News - Page 1662

Leading accident management company Motorcare has been acquired by The Innovation Group (TIG), the global insurance e-business software firm.

LDV, the West Midlands-based van manufacturer, has taken a £2m order for LPG-powered vehicles.

BSkyB has launched its business-to-business Automotive Channel, which from November will provide manufacturers the facility to communicate directly to their dealer networks.

For purists the Birmingham motor show is not worth visiting.

Tucked away in hall 6 was a rare event at Birmingham motor show - a world unveiling in the true sense.

All Volvo Car UK dealers will be told by the end of the year whether they have a future with the marque.

Fiat hopes to increase its share of the UK light commercial vehicle market from 3.5% to 5% with the arrival of the new Punto van and all-new Doblo.

After months of uncertainty the carmakers have finally accepted the inevitable and cut list prices. What started last month with the prestige brands as a trickle has turned into a flood. First Ford; now Vauxhall has moved.

Mario Monti, the European Competition Commissioner charged with deciding the future legal framework for car distribution and sales in Europe, has given the clearest indication yet of sweeping changes to Block Exemption legislation after 2002.

A Ford dealership group has been created to rescue Somerset-based Whyte Knight which collapsed early this year. Edwards of Salisbury, with a turnover of around £60m, will control a large market area taking in central Somerset and stretching across into west Wiltshire.

The success of the 206 range in the UK has taken Peugeot registrations above 100,000 units for the first six months of the year. The milestone means the company, French owned but with a manufacturing base in the UK, joins Ford and Vauxhall to create a 'Big 3' in the UK market.

European Motor Holdings chief executive Richard Palmer, buoyed by a falling threat from unofficial importers, plans to buy more prestige dealerships.

Renault UK announced a three-year warranty on all models as the Birmingham motor show opened at the NEC but a spokesman did not anticipate any immediate price cuts.

Bristol Street Holdings, the multi-franchised group which owns the Motor Nation used car supermarkets, has emerged as a possible buyer of Lex Autosales.

Volvo Car UK believes the new S60 will enable it to mount a challenge to the BMW 3 Series. Communications director John Lefley said: "The BMW is still the benchmark car worldwide but what Lexus has achieved with IS200 Volvo can achieve with this car.

Twelve leading Scottish motor dealer groups with a combined annual turnover of more than £500m are forecasting big savings through a buying consortium.

Computer software giant Microsoft is preparing for next year's pan-European launch of its Carview automotive website as manufacturers cut prices.

Compact executive sector model launches will allow prestige brands to challenge volume carmakers, said Audi UK director Kevin Rose at the UK launch of the latest A4.

Autobytel has abandoned its original strategy of offering parallel imports because cuts have started to harmonise UK and other EU prices.

MG Rover made "a tactical error" by staying away from the Birmingham motor show, said Professor Garel Rhys, of Cardiff Business School.

Around 1,750 franchised dealers are to have access to used cars bought at wholesale prices enjoyed by leading retail groups.

Daewoo Cars wants to retain its owned UK retail structure, regardless of which carmaker acquires the manufacturer.

Ford and Firestone are facing increased legal pressure to recall more Explorers as relatives linked to fatal tyre failure crashes seek damages.

Carmakers are about to be forced to declare pre-registrations, the pratice which 'doesn't exist' according to some executives. Rupert Saunders explains how the system will work.

Massive preregistration by carmakers and dealers failed to push the September new car market past the psychologically important 400,000 mark and it finally stalled at 386,999 units, the low end of most industry forecasts.

Ford will at next week's Birmingham motor show unveil a plan to offer its whole range over the internet at a discount.

Audi this week announced its new A4, attempting to catch attention in the gap between the Paris and Birmingham motor shows.

General Motors and Fiat this week confirmed plans to conduct preliminary due diligence at cash-strapped Daewoo Motors.

Ford Motor Company and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced at the Paris motor show that they would co-operate in automotive telematics in Europe. Other carmakers are being asked to decide whether they would like to join the co-operation.

ACEA, the European carmakers trade association, is stepping up its campaign in support of Block Exemption ahead of the European Commission's review.