Priory Motor Group has acquired Herbert Robinson as both groups seek to take advantage of potential bulk buying 'fleet-type' discounts. The move creates a £209m turnover, 27-outlet business.
Goldman Sachs has been appointed by Standard Chartered to help find a buyer for Chartered Trust. A number of approaches have been made and a likely purchase price would be up to £700m.
LDV, the specialist van maker, recorded a 26% increase in sales in April.
Mercedes-Benz has launched a new service card for all Mercedes truck and van operators.
Virgin Cars' chief executive Ian Lancaster is leading a move to form an association to fight for the rights of internet-linked motor retailers.
Reg Vardy has this week acquired from the receivers the collapsed Anderson Cars' Renault dealership in Aberdeen for £1.725m.
Alfa Romeo's market share has stabilised after a strong rise last year, thanks to the 156.
Dixon Motors has become the first AM100 group to abandon manufacturers' “fantasy” lists in favour of its own pricing scheme.
Pendragon, the AM100-topping dealer group, is to expand its operations in continental Europe. Chief executive Trevor Finn said the company planned to open more dealerships in Germany this year before moving into other European markets.
BMW appears to have overcome its faltering UK image after achieving record registrations for May. The carmaker, which offloaded Rover last month, took 3.03% of the market on sales of 5,890 units, up 18.39% on last year.
David Wilson has joined the unofficial premium brands dealer Cheynedirect to head its specialist Porsche sales division.
Motor dealers' hopes that they can continue to be the mainstay of car sales have been given a fillip by a survey of manufacturers' objectives.
Mercedes-Benz dealership Portway has appointed Mike Sands as dealer principal. He succeeds Mike Lishman who left to join another Mercedes outlet.
Franchised dealers do not believe carmakers are genuine when they claim it would be hard for them to reduce UK new car prices, according to the latest dealer opinion survey.
Peter Vardy, head of the UK's third biggest motor retail group, wants a radical rethink by manufacturers in the way they relate to their franchised dealers.
There is deep scepticism among dealers about manufacturers regularly publishing the number of cars they have preregistered. Of those asked, 66% did not believe this would happen, with 28% believing it would and 6% not knowing.
Scotland's car dealerships are ready to form a number of buying cooperatives, branded unofficially as Scotland plc, to maximise their purchasing power with car manufacturers.
Vicky Fletcher is bucking the trend in the male-dominated retail motor industry after being appointed workshop manager at James Edwards Land Rover in Chester.
The RMI has made two key appointments to drive forward its strategy during a difficult period for the retail motor industry.
The number of parallel-imported light commercial vehicles sold in the UK is rising fast.
Benfield has appointed Mark Chandler as marketing manager with responsibility for developing group strategy.
Lancaster Group, second in the latest AM100, has closed two Rover dealerships, citing “a combination of economic circumstances” for the action.
Aberdeen-based Town and County plans to build a £750,000 Subaru and Isuzu facility in the city after taking the franchises from the collapsed Anderson Cars.
BMW has confirmed plans to invest £63m in a Rolls-Royce plant near the old Goodwood race circuit in Sussex and just 10 miles from the former home of the marque's co-founder, Sir Henry Royce.
A million visitors a year are expected to visit Autostadt, a £216m car theme park at Wolfsburg, the Volkswagen Group's huge site in northern Germany.
Overall turnover of the AM100 has fallen this year but the top three groups have combined sales of £4.989bn. Automotive Management editor Tony Willard reviews the fortunes of the franchised groups which form the top 20 Major League.
The 2000 AM100 reveals downward pressure on new car prices is hurting franchised dealers, with total turnover dipping –by £107m - for the first time since 1993.
Ford-backed accident repair group Howard Basford has acquired six bodyshops from the receivers of collapsed Contact Accident Repair, which has more than doubled its network.
Data provider HPI Equifax, seeking to protect its market domination, has made internet-related services a key part of its planned expansion.
More than 16% of vehicles that have had at least three owners have a discrepancy between the mileage given by the used car dealer and the actual mileage, according to investigations by HPI Equifax National Mileage Register.
