BMW has signed the contracts for 150 dealerships - 95% of the network - to sell the forthcoming new Mini.
The first national online booking service dedicated exclusively to fulfilling test drive requests for all car makes and models has been launched, with major dealer groups already signed up to take part.<p>
Daewoo Motor Company boss Lee Jong-dae said today that a sale to GM was the best option for the continued survival of the bankrupt carmaker.
##AA--left## The AA has teamed up with Renault to provide breakdown cover for all of its new car and van buyers.
##SMMT badge--left## Making use of the technology to improve your business is the focus of the first Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders/DTI e-Business seminar in Coventry on February 13, 2001.
Glass and paint giant PPG Industries is considering widespread plant and job consolidations this year as it looks to offset falling demand for automotive original finish paints.
Accident management firms, facing a static and oversupplied car repair market, are expected to turn their attention to the relatively underdeveloped motorcycle industry.
West Midlands internet operator Torque has launched an accident management website designed to speed up the process for body repairers and accident managers.
A scheme designed to deal with the problem of disposing more than 25m used tyres in the UK each year has been unveiled.
The head of Porsche has described the last financial year as the best in the marque's history.
Rolls-Royce & Bentley Motor Cars today announced the introduction of a new retail channel which focusses entirely on the sale of new Rolls-Royce cars directly to customers - bypassing its dealer network entirely.
Used car prices are set to stabilise over the first three months of the year, before taking a battering as lower new car prices stimulate the new market and lead to an influx of part-exchange vehicles.
A new report on the UK Car Body Repair Market by independent analyst MFBI predicts that winter repair capacity shortages will increase from 13% to 28% by 2006.
Car dealers are throwing away sales opportunities by not properly portraying used cars on the web, according to research by AutoLocate, online vehicle location and dealer web service provider.
Dealers should take notice of recent findings by BCA, which reports that fleet vendors using its Smart Prepared pre-sale preparation programme are attracting significantly stronger bidding for their cars.
A Northampton businessman found guilty of clocking cars faces a jail sentence and heavy fine after a successful prosecution by local trading standards.
##Perrysweb--left## Perrys has launched a new website giving access to a host of services.
GRS is looking to establish partnerships with more manufacturers after unveiling its new branding. The name change – from Greenhous Remarketing Services to GRS – is intended to distance the company from its roots with Vauxhall dealer Greenhous Group.
Grey auction specialists are reporting strong interest from franchised dealers amid predictions that grey imports are set to become more expensive.
Senior managers are in negotiations with receivers Ernst & Young to acquire parts distributor Autela Edmunds Walker, part of the collapsed Finelist Group.
Supaguard has enhanced its Dealer Profit programme, which it claims generates profits worth £10m for dealers, with a revamp of its complete protection pack and the launch of an aftercare protection pack.
MG Rover is blaming a reduction in the volume of parts bought and the need to buy some items from BMW for a price increase.
Last month's new-car registrations were a record for December, and helped make the year total the third highest ever, but the SMMT is cautious about prospects for 2001.
Franchised and independent dealers who survived through last year might well be hoping 2001 brings better fortune. By any standards it has been a difficult 12 months and those who have already suffered first snow, then floods, may already feel the new year has not started any better.
The launch of spring marketing campaigns leading to the March plate change has brought finance promotions back with a vengeance, just as predicted.
The Ford Transit has been named International Van of the Year by a panel of commercial vehicle editors. The Transit scored 112 points out of a maximum 133 points that can be given to a single candidate in the voting.
##Wyhinny--left## Last year's turmoil in the new car market caused by the confusion over pricing also caused the light commercial vehicle market to stall. Peter Wyhinny, Volkswagen UK commercial vehicles manager (left), said problems were caused mainly by small businesses.
Visscher Communications claims a new outsourcing product will save companies time, hassle and money when adding new vans to their fleet.
Vauxhall has started taking orders for the new Vivaro van which will cost from £12,925 when it goes on sale in summer next year.
