The German mail order business Tschibo has joined another German counterpart in retailing new cars, but in contrast to the Quelle operation which offered 10% off new Golf Mk 5s before they hit showrooms, is offering a limited edition Fiat Stilo with the full co-operation of the manufacturer.
Motaquip, the PSA Peugeot Citroen-owned all-makes aftermarket parts operation, has launched a series of technical information posters for independent garage operators. The first focuses on steering and suspension components, outlining basic function and providing guidance on fault diagnosis and common reasons for failure.
The 69th BEN Ball will this year be celebrating Chief Executive, Geoffrey Atkinson's forthcoming retirement, following 25 years at the head of the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund charity.
Arriva Vehicle Rental has expanded its operations, with the acquisition of Luton-based Wilton Vehicle Rental, which specialises in the truck contract hire and daily rental.
General Motors Corp and Fiat SpA have announced that they will delay by a year the start of the 'put option' that will allow Fiat to sell Fiat Auto to GM.
Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) members working at Land Rover voted in a ballot on Thursday 23 October to reject an offer of a 6.5% pay rise over two years, by 5,055 votes to 1,117.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that overall British car production in September climbed 6.3 per cent to 153,542 units, while export production leapt 18.3 per cent, accounting for 106,819 units, representing 69.6 per cent of total output.
Ford chief operating officer Nick Scheele denied yesterday at the Tokyo Motor Show that Jaguar's Browns Lane assembly plant in Coventry, where the new XJ is built, would be closed, commenting that, "This is really speculation that's been running around now for six to nine months."
Premiums are rising to recover increasing costs, according to the AA's British Insurance Premium Index.
Glass's October 2003 Used Car Price Index reveals an upward movement in residual values across seven of the 10 market sectors analysed compared to 12-months ago, both for one and three-year-old cars.
”The retail motor sector cannot hope to continue at the current level unless we take steps to protect consumers, and ensure that our industry meets their expectations”, Fred Maguire, president of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), warned at last night's RMI 90th Anniversary Dinner (22 October).
Fleet operators have named the Vauxhall Vectra 2003 ACFO (Association of Car Fleet Operators), Car of the Year because of its performance, whole life costs and driver appeal.
Peter H. G. Morgan passed away yesterday following a brief illness, a few days from his 84th birthday.
As part of the development plan that will succeed the current 'Nissan 180' turnaround plan after April 2005, Nissan may launch its luxury car brand Infiniti into Europe.
Renault announced on 22 October that its turnover in the third quarter of this year reached €8.712 billion, an increase of 9.04% year on year.
Following news that ScootElectric has obtained exclusive UK distribution rights for electric scooters built in Taiwan (and in the case of one model, Italy), the importer confirms that it has appointed nine outlets so far.
Phoenix Venture Holdings' report for 2002 features turnover up year on year from £1,697m to £1,741m, a loss before goodwill, tax and income from group undertakings of £95m, down from £187m, and net cash of £315m, up from £310m in 2001.
DaimlerChrysler achieved an operating profit of $1.45 billion (Q3 2002: $1.8 billion) in the third quarter of 2003. Positive earnings from all of the group's divisions, including Chrysler, contributed to this result, but net income shrank to $-1.9 billion, prompting S&P to downgrade DCX's credit rating a notch to 'BBB'.
Tuesday (28 October 2003). The ReMIT Centre for Technical Excellence will have 700 light vehicle technicians and electricians from across the South East of England under training at any one time. The centre will also provide training facilities for manufacturers including Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Volkswagen, and Ferrari/Maserati.
A new Dealership Support Executive has been appointed by AA Tyre Fit to oversee the company's franchise dealer programme. Paul Jebb joins from National Tyres and Autocare where he spent more than 20 years in a wide variety of roles including everything from working in fast-fit branches to managing mobile fitting units.
Vauxhall has confirmed it will introduce GM's Australian brand Holden's rear wheel drive muscle car – the Monaro – to the UK market next year.
Norfolk Motor Group (NMG) in Norwich, has become the first SsangYong dealership to open its doors to customers as a fully liveried dealer.
Volkswagen and Audi dealer Gilder Group has opened a new trade parts distribution operation on a site separate from its five dealerships in South Yorks and Derbyshire.
Centrus, a non-fault accident management companies, and subsidiary of Avis Europe plc, has launched CentrusReturn, an estimate management service for UK franchised and independent bodyshops. Centrus, which has so far concentrated on non-fault accidents, will extend its remit to include at-fault accident claims.
TRW Automotive has unveiled new packaging for its aftermarket products in TRW red, which displays both the TRW logo and distinctive green Lucas logo. It features product icons from the company portfolio and will be introduced on a rolling basis into Europe and the UK over the next few months.
Following industrial action at Ford's Genk, Belgium assembly plant following the announcement of 3,000 job losses there, Ford has on been forced to stop production of its Transit vans in Southampton for want of panel parts, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Friday.
Speculation is mounting that Inchcape Retail intends to become the UK's biggest dealer group next year with plans to sell Ferrari UK distribution in order to fund a buying spree.
Fiat Auto has named former Audi chairman Herbert Demel as its new chief executive officer with effect from November 15. He replaces Giancarlo Boschetti, who will retire a year early.
Deejay Accident Repair Centres, a regular award winner at industry events, has made 24 of its 129 staff redundant in a bid to cut costs and stay competitive.
Dealers and manufacturers are to be hit by a 52 per cent hike in new car tax. From January 1, the Government will increase the first registration fee on new vehicles by more than half.
