Peugeot is hoping to build 300,000 units a year of its forthcoming Peugeot 407 due in the Uk in late spring of next year. The primarily fleet contender will be available initially as a saloon and later in SW form reminiscent of the shape of Vauxhall's Signum.
November new car registrations were 1.5% down but private buyers were undeterred by last month's interest rate rise and bought 2.1% more cars than a year ago.
At the invitation of Phoenix Venture Holdings, unions TGWU and Amicus have jointly apponted Peter Regnier, a former finance director of Rover Group in the pre-BMW 1980s, to inspect Phoenix Venture Holdings and MG Rover accounts on their behalf.
The European Court of First Instance has annulled a €30.96 million EC fine on VW for requiring its German dealers to adhere to recommended sale prices on the Passat in 1996 and '97.
Industry Minister Jacqui Smith has announced £3.26 million in grant aid for production of the new Micra coupe-cabriolet at Nissan's Sunderland plant.
Dana Corporation's Board of Directors have announced that Dana intends to divest the company's Automotive Aftermarket Group, which includes several major UK aftermarket brands and claims to be the biggest business in the field.
ATC announced that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell its UK Engine business for $32 million in cash.
Lex Vehicle Leasing recently delivered its 100,000th vehicle, and gave every employee a customised bottle of champagne with a personal message from MD Jon Walden to remind them that growth had been purely organic without a single acquisition.
Silver's position as the dominant metallic shade of choice looks set to continue, with 285 different varieties available in today's new car market, reports CAP New Vehicle Data. The proportion of silver cars built around Europe has reached around 40%.
Business drivers whose companies obtain their Lexus cars on lease will in future be able to participate in the same customer loyalty programmes as retail customers – if the lessor, like Leasedrive Ltd., joins the new Lexus Leasing Charter programme.
Prince Michael of Kent said today: “Customers now demand better crash protection and the NCAP star rating system is widely understood – it is used by car companies to market their products and is undoubtedly an important factor in customer's choice of new cars."
Automotive refinish distributor the Morelli Group has announced its acquisition of Car Paints Group Ltd and Chiltern Car Paints Ltd., with effect from 5th January 2004.
The 2004 Pay Guide survey shows the median age of technicians is now just 33 years. That suggests they are leaving the profession faster than the trade has so far been able to recruit new blood. Sixty-one per cent of franchised dealers and 69% of independent garages say they are experiencing difficulties in recruiting staff.
Of 1,834 diesel cars held in the CAP NVD database, less than 200 so far comply with the so-called Euro IV emissions standards which govern levels of certain pollutants.
Larger family cars depreciated more slowly this year than during 2002 as stability returned to the used car market, reports CAP Black Book.
Actors Lynda Bellingham and Kevin Whateley were on hand to help GM Daewoo officially hand over 100 Tacuma MPVs to National Children's Homes at an event at the Millbrook test track marking the start of 'Driving change for children'.
South Korean media suggest that shareholders in 4x4 manufacturer Ssangyong, which recently established a UK dealer network for its Rexton model, are keen to sell a 55% controlling share in the firm.
The French new car market was down 9.4% year on year in November with 149,285 registrations recorded by the French manufacturers' association CCFA.
A German media report says the exercise of DaimlerChrysler's option to increase its stake in Hyundai would be seen as hostile action in Korea.
It is an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone when driving as of today, 1 December. Commenting as the new ban came into force.
New laws to prevent discrimination in the workplace on grounds of sexual orientation or religion come into force this week. The Sexual Orientation regulations become law in Great Britain today, 1 December and the Religion or Belief regulations tomorrow, 2 December.
EU ministers have set a new minimum motor insurance amount for personal injuries of one million euros per victim, plus an option for Member States to apply a minimum amount of €5 million per accident, as requested by the European Parliament.
The new-look Black Book is unveiled with the December 2003 edition, which features more than 600,000 used car prices, over 300 extra pages to accommodate more data, a radically redesigned layout for ease of use and details on more than 20,000 used car derivatives.
Euro NCAP has announced crash test results for the Renault Scenic and VW's Touran, both achieving five stars for occupant protection.
Franchised dealers refusing to carry out repairs on new cars covered by independent warranties could leave thousands of motorists 'high and dry', says Warranty Direct.
Tough new manufacturer standards could force a thousand small dealers to shut up shop for good, an industry analyst warns.
Maranello Concessionaires has opened Europe's largest service centre for Ferraris and Maseratis.
Japanese and Korean vehicle component supplier Solid Auto is to move into a new 15,000 sq. ft warehouse in the west Midlands in February 2004.
Federal-Mogul, the global parts supplier, has taken a further step to rebuild its business with a major restructure that should see it emerge from Chapter 11 by June next year.
Repairers are uniting to lobby the Government in a bid to have the MoT fee set in stone – without a fixed price they warn the vehicle test system will become a shambles.
