Norwich Union is piloting a courtesy car upgrade option for Norwich Union Direct and RAC Direct customers, leaving repairers asking how long it will be before the insurer controls all courtesy car provision.
ARMS has been put into liquidation following the latest creditors meeting, which took place in January.
Royal & Sun Alliance has appointed Ian Thompson to the newly created post of head of motor operations – claims services.
Accident Exchange has launched Feedback, a customer contact outsource service for its bodyshop and dealer partners.
Sound Advice Safety & Health Ltd in Cheshire has launched a service to help companies meet the requirements of the Control of Vibrations at Work Regulations 2005.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation is advising its bodyshop members to consider changing energy suppliers in light of recent gas price increases.
Ken Lane, a former director of Nationwide Crash Repair Centres, has been appointed as a consultant to JD Automotive in Kent and Marshall Panelcraft in Hertford.
Harley-Davidson is something of an inspiration to manufacturing; it’s the 46th most valued brand in the world.
Many dealers either ignore or pay lip service to fleets and leasing firms, blaming low profitability levels for their lack of interest.
The Office of Fair Trading is asking for industry opinion on whether the merger between Pendragon and Reg Vardy is anti-competitive.
DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi have signed a non-binding terms sheet which will see them negotiate measures to cancel production of the Smart Forfour.
Ford has added a new Fiesta trim to its range, which will include a package worth £800, featuring mobile phone, satellite navigation and music technology.
Mitsubishi will reveal its new Outlander SUV model at the 2006 New York International Auto Show in April. It will go on sale in the UK in January.
The critics and cynics have not yet been sated, but Michael Wilmshurst is still in the job, and still improving the turnover and profit results of Nationwide Crash Repair Centres.
HR Owen has reported a pre-tax loss of £11.3 million for the year to December 31, 2005.
This year marks the Terrano’s 14th year on sale. And – with an all-new MX-5 now on sale – it inherits the dubious title of Britain’s oldest new car.
Luxury and city car sales benefited most from the 3% upturn in European new car registrations at the beginning of this year.
The servicing and repairs industry has until September 2007 to ‘clean up its cowboy culture’.
Saab GB was one of few success stories in 2005. While new car registrations dipped 5%, Saab grew its sales by one third.
The growth in popularity of diesel may have been driven by tax advantages for company car drivers, but its appeal has now become much broader.
The new Alfa Romeo Brera goes on sale in the UK on April 8.
Vauxhall’s three day test drive is returning this weekend in over 40 European countries.
Increasing urban congestion, coupled with growing demand for driver comfort, is leading to higher values for many small automatic cars.
John Woolley has been appointed as the new managing director for Black Horse Motor & Leisure Finance.
Suzuki’s SX4 models, which are on sale now, are priced from £9,999 on-the-road.<P>
The automotive industry has increased its use of direct mail in its marketing campaigns, sending 11.35 million items in the last quarter of 2004, according to new figures from the Direct Mail Information Service.
Ford and Vauxhall pre-registered the most vehicles in February, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
More than half (51%) of the UK is not even aware of hybrid cars.
The latest survey of repair invoices by the Warranty Direct company, apparently showing that a third of garages charged for more time to carry out repairs than is indicated in manufacturers’ repair data, has been condemned as inaccurate by the Retail Motor Industry Federation.
BEN, the motor and allied trades benevolent fund, is hosting is first ever overseas event in May - a golf weekend at the resort of Le Touquet, France.
