“All the gear, similar idea” could be the mantra, as Ford seeks to repeat the Focus Mk I's phenomenal sales record with its high-tech successor.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has appointed a new head of its UK automotive group.
Reg Vardy plc is preparing to launch a personal leasing deal after two years of piloting that will provide retail motorists with a car under a 12-month rental-style scheme from £99 a month.
At least one Japanese carmaker is thought to be facing action by the Inland Revenue (IR) over the amount of tax paid on UK profit.
Industrial action may be called by Amicus, one of the unions representing many of the 40,000 present and past Federal Mogul employees in the UK whose pension scheme is threatened with being wound up with a £875m shortfall.
Yes Car Credit is to expand its retail network to 30 outlets by the end of the year, securing its place among the top five used car retailers by volume – including franchised dealers – in the UK.
Vauxhall’s largest brand centre has officially opened in Birmingham following a £4.5m investment by the Lookers group.
Pendragon has cut the period of notice of termination it is required to give to its chief executive Trevor Finn from two years to one.<
A pioneering 3D graphics estimating package being developed by Thatcham to help body repairers save costs has been scrapped because of lack of support from the industry.
Citroen’s new C4 range is due to enjoy its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, prior to its arrival in the UK at the end of the year. As these official pictures show, the model will be available in two forms: as a radical three-door coupe with a glass tailgate and as a more conservative five-door hatchback.
Citroen is launching a service reception programme across its retail network following disappointing CSI results on aftersales. The company has also unveiled details of an online training scheme, claimed to be a UK first, which will minimise the amount of time dealer staff spend away from the dealership.
East Anglian retail group Desira has put almost £2m investment into its new showroom opening in Norwich next Friday (August 6) in order to offer the latest facilities and technology for the city’s Nissan drivers.
Forty-two per cent of UK automotive retailers have missed the application deadline set by the Financial Services Authority, which means they might not be authorised in time to sell insurance-based products like GAP, mechanical breakdown insurance and credit protection when the new legislation hits in January.
The Ford Premier Automotive Group – Jaguar, Aston Martin, Volvo, Land Rover – suffered a £197m pre-tax loss for the second quarter of the year, compared with a £90m profit in 2003, prompting speculation of cost cutting, including job losses.
Audi is pre-empting BMW’s new 3- series by bringing a “massively revised” A4 to market this November as part of a drive objective to get ahead of its rival by 2008.
A new service offered through a collaboration between CAP and Portfolio Europe – part of the remarketing giant Manheim – is set to benefit the used motor retail sector by supplying dealers with data on buying trends from thousands of sales in the industry as a whole.
DaimlerChrysler UK has appointed Neil Williamson as its director of network development. He succeeds Mike Manley, who has moved to the US as vice-president of dealer operations with Chrysler Group, and will join the company’s executive management team on August 16.
The opening of a £4m Brindley Honda dealership in Birmingham this month has ended a period of more than 30 years without the carmaker’s presence in the city centre.
The RMI has vowed to lobby Parliament following the disclosure of proposals for widespread road charges in the Govern-ment’s 10-year transport plan that could have a serious impact on dealer costs.
The internet is an increasingly vital tool for dealerships in marketing their business and expanding their customer base, according to Glass’s Information Services.
Mazda Motors is increasing production of its Mazda3 and Mazda6 models to help meet demand - and is looking to expand the number of dealers in the UK.
Staff at DaimlerChrysler UK’s headquarters have been on the receiving end of a peaceful protest against the manufacturer’s use of leather in car interiors.
Privately-owned North-eastern Citroen, Honda, Peugeot and Suzuki retailer Springfield Group is ploughing further investment into its customer contact centre to almost double the number of staff there just months after it started.
Mazda’s new mid-sized MPV, which is due in UK showrooms by autumn next year, remains a car without a name or a number.
An in-house management development programme run by Perrys Group has resulted in a total success for the first intake.
Kwik-Fit Fleet has announced a record £65.1m turnover for the first six months of 2004 and is expecting more growth this year.
Surrey-based Hyundai retailer Neil White will be putting his products to the test next month when he sets off on a 25,000-mile trek to raise £250,000 for charity.
Jaguar has been voted the top brand in car manufacturing in the UK at the annual independent Superbrands awards. The achievement has also listed the Ford-owned company as the only carmaker among the top six of all brands in the country.
More than a third of the UK’s 153 BMW and Mini dealerships have signed up to a scheme which publicises their approved used stock on the Auto Trader website.
The Mercedes Car Group is to have a new boss as part of a reshuffle announced this afternoon.
