A new Dealership Support Executive has been appointed by AA Tyre Fit to oversee the company's franchise dealer programme. Paul Jebb joins from National Tyres and Autocare where he spent more than 20 years in a wide variety of roles including everything from working in fast-fit branches to managing mobile fitting units.
Vauxhall has confirmed it will introduce GM's Australian brand Holden's rear wheel drive muscle car – the Monaro – to the UK market next year.
Norfolk Motor Group (NMG) in Norwich, has become the first SsangYong dealership to open its doors to customers as a fully liveried dealer.
Volkswagen and Audi dealer Gilder Group has opened a new trade parts distribution operation on a site separate from its five dealerships in South Yorks and Derbyshire.
Centrus, a non-fault accident management companies, and subsidiary of Avis Europe plc, has launched CentrusReturn, an estimate management service for UK franchised and independent bodyshops. Centrus, which has so far concentrated on non-fault accidents, will extend its remit to include at-fault accident claims.
TRW Automotive has unveiled new packaging for its aftermarket products in TRW red, which displays both the TRW logo and distinctive green Lucas logo. It features product icons from the company portfolio and will be introduced on a rolling basis into Europe and the UK over the next few months.
Following industrial action at Ford's Genk, Belgium assembly plant following the announcement of 3,000 job losses there, Ford has on been forced to stop production of its Transit vans in Southampton for want of panel parts, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Friday.
Speculation is mounting that Inchcape Retail intends to become the UK's biggest dealer group next year with plans to sell Ferrari UK distribution in order to fund a buying spree.
Fiat Auto has named former Audi chairman Herbert Demel as its new chief executive officer with effect from November 15. He replaces Giancarlo Boschetti, who will retire a year early.
Deejay Accident Repair Centres, a regular award winner at industry events, has made 24 of its 129 staff redundant in a bid to cut costs and stay competitive.
Dealers and manufacturers are to be hit by a 52 per cent hike in new car tax. From January 1, the Government will increase the first registration fee on new vehicles by more than half.
Colindale Mazda, part of Polar Motor Group, has brought some 'Zoom-Zoom' to North London by opening a new outlet on Edgware Road – part of the largest Ford showroom in Europe.
Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer has returned to the UK aftermarket by backing a new fast-fit venture close to his home in Scotland.
One of the two senior executives who led the £20m management buy-out of Edinburgh-based retail group Glenvarigill from drinks firm Drambuie has sold his shares to managing director Tim Bartlett.
Dutton-Forshaw has unveiled plans to more than double the size of its network almost 12 months after being acquired by Lloyds TSB.
Renault Retail Group has become the first major UK retailer to sign up to a new internet-based used car platform.
Kia, one the fastest growing car brands in Europe, is vowing not to let sales slip after raising retailers' targets on the back of another month of record growth.
Xpart, the components division of MG Rover, will be an all-makes operation in less than 12 months. The company is in talks with a number of other carmakers about winning “third party” business and managing director John Parkinson says the initiative will be launched to dealers and wholesalers at the end of the year before being rolled out in May 2004.
Brindley Garages Group, the AM100-listed retailer, has opened a new £3m multi-franchised site in the Midlands in a bid to hit the £100m turnover mark next year.
Yorkshire-based retailer Gilder Group has appointed its first female technician. Anne-Marie Ward (pictured) joins with 11 other apprentices on a three-year training programme.
New Jaguar and Land Rover president Joe Greenwell is telling executives that there will be no let-up in the drive to put higher quality into each new model. But he also stresses that every upgrade will have to be accompanied by lower costs and improved productivity.
The Dick Lovett Group has opened a new Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Swindon.
Businesses that scrap cars will have to issue drivers with a certificate of destruction from next month.
Camden Corporate Fleet Services has launched a fresh drive to increase the volume of used car business with franchised and independent retailers.
A new company has entered into the UK accident repair market. Motor Repair Management, a Surrey-based firm, has 11 shops spread across the UK.
Priory Motor Group is set to open a new £1.5m dealership on its existing Honda site in Cambridge.
Suzuki retailers will get a boost from the new high-performance Ignis Sport. The new 1.5-litre 107bhp engine reaches 62mph in 8.9s going on to 115mph.
Inchcape Retail has acquired Toyota in Aylesbury.
The new Nissan 350Z will retain 52 per cent of its original value after three years and 30,000 miles, according to CAP Monitor.
Pendragon, the UK's largest car dealer, has sold two Mercedes dealerships as part of a nationwide restructure.
