Winner: The Car People
See who won what at the AM Awards- <b>IN FULL</b>
Winner: Ford Rapid Fit
Winner: Nationwide Autocentres
Winner: Epyx
Winner: Seat UK
Ford has taken out a licence to build Toyota's transaxle system into its petrol-electric hybrid vehicle plans, adding to Toyota hybrid drive licensees Nissan/Renault.
The cost-cutting plans announced by VW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder this week will seek to chop $2bn of costs by the end of next year, but without major structural changes.
Vauxhall is launching a new 1.9 CDTi ECOTEC diesel engine in two power outputs – 120 and 150 hp for the Vectra and Signum models, and later this year, the new Astra. The new engines will be mated to a new six-speed gearbox, and bring Vauxhall's fleet-targeted diesel drivetrains up to speed with the improved units on offer from rivals.
The repairer's organisation MVRA reports that more new members joined in the last quarter of 2003 months than at any point in the last three years.
Mr Masahiro Moro will take up the post of European vice president for 'selected markets and retail' on 1 April.
Peugeot has launched a new contract maintenance plan called 'Open Road' with fixed monthly instalments starting from £26.75 per month.
Last month's new passenger car registrations in Europe of 1,033,312 units were 2% up on February 2003.
Lookers plc has reported 19% growth in pre-tax profits to £14m on turnover up 22% to £961m for 2003.
BMW has reportedly pulled forward the launch of its much anticipated 1-series in order to keep pressure on VW's slow selling Golf, according to rumours swirling through Munich.
Automotive Skills, the new Government-backed training organisation, has set itself tough challenges to attract top quality staff, including graduates and women, to the sector and close the widening employment gap.
Euro NCAP is likely to add whiplash protection data into its crash safety ratings by the end of this year as part of an ongoing programme to expand the scheme.
Fleet drivers of staple cars like Fords, Vauxhalls and Peugeots could be in for a bit of a shock. Indications are that these manufacturers, together with others that have traditionally used fleet as a way to boost annual registration figures, are considering a new strategy – one that involves a new emphasis on retail business. At most risk are the short-term rental companies.
Motor Solutions, the Barnsley-based superstore operated by former DC Cook dealer group owner Derek Cook, has been linked with negotiations to supply the Civil Service Motoring Association's 350,000 members with new cars.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp has sold its 7.93% stake in potential MG Rover joint venture partner Proton for 11bn yen or $99 million, realizing an 8bn profit.
Renault and Nissan are to publish a joint balance sheet as a means of showing credit rating agencies the fruits of their alliance, and in the hope of securing cheaper credit.
Volkswagen's commercial vehicles subsidiary recorded a €164m operating loss last year, following a 4.9% drop in sales volume to 224, 975 units, the effect of model change investments and the restructuring of production at Hannover and Poznan.
“We're not going to reach the kind of earnings objectives that the company aspires to without making the European operations profitable. It's imperative that we come up with a way to do it,” GM CEO Rick Wagoner said at the launch of the fifth generation Astra.
According to data on the French advertising market reported by autoactu.com, vehicle manufacturers increased their advertising budgets by 1% in 2003 while their sales dropped 6.3%.
Last year, manufacturers present in the US market recalled 19.5 million cars and trucks — or 8% of all light vehicles in use, according to an NHTSA report.
Audatex has now completed its annual paint material price review based on information from the industry's six leading paint brands.
Hastings Direct, the south coast-based insurance intermediary, has become the first insurer to go live with AudaWorkstation Enterprise Edition, the latest generation body repair estimating system from Audatex.
"The creation of a Kia manufacturing facility in Europe is a very significant step in the growth and development of our company," said Yong-Hwan Kim, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Corporation, speaking during the world launch of the Kia Cerato 5-door at the Geneva Motor Show.
Stronger used values for new models introduced in 2000 have given residual values in most European countries a strong start to 2004.
Energy Saving Trust (EST) proposals published on 5 March set out the funding schedule for cleaner vehicle grants in 2004.
