According to Kelley Blue Book's latest US "New Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study" on vehicle finance options, 70% prospectived new car buyers plan to research financing online and 54% plan to obtain finance befre visiting the dealer, while only 46% of respondents indicate that they intend to finance their purchase at the dealership.
Nissan Motor has declared its intention to halve new model development costs within two years, partly by cutting its Japanese vehicle platforms by two thirds from 15 to 5, and also by halving the time taken to bring new models into production.
This is the date that DVLA's range of 04 personalised registrations will be made available to purchase, enabling motorists to be ready with their new vehicle complete with a specially selected registration before the 04 plate change in March.
The European Commission has adopted an eSafety Communication, laying down a set of measures for supporting the industry in developing safer and more intelligent vehicles and enabling their rapid introduction into the market. The goal is halving the number of road deaths in Europe by 2010.
In the first of what is likely to be many consumer media reports on the inception of the new Block Exemption, National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) director Alan Pulham told today's Independent newspaper that the delay in many manufacturers issuing new Block Exemption-compliant contracts was putting undue pressure on dealer networks.
Parliamentary committee will vet capacity of government departments to deal with end-of-life vehicles
Blueback, a new company aiming to transform London's fragmented £850 million private hire vehicle (or mini cab) market, has chosen Fiat Auto's Multipla six-seater mini-MPV as its figurehead vehicle to launch the venture.
68 cars have been selected from 183 entries for the final of the Ford/Greenpower electric car marathon for schools to be held at Goodwood on 5 October, 2003.
In the UK, the Young Environmentalists scheme provides young people (10 to 16 year olds) with an opportunity to gain support, recognition and financial reward for practical, local environmental activities and the chance to compete for an international award.
Dealer group Reg Vardy plc has provided the following update on current trading at its Annual General Meeting. The Group reports it has has made a good start to the financial year and is continuing its expansion by acquisition.
The owner of London Taxis International's unaudited preliminary results for the year to 31 July 2003 show turnover from continuing operations down 1% on previous year from £86.9m to £86.0m. The core vehicles division produced £4.5m operating profit (including £1.1m of China profit) (2002: £3.7m) on sales of £86.0m.
The Kubistar, the Nissan-branded version of Renault's Kangoo small van, goes on sale 10 October with a starting price of £7,500 on the road for a 1.2 litre petrol engine version.
Audi UK has appointed Adrian Short as its new Head of Corporate Sales in the UK, a move that coincides with a restructuring of the company's fleet liaison team and used car operations.
Recent analysis of MVRA (Motor Vehicle Repairers Association) data shows that 97 bodyshops - almost 18% of the MVRA's QA bodyshop members - have gone out of business during the past five years.
European consumers express a strong interest in a number of today's emerging automotive technologies, but most are not willing to buy many of these features unless manufacturers lower the price, according to the latest J.D. Power European Automotive Emerging Technologies Study.
Kia, currently the fastest growing car manufacturer brand in the UK (and Western Europe), has announced it is reviewing it advertising account currently held by Mustoes Ltd.
Max Pemberton's newly updated long-term forecast report forecasts that more than 1.5 billion vehicles will be sold in the next 17 years, with global annual vehicle sales running at 100 million by 2020.
Production figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that car production in the last three months climbed 9.5%, and that output over the year-to-date slipped 0.3%.
Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd has announced that Simon Thomas has undertaken the new role of UK Sales Director, moving from his previous role within the organisation as UK Marketing Director.
The MOT tester shortage will reach crisis point unless a dedicated apprenticeship for the MOT test is established, warns the Retail Motor Industry Federation.
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Ltd has initiated an information and consultation process with Union Representatives regarding possible redundancies as a result of the removal of car and radial light truck tyre production at its plant in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.
Claimed to be the country's most visited motor industry website, www.Vauxhall.co.uk has been relaunched with new features after work carried out by IBM. The site receives more than 300,000 unique visits a month.
The Honda Institute, the company's European centre for technical training and personnel development, has lent support to the motor vehicle Pre-Apprenticeship programme at a Hertfordshire school.
A new European Directive to make protection for pedestrians compulsory will apply to new cars and car-derived vans under 2.5 tonnes from 2005.
French paper La Tribune reports Nissan will put its own Renault Kangoo on LHD markets in in October, dubbed Kubistar.
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has allowed an appeal by Swan Garage (Bosham) Limited against the revocation of its consumer credit licence following advice from an independent tribunal.
Smart's complaints against the German general retailer Quelle have led to the latter withdrawing Smart models from sale.
Specialist German motor trade lawyer Dr. Christian Genzow has told the trade website autohaus-online that a Munich court has delivered its verdict in respect of one of three temporary injunctions sought by the German association of BMW dealers.
Pininfarina SpA and Volvo Car Corporation have signed an agreement with the aim of developing and manufacturing Volvo's next generation convertible.
MG Rover Group has today (September 23) launched the V8 powered MG ZT 260 V8. The rear-wheel drive vehicle, available in ZT saloon and ZT-T estate car, is powered by a 260bhp 4.6-litre V8.
