Fifteen years ago a big Ford meant a Granada. And if you needed to shift more than five adults, a Transit minibus was the only option.
Big people carriers make little sense for the average-sized family. They're bulky, awkward to park, thirsty and expensive to buy and run. A medium MPV can do the job just as well at a lower price.
Buying patterns have changed dramatically in recent years. Where once November and December were very quiet for both trade and retail, now there's quite a flurry of trade buying during those months.
Kia Motors UK's last-minute decision to exhibit at the Birmingham motor show was taken to prove to dealers interested in joining the franchised network - and potential customers - that the company is developing “fresh and innovative” new products.
Gerard Murray has quit Reg Vardy after just 18 months as chief executive. An official statement said Murray had left to “pursue other business interests”.
Car World Direct.com, the wholesaler of nearly new vehicles and new EU imports, is predicting an annual turnover exceeding £170m after purchasing FRL, the UK importer of new European cars.
In spite of the Motor Show organiser's protestations at Trade secretary Patricia Hewitt's blistering attack on a Motor Show ad as “sexist” and “old-fashioned” an AM vox-pop of showgoers suggest the SMMT should be sending Ms Hewitt a note of thanks.
Industry sources are warning of a possible collapse of MG Rover's joint venture with China Brilliance.
Severe winter weather and the resulting spate of accidents could put the UK's bodyshop sector under severe pressure, says the Body Owners Fellowship.
A Government Minister says the UK motor sport industry is the 'Jewel in the Crown' of UK manufacturing.
The Government/industry body set up to foster greater focus on safety in car design has announced a series of top-level meetings next year which it says will lead to a whole new generation of safer vehicles.
The RMI has given the 'thumbs-up' to Government plans for a garage licensing scheme.
Jaguar is on the way to solving its global aftermarket back order situation, according to one supplier.
Less than a third of franchised dealers have tyre-fitting facilities.
The chief executive of Reg Vardy, Gerard Murray, announced his resignation this week.
PSA Peugeot Citroen has announced plans to build a new European assembly plant in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, or the Czech Republic. The company is setting aside around £440 million for the investment, which will add production capacity for a further 300,000 vehicles a year.
If you supply number plates you must register with the DVLA by 1 January 2003. The new Register of Number Plate Suppliers is a Government move aimed at making it more difficult for thieves to obtain fake number plates to put on stolen vehicles.
Steven Fuller, managing director of SJ Fuller Autobodies of Bridgend and David Lawlor, Allianz Cornwall Engineer, are the winners of the certification phase of the Allianz Cornhill/Audatex Estimating Standards Programme.
Although Mitsubishi is set to reduce its European dealer network by 20% over the next five years, the focus in the UK is on growth in the medium term.
Vauxhall has just sold its millionth car under the Network Q banner - 11 years after it launched the used car programme.
The car manufacturers used the British International Motor Show at Birmingham to do something about the industry's on-going recruitment crisis.
September was Mazda's best sales performance since August 1998. UK sales hit 6,649 for the month, giving Mazda a 1.5% share of the whole market and 1.9% of the retail market, almost treble its share in 2001.
MG Rover Group took £1m in orders on the first day of the British International Motor Show last week. The cars are mainly destined for the retail market, but include a conquest fleet deal.
In one of the biggest Pan-European fleet deals ever concluded, Rentokil Initial has signed a 16-country supply agreement with GM Europe worth £100 million at showroom prices over four years.
Valeo Service (UK) has launched its new Engine Cooling catalogue which, according to Market Manager, Kevin Brown offers a number of new 'added value' elements in line with customer requirements and market trends.
The UK's motor retailing sector has a severe crisis in technician recruitment , according to the seventh Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI)/Sewells 2003 Retail Motor Industry Pay Guide.
The President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Mike Baunton, warned of a growing cash drain facing the British motor industry if nothing is done to counter the current strength of the pound.
The three main unions representing Fiat workers in Italy facing more than 8,000 redundancies under the ailing carmaker's business recovery plan have announed strikes.<
Cost savings linked to personnel reductions at Chrysler were the driving force behind DaimlerChrysler's better-than-expected results in the third quarter. It has announced an operating profits of €4.7 billion on group sales of €113 billion. That is a considerable improvement on the year-earlier result of just €781 million of operating profit.
Production figures from the UK Office for National Statistics reveal that car production in September 2002 rose by 9.8% year on year to 144,498 units, bringing the year to date total to 1,242,082 units, up 13.4% on last year.
