Derek Cook is making a comeback in the motor industry with the resurrection of his Motor Solutions internet-based discount motoring service.
The MG Owners' Club has awarded MG Rover Group with its annual 'MG Enthusiast' award for its contribution to the MG marque.
New car sales hit record levels in October and it now looks certain the year will end on an all-time high, beating 1989, the previous best year on record. The SMMT is predicting 2.38m new car registrations but, in the present bullish conditions, many people believe even that figure may prove conservative. At first glance, the continuing demand for new cars is difficult to explain given the underlying economic picture.
After several months of base rate cuts the banks have finally started to move on their personal loan rates but not always in the direction you might expect.
Carmakers have found a winning formula and are going to stick with it until the end of the year. A combination of low rate finance and heavy advertising of monthly payments has brought customers into new car showrooms in record numbers.
The past two months have seen a surprising change in dealer buying habits as the market dropped off at the end of September and beginning of October only to surge in November. Most dealers say that they are stocking up in anticipation of a shortage of good quality Cap Clean cars in December.
Smart has announced a further expansion of its sales network, with four more Mercedes-Benz dealers taking on the franchise.
One sector of the commercial vehicle market that we are watching closely is the so-called large panel van sector, with gross weights of 3,000-3,500kg. Registrations of these derivatives have been rising rapidly over recent years, with the percentage of vans sold compared to chassis-cab versions increasing dramatically.
ASA Insurance and HSBC Select (UK) Limited have entered a new partnership enabling ASA Insurance to offer motor retailers HSBC Select's one year insurance services, alongside its own multi-year motor insurance products.
Used car prices across Europe are beginning to fall again according to a new report, The European Fleet Index, published today by EurotaxGlass's.
Kalamazoo was forced to make a statement to the stock market after the share price rose from 51/2p to 101/2p in a week. An employee is thought to have leaked news the dealer management system company was being prepared for sale.
Luffield Cars has been awarded the MG Rover franchise for Derby - on the first anniversary of taking the franchise for Loughborough.
Motorists whose accident damaged cars need repairing are facing a Catch-22 situation where they could either be forced to pay escalating bills or face major repair delays because insurers refuse to pay up or bodyshops are overworked.
The battle to win gold in the Automotive Management Awards 2002 is underway, with dozens of companies preparing entries. December 1 is the closing date for entries and the awards will be presented on February 13.
Car Care Plan has signed a deal with Fiat Auto (UK) to administer the third year of the Fiat and Alfa Romeo three-year new car warranty programme.
Toyota and Nissan have blamed the strength of sterling for mounting losses in Britain.
The Peugeot 307 has won the 2002 European Car of the Year Award.
Volvo will introduce a cash-for-car package in December for drivers choosing to opt out of company car schemes in the light of the new tax regime next year.
Pendragon has acquired Douglas Graham Rover in Windsor, Berks.
Chris Swan has sold four Bulldog Express outlets and closed two others citing a need to “get the business in shape”. The former Finelist boss acquired the outlets as part of the Autela Edmunds Walker purchase in May, which made his parts distribution business the third largest in the UK.
A private investor has formed a number of companies which will pay Dixon Motors £34m for 17 of its freehold and long leasehold sites. The group has been stretched by growth in its car and motorcycle businesses.
Autobytel is calling on the Government and fellow dotcom operations to investigate and improve trading standards compliance after research showed that the majority of consumers want the Goverment 'get tough' on rogu web traders.
Lexus is urging leasing companies to dispose of end-of-contract vehicles at closed electronic auctions to protect residual values.
Results from the latest auctions by BCA, Manheim, Cars Direct and Motorauctions Leeds.
BMW GB expects to reach a record 80,000 this year and managing director Jim O'Donnell has set a target for 2002 of more than 100,000 with Mini included.
Admiral Insurance has appointed Audatex as its new approved provider of vehicle repair estimating.
Profit margins among motor retailers have fallen to the lowest level on record with the sector now looking to be in danger of falling into an overall loss with the global economic slump resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks merely exacerbating already tough conditions.
Tickets for the British International Motor Show are now on sale at the website, www.motorshow.co.uk.
Pinewood's CARS dealer management system - approved for use in Ford dealers in 2000 – has now been fully integrated with Ford systems including Vista vehicle ordering, GWE warranty submissions and Microcat menu and parts pricing.
