Carmakers are preparing to take stakes of around 10% in many leading dealer groups, according to retail chief executives. The policy will alarm single outlets and small groups, which would come under increasing pressure.
##spring conference--right## Britain's used car market will continue its gradual improvement this spring, predicts Cap Index, despite forecasts that residuals are likely to soften later in the year.
##Digital Dealer Fair--left## Full coverage of the two-day Digital Dealer Fair held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, on March 15/16.
##Perrysweb--left## Perrys, which earlier this year sold off its motor retailing division to concentrate on its Nationwide accident repair operations, has recorded a profit and turnover fall in its preliminary results.
The Gordon Lamb Group has bought the Rover dealership in Pomona Street, Sheffield, from Inchcape Overseas Ltd for nearly £2m.
Yorkshire Co-operatives, which includes 14 Sunwin motor retail outlets, has announced record sales of £479m in 2000, an increase of 19%.
Volvo Car UK is restructuring its corporate sales operation to build on its current success in the fleet market and prepare for further growth.
Volvo Car Corporation has agreed to transfer its (50%)interest in NedCar to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as of 30 March 2001.
The Transport and General Workers Union is demanding talks with Delphi Automotive Systems' management after the automotive parts maker announced the closure of the Southampton plant, with the loss of 126 jobs.
Inchape Retail, the UK motor retail operation of the Inchcape Group has began the rebranding of its retail network.
RAC has strengthened its commitment to providing a complete 'cradle to grave' range of services to private and company motorists with the agreed acquisition of Auto Windscreens.
The publication today of Quicks Group's results confirmed expectations that the Manchester group had suffered much in a year marked by tightening margins on new cars and falling revenues on used cars.
New car prices are still falling - but the ever-popular lower medium sector enjoyed the biggest price reductions in March.
Car dealers are still failing to make the most of sales opportunities offered by the web - with one in four failing to even have a website.
Last spring Sir Richard Branson launched Virgin Cars and said: “We want to be the biggest car dealership in the country.”
Franchised car retailers need to start thinking about tailoring outlets to the needs of the immediate area, according to Sytner Group chief executive Laurence Vaughan.
New Lotus Elise production delays are believed to be behind the retirement of chief executive Chris Knight, 58, who was replaced by non-executive director Terry Playle, 68.
Renault intends to have a 20-strong Minute fast-fit network by the end of the year, with a further 45 centres targeted by 2004, as it seeks to retain older models within the franchised network.
Motor insurance specialists, ASA Insurance, has completed the initial stage of its launch in Northern Ireland.
Camden Motors has proclaimed itself the "sleeping giant" of the corporate market.
The Ryland Group suffered a slump in profits last year, stung by new car pricing pressures and deflationary pressures in the used market.
Paul Dixon, Dixon Motors chief executive, has described the group's financial performance in 2000, which saw a year-on-year fall in profits before tax from £8.6m to £7.8m, as a “creditable peformance” in and extraordinary and unpredictable period.
CD Bramall is to add to the three Land Rover outlets acquired in January, which took the network to 77 dealerships.
Demand for used cars with new-style registration plates is expected to be strong, according to BCA Europe.
Tom Dunn, managing director of Nationwide Autocentres, is back heading a third of the business he worked to develop.
Toyota and BMW are to encourage dealers to use HPI's GoldCheck and National Mileage Register as part of their approved used car programmes. Twenty-eight manufacturers now approve access to HPI's services.
Benfield Ford has acquired the Advance used car superstore in Leeds in a move that is expected to boost its turnover by £1m.
Guinness Peat Group this week failed in its late bid to stop Perry Group from selling its motor division to Pearlglass.
Mitsubishi Motors has warned its debt would be worse than initial forecasts due to the recent global recall of 2.5m cars and restructuring costs.
Online trading operation eBay has launched a partnership with Interactive Exchange and Mart (iXM) to launch eBay Motors on the UK site.
