Dealers are concerned that falling prices, triggered by the Competition Commission inquiry last year, are encouraging potential buyers to shun used cars in favour of new.
Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealers will retail the Mitsubishi Canter from December. DaimlerChrysler bought Volvo's 3.3% stake in Mitsubishi in April.
The National Automobile Dealers Association has yielded to America's National Football League in a clash of dates caused by the terrorist attacks.
DaimlerChrysler was this week facing an EC fine after being accused of preventing dealers in low-priced European countries from having enough Mercedes-Benz cars to meet demand.
The aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US and concerns over the economy had no effect on UK new car sales which continued to soar last month.
A new service has been launched this month promising to turn insurance write-offs into repair business for bodyshops.
Glass's Information Services, which recently signed insurance giant Zurich to its Glassmatix estimating system, is urging bodyshops to consider production line techniques to boost efficiency.
"The market continues to be a bit of a struggle. Stock that would normally sell quite easily is not finding the bidders and buyers as regularly" - Andrew Shepherd, Manheim Auctions senior group auctioneer.
Honda dealers are using the internet to advise customers whether they should opt for a company car or take a cash payment.
CarLand, the UK used car supermarket group, has signed up Car Care Plan to administer its warranty programme.
Motability Finance Ltd is launching an online system, called mfldirect, to remarket up to 125,000 ex-lease vehicles to dealers.
Confidence in the used car trade has taken its seasonal downslide, reports the latest Used Car Confidence Index from Cap.
"Let us never forget September 11 because it will live with us for the rest of our lives, but let us look forward in a positive way" - Tom Madden, BCA Europe customer affairs' director reflects on the market's reaction to the US terrorist attacks.
GE Capital Woodchester managing director Gerard Ryan expects revised Block Exemption to provide a further impetus to consolidation in the motor industry.
The process of change within the motor industry would continue to be driven by market forces but might be accelerated by revisions to Block Exemption, said Grant Thornton Motor Retail client services director Piers Trenear-Thomas.
Supermarket giants will take-over the retail car market if franchised dealers do not adopt an integrated trading system, said business development manager Mike O'Sullivan, of conference sponsor Ebbon-Dacs.
International Car Distribution Programme director Andrew Tongue says the new Block Exemption regulation would be “less prescriptive and more open to experimentation”.
Carmakers and their dealer networks might be able to set up joint arrangements for self-regulation on such important issues as termination notices under revised Block Exemption, said Malcolm Harbour MEP.
An internet site has joined the battle to drive down new van prices after importer Baglan Car Centre and car supermarket Motorpoint announced their intention to join the fray last week.
Volkswagen is calling on contract hire and leasing companies to widen their supplying dealer base in a bid to speed-up delivery times to customers.
Results from the latest auctions by BCA, Manheim, Motorauctions Leeds and Premier Motorauctions Leeds.
Van manufactuer LDV is confident of a succesful – and independent – future, free from its ties with Daewoo, which were cut earlier this year.
The average showroom has been desribed as a 'boring box' which encourages the level of footfall for dealers that would fail to sustain outlets in other retail sectors.
US and European carmakers are planning to cut total output by up to 700,000 vehicles over the next three months in an attempt to avert an industry downturn in 2002.
The expected flood of part-exchanges following the '51' plate change has failed to materialise, according to Manheim Auctions.
The Reg Vardy Group, ranked third in the AM100, has announced an all-auction disposal policy on non-retail part-exchange vehicles and over-age stock.
Jato Dynamics, the automotive intelligence provider, has acquired a 20% stake in sales network tools provider Winterberg Informationssysteme GmbH (WIS), a move designed to bring benefits from shared technology, data sourcing, sales, marketing and customer care.
The Vindis Group has acquired Sargeants Motor World, adding the Skoda brand to this multi-franchise retailer in Cambridge.
Dealers are being warned of a new threat to their businesses, a powerful computer virus that has reaked havoc in the US.
