Body repairers have praised Retail Motor Industry Federation president John Bond-Smith for highlighting their plight at the association's annual dinner.
IT editor DAVID SUMNER SMITH sets the scene for coverage of the Automotive Management Digital Dealer Fair with this personal view of a developing car sales revolution.
It took time - around 25 years - but at last David Evans has the job he wanted. He is chief executive of the Retail Motor Industry Federation. Not 'acting'. Not 'temporary'. He is the boss.
European Commissioner Mario Monti has repeated his warning to carmakers not to violate European competition laws as he considers a review of the existing Block Exemption regulations.
Edinburgh-based Glenvarigill has paid £4m, the largest investment in its history, to acquire two Audi dealerships from the ailing Abercromby company.
Former Quicks Group chief executive and deputy chairman Alec Murray has been appointed to the board of directors at Black I.
Toyota is to create a network of specialist Hybrid Technology Centres to sell and service Prius, its hybrid petrol-electric saloon.
What Van? magazine has given its Van of the Year title to the all-new Ford Transit.
Pressure from shrinking profit margins has forced many dealers into receivership, despite retailing more cars, according to a new industry report.
Competitiveness minister Alan Johnson drew groans at the RMI annual dinner in London when he attempted to justify the Government's position on the fuel crisis.
Time is running out in the race to win an all-expenses paid trip to NADA 2001 in Las Vegas. There is one week to the closing date for the last quarterly round of the Award for Financial Excellence 2000.
More than 40 companies have fought their way through to the shortlist in the Automotive Management Awards 2000. They are competing for a gold, silver or bronze award in 12 categories, where the winners will receive the accolade of 'finest in the industry'.
BMW's X5 'sports activity vehicle', on sale from next month's Birmingham motor show, marks the start of an assault on the 4x4 market.
BMW GB believes it can challenge top-of-the-range Mondeo, Passat and Vectra after announcing a price realignment of up to 17%.
Three out of four van drivers have received no formal driver training from their employers, according to research from PHH Vehicle Management.
Renault, enjoying considerable success with its stylish Kangoo van, used last week's Frankfurt commercial vehicle show to unveil two new concept vans.
Mitsubishi Motors has launched a van version of its Shogun Pinin to test demand for a compact 4x4 van, with prices starting from £10,995 for the 'i' and £11,995 for the GLX.
Importer MCL is set to cut around one-third of its Mazda UK's head office staff in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, to reduce costs. A company spokesman said the job losses were “one effect of the current difficult state of the market”.
Ford has upset its dealers by not informing them of a plan to launch an online car sales website at next month's Birmingham motor show.
With the continued heavy reliance of contract hire and leasing companies on large volumes of upper medium vehicles, the fortunes of this sector are key to the performance of their operations.
As we have been predicting, price realignment is now well underway. First to move have been the manufacturers of lower volume,executive and prestigious marques.
CarsDirect Europe boss Kevin Gaskell has questioned the wisdom of Microsoft's sponsorship of the Paris motor show which opens this weekend.
Vauxhall Finance's new national marketing manager Andy Savage is planning to arm retailers with the tools to compete against direct lenders and high street operators for finance business.
Peter Rogers has been given the responsibility of shaping HR Owen's training policy after being appointed director of its new Academy.
Carmakers and franchised dealers have attacked an SMMT decision to allow internet-based Virgin Cars to have a high-profile presence at next month's Birmingham motor show. Dealers are not allowed to exhibit.
Honda UK boss Ken Keir predicts that the new Civic, unveiled at the Paris motor show, will raise its new car sales in the UK to “around 90,000” next year.
Vauxhall and Renault took the wraps off their latest joint venture at the Frankfurt commercial vehicle show. The Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic (same name but all-new for Renault) will be built at IBC Vehicles in Luton.
BSM, the UK's largest driving school franchise, has reconfirmed its fleet deal with Vauxhall for the new Corsa. It will take 2,500 cars in various specifications every seven months.
BMW has accepted that it should have invested more money on marketing the C1 in the UK after it returned disappointing sales figures.
