP) in a deal with an estimated value of between £15m and £22m.
The second-generation Ford Mondeo launched in 2000 set new standards in the medium family and fleet sector.
Stephen Briers comments on bodyshop efficiency
<B>Chris Oakham talks about:</B> Staff training, is it the key to a successful dealership?
The Volkswagen Polo has long been a favourite among the mainstream motoring media. Its Teutonic looks ooze class, it is precisely engineered and it creates easy headlines for lazy sub-editors (think: Volkswagen's mint supermini; no holes barred, etc).
Franchised retailers have increased their share of service work following the introduction of manufacturers' three-year warranties and the boom in new car sales.
Dodge's arrival in the UK late next year will enable ChryslerJeep dealers to boost volume and profit, according to UK managing director Simon Elliott.
The Land Rover Range Stormer concept will be badged Range Sport when it goes on sale in 2005.
Workers staged four-hour walkouts at two plants of South Korea's SsangYong Motor Co today Wednesday to protest against the sale of a controlling stake in the company by its creditors to the Chinese government-controlled China National Bluestar Corp.
Ask anyone to describe a typical car retailer and they will envisage a man in a suit. But it is a stereotype that is increasingly at odds with reality.
