IM Group, UK importer of Subaru, Isuzu and Daihatsu, and Koelliker, the Italian company in charge of SsangYong’s UK business, are vying for UK distributorship of Chinese carmakers looking towards Europe.
Automotive property specialist Gilbran is offering financial institutions the chance to offset risks in stakes in dealerships as the credit squeeze tightens.
The cars that turned heads at Detroit and had relevance to the UK market included both economy cars and supercars.
Vauxhall, Ford and Volkswagen dominate the list of the 10 most popular company cars supplied by Lex Vehicle Leasing during 2007.
Skoda boss Chris Craft takes the helm of Volkswagen UK as Paul Willis leaves to join Kia Motor Europe
Renault will launch an entry-level version of its Twingo supermini next month, priced £7,500.
Inchcape’s group development director has been made a Freeman of the City of London.
Ford’s latest advertising campaign will feature an orchestra playing instruments created entirely from car parts.
Following a slow 2007, Volvo has started this year with a bang with an almost 60% increase in its order bank year on year.
Hi-Q, the fast-fit arm of Goodyear Dunlop, has begun an extensive marketing campaign as part of its rebranding and expansion programme which will involve growing its network by 150 branches by the end of 2010.
LDV will next month resume full production of its Maxus van range in Birmingham ready for the March ’08 market, while seeking a new chief executive after Steve Young’s enforced departure for personal reasons.
New Fiat Group Automobiles UK managing director Andrew Humberstone will be visiting each of the Italian brand’s UK dealers over the next three months to forge better relations with its retail network.
Mitsubishi will be revealing its plans for this year at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
The UK’s system of Capital Allowances tax relief was largely introduced as a post-1945 measure to stimulate reconstruction and represents valuable tax savings on commercial property expenditure.
Renault Retail Group is opening nine new fast-fit branches this year following the success of the existing sites in Renault Retail branches across the UK.
Three thoughts strike a visitor to the Detroit auto show. One is that the products of the US industry are not all as irrelevant to the rest of the world as they once were.
Jemca Toyota has been named the overall 2007 Toyota Business Centre of the Year at an award ceremony last week.
Porsche CEO, Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking has said it will be “difficult to suppress tears of joy” following an expected 14.2% rise in revenue for the first half of the year.
The Karl Vella Group’s entire network is now PAS 125 Kitemark approved.
Average values for both fleet and lease and part-exchange commercial vehicle values fell in the fourth quarter, according o BCA’s Pulse December report.
CEOs' confidence about prospects for business declined for the first time since the 2003 and fear of a global recession emerged as the major threat to growth in PricewaterhouseCoopers 11th annual global CEO survey.
American retail business Group 1, which entered the UK last year with the purchase of Chandlers BMW/Mini, considers 50 dealerships to be “a nice size business”.
Graeme Potts, who held senior executive positions at Reg Vardy, the RAC and Inchcape Group, proposes to set up a “better world of motoring” with his new dealer group.
Vardy Property Group believes it can save motor retailers around £1 million that would otherwise be lost when they decide to expand their businesses.
Subaru has awarded four dealers with its regional used car dealer of the year award.
Ferrari GB has launched an Approved used car scheme for models up to nine years old which will help its 15 dealers win a greater share of the used market.
Simon Elliott’s first action on his confirmation as Chrysler UK managing director, was to call together the 83-strong retail network.
UK car production increased by 21% to 102,591 units in December for the sixth consecutive monthly rise.
Twenty-seven of the 33 main carmakers in the UK have a dealer council. According to the NFDA dealer attitude survey, they range from the effective – Jaguar, Toyota – to the ineffective – Volvo, Saab. Most are ranked between 2.5 and 3.0 out of five; in other words 50-60%, a ‘C’ grade at best.
Fiat is in the black for the first time since 1998 after posting revenues 12.9% higher than last year at €59 billion (£44bn).
