New research published for the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) and the car finance specialist Yes Car Credit has uncovered 'worrying ineffectiveness' in the enforcement of consumer credit advertising across the UK.
Although the news this morning has yet to be officially announced, Fiat SpA, as expected, is widely reported to have confirmed the appointment of the Austrian Herbert Demel to succceed Giancarlo Boschetti.
The relationship between Lexus and its UK network of centres is stronger, more effective and more rewarding than for any other manufacturer, says the company, quoting the results of the latest Dealer Attitude Survey by the National Franchised Dealers Association.
Hyundai has announced the appointment of eight new dealers to its UK network, following a successful month for the brand in September which saw the company's sales increase by 13% over the previous year.
Reynolds and Reynolds, the US dealer systems supplier that recently acquired the German Incadea software house to build an international market presence, has announced the completion of the pilot phase of a new Web-based Dealer Communication System Network (DCSN) for Kia retail outlets in the United States.
September West European car sales were strong — the seasonally adjusted annualised selling rate was 14.8m units/year, a marked improvement on the average for the year so far, report J.D. Power-LMC.
Until the end of October 2003 a series of retail offers are available across the Ford range including free insurance, additional features, Nectar Points and subsidised finance deals.
During the past three months, discounts in the D Segment dominated by the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Citroen C5 and Renault Laguna have increased by around 2%, says CarPriceCheck.com.
A Glass's survey of dealers reported in connection with the launch of the firm's Xchange lead management system suggests the apparent need for such systems to improve dealers' sales efficiency.
September CV registrations in all categories combined were up 13.9 per cent to 48,185 in September, bringing year to date registrations up 13.7 per cent to 276,184. Light CV registrations were up 15.8 per cent for the month and 15.0 per cent YTD. Trucks were down 0.1 per cent in September at 5,524 units, but up 7.2 per cent YTD, while buses and coaches up 41.8 per cent at 353 and 9.1 per cent YTD
Car dealers could face fines of up to £5,000 if they fail to comply with anti-money laundering rules coming into force at the end of 2003, warns the RMI.
Franchised dealers are ready for authorised repairer status available under the new block exemption regulation, but independent repairers are still in the dark, according to a new survey by the RMI.
SMMT Chief Executive Christopher Macgowan has welcomed the launch of a new website, www.mtsknowledge.co.uk, which provides a combination of best practice guidance for managers and aspiring managers in the UK automotive retailing sector.
The chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Alan Starling, said the system that automakers have been using since the 1970s to measure customer satisfaction "is broken and needs to be fixed."
Over the next few months AM is searching out the best companies in the automotive industry – that's franchised retailers, independent car dealers, repairers, bodyshops, suppliers and carmakers.
The SMMT reports today that September new car registrations climbed 1.5 per cent to 439,365 units. Private registrations rose 4.1 per cent, taking 51 per cent of the market, and diesel registrations grew for the 36th successive month.
“A staggering 44% of the UK motor vehicle repair industry will be unable to afford the 3.5% average wage increase estimated for next year”, according to the latest Plimsoll analysis of the sector.
Quoting unnamed sources, Automotive News Europe reports that Fiat Group chairman Umberto Agnelli will confirm by the end of October the appointment of Magna-Steyr CEO Herbet Demel as the successor to Giancarlo Boschetti as CEO of Fiat Auto.
Dick Lovett's new 800 m2 Ferrari dealership in Swindon combines sales and aftersales operations for new and pre-owned cars, service and repair workshops, plus a retail shop for Ferrari and Maserati merchandise and branded accessories three minutes' drive from Junction 16 of the M4.
The Northern Ireland Tyre Safety Week is being organised in association with the PoliceService of Northern Ireland who will be running tyre checks during October with the help of the Tyre Industry Council (TIC®).
Reg Vardy plc has completed the acquisition of the trade and assets of one Jaguar and three Land Rover dealerships from Dutton-Forshaw. The acquisition completes the North East market area for these two marques.
Strong trade buying fuelled by a shortage of customer part-exchanges has kept used car prices firm and even led to rises in some sectors.
The director of the Danish motor trade association Preben Kjaer told a meeting of CECRA, the European motor trades confederation, this week that Denmark's finance ministry is preparing proposals to reduce the country's car purchase taxes - which are the EU's highest.
ClaimWatch, the web-based package that enables bodyshops, work providers and motorists to track the status of collision repairs, has been further developed and can now include vehicle manufacturer- branded web pages, including model types.
The Reynolds and Reynolds has announced the acquisition of Incadea AG, the privately owned German provider of global automotive retailing software solutions.
Any suggestion that Volkswagen light commercial vehicles were ever treated as second class product and its customers as less important than the manufact-urer's new car buyers should be history by the end of this year.
A national accreditation scheme for body fitters, painters and panel repair technicians has been launched by the Institute of the Motor Industry and training organisation Thatcham.
There is nothing wrong with the Ford Fusion, despite what others in the media would have you believe.
The future of car tyre production in the UK hangs in the balance after one of the world's largest manufacturers announced it was moving production to mainland Europe.
UK car production climbed 9.5 per cent over the last three months but output for the year to date is down 0.3 per cent, according to the Office of National Statistics.