Dealer support service at Volkswagen UK is to be operated by Mondial.
Cheshire-based Cliff Dickenson Ford has bought the Chester Road Garage site in Winsford.
Group Tyre (UK) has confirmed it is in talks with four major car manufacturers following its appointment by IM Group as the official tyre partner for its Subaru, Isuzu and Daihatsu dealer network.
Pinewood, the dealer management systems provider, has seen a 40 per cent increase in system sales this year thanks to its new Pinnacle DMS.
General Motors is drawing up plans to move its Vauxhall subsidiary upmarket, AM-online can reveal.
Repairers are raising questions about the proposed merger of the Retail Motor Industry Federation's bodyshop division with the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association.
Toyota is launching two new super clean engines for its Avensis.
An Audi retailer in Dorset is to open a £500,000 bodyshop specialising in the repair of aluminium-based cars.
Automotive glass fibre products supplier NGF is to invest £2.5m in its St Helens factory, take on 10 new staff and increasing production.
Vehicle finance broker Automech has acquired Lumley Auto, the insurance and warranty provider.
HR Owen, the prestige and premium retailer, is blaming uncertainty surrounding the changes to block exemption for a £400,000 fall in its interim profits.
Nationwide Autocentres, the independent service and maintenance network, is to use the 1link service network across its 190 outlets.
A new business package has been launched by the Factoring Services Group to help independent garages boost profits.
Repairers are throwing away millions of pounds every year by failing to invoice fleets for work.
Subaru is taking advantage of the revised block exemption regulations to overhaul its 93-strong retail network. The company expects to drop 10 dealers, but says it wants to appoint 15 new partners by the end of next year. Longer-term it wants 125 retailers.
A major provider of aftermarket parts for Japanese cars has announced ambitious expansion plans for its UK operation.
Retailers are this week facing disruption after carmakers deliberately delayed issuing new block exemption contracts.
R-M Automotive Refinish general manager Paul Buckingham has been handed control of sister refinish supplier Glasurit as parent BASF Corporation bids to turnaround its ailing UK subsidiary.
Dealer management systems provide the easiest route for repairers to meet new responsibilities outlined by the Health and Safety Executive, according to DMS provider Pinewood.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. have established a new joint equity company, Nissan Motor Light Truck Company Ltd.
Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) says virtually all its retailers have signed contracts before the October 1st, 2003 deadline and with support from local dealer associations, including the European Mitsubishi Dealer Association (EMDA).
Federal-Mogul Aftermarket UK has signed a major distribution deal for its Champion brand with the buying group FSG.
Failure by car manufacturers to finalise agreements prior to the introduction of the new Block Exemption regulation could leave dealers in a legal limbo, warned the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) on the eve of the new regulations coming into force today, 1 October.
Today, a major part of the new EU rules on motor vehicle distribution that entered into force on 1 October 2002 will become effective, announces the European Commission. The transitional period for all contracts that expired after 1 October 2002 ends today.
German lawyers quoted in a feature article on dealer sales and aftersales contracts due to take effect from today, 1 October across Europe in Autohaus, the German trade publication, suggest legal conflict is likely to erupt over the the new Block Exemption
Responding to the minimum wage increase, Nick Jones, RMI human resources director, said: “The Government's decision to increase the national minimum wage will affect the industry's NJC Agreement on minimum pay rates. The rate for unindentured junior employees aged 18 will rise immediately from its current level of £3.60 to £3.80 per hour. Those few adult employees on the bottom grades of the NJC pay scales will rise from £4.20 to £4.50 per hour.”
A company in a dominant position, which operates a system of loyalty rebates and bonuses for its dealers, thereby strengthens its position to the detriment of other operators and thus impedes normal competition, confirmed the European Court of First Instance this week in its judgment on Michelin's fine appeal.
Glass's Market Intelligence Service suggests that the residual values for prestige convertibles (e.g. Mercedes CLK Cabriolet, Audi A4 Cabriolet) and larger 4x4s (e.g. Range Rover, BMW X5) aged one- to three-years-old out-perform those of the rest of the market.
The government-supported mobility charity Motability, which operates preferential finance provision for disabled motorists, has appointed Don Brereton as director, to succeed Noel Muddiman.
According to Kelley Blue Book's latest US "New Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study" on vehicle finance options, 70% prospectived new car buyers plan to research financing online and 54% plan to obtain finance befre visiting the dealer, while only 46% of respondents indicate that they intend to finance their purchase at the dealership.
