BMW's disposal of Rover Group has triggered intense speculation about acquisitions and partnerships as leading manufacturers hunt the most valuable brands.
A video conferencing system developed jointly by automotive computer giants Kerridge and video transmission specialist ImageCom is set to transform working practices in multi-location dealer groups.
Dealers hold the key to the ability of Rover residuals to hold up, according to Mark Cowling, Cap Monitor chief European economist.
Bates Motor Group, the £100m turnover Essex and London dealer, has opened a £4m BMW dealership in south Essex.
Rover dealers are to press ahead with a compensation claim against BMW following their first meeting with the company since the announcement of the probable sale to Alchemy.
The Government is on the verge of forcing carmakers to slash prices by up to 35% by giving consumers fleet-type discounts, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
Former Rover executive Chris Woodwark is returning to the remains of the group acquired by Alchemy Partners to run MG Car Company.
Dealers wanting to stick with Rover do not know who will underwrite existing buyback agreements on the 75 and other models. They say Rover executives are unable to advise them.
DaimlerChrysler will pay £1.26bn for a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in a deal welcomed by the Japanese carmaker's UK importers and dealers.
DC Cook plans to win business away from the new internet import companies like OneSwoop and Virgin Cars after launching a rival online operation.
Volvo could benefit from a Ford purchase of Rover Group's engineering centre and test site at Gaydon, Warwickshire. The manufacturer is part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group which might gain extra engineering resources.
A paint protection product is helping new car dealers to boost aftersales profits by “thousands of pounds” for minimal financial outlay, claims its supplier.
Royal & SunAlliance has insisted it remains “fully committed” to an approved repairer network, despite axing 31 bodyshops.
Dixon Motors, which broke into the top 10 of the AM100 in November, will this summer launch an internet sales service in a joint venture with Direct Line.
Vauxhall's move into selling cars over the internet has netted less than 250 customers in four months, a fraction of the expected volume.
Dealers have been warned to adopt e-commerce in order to benefit from the “massive advantages” of internet-based parts buying.
The London Repairers Alliance, set up last year to combat spiralling overheads and low labour rates within the M25 area, is mounting a £250,000 marketing campaign in conjunction with credit hire/repair firm Helphire.
Dealer aftermarket operations need to find better ways to attract women customers, after a survey by Duckhams Oils revealed nearly half (46%) of all women rely on a male friend to make servicing arrangements for their car.
A new Suzuki B-sector car to compete against Fiesta, Corsa and Polo will be unveiled at the Paris motor show in October.
Audi UK has bought back for near list price 30 of the 2,400 TTs sold because owners were worried over reports of fatal accidents in Germany.
Influence from Ford management is bringing a sharper approach to sales and marketing, said Jan Brentebraten, Mazda Motor Europe president.
GM subsidiary Vauxhall revealed a simplified sales and marketing structure on the eve of the announcement of the Fiat deal.
The expectation that new car prices are set to fall continued to keep customers away from showrooms last month, and dealers say demand for the new registration plate in March is weak.
The mass of manufacturer special finance deals available for the March plate change reveals just how tough (and expensive) the battle for sales is going to be.
Information is power: this business school catchphrase was never more relevant than in today's highly competitive motor retail finance market.
Rising base rates means direct lenders have to be careful in setting too tight a margin and then find they are writing business at a loss.
Avis Europe's internet retail site could stifle the number of quality used car sales opportunities for dealers. The site will dispose of Avis's 4,000 ex-rental cars and be swelled by offering vehicles from manufacturers and other leasing companies.
Greenhous Remarketing Services, which remarkets six-month-old ex-rental Vauxhalls, has repositioned the business to offer a wider range of marques and vehicle ages.
Rover has been forced to launch an alternative to its residual value guarantee scheme for the 75 after some leasing firms complained that the programme was too difficult to integrate with the original system.
