News - Page 1485

The Automotive Distribution Federation has had to order a massive reprint of a leaflet detailing its interpretation of the block exemption regulation revisions.

Deejay Accident Repair Centres is on the road to recovery from last year’s CVA which saw the business forced to cut its workforce by almost a fifth.

Workshops could gain valuable business by reminding customers of the importance of regularly having their car’s air-conditioning unit serviced if they want to avoid the substantial risk of its failure.

Cosmetic repair specialist Dent Wizard International (UK) has moved its headquarters from Telford, Shropshire, to a £2m purpose-built centre beside the M6 Toll junction with the M42 at Curd-worth, Birmingham.

Peugeot dealers have won a landmark ruling under the revised block exemption regulations (BER) that could have far reaching implications for other manufacturers.

BMW will play it safe with the all-new 3-series, set for launch in a year’s time. The company simply can’t afford to take big risks with the Three – the range accounts for around 60% of all BMWs sold.

Citroen is accelerating its campaign to attract more independent repairers to its authorised network by sending out a large-scale mailing to businesses all over the UK inviting them to join the programme.

European Motor Holdings has completed its first step towards expanding with Audi in the West of England with the £1.7m acquisition of Swindon Audi.

Regional dealer groups are facing falling gross margins on car sales as plcs consistently pick up greater returns.

SsangYong’s takeover by China’s largest automotive group, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), has been welcomed by dealers representing the Korean SUV company in the UK.

Plans by the European Union to harmonise car taxation levels in member states could bring new car prices into line across the continent within a decade.

Janie Richardson, sales director for Tiley of Bristol, views the Ssang-Yong deal as a move towards “required stability and continuity.” She adds: “There has been a bit of unrest among retailers and potential buyers but this gives us a foundation to build on.”

Ferrari could be about to sever links with its UK distributor Inchcape if contract talks break down over the next few weeks

Pendragon says its consolidation plan since the acquisition of CD Bramall is running ahead of schedule and it will be looking to buy more dealerships soon

Perrys Group has purchased two dealerships in Lancashire as part of its ongoing strategy of growth by selective acquisition. Nelson Peugeot and Blackburn Mazda have been bought from Walker Farrimond for £700,000 by the AM100-listed dealer group.

The Automotive Academy is planning to put pressure on funding bodies to direct their resources towards accredited training schemes.

AutoExcel’s event director Richard Abels has questioned attendance figures, released by the SMMT, for this year’s joint CV and ATS aftermarket Show.

Retail demand for new cars could dip next month – the new 54-plate change – following last week’s decision by the Bank of England to raise interest rates another quarter of one per cent, to 4.75%.

Audi and BMW have been forced to defend their products after slipping down among the poorest performers in terms of car reliability, according to the latest findings published by consumer magazine Which?.

Norfolk-based Wilco Motor Spares, part of the Shortis Group, has bought Motosave, the largest independent chain of automotive shops and fitting centres in the north.

Caterham will stay British, insists managing director Simon Nearn, following the sale of TVR to Nikolai Smolensky, Russia’s youngest millionaire. “We’re not selling out to the Russians,” he says.

The scale of the future challenge facing the automotive industry in the UK and the rest of Europe from China, India and other low-cost Asian countries has been spelt out in London by Carlos Ghosn, Nissan chairman and chief executive officer.

Mercedes-Benz has announced that it expects full-year earnings to be lower than in 2003 following publication of its second quarter results that reveal a slip of 18%.

Almost a third of used car retailers feel less confident about their prospects in the sector compared with a year ago, fearing a dip in residuals and rising competition from used car supermarkets – not least those backed by financial organisations like Private & Commercial and Black Horse.

Fast-fit chain Hi-Q is looking to expand its network of 503 locations following the appointment of Mike Garwood as its new dealer/franchise operations manager.

A long-term sales initiative by Dixon Motors promises its customers the lowest prices in the country on 10 popular cars.

Hyundai UK is in the early planning stages of a sponsored retailer programme designed to fill gaps in the network in high cost areas.

The Honda Accord 2.2 CDTi diesel, launched in February (Tourer in March), has made its used market debut at BCA’s Measham auction centre in Leicestershire, an event which prompted more than 50 Honda dealers to register.

The president of Renault Europe Automobile Andre Bodis was in Birmingham for the unveiling of a £1.75m refurbishment of one of Renault Retail Group’s flagship dealerships.

The AA has linked up with Manheim Auctions in a move it says will give buyers added confidence when bidding for cars at auction.