News - Page 1442

Honda is planning to raise customer retention levels, retailer profits and residual values through a servicing and insurance package introduced with its new FR-V compact MPV.

Piaggio LTV will use its Porter’s ‘UK microvan of the year’ award to spearhead recruitment for dealers and as the basis of a marketing campaign to increase sales.

Volkswagen and Proton have signed a partnership agreement which will enable the German carmaker to establish a foothold in Proton’s homeland of Malaysia without having to build its own production plants.

Reg Vardy believes the failure of retailers to meet the forthcoming Financial Services Authority regulations on insurance-related products will reflect badly on the motor sector, potentially causing a headache for plc’s share prices.

Boardroom reorganisation at IM Group will create an automotive management team with an ambition to grow sales and increase the size of its dealer network by a third

If talk about data and databases makes you yawn, Experian has the perfect solution – outsource your requirements to them.

MG Rover sups in the last chance saloon, its existence hinging on a successful partnership with its new Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corpora-tion (SAIC).

As if 340bhp was not enough, Mitsubishi has now launched an even more brutish Evo VIII – the MR FQ-400.

Lotus is looking to develop its dealer network in preparation for a new 911-bashing supercar to be launched in 2006/7.

The growing practice of retailers pre-registering cars on behalf of manufacturers in an end of month ‘sales’ flurry is set to come under the spotlight after a complaint by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).

More than half of retailers (55%) believe carmakers are exerting greater control over their businesses, according to a new survey.

Car-hunters in north London are being invited to try ‘the Karma Way’ and choose a used volume vehicle at their leisure.

BMW has revealed the first official details of its new fifth generation 3-series saloon, which goes on sale in the UK next March. The carmaker expects to sell 60,000 units next year here

Mazda has reported a 67% increase in first-half profits inspired by strong European sales.

Prodrive has been recognised as one of Europe's fastest growing companies in the 2004 'Europe's 500' listing.

Used car buyers are being encouraged by the police to take photographs of the seller before paying in an attempt to target unscrupulous dealers.

VOLVO is offering prospective customers the chance to sample its cars at a series of regional events with unaccompanied test drives.

Scottish drivers have spent £2billion on new cars so far this year - as sales surge to a new record high.

Mitsubishi Motors has revealed that its interim net loss nearly doubled to a record 146.16 billion yen (£744m) in the first half of the financial year - and has downgraded its full-year earnings forecast.

By 2007, British motorists will have lost an estimated £20bn on the value of the 2.58m new vehicles bought this year, according to pricing guide, WiseBuyer’s.

Citroen has introduced a cut-cost version of the C2 small car for young drivers.

Nearly 3 out of 4 car buyer’s admit they don’t know their consumer rights according to a survey by independent automotive warranty firm, Warranty Direct.

A new service centre for Noble has been opened by Roush at Brentwood.

Road transport must face up to its contribution to global warming, says a newly published report by the Commons Transport Select Committee.

Richmond Motors Group is celebrating after being recognised as one of the best businesses in the Midlands.

The closing date for entries for the 2005 AM Awards has been extended.

Average retail prices for new cars in the UK rose 3.2% during the 12 months to October 2004.

Remploy Automotive has won two important export orders to supply car parts to Germany and Sweden.

Silver is now the colour of choice for nearly a third of new car buyers, latest SMMT figures reveal.

Skoda has announced prices for the Octavia Estate, due to go on sale early next year.