The Retail Motor Industry Federation almost doubled its retained profit in 2000 compared with the previous year. The figures in its annual accounts were £318,644 and £166,784.
Randles Garages has acquired rival Suzuki dealer Percy Tait for an undisclosed sum, following the retirement of owners Percy and Di Tait.
Inchcape has beaten off a bid by a major shareholder to return £18m to investors because it wants to keep the money to develop its UK automotive business. It has so far returned £26.7m of capital through a share buy-back programme.
Automotive Training Partners, an initiative set up by seven leading specialists, has reported growing interest from dealers who are recognising the importance of a fully trained workforce.
Vauxhall has predicted “a dramatic turnaround in the profitability” of its dealer network this year following the struggles of 2000.
Automotive executives can compete at sea this summer and raise money for Ben, the motor industry charity.
Honda has confirmed plans to cease making the 5dr and 4dr Accord in the UK just weeks before its second £400m plant at Swindon is scheduled to begin production.
New non-executive director Alec Murray has forecast considerable further growth for Caledonia Motor Group.
Renault is trying to calm fears that the wholly-owned Renault Retail Group would dominate its hub alliance structure by indicating that Nissan dealers would control some territories.
Proton has launched a sub-prime finance offer which it hopes dealers will use to boost business across all their franchises.
Kevin Flynn has resigned as managing director of AFN, the UK dealer network owned by Porsche Cars Great Britain. It is understood he has not gone directly to another job.
IM Group, which distributes Subarus, Daihatsus and the Isuzu Trooper in the UK, has made a strategic shift in its business by investing £25m in a new motor finance company.
IBC Vehicles' plant in Luton, which builds the Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivano, went to three-shift working during May.
Renault is establishing 57 LCV 'business centres' in the UK as part of a 530-strong business centre network across Europe. These will be dedicated to fleet customers - vans as well as cars - and will be open weekends, evenings and nights for servicing.
Most franchised dealers suffered a sharp reduction in profitability during the first six months of 2000. And, according to analysis for Sewells' Dealer Principal, matters became worse in the second half of the year for four of the six networks studied.
The RMI is hopeful of a full investigation into the accident repair industry following its meeting with the Office of Fair Trading last week.
Paint chip repairer ChipsAway International has accused some rival firms of operating beneath the law by supplying products that contain isocynates and encouraging open air spraying.
It all began with two of the automotive industry's most influential executives battling boredom during a dull speech at a Frankfurt motor show dinner in September 1997. They engaged in deep conversation and, informal as it was, the table talk turned out to be a seminar to reshape a sizeable part of the industry at the end of its first century.
Peter O'Connor believes TMS Motor Group's website (www.tmsgroup.co.uk) is an integral part of a rapidly evolving middle-ranking dealer group. The internet will account for between 10-20% of TMS business this year including finance and parts sales.
As the review of Block Exemption draws ever nearer, it is worth remembering recent estimates have predicted a cull of up to two-thirds of Europe's dealerships over the next few years.
Annette Mansfield is rejoining HPI in her former role of sales director after leaving rival Experian.
New Ford GB director of sales Paul Thomas intends to maintain the manufacturer's position as the UK's top seller in both car and commercial vehicle markets.
Talk of U-turns visibly upsets Pat Farrell, the sales and marketing director of Daewoo Cars UK. “We never said we wouldn't use dealers – you can never say never in this business,” said Mr Farrell, an automotive industry veteran of more than 28 years.
Vauxhall has announced the end of its contract with telematics firm Trafficmaster, which saw its traffic management systems fitted as standard on Vauxhall Vectras since 1997 and Vauxhall Omegas from last year.
UK based motorsport and automotive technology group, Prodrive, has acquired Tickford, the British automotive engineering specialist based in Milton Keynes, UK, to create one of world's largest independent vehicle technology businesses.
Fleetlease, the contract hire and fleet management division of Hitachi Credit UK, has reported a pre-tax loss of £2.1m for the year to March, despite increasing business volume by 8%, due to slumping residual values.
Data from three residual pricing guides suggests that the UK used car market is beginning to recover after a torrid few years.
Dealers have an opportunity to source cut-price cars at auction after sellers were encouraged to realign residuals to reflect market changes.
Truck maker ERF has appointed Martin Rhodes to director of vehicle asset management as it seeks to sharpen focus on its used truck sales activity.
Lincolnshire Peugeot dealer Campions has teamed up with car valeter Autoclenz after a three-year gap.
