News - Page 1186

Despite a 10% increase in sales, Caffyns has a lot more work to do before it shows a level of return that is better than “poor” from its franchise mix, according to an industry analyst.

<img src="../_images/articles/blacktie.jpg" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" alt="AM100 black tie dinner"> The evening is an opportunity to meet friends and colleagues in the retail industry and see the official unveiling of the new AM100 listing of automotive retail groups.

A Lithuanian catwalk queen is proving a model saleswoman after joining the team at a Seat dealership in Milton Keynes.

Two-thirds of women either made or had significant input into the car buying decision in their household, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturer’s and Traders (SMMT) Women and Motoring survey.

ASDA has teamed up with the RAC to launch its own motor breakdown cover service.

Management at Leeds-based Zenith Vehicle Contracts, one the UK’s largest independent vehicle leasing companies, have completed their third buyout of the company in less than four years.

Daihatsu’s new Materia mini-MPV goes on sale in July and will be priced from £10,995 on-the-road.

MirraChrome, the chrome-effect spray paint, is now available direct in the UK through Autopaint International, thanks to a distributorship agreement with American paintmaker, the Alsa Corporation,

Inchcape has paid £60.5m for Latvian dealer group Baltic Motors in the latest move towards its expansion in international growth markets.

Daihatsu will be holding a three-day test drive promotional event in 60 Tesco stores across the UK to coincide with a national TV campaign dubbed ‘Crazy Not To’.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Christopher Macgowan has announced he will leave the trade body at the end of the year.

Knights BMW and Mini is on track to relocate from Pool Dam in Newcastle to new premises at Radial Park near Stoke-on-Trent next month.

Thatcham is implementing a change which will increase the number of insurance groups from 20 to 50 in the next 18 months.

HR Owen is considering expansion of its network of premium car brand franchises following a promising start to 2007.

Dr Christopher Borroni-Bird, General Motors director of advanced technology vehicle concepts, talks at World Environment Day in London about fuel cell technology.

Mike Dodds, a former main board director at William Jacks, is planning to open a new Jaguar dealership in Watford.

Car dealers and manufacturers are bracing themselves for another rise in interest rates this summer, despite the hold announced yesterday.

Dealers are concerned about the legality of trade plates after a garage was fined £97 for taking an untaxed ex-demonstration vehicle on a test drive.

Honda UK has been pushed into acting after its global president suggested future investment rested on joining the Euro.

Toyota’s global hybrid vehicle sales have topped the one million mark, with approximately 1,047,000 units sold worldwide as of May 31, 2007.

The board of directors of ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, has accepted the application of Toyota Motor Europe (TME) to become a full member.

Caterham has unveiled the most powerful Seven ever as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

A man standing trial for the murder of a local car dealer in Newry, Northern Ireland, told a jury he ‘respected’ the businessman he is accused of battering to death.

Alfa Romeo will showcase its new 8C Competizione sports car for the first time in the UK at this year’s Canary Wharf Motorexpo (June 11-17).

Carlyle Finance is considering a reduction in the period it will pay commission to dealers for loans, from 48 months to 22 or 24 months, in line with typical consumer agreements.

The RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has welcomed the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates at their current level after an increase last month.

Henson Motor Group has purchased a two-acre site near Newcastle upon Tyne’s Metro Centre and has announced that it will also be opening an outlet at the city’s Vroom retail park.

The Capita Group has acquired MVRA, the motor trade body and accident management specialist, for an undisclosed sum.

Vauxhall's SRi performance version of its Corsa will return to the range this September.<P>

Peugeot will abandon the 207 GTi’s sub-£15,000 price tag after one month when the new hot hatch climbs to £15,395 due to the company deciding to fit a “less understated” bodykit as standard.