Norwich Union’s purchase of the Greater London and East Anglia-based Solus chain of bodyshops is unlikely to herald an era of insurance company-only owned repairers, according to David Cresswell, chairman of ABP Club.
Three sizeable body repair businesses have collapsed – Fast Track, UK ARC, Washington – underlining the difficult trading conditions experienced in the accident repair industry.
Following the collapse of Gloucester-based Accident Repair Management Services (ARMS), the recently formed Retail Motor Law is contemplating legal action against thousands of Endsleigh Insurance Services policyholders.
Despite continued rumours of a merger between Aquilo and Just Car Clinics, both dismiss them as ill-informed internet speculation.
Bodyshops have rounded on the new Common Automotive Platform Standard (CAPS), accusing the developers of a conflict of interest.
DaimlerChrysler has announced that its Mercedes Car Group sales have dropped from 376,800 last April to 366,500.
BMW has sold over half a million cars in the first five months of this year after group sales rose 7.5% to 113,626 in May.
Sytner, the prestige car dealership, has signed a two year deal with Azzurri Communications, to provide a mobile network management service.
Stratstone Cadillac and Corvette has announced prices and engine choices for its new range of models, which will make their UK show debut at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo, which runs from 13-19 this month.
MG Rover dealers will be left £48m out of pocket following the announcement this month from the carmaker’s administrator that its creditors are likely to get nothing.
Wagon, the European automotive parts maker, has revealed that group sales from continuing operations were down 7.5% to £450.6m compared to £486.9m last year.
General Motors is planning to cut 25,000 jobs in the US by 2008 and to close plants as part of a strategy to revive its struggling North American operations.
What's a woman's view of car retailers and repairers?
Car owners are being advised to get their cars serviced at independent garages instead of their franchised dealer to save money.
Kia Motors UK is contacting 6,000 Sedona customers to replace wheel bearings and oil pump strainers.
In less than seven years since its commercial launch in September 1998, the five millionth Peugeot 206 has rolled off the production line, at the Mulhouse factory in France.
Saab GB has attained its highest-ever share of the UK market since imports began in 1960.
Former managers have revealed to AM the desperate measures taken to make MG Rover look like a viable business as the Phoenix Four saw hopes of financial rescue by Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) slipping away.
Hyundai Motor Europe (HME) is to take control of distributing its cars in the UK from Hyundai Car UK (HCUK) from the beginning of July.
Keith Sayfritz, of Greenhous Group, was announced today as the new president of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).
Sales in the new market for the first five months of the year have slipped 6%, a 6,580 unit decline.
The Ford network of 'takeback' and treatment facilities currently being established to meet the European Commision's End of Life Vehicles (ELV) directive, has now grown to 25 sites across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
MoT testing stations are claiming that the new computerised MoT system is beset with problems which are putting their businesses at risk.
Car owners prefer independent garages to franchised dealer workshops. That’s according to the findings of a new survey by GIPA, the European market opinion survey company.
An independent garage owner who has twice been runner-up in the UK’s annual Top Technician competition, sponsored by ReMIT, has finally scooped the top prize. John Tinham, of John Tinham Motor Engineers in Chelmsford, was presented with the award and a £2,000 cash prize during a ceremony at Brands Hatch.
Filter supplier Sogefi is to take on a further 125 staff at its two South Wales plants, based in Llantrisant and Tredgar.
The RMI and the National Consumer Council (NCC) have denied reports that they are working together to launch a ‘Good Garage’ programme, which would replace the failed CarWise scheme.
A bright future exists for diesel cars in the UK – but old perceptions among used car buyers continue to put the brakes on its full potential in the used market.
Land Rover has been targeted by Greenpeace activists again, with the group this time disrupting seven of its dealerships on Saturday, after the environmental group vowed a summer protest on gas-guzzling 4x4s.
