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.
Maranello Concessionaires has opened Europe's largest service centre for Ferraris and Maseratis.
Tough new manufacturer standards could force a thousand small dealers to shut up shop for good, an industry analyst warns.
Toyota GB has appointed a network of, so far, 17 "Official Toyota Service Outlets", exploiting the 'authorised repairer' provisions of the 1400/2002 European block exemption regulation.
esure's first recommended repair network will launch on 1st December 2003, initially with 14 repairers, many of whom have collaborated in the design of both the contract and systems that form the basis of the network arrangements.
“Government plans to raise the limit at which companies need to be audited will be great news for small businesses,” said the RMI chief executive Matthew Carrington, commenting on a new accounting and audit bill included in yesterday's Queen's Speech.
A Vauxhall Zafira was selected for a ceremony today, 27 November, to mark the silver jubilee of the Motability Scheme. Vauxhall was a founder member of Motability and is one of the largest single suppliers of cars to the scheme.
Ford is to close its 'Ingeni' London design centre, which it opened in 2001 to produce work on both automotive and non-automotive products.
Average retail prices for new cars in the UK rose by 3.9% over the 12 months to October 2003, according to the latest European Index of New Car Prices published by eurocarprice.com in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The British motor industry has expressed high levels of confidence in the future for automotive manufacturing in the UK. This was tempered with significant concerns about the 'increasing burden of red tape' and the failing national transport infrastructure.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has today launched a new qualification in vehicle sales, as part of a strategy for tackling unacceptably high staff turnover, improving staff motivation and business performance and enhancing the public perception of car retailing.
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a new Battery Directive, which will require the collection and recycling of all batteries placed on the EU market. Nearly half are currently sent to landfill or incineration.
GM Daewoo is to adopt Datafirst's UCL (Used Car Locator) to handle used stock in the UK in December, following in the footsteps of Vauxhall. The system is already in use in GM Europe networks elsewhere in Europe. The system will link dealers' used stock to the search facility on GM Daewoo's own site.
Hyundai says the choice of sites for Hyundai's European car manufacturing plant has been reduced to four candidates – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Another report says only two are still in the running.
A new group has been formed within the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Society BEN which focuses on the needs of younger members of the industry.
Production figures released today by the Office for National Statistics show that UK car production in October climbed 2.5% to 153,361 units. Exports accounted for a record 74.2% of monthly output, and year-to-date volumes rose 0.6%, on track to meet the SMMT's 1.65 million forecast.
Continuing the biggest product offensive in its history, Saab Automobile AB has announced its first SUV, the 2005 Saab 9-7X, featuring standard all-wheel-drive and two engine choices.
New data confirms confirms the consumer problems with dealers and garages identified by the OFT apply equally in the US.
Government denial of an impending MOT tester shortage has been criticised by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI). Addressing Parliament recently, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport David Jamison refuted that there is any need to recruit more MOT testers: “There is no evidence to suggest that there is a shortage of qualified MOT testers.”
A ballot for strike action at the Nissan car plant in Sunderland started on 24 November after Nissan management “refused to hold talks with the Amicus trade union” over compulsory re-location of the company's purchasing department. Balloting of workers in the purchasing department could mean that Nissan are faced with the threat of strike action for the first time in the Sunderland plant's history.
MG Rover is halting production for four days this week to enable dealers to 're-balance' inventories.
Morgan Motor Company has appointed Alan Garnett as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors following the recent death of Peter 'PM' Morgan.
CVC Capital Partners, the private equity group, is reportedly close to appointing bankers to advise on a possible sale, merger or flotation of Halfords, the car parts and bicycle retailer
Two million UK motorists were asked by insurer Axa about their choice of car as part of the first UK "Motor map" survey just published.
MVRA¹s MoT division believes that a mandatory MOT fee could be counter-productive for many small independent garages relying on the repair revenue generated through MOT tests.
Hometune, Kwik-Fit's mobile vehicle servicing and repair operation, is to cease trading on December 31, 2003.
John Cooper has been appointed director customer service for Ford Motor Company Ltd, replacing Simon Psaila who is retiring at the end of December after 33 years service with the company.
Jaguar Cars has been named National Champion in the Green Apple Awards 2003. This is the sixth year in a row that Jaguar has won a Green Apple Award in the national campaign to find Britain's 'greenest' companies.
Ford Motor Company added another milestone to its centennial year with the production of its 300 millionth vehicle this week.
Experian, the global business solutions company has been named the UK's National Business of the Year in recognition of its record of “exceptional financial performance, strong growth, innovative strategies and leadership in its sectors”.
