Walter Scherg, general manager of Smart UK, told his staff to carry hunting knives in the early days of the brand's existence on these shores. He talks to AM-online.
DaimlerChrysler has adopted the euro for its entire operations, including vehicle pricing on the continent.
Seat is resigned to losing customers seeking “basic transportation” as it launches a five- year “brand renovation” prog-ramme, beginning with the new Ibiza in April.
Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket chain, has well advanced plans in place to begin selling new cars but is unlikely to enter the sector before next year's Block Exemption changes.
British executives have been appointed to senior Premier Automotive Group management positions as Ford looks to allay fears over the future of its premium group.
Results from the latest auctions by BCA, Manheim and Motorauctions Leeds.
Prime Minister, Tony Blair gave his endorsement to the new Range Rover at a special preview of the vehicle at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, where he was accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt.
Legal firm Lawgistics, which specialises in providing legal help to the motor industry, has launched a dealer support programme called Black Box, aimed at ensuring they are aware of the law.
The Department of Trade and Industry is to invite senior business figures to be part of a new strategy board designed to make the Government organisation more business-friendly.
Volkswagen is to divide its seven car brands into two new groups based around the VW and Audi marques.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders today urged Chancellor Gordon Brown to bring a stable currency and lower taxes to the motor industry in his pre-budget statement tomorrow.
“I don't know whether it is just me, but recently I seem to have been inundated with people having a moan about the number of problems they are having with their vehicles." - Martin Ward, Cap Motor Research's national research manager, on how the advances of science are challenging the customer and the dealer.
Manufacturers and motoring experts are divided over the future of fuel. Jim McGill was at Michelin's Challenge Bibendum in California to judge the progress of new technologies.
Ford is expected to announce today the creation of a single management board controlling Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin.
"Vendors are certainly enjoying a much better market than we had during the last two weeks of September and the first two weeks of October and certainly the present "upbeat" market should continue through to Christmas" - Andrew Shepherd, Manheim's senior group auctioneer.
A Labour MP is calling for a ban on drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel.
Citroen has set a distance record for electric vehicles, with two Saxo Electrics covering 1,712km (1,064 miles) in 24 hours and 58 seconds on a closed track in France.
European automotive pricing analysis service, eurocarprice.com has just launched its redesigned web site with new features including an Index of fleet (three-year-old) residual values for passenger cars and a European taxation section.
Simon Frith, Lexus GB's general manager of operations, is to leave the company to join the RRG dealer group as operations director, based at Salford Quays.
The 2002 Retail Motor Industry Pay Guide, produced jointly by the RMI and Sewells Information and Research and published at the end of this month, shows a 'headline' increase in basic pay across all sectors was 3% between 2000 and 2001.
International Motors Limited has appointed a new national franchise development manager to look after its network of UK Subaru and Isuzu dealerships.
HR Owen is the first dealer group to sign up to Experian's new online consumer information service, which is launched next month.
Nearly half of used cars sold via Lookers' internet business are in areas where the group has no dealership representation.
Almost half of Britain's motor retailers expect their businesses to grow over the next 12 months, even though most anticipate a decline in the economy.
Fleetlease is developing a personal leasing package for dealers through its Nova Vehicle Finance operation. The scheme, designed to attract ex-company car drivers who have taken the cash option, is being piloted with a national dealer group with a possible launch early next year.
Sung-Kee Kim, UK managing director of Daewoo Cars, is confident of attracting at least one dealer a week during 2002. The company, which jettisoned its pioneering direct-deal approach earlier this year, wants to rapidly build up the dealer network to stem falling sales.
Vauxhall and Opel are to produce a new large car which General Motors' European engineers believe will offer a radical alternative to Mercedes' E-class and BMW's 5 Series.
CD Bramall chairman Tony Bramall, who made a fortune from motor retailing and returned to head a major group, is one of five motor industry personalities nominated for the 2001 Castrol IMI Gold Medal.
Scotland's leading Ford dealer has attacked the “discount-led” success of manufacturers such as Renault and Citroen, claiming they do not honour the “gentlemen's agreement” which followed last year's price changes.
BMW will not be at next year's Birmingham motor show, believing it can use the £1.5m-plus cost more effectively as it sets a 100,000 sales target, combined with Mini.
