News - Page 1350

Kia says ‘overwhelming’ demand for it new Rio diesel has forced it to revise its sales forecasts for 2006 and change its original plan to offer diesel at the same price as petrol.

Pendragon has been forced to extend the deadline of its £450 million takeover bid for fellow car dealer Reg Vardy after failing to secure a significant level of shareholder acceptances.

Sales of new cars have tumbled at their fastest rate for more than 11 years as private car buyers have been deserting forecourts in their thousands this year.

Dozens of transport improvements promised by the Government when it first came to power have been quietly ditched, the Conservatives claim.

Hoorah! The automotive news for 2005 has come to an end, but don’t worry the AM-online team will be back on January 3 to bring you all the latest pictures and breaking stories.

Pendragon has appointed two new non-executive directors.

Ford has injected £1.2 billlion into its luxury car subsidiary Jaguar Cars in the past few days to cover continuing heavy losses and a write-down of investments.

Customers can drive away a Kia for a £1 deposit from January 1 with seven days’ free insurance.

Audi has sold 81,000 models in the UK this year, a rise of 5% (3,118 units) on 2004 sales.

Mitsubishi Motors has seen a drop of 46.4% in production in Europe for November, with 6,410 units.

Q.Bit Systems has acquired Universal Training Company, the owners of Track, the deal optimisation software used by UK dealers.

A programme that helped 20 ex-MG Rover workers start their own companies is now looking to help others made redundant by the region's automotive manufacturers.

UK car production is at its highest level since 2000, despite the loss of MG Rover, at 149,662 units.

Skoda has surpassed its annual sales record a month early this year, with a total of 452,973 cars sold.

The new national pay rates have been released for employees in the motor industry.

Clocking continues to be a major issue for dealers as latest figures from HPI’s National Mileage Register (NMR) show 1.3 million vehicles registered since 1990 have a current discrepancy.

Volkswagen has announced the sale of its IT subsidiary Gedas to Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems, subject to the antitrust authorities' approval.

Pendragon shareholders have approved its acquisition of dealer group Reg Vardy at an extraordinary general meeting held this morning.

Tightening your belts and making sure you are complying with new and existing legislation were the key messages at this year’s <b>AM</b> Financial Management Conference, held at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, on November 17.

Tony Willard asks five senior automotive industry executives for their view on 2005 and 2006

What a year. 2005 has seen it all: falling new car sales, the collapse of MG Rover, Reg Vardy up for sale, location clause ending – and all the while retailers have been facing up to stringent franchise controls and tough audit procedures.

Results from sales across the UK.

The 307 had a tough reputation to live up to when it was launched in June 2001.

Used van retail business has been coming to the fore of late fuelled by growth in new van sales.

Bill Duffy, managing director of RAC Auto Windscreens, is to step down from the position at the end of December.

Turbocharging was once the great hope for petrol engines: in the early 1980s everyone seemed to be experimenting with them as they saw the benefits that accrued first to Saab with the 99 Turbo and then to Audi with the original Quattro.

HR Owen has sold its Volkswagen car and van business to Citygate Automotive for £2.5 million in cash.

Lookers will wait until the New Year before it makes a cash offer for the shares of Reg Vardy.

Western European passenger car sales in 2005 look unlikely to reach last year's level after November's 3.3% dip in total registrations.

Two members of the team at Wellsway Mini have been awarded with their own Mini adventure in recognition of their achievements within the business in 2005.