News - Page 1652

Mazda will start building cars at a Ford factory in Europe from early in 2002, with a target of 100,000 a year from 2003.

Dieter Zetsche, tipped as the successor to DaimlerChrysler boss Jurgen Schrempp, this week started to tackle the task of resolving Chrysler's problems.

Renault is planning almost to double production of diesel cars next year. Executive vice president Pierre-Alain de Smedt said this year's total of 850,000 would rise to 1.4m in 2001.

Manchester-based RRG Group, one of the UK's largest privately-owned motor retail groups, was this week sold to a Japanese trading company. The purchase price was thought to be in the region of £15m.

Today, MG Rover released the first details of a vehicle codenamed MG X10, one of three new MG sports saloon cars set for launch next year.

Renault Nissan, planning to rationalise its engineering platforms, has still not decided whether to build new Micra at Sunderland.

CarsDirect.com, the US online seller, has abandoned its plans for a European operation headed by Kevin Gaskell, former BMW GB managing director.

Martyn and Paul Carnell have returned to the motor industry with The Car People, a £4m used car supermarket in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

DaimlerChrysler UK has acquired seven Lex Autosales outlets for £17.95m as it gears up to handle greater used car volumes over the next five years - a result of booming new car sales.

Fierce competition among the direct lenders means rates are starting to edge down again. Alliance & Leicester, one of the most aggressive in the market, has cut personal loan charges at two significant price points.

By any measure this has been a long, hard year for the retail motor industry. Many dealers have faced the toughest time of their business lives, with the industry close to collapse as cashflows are stretched to the limit.

Motor manufacturers are still hedging their bets when its comes to promoted finance packages. The number of genuinely low rate deals in the market is limited.

The increasing number of big-name manufacturers pulling out of next year's London Motor Show could open the door to dealers to exhibit.

New car registrations are expected to slip below 2.2m this year, making it the smallest market since 1997. Disappointing October sales have forced the SMMT to revise its previous bullish forecast of 2.225 million down to 2.185m. Dealers say the shrinking market is due to customers waiting for the new year before placing orders. There is still a lingering belief list prices could fall further, particularly since major players such as Renault and Peugeot have still to make a move.

Fred Maguire, deputy chairman at Lookers – No15 in the AM100 with a £556m turnover – has clear ambitions to be competing with the big guns. He spoke to Stephen Briers.

##147(2)--right## Just three years after the Alfa Romeo 156 was voted Car of the Year 1998, the company's new hatchback, the 147, has been voted Car of the Year 2001.

Scotland, though a separate country, is the latest 'region' to be analysed in terms of sales trends across the UK.<br> The analysis of the figures from DVLA has been carried out by automotive market analysts Polk. It covers new car sales, used car sales and vehicles in operation (the car parc) by manufacturer and model. All figures and tables relate to the period from July 1999 to June 2000. Anthony Lewis reports.

##BMW 330d--left## BMW says it is continuing to set new records in vehicle sales, with the 3 Series continuning to take a lion's share of the glory.

The strength of sterling agains the euro and disappointing car sales have been blamed for a dive in Toyota's financial performance.

Today Vauxhall claimed the title of the first manufacturer in the world to offer all its cars for sale on the internet.

Volkswagen has thrown into doubt the validity of the London motor show as a manufacturers' showcase by announcing it will not be attending the Earls Court event next year.

Only 125 cars were preregistered in September, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Skoda is predicting a 25% increase in sales this year. During October sales for the Czech brand passed the 25,000 marker.

Carmakers and dealers have fired their first shots in the battle over the future of Block Exemption.

Honda UK boss Ken Keir believes exporting the next generation CR-V (compact sports utility vehicle) to the US will bolster the profitability of its Swindon plant.

The recent spate of price cuts by the biggest manufacturers has failed to convince "rip-off Britain" hardliners that new cars are as cheap as they should be.

He congratulated all on the payroll for helping Dixon to clinch gold for large dealer group, widely regarded as the most coveted award.

##People Fair 2000--left## More than 100 executives from motor manufacturers and franchised dealer groups have registered for the first Automotive Management People Fair on November 16.<P>

Mercedes-Benz is poised to axe around 30% of its UK dealership owners as it implements a detailed performance review.

Aberdeen-based multi-franchise group John Clark has taken the VW franchise from ailing Abercromby to make its first move into Fife.