Vauxhall's dealers are the first to feel the effects of the more open competition envisaged by Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers.
Two critical reports claim that the motor industry is overestimating the potential impact of the internet on car retailing.
Quicks Group has picked up its second Jaguar franchise, taking over the Stockport, Greater Manchester, territory from HR Owen-owned Holindrake.
Honda is to start building its CR-V sports utility at Swindon in an attempt to absorb excess capacity at the factory.
Alchemy Partners, bidding to buy Rover from BMW, this week involved Stephen Byers in a row over Government action to aid redundant Midland car workers.
William Jacks is preparing to refranchise its Rover, Mini and MG dealership in Chiswick, London, bought last August for £1.6m.
Dixon Motors has expanded its internet portfolio after taking a 50% stake in online motorcycle site Bikenet Motorcycles.
Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst has appointed Phillippe von Stauffenberg to develop its Glass's Holdings division, replacing Robin Oliphant, who becomes group chairman.
Trident South, the independent Vauxhall dealer that went into receivership last month after losing £1.7m in 1999, has been sold to Plotsafe, a Vauxhall Motors Holding investment company, for more than £2m.
Quartic Motor Group, which this month completed its third Ford customer marketing area, has appointed four directors to implement its new streamlined and lean policy.
Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers plans to loosen carmakers' stranglehold over franchised dealers after the Competition Commission found new-car buyers are overcharged by up to £1bn a year.
Rover dealers are hoping for a short-term sales bonanza as Alchemy seeks to clear unsold cars and generate cashflow for product development. There is confusion about the volume of cars in stock and how many will be inherited by MG Cars.
The market for in-car electronic mobile equipment is growing rapidly, as demonstrated by IVM Automotive, the Munich based in-car communications specialist.
Repairers are pressing ahead for action against insurance companies on anti-competitive measures, encouraged by the reaction of one MP who agreed to act as a focal point for the campaign.
BodyMaster, part of the Glass's group, has finalised an exclusive contract with ByteBack Systems to integrate the Paint-It software into its management system.
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.
