Although the Automotive Academy announced by the Government will not be fully operational until later next year, BMW, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, MG Rover Group, Nissan, and Leyland Trucks are amongst those who have already appointed senior directors to sit on the Academy's Project Board.
Consumers are not getting everything they want from automotive dealers and vehicle manufacturers, according to Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. Across the vehicle lifecycle, consumers demonstrate needs, wants and preferences that the industry does not appear to be aware of.
Following three days of extensive discussions the trade unions at Land Rover, including the largest manufacturing trade union Amicus, have rejected the company's final offer.
The SMMT and RMI have joined in condemning the 53% increase in the first licensing charge announced by the DVLA as part of a licence system overhaul.
Renault is set to expand its 'on the spot' servicing offer, Renault Minute, to include a further 13 centres at Renault dealerships across the UK by the end of 2003.
Renault is set to break new ground with its launch of a new pilot scheme of three stand-alone specialist Van Service Centres. The Centres are a completely new concept for Renault and for the first time, separate facilities aimed directly at the needs of van customers will operate off-site from main Renault dealerships.
Deejay Accident Repair Centres Ltd is to make 24 staff redundant in a move to reduce its cost base and "retain a competitive position in the market".
The unqualified and incompetent working in the industry are the ones damaging the reputation and perception of the profession, and it is the responsibility of all industry bodies to do something about it, the IMI says this morning, in response to a statement from the RMIF.
”I am astonished by the misleading and ridiculous statements attributed to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) in recent press stories on garage mechanics,'”said Fred Maguire, RMI president
A new consultancy will be headed up by ex-Ford and Toyota executive Lee Dickinson, a specialist in the development and management of new channel strategies and distribution networks.
Colindale Mazda, Edgware Road – part of The Polar Motor Group – opens its doors to the public this month on the Edgware Road.
The End of Life Vehicle (ELV) regulations laid before Parliament this week set out environmental standards for the treatment and scrapping of old cars and vans, encouraging their reuse and recycling.
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.
