HPI, the used vehicle information specialist, has redesigned its trade guarantee to make it more flexible for automotive retailers. The new HPI Indemnity means that dealers can make sure all vehicles that have been checked are automatically covered.
All those who thought telematics was a new wave band from 1981 - sorry, nil points. While the word was unknown to the automotive industry just a few years ago, telematics is now top of the pops among carmakers as the ever richening technologies of in-car information, entertainment and communications continue to converge on car cockpits.
Cheshire-based Blue Bell group has opened a state-of-the-art BMW approved bodyshop at Brooke Park, Handforth Dean. The new site can handle up to 100 cars a week, more than tripling the capacity when the facility was based at the group's nearby Wilmslow dealership.
Car-O-Liner's new Mark 6 bench is capable of lifting a 2.8-tonnes vehicle to a working height of 1.36m. That's heavier and higher than its predecessors and the chassis repair specialist has ensured the latest system is fully compatible with those that have gone before.
Cars running without an effective cabin filter can subject occupants to as much as six times more pollutants than those to which a pedestrian standing at the roadside is exposed, according to Bosch. Launching a July 1 to September 30 promotion, the company says the conclusion of a study carried out by air quality experts enlisted by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, provides garages with an irrefutable sales pitch for replacement cabin filters.
MG Rover is considering rebadging China Brilliance's medium sector Zhonghua car and selling it in the UK, despite speculation over the future of the two groups' alliance.
Land Rover is expected to spin off its logistics division, which employs 770 staff, as part of an efficiency drive designed to secure future production at its Solihull plant. Ford, which owns the off-road specialist, needs assurances Land Rover can improve efficiency before guaranteeing production of future models. Jaguar underwent similar restructuring at its Castle Bromwich factory a few years ago.
Incoming Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders president Mike Baunton aims to address a number of key issues during his term. Baunton, president of Perkins Engines Company, will succeed Vauxhall chairman Nick Reilly in the post on July 22.
MG Rover has signed a two-year deal to sponsor Aston Villa in a move that is sure to dismay Birmingham City supporting employees and customers. The company says the deal is a “marriage between the Midlands' premier car manufacturer and premier football club” which will raise the profile of the MG and Rover brands through TV and press coverage.
The official sales data won't be out until Monday, but our information already marks May a record month. Provisional new car registrations figures, accurate until May 28, show that month-to-date figures are already up by 1.33 per cent from 154,584 to 156,637 over the same period last year.
Dealers could see their dominance of the UK car market cut dramatically by the end of the decade as new entrants like supermarkets slice into their market share. However, the focus on aftersales and financial services is likely to intensify due to falling margins on new car sales strengthening relationships between carmakers and dealers.
Lex Service, the company that owns RAC, is assembling a new firm to offer drivers financial services as it strives to create a “cradle to grave” motoring solutions network. Working with the UK's third largest general insurer, AXA Insurance, the RAC is creating RAC Financial Services.
Sytner Group has fought off competition from rival dealers to take control of the flagship Toyota World showroom in Birmingham. The dealership becomes Sytner's first Toyota outlet, although parent company United Auto Group has a strong relationship with the carmaker in the US. Sytner is likely to take on more Toyota territories.
Inchcape has set up a deal to sell nearly new cars via the Barclaycard website as it looks to broaden its routes to market and source greater numbers of ex-fleet models. The deal has been established through Inchcape's online car sourcing operation Autobytel. It allows customers to view and order vehicles up to four years old online.
Fiat's creditors have rushed to the aid of the stricken Italian car giant by agreeing to support a £2bn emergency aid package amid fears the ailing carmaker could be sold. Its three main creditor banks - Banca di Roma SpA, IntesaBCI, Sanpaolo IMI - will loan £1.9bn, which can be converted in to equity through a capital increase if the carmaker fails to meet debt targets.
Mercedes-Benz will bypass its dealer network by using 'special agents' to sell the new Maybach range from its launch at the end of the year. The carmaker plans to appoint highly trained personal liaison officers to handle the new super limousine rather than use its established automotive retailers. They will be supported by a team of service specialists with a dozen engineers on national standby.
Mazda will not expand European production despite major cost savings generated by building the Demio replacement, to be badged Mazda 2, in Valencia, Spain, from early next year. According to Lewis Booth, who replaces Mark Fields as company president in July, Mazda superminis produced at Ford's Spanish plant will cost £800 less per unit to build than Japanese-sourced cars.
DaimlerChrysler UK has won a crucial victory in its fight on counterfeit and fake parts after settling a two-year High Court case against Wembley-based Euro Car Parts. The company, which turns over £50m a year from importing German, French and Scandinavian aftermarket parts, has agreed to pay DCUK £50,000 and stop selling Mercedes-Benz branded replica alloy wheels.
Alistair Darling has been handed responsibility for resuscitating the Government's crisis-stricken 10-year transport policy after replacing Stephen Byers as Transport Secretary. Byers, who featured at No 50 in the AM Power List resigned after a troubled 12 months as Transport Secretary.
Mitsubishi UK is planning a significant expansion of its retail network over the next 18 months in readiness for the introduction of its all-new supermini, known internally as the Z-car. Director of sales and marketing Paul Williams says Mitsubishi aims to increase the number of UK retail outlets from 132 to 140 by the end of this year, and to 150 by the end of 2003, just as the Z-car reaches the UK market.
Volkswagen Financial Services has launched a flexible PCP package to help its dealers fight back against direct lenders which are taking a growing slice of the finance market. Dealers in the Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda networks will use the New Solutions PCP to boost penetration levels for new car sales.
Michael Wilmshurst, a director of automotive trade consultant Troy Solutions, has been appointed chief executive officer of Nationwide Accident Repair Services, replacing Adrian Dunleavy who announced his resignation last month.
In an interview with <I>Global Auto Insider</I>, former head of Ford Premier Automotive Group Wolfgang Reitzle claims that Bob Lutz, General Motors vice chairman, offered him an opportunity to run the Opel and Saab divisions which would have led to him succeeding Lutz after 2004.
General Motors is considering selling Daewoo models alongside Vauxhall cars at its UK dealer network. A GM transfer team, due in the country within a month, will be assessing the opportunities for multi-franchising.
Organisers of the London Motor Show have unveiled a raft of incentives to persuade manufacturers to attend the 2003 event, including increasing dealers' involvement and broadening the show's appeal.
Bentley Motors is to launch a new parts and servicing scheme to capitalise on a market worth an estimated £325m a year. Through Crewe Genuine Parts the prestige carmaker will offer original equipment and servicing expertise for Crewe-built Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars through Bentley's 140-strong authorised dealer network.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is assessing a report on used parts which concludes that there is significant potential to raise the penetration of recycled parts use in the aftermarket. Consultancy Environmental Resources Management (ERM) found that the biggest barrier to repairers using recycled parts was the lack of professionalism among dismantlers.
MG Rover is changing the name of its parts business, which has an estimated turnover of about £250m, from MG Rover parts to Xpart in a bid to drive business forward.In addition to the name change, the firm has appointed John Parkinson, the former MG Rover sales and marketing director, as Xpart's new managing director.
The Scottish Motor Dealers Buying Group (SMDBG), set up 18 months ago to enable operators to buy services in bulk, is in talks with retailers in England as it looks to build up volume. The group, founded by Paul Barnett, managing director of Dundee-based Barnetts Motor Group, has 18 members in Scotland.
