Bernard Bradley has been appointed as Honda UK’s new head of sales.
Ford has announced prices for its new Ranger and Tourneo Connect models.
Far too many general managers don’t have an ambitious enough vision for their business. Sir Peter Vardy, one of the most successful car retailers of his generation, says many are opting for the easy life to get a reasonable return.
Manufacturers should regularly send their senior people to dealerships to understand what sales staff and customers think about their cars and incentives schemes.
The demise of the UK’s last mass manufacturer, MG Rover, could end up costing taxpayers more than £600 million.
Subaru has launched a new used car initiative called ‘Subaru Direct’, which goes live on August 14.
Nissan has reached a new milestone in June with the production of its 100 millionth vehicle.
Dealers are under increasing pressure to advertise finance correctly.
Last February the Finance and Leasing Association’s pragmatic director general Martin Hall warned his organization’s crisis convention on declining point of sale motor F&I business: “If we dither we may get hammered. Finance companies and dealers will sink or swim together.”
CAP, via its market value insurance claims management system, claims to be settling total loss vehicle claims seven times faster than the industry norm following a 10-month ‘live’ pilot programme.
The future for independent retailers selling finance products is growing increasingly uncertain, according to Miles Roberts, managing director at provider Southern Finance.
Chevrolet is putting its highly successful GMAC-backed 3 and Easy deferred payment scheme to one side and taking the more conventional route of PCPs and discounts for the third quarter.
Esure reports that criminals are forcing their way into dealerships and homes to demand car keys.
For £169 per month, Lombard Vehicle Management is offering a ‘turn-key’ contract hire package for small businesses operating pre-fitted Citroën Berlingo 1.9 DLX 600s, which are kitted out ‘ready to operate’.
Audi has a branded credit card for enthusiasts.
Insurer swiftcover.com says it does not penalize drivers caught once on camera.
Subaru is offering £3,000-worth of free fuel to buyers of the four- and five-door Impreza WRX, Impreza STI plus Forester 2.5Xtn manual, the Legacy 3.0 spec B saloon and Sport Tourer.
Free insurance for 25 to 80-year-olds is being tied to a three-year PCP, with no deposit and 4.9% APR for Nissan’s Micra coupé/convertible range, including a new automatic.
Vauxhall is offering a 0% PCP on the existing 1.2i 16V three-door Corsa, with free insurance thrown in (ages 19-80).
Ford has applied its three-year, 5.9% APR PCP to the new S-Max and Galaxy, both in five-speed, 2.0-litre petrol guises.<P>
Malaysia’s budget brand Proton has two HP offers for the Savvy supermini range, which starts at £5,995.
Chevrolet’s move away from 3 and Easy to predominantly PCP deals translates into a Matiz 1.0 SE being on offer over 39 months with a core 36 £99 payments topped and tailed by a couple of £207 instalments.
AM will be publishing the fourth <a href="http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB225GPLZB8NP" target="_blank">AM/HPI Litmus test</a> analysis of business confidence in the August 11 issue (the first was in the November 4, 2005 issue and, the second in the February 10 issue and the third in the May 5 issue).
City Motor Holdings (CMH) has taken its first step in a restructuring drive that will eventually see the group downsize by 11 dealerships.
Volvo has released the first pictures of its sporty new C30, which goes on sale in the UK at the start of next year.
The OFT has surpassed itself with its latest show of incompetence.
Fiat Auto will next week reveal significant investment plans for its Fiat and Alfa Romeo networks that will drive improvements in customer service and brand perception in the UK.
Caledonia Motor Company is holding talks with Peugeot about the future of its Liverpool dealership, which the manufacturer is believed to want to control within its own Robins & Day network.
Automaster, the Finnish dealer management system supplier, has bought a 70% share of KBA Computer Systems for an undisclosed fee and is ready for aggressive expansion in the UK and Europe.
Successful service receptionists need the same selling ability as staff in the car sales department, says Mahinder Gill, managing director of Denkale, which operates solus Chevrolet dealerships in Reading and Southampton.
