Ford chief operating officer Nick Scheele denied yesterday at the Tokyo Motor Show that Jaguar's Browns Lane assembly plant in Coventry, where the new XJ is built, would be closed, commenting that, "This is really speculation that's been running around now for six to nine months."
Premiums are rising to recover increasing costs, according to the AA's British Insurance Premium Index.
Glass's October 2003 Used Car Price Index reveals an upward movement in residual values across seven of the 10 market sectors analysed compared to 12-months ago, both for one and three-year-old cars.
”The retail motor sector cannot hope to continue at the current level unless we take steps to protect consumers, and ensure that our industry meets their expectations”, Fred Maguire, president of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), warned at last night's RMI 90th Anniversary Dinner (22 October).
Fleet operators have named the Vauxhall Vectra 2003 ACFO (Association of Car Fleet Operators), Car of the Year because of its performance, whole life costs and driver appeal.
Peter H. G. Morgan passed away yesterday following a brief illness, a few days from his 84th birthday.
As part of the development plan that will succeed the current 'Nissan 180' turnaround plan after April 2005, Nissan may launch its luxury car brand Infiniti into Europe.
Renault announced on 22 October that its turnover in the third quarter of this year reached €8.712 billion, an increase of 9.04% year on year.
Following news that ScootElectric has obtained exclusive UK distribution rights for electric scooters built in Taiwan (and in the case of one model, Italy), the importer confirms that it has appointed nine outlets so far.
Phoenix Venture Holdings' report for 2002 features turnover up year on year from £1,697m to £1,741m, a loss before goodwill, tax and income from group undertakings of £95m, down from £187m, and net cash of £315m, up from £310m in 2001.
DaimlerChrysler achieved an operating profit of $1.45 billion (Q3 2002: $1.8 billion) in the third quarter of 2003. Positive earnings from all of the group's divisions, including Chrysler, contributed to this result, but net income shrank to $-1.9 billion, prompting S&P to downgrade DCX's credit rating a notch to 'BBB'.
Tuesday (28 October 2003). The ReMIT Centre for Technical Excellence will have 700 light vehicle technicians and electricians from across the South East of England under training at any one time. The centre will also provide training facilities for manufacturers including Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Volkswagen, and Ferrari/Maserati.
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.
