The Ford and Jardine Motors joint venture Polar Group has emerged as a likely buyer for First Ford, the Glasgow-based retailer put into receivership by Ford Credit Europe.
The Vehicle Inspectorate is warning garages to ignore letters sent by rogue companies demanding a £95 fee to hold customers' names and addresses on a computer.
The potential for service workshops and fast-fits to offer their customers an acoustic “a la carte” choice when it comes to replacing their exhaust systems could open up a whole new USP for the products.
Vauxhall boss Kevin Wale has dismissed fears - emanating from Europe - that the new Vectra is struggling.
Renault UK is opening a second wave of Premier Centres, taking the network from 31 to 55, as it bids to boost flagging sales of its Avantime and Vel Satis prestige models.
Dealers piloting Nissan's new fast-fit operation, Nissan Rapid Service - due to be rolled out to the manufacturer's 230 UK outlets from next year - have been reporting booming sales of replacement parts.
Although AM (November 8 issue ) which went to press this week points to provisional figures suggesting a 2.5 per cent downturn in new car registrations in October, a late flurry of postal sales notifications have pushed up the final total for the month much nearer to year-earlier levels.
More than a third of replacement starters and alternators returned under warranty in the UK displayed no product fault or manufacturing defects, TRW Automotive claims.
GM Daewoo used the recent British International Motor Show at Birmingham to announce a centralised vehicle service booking facility.
Vauxhall has slashed brake disc and pad kit prices by up to 60 per cent as the precursor to a major promotional push for brake servicing work through its franchised dealer networks and independent garages.
Fifteen years ago a big Ford meant a Granada. And if you needed to shift more than five adults, a Transit minibus was the only option.
Big people carriers make little sense for the average-sized family. They're bulky, awkward to park, thirsty and expensive to buy and run. A medium MPV can do the job just as well at a lower price.
Buying patterns have changed dramatically in recent years. Where once November and December were very quiet for both trade and retail, now there's quite a flurry of trade buying during those months.
Kia Motors UK's last-minute decision to exhibit at the Birmingham motor show was taken to prove to dealers interested in joining the franchised network - and potential customers - that the company is developing “fresh and innovative” new products.
Gerard Murray has quit Reg Vardy after just 18 months as chief executive. An official statement said Murray had left to “pursue other business interests”.
Car World Direct.com, the wholesaler of nearly new vehicles and new EU imports, is predicting an annual turnover exceeding £170m after purchasing FRL, the UK importer of new European cars.
In spite of the Motor Show organiser's protestations at Trade secretary Patricia Hewitt's blistering attack on a Motor Show ad as “sexist” and “old-fashioned” an AM vox-pop of showgoers suggest the SMMT should be sending Ms Hewitt a note of thanks.
Industry sources are warning of a possible collapse of MG Rover's joint venture with China Brilliance.
Severe winter weather and the resulting spate of accidents could put the UK's bodyshop sector under severe pressure, says the Body Owners Fellowship.
A Government Minister says the UK motor sport industry is the 'Jewel in the Crown' of UK manufacturing.
The Government/industry body set up to foster greater focus on safety in car design has announced a series of top-level meetings next year which it says will lead to a whole new generation of safer vehicles.
The RMI has given the 'thumbs-up' to Government plans for a garage licensing scheme.
Jaguar is on the way to solving its global aftermarket back order situation, according to one supplier.
Less than a third of franchised dealers have tyre-fitting facilities.
The chief executive of Reg Vardy, Gerard Murray, announced his resignation this week.
PSA Peugeot Citroen has announced plans to build a new European assembly plant in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, or the Czech Republic. The company is setting aside around £440 million for the investment, which will add production capacity for a further 300,000 vehicles a year.
If you supply number plates you must register with the DVLA by 1 January 2003. The new Register of Number Plate Suppliers is a Government move aimed at making it more difficult for thieves to obtain fake number plates to put on stolen vehicles.
Steven Fuller, managing director of SJ Fuller Autobodies of Bridgend and David Lawlor, Allianz Cornwall Engineer, are the winners of the certification phase of the Allianz Cornhill/Audatex Estimating Standards Programme.
Although Mitsubishi is set to reduce its European dealer network by 20% over the next five years, the focus in the UK is on growth in the medium term.
