News - Page 1526

The world's biggest vehicle manufacturer was first off the block yesterday in announcing fourth quarter and full-year 2003 results.

A warranty can cost over twice as much from a franchised dealer than an independent insurer, claims the independent firm Warranty Direct.

A joint venture team of Isuzu Motors Ltd and the directors and senior staff at Isuzu Truck (UK) Limited have bought a majority stake in the UK importer from RAC plc, which acquired the UK Isuzu Truck concession as Lex plc.

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Renault's Boulevard Raspail retail premises in central Paris have become the first of a new format for the brand's metroplitan showrooms where space is at a premium.

Aston Martin has announced a Approved Pre-owned Car Programme that will give its UK customers direct access to pre-owned cars throughout the 18-strong UK dealer network.

A new system that allows service/maintenance providers to view in real time the customer service and pricing they offer to fleets is being launched as a component of epyx's 1link Service Network.

Simulated urban cycle tests carried out on petrol and diesel-powered cars of comparable power ratings by a European environment and energy research programme have produced the surprising result that the petrol vehicle was the most heavily polluting.

Barclaycard looks set to rattle the £11bn F&I market by launching what it claims is a unique new car finance proposition.

AutoExCel, the automotive aftermarket event launching in 2005 at ExCel in London's Docklands, has added further members to its 'Founders Group', taking the total membership over 60.

The venture capitalist CVC CAPITAL Partners Ltd., which bought Halfords in August 2002 from Boots plc, has discussed plans to float at least some of its shares, according to press reports, which mention Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch in connection with the talks.

Automotive solutions provider Ebbon-Dacs has responded to forthcoming regulations covering the sale of motor insurance products with a new electronic compliance product and online dealer awareness and compliance training

Bodyshop magazine reported last week that the US paint manufacturer Valspar had announced the takeover of the Dutch refinish supplier De Beer.

Sport Utility Vehicle Owners of America (SUVOA) yesterday called on Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to step up intelligence and federal enforcement action against The Earth Liberation Front (ELF), a militant environmental group that took responsibility for destroying vehicles at a Santa Fe, New Mexico Land Rover dealership, and US Forest Service construction equipment

Ford Motor's Mercury is the most under-appreciated of brands on the US market for quality, while Ford's Land Rover is the most over-appreciated, according to a report by Wall Street broker Morgan Stanley.

The German government has been stout in its resistance to the European Commission's calls to dismantle the regulations that block foreign bids for Volkswagen, but an EC spokesperson has said, “We are now planning to go ahead with next step in the procedure”, though the matter has reportedly yet to be formally discussed in Brussels.

Glass's Information Services is calling on the Government to introduce new legislation requiring anyone selling a vehicle to ensure that the purchaser's driving licence number is recorded on the V5 registration documents at the point of sale.

From this week Honda customers will be able to book servicing appointments using a new online facility. Any servicing and repair work for any Honda car can be booked at any one of the company's 190 dealers by visiting Honda's website at www.honda.co.uk, or any Honda dealer website.

2003 saw a year-on-year increase in new members of almost 100% for the Institute of the Motor Industry. There were some 2,000 successful applications during the year, bringing the IMI's total membership to just under 25,000.

An analysis of manufacturers' offers in the retail sector.

During the course of last year our research has revealed improvements in the professionalism and business standards of many used car operations.

Forget Europe and America – the real growth market is South-east Asia. Every global manufacturer is diverting its resources to China and Japan as these two massive markets open up to foreign investment.

2003 should have been a tumultuous year in the UK aftersales market. The long-awaited changes to block exemption came into force and many of the key changes affected aftersales with the objective of unshackling competition.

Controversial Government plans to end heavy discounts on green fuels have sent shockwaves through the UK motor industry.

Perrys has taken the first steps towards patching up its relationship with Ford after purchasing two dealerships from Pendragon.

General Motors Europe president Mike Burns surprised many in the automotive industry last week with the announcement he is moving to become head of leading US parts supplier Dana Corp.

Reg Vardy, one of the UK's biggest dealer groups, is planning to become one of Europe's largest automotive retailers – buoyed by sales of more than 200,000 cars in its current financial year.

Warranty Holdings Group, the troubled warranty provider, has appointed AXA to underwrite its business from January.

In its second annual report recently issued for the period to 31 July 2003 to the BRIC Steering Committee, the campaigning bodyshop organisation levels sharp criticism at the RMI and VBRA, whose merger plans were announced in December.

Effective today, Mitsubishi Motors Europe B.V. (MME) is taking over the distribution of its vehicles in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, following the termination of the distribution agreement with MMC Automobile AG (MAAS), its previous distributor, on December 9th, 2003, in the wake of the collapse of its then owner, the Erb Group.