Ex-Mazda chief Lewis Booth has been catapulted into the president's seat at Ford of Europe following the recent departure of Martin Leach.
More than £300,000 was spent developing one of the world's first new-look Lamborghini showrooms in London. The Old Brompton Road site is one of only three in Europe to be refurbished in line with the new brand environment.
Motorpoint, one of the UK's largest car supermarkets, has dismissed recent research that suggests traditional car importers and supermarkets are no longer able to offer discounts on new cars because of the strength of the Euro and falling UK new car prices.
A Hull-based independent motor factor has launched a new initiative as part of the Independent Motor Factors Association's (IFA) national Autosafe umbrella scheme to help small independent garages compete with franchised dealers for car servicing and repair work.
Peugeot is introducing a new product into its UK rental operation – Peugeot Minilease. The product has been designed for short operating periods of six months or less.
US research firm Morgan & Company reports that US new light vehicle sales totalled 1,630,904 in August, down 4.5% from August of 2002 with one less selling day.
GM Europe VP of sales and marketing Jonathan Browning has confirmed that Opel, Vauxhall and Saab sales and marketing operations will be merged in all the brands' European markets.
Lookers plc, the top ten UK retail motor group, has announced record results for the half-year ended June 30 2003.
Subaru of America, Inc., announced it has launched a Subaru Technical Information System (STIS) Web site, to provide dealers, independent repairers and consumers with access to Subaru technical resources.
The Board of AutoLogic Holdings plc has received an approach from a unnamed private equity firm to acquire all its share capital for 350p per share in cash.
A new retail motor group – NHM Ltd – has entered into an agreement to acquire the GM Daewoo franchised outlets in Cardiff, Exeter, Luton and Swansea. These sites were formerly part of Hanover Automotive Group, now in administration.
Park Hwang-Ho, 57, formerly Senior Executive Vice President of Planning has been named Hyundai Motor's new CEO and President responsible for planning and sales, replacing Dr Kim Dong-Jin who becomes Vice Chairman.
Volkswagen has today revealed a mid-engined roadster prototype, named Concept R, which will be shown next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. VW says the Concept R “points to the future of the Volkswagen brand, and hints at a possible involvement in the world of genuine sports cars.”
Having admitted to pricing issues that dulled the impact of the launch of its Fiesta-based Fusion, Ford has announced the price of the larger Focus C-MAX flexible hatchback ahead of its launch date of 18 October.
Avis Europe, the market-leading European car rental group has announced first-half results (for the period ending 30 June) showing revenue down 5.5% at €527 million. Rental days were up but prices fell.
Ford's Parts Plus network of specialist parts wholesalers for the independent motor trade is offering 10,000 free gifts and 10 major prizes each month during September, October and November, in a big 'Autumn Windfall' promotion.
Eurocarprice.com's latest European New Car Price Index report warns that the cost of new cars in the UK is likely to rise significantly in the next few months.
Over 420,000 new cars will be registered in the UK this month, pushing the year-to-date total ever closer to the expected 2.52 million units forecast by SMMT. This will make 2003 the second highest total on record, just 40,000 units short of last year's figure.
On Thursday last week, MG Rover's German sales company completed negotiations with its German dealer council over their new BER-compliant contracts, but new-car margins have yet to be fixed.
EurotaxSchwacke, the German sister company of Glass's in the EurotaxGlass's group ( www.schwacke.de) is to launch an online whole life cost database at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
A campaign urging dealers to play a proactive role in whiplash injury prevention, by showing buyers how to position their head restraints properly, is launched today to coincide with the new September '53' plate registrations.
Even before its official UK launch on 19 September, Citroën has revealed prices for its three-door supermini, the C2. Launch offers, including free insurance on performance models, will make the C2 available from under £7,000.
Over the past nine months Volvo's pilot car rental programme has proven to be a success and is now going to be extended to more dealerships around the UK. Ten dealerships1were involved in the pilot stage and they are all continuing with the scheme.
The Board of William Jacks PLC has announced it intends to apply to cancel the listing of the Company's entire issued share capital from the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and simultaneously apply to be admitted to the AIM.
Rolls-Royce is narrowly the leader among premium automotive brands in latest Harris EquiTrend brand quality/brand equity rankings.
Ford's dealers in the US are to have their DMS integrated with broadband Internet connection by the year-end.
The latest generation of run-flat tyres is failing to capture the imagination of new car buyers, according to AA Tyre Fit.
Nationwide Autocentre is to adopt 1link Service Network across its 190 UK outlets, formerly Lex Auto Centres before Nationwide's MBO. The epyx e-commerce platform is already in use at 75 Autocentres.
Sainsbury's Bank's latest Car Buying Index indicates that some 6.44 million people plan to buy a car between now and next February 2004, and will spend an average of £7,167.
The SUV Owners of America group (SUVOA) is delivering a petition with 6,065 supporter names to activist Arianna Huffington and other anti-SUV 'zealots', urging they stop encouraging groups like the Earth Liberation Front.
