Reforms to Block Exemption will herald an era of revived competition in new car retailing, allowing a spate of new players – including supermarkets - to flood the market with the consumer ending up the biggest winner.
Toyota - due to confirm a small-car platform alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroen today - is tipped to be the supplier of diesel engines for BMW's Mini from 2003.
Used car dealers must ensure they stay within the VAT laws when it comes to 'bumping', warns Martin Ward, Cap Network national research manager.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation's bodyshop services Division (BSD) has called on the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to produce a code of practice to regulate the rise of 'Phoenix' bodyshops - those that fail only to re-emerge under a new name.
Retail buyers have added nearly 100,000 additional sales to the six-month registration figures as demand shows little sign of slowing.
Dealers' best opportunity for selling cars online could come from the business-to-business sector rather than private sales, according to Epyx managing director Greg Connell.
A report by business information provider Datamonitor claims that 79,000 ex-fleet used cars a year will be sold online in western Europe by 2005.
MG Rover is on track to achieve its target to break even next year having drastically reduced pre-tax losses.
Peter Head is enjoying business life much more again now Warranty Holdings is part of Ford Motor Company. Ford remains something of a family firm (chairman Bill is Henry's great grandson) and this is a major improvement over his company's previous period of ownership.
The Max Power generation is boosting the longevity of some of motorings old-timers, according to Glass's.
Peugeot and Mitsubishi are celebrating year-to-date sales successes outstripping overall market growth, and for the Japanese manufacturer giving it its strongest ever January-June result.
G&M Motors, in Gravesend has become one of the UK's first Honda dealerships to adopt its 'brand centre' strategy.
Trading standards officers are calling on the UK Government to create a new Motor Trades Act to set standards for the advertising, sale and servicing of cars and light commercial vehicles.
The first 350 new Minis for the UK's 148 dealers left the Cowley, Oxford, factory last month to go on sale this week. It marked the end of a remarkable 11 months that have seen the former Rover plant completely transformed in order to boost production efficiency.
Mini goes on sale tomorrow (July 7) and already dealers are raising their sights on transaction prices. One enthusiast among the 2,500 buyers who have ordered a car unseen has specified so many options the final bill will be just over £16,000 – against a base price of £10,300.
Changes to Block Exemption in 2002 will create opportunities for dealers, says James Robinson, partner and head of competition group at Tite & Lewis, the law firm in association with Ernst & Young
BMW GB's £7m Mini advertising and marketing launch campaign will include a series of “mini blockbuster films”, now premiering at cinemas.
Fiat Group has stolen a march on its European rivals by launching a sophisticated but low cost telematics service that will be used in all Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari and Maserati models. It believes no rivals will be able to offer similar services for at least a year.
Yorkshire dealer Nidd Vale Group has announced record turnover up 14% to more than £75m for the year to April. The company put its strong performance down to a successful expansion into the fleet market, taking orders worth more than £3m from Yorkshire Water, which involved 100 Vauxhall Combo dual fuel vans, and Enterprise Rent-a-car.
Fiat Auto chief executive officer Roberto Testore has revealed his wish to make Alfa Romeo into a separate prestige retail brand. “It is my dream to have a solus Alfa network,” he said in London.
PSA Peugeot Citroen and Toyota Motor Corporation hope to announce next week a deal to jointly design and manufacture a small car targeted at European buyers.
Vauxhall chairman Nick Reilly has been promoted to vice president sales, marketing and aftersales for General Motors Europe.
Burntwood Accident Repair Centre, which went into voluntary liquidation last month with debts thought to total £2m, was this week on the verge of being sold to hire firm Prospect Group Europe.
Independent Insurance's collapse last month has left dealers and bodyshops with worthless motor trade policies, according to broker Regal Cover. It believes companies face “huge premium increases” to buy replacement policies.
RMI chief executive David Evans has criticised trading standards motor trade officer Peter Stratton for claiming that two-thirds of MoT certificates were issued corruptly or incompetently.
Two Audi Centres have been opened in Yorkshire and the manufacturer has announced a bespoke option programme to help build the brand.
Vauxhall has revamped its MasterFit website (www.masterfit.co.uk).
Van fleets hold the key to successful development of fuel cell technology, according to PSA Peugeot Citroen. The manufacturer has singled out light commercial vehicle fleets to help bring fuel cell technology a step closer.
Citroen's LCV market share has risen by 9.1% in the first half of 2001, consolidating its position at number three in the market behind Ford and Vauxhall.
