SMMT Chief Executive Christopher Macgowan has welcomed the launch of a new website, www.mtsknowledge.co.uk, which provides a combination of best practice guidance for managers and aspiring managers in the UK automotive retailing sector.
The chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Alan Starling, said the system that automakers have been using since the 1970s to measure customer satisfaction "is broken and needs to be fixed."
Over the next few months AM is searching out the best companies in the automotive industry – that's franchised retailers, independent car dealers, repairers, bodyshops, suppliers and carmakers.
The SMMT reports today that September new car registrations climbed 1.5 per cent to 439,365 units. Private registrations rose 4.1 per cent, taking 51 per cent of the market, and diesel registrations grew for the 36th successive month.
“A staggering 44% of the UK motor vehicle repair industry will be unable to afford the 3.5% average wage increase estimated for next year”, according to the latest Plimsoll analysis of the sector.
Quoting unnamed sources, Automotive News Europe reports that Fiat Group chairman Umberto Agnelli will confirm by the end of October the appointment of Magna-Steyr CEO Herbet Demel as the successor to Giancarlo Boschetti as CEO of Fiat Auto.
Dick Lovett's new 800 m2 Ferrari dealership in Swindon combines sales and aftersales operations for new and pre-owned cars, service and repair workshops, plus a retail shop for Ferrari and Maserati merchandise and branded accessories three minutes' drive from Junction 16 of the M4.
The Northern Ireland Tyre Safety Week is being organised in association with the PoliceService of Northern Ireland who will be running tyre checks during October with the help of the Tyre Industry Council (TIC®).
Reg Vardy plc has completed the acquisition of the trade and assets of one Jaguar and three Land Rover dealerships from Dutton-Forshaw. The acquisition completes the North East market area for these two marques.
Strong trade buying fuelled by a shortage of customer part-exchanges has kept used car prices firm and even led to rises in some sectors.
The director of the Danish motor trade association Preben Kjaer told a meeting of CECRA, the European motor trades confederation, this week that Denmark's finance ministry is preparing proposals to reduce the country's car purchase taxes - which are the EU's highest.
ClaimWatch, the web-based package that enables bodyshops, work providers and motorists to track the status of collision repairs, has been further developed and can now include vehicle manufacturer- branded web pages, including model types.
The Reynolds and Reynolds has announced the acquisition of Incadea AG, the privately owned German provider of global automotive retailing software solutions.
Any suggestion that Volkswagen light commercial vehicles were ever treated as second class product and its customers as less important than the manufact-urer's new car buyers should be history by the end of this year.
A national accreditation scheme for body fitters, painters and panel repair technicians has been launched by the Institute of the Motor Industry and training organisation Thatcham.
There is nothing wrong with the Ford Fusion, despite what others in the media would have you believe.
The future of car tyre production in the UK hangs in the balance after one of the world's largest manufacturers announced it was moving production to mainland Europe.
UK car production climbed 9.5 per cent over the last three months but output for the year to date is down 0.3 per cent, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Sales of prestige car models are fetching more than 20 per cent above CAP figures, according to Manheim Auctions.
Bentley retailer Broughtons has sold its Birmingham site to the Sytner Group to finance a new site in the Thames Valley.
Lookers Group is involved in discussions with BMW and Mercedes-Benz as it looks to add the two premium brands to its portfolio.
BCA Europe's new chief executive Jon Olsen is pushing ahead with an ambitious expansion plan for the auction group following the retirement of his predecessor, Tom Gibson, earlier this year.
Motability Direct has reached a new landmark with the sale of its 100,000 car online.
Reg Vardy, one of the UK's largest motor retailers, has added four more dealerships to its network as part of a relentless expansion strategy.
Daihatsu's major sales offensive continues as it strives to grow its retail network to 120 sites by 2005.
Volvo has struck a deal with Pininfarina to develop its next-generation convertible.
Dealers can now check the authenticity of an import prior to purchasing the vehicle.
MG has launched a V8-powered version of its ZT saloon and ZT-T estate. Powered by Ford's 260bhp, 4.6-litre V8 engine, used in North America in the Mustang, the rear- wheel drive MG ZT 260 V8 hopes to compete with the likes of the BMW 330i, Jaguar X-Type and Volvo S60 T5.
Sytner Group has opened a new £3.25m Porsche dealerships – setting the template for the next breed of Porsche sites in its network.
Rycroft vehicles will open DaimlerChrysler's first multi-franchise site in Newcastle.
