##IMI badge--left## Roy Ward, former director general of the Institute of the Motor Industry, has been awarded an MBE for services to motoring and to road safety.
New car sales in Britain will reach record levels this year with private buyers leading the surge supported by strong sales in the fleet and business car sectors.
Mitsubishi Motors have signed up another dealer to their rapidly expanding Dealer network. Mantles Group have taken on the Mitsubishi franchise in Letchworth in Hertfordshire and will begin trading on 15 January.
Citroën has made history in the UK by selling more than 100,000 vehicles in a year for the first time ever, beating its previous best figure by more than 11,000.
BCA Europe has announced a number of senior management appointments as part of an expansion of its business in the UK and on the Continent.
Vehicle repairers are calling for the industry to unite to tackle alleged anti-competitive behaviour by some insurance companies which, they claim, is destroying their businesses.
Mazda has introduced a new dealer-provided winter vehicle reliability check, costing £14.95.
The Commercial Vehicle Show 2001, incorporating IRTE and Tipcon, opens to visitors from Tuesday 20 March to Thursday 22 March at the NEC, Birmingham.
Nissan has followed hot the heels with Seat this week announcing new car price reductions.
DaimlerChrysler has issued a profits warning over its financially troubled Chrysler division.
The boss of PSA Peugeot Citroen has warned of further threats to the UK car industry, posed by the strong pound.
Reg Vardy, number three in the AM100, has warned that falling used car values will hit profits by £4.2 million for the first half of the financial year.
Bernd Pischetsrieder, head of Seat, has been quoted in German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, as saying Block Exemption will be withdrawn in 2002 and its demise will lead to a two-thirds reduction in the number of European dealerships.
The reputation of the London Motor Show has received a further blow today with Toyota announcing that neither it nor its premium brand, Lexus, will be appearing in 2001.
Mercedes-Benz UK is refusing to comment on reports in the national media that it is preparing to drastically reduce its dealerships, but is instead praising its retail network for its contribution to this year's record sales.
Mitsubishi Motors UK has announced further reductions on the price of most models, some by £3,500, while increasing dealer margins. A year ago Mitsubishi was the first major importer to reduce prices of its vehicles, ranging from 10-15%.
Audi is claiming pricing of the new A4, on sale in the UK from March 1, 2001, will make the car among the most price competitive in the premium sector.
Prestige motor retailer Sytner has increased its ties with Jaguar with the acquisition of Clive Sutton (Racing Green) Limited in North London and the opening of new Jaguar dealerships in Barnes, South-west London and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Joint venture talks with another company are at an advanced stage, according to MG Rover chief executive Kevin Howe. The company has signed a confidentiality agreement.
Caffyns nearly doubled pre-tax profits in the six months to September 30 compared to the same period last year, from £1.1m to £2m, bolstered by the sale of two dealerships for close to £1.5m.
Hopes are pinned on buyers returning to the used car market in the New Year as dealers reconcile themselves to a miserable end to 2000, according to the Cap Used Car Confidence Index.
General Motors' decision to shut Vauxhall's Luton car plant in spring 2002 is a major setback for the motor industry in the UK. Ford will cease Fiesta production at Dagenham – and in Britain – at the same time.
General Motors announced this afternoon that car production at Vauxhall's Luton plant, home of the Vectra, is to cease.
Kia Cars UK, which has more than doubled its registrations compared to last year, is encouraging owners to drive less with a 'Think before you drive' campaign.
A member of the DaimlerChrysler management board has been quoted as saying the German/US company is preparing an outright takeover of Mitsubishi, leading to shared dealerships in the UK.
Ancaster has been confirmed as the fourth dealer group to take a slice of Fiat Auto UK's M25 territory, joining Glyn Hopkin, TFL Group and Desira Motor Company.
Peugeot Motor Company and managing director Tod Evans have been shortlisted for the Castrol/IMI gold award after being nominated by Automotive Management.
Land Rover could "in time" share some UK retail sites with other brands in the Ford Premier Automotive Group, according to Land Rover UK managing director Mike Wright.
Renault has announced prices for the Laguna and reduced prices and improved the specification of the Megane, Clio, Scenic and Kangoo car.
##SCC(2)--right## The Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) makes its world debut at the Detroit motor show in January. Innovative safety features include a see-through A-pillar, four-point seatbelts and remote control communication system which communicates with the driver when they are away from the vehicle.
