Proton has appointed Mike Unsworth as national sales manager as it prepares for the launch early next year of the GX, described as "the franchise's most significant development for at least half a dozen years".
TWR Jaguar, part of the Sytner Group, has appointed Alex Matschy as general sales manager at the Cumnor Hill, Oxford, dealership. The newly-created position is designed to strengthen TWR Jaguar's management team.
BP Amoco's recent re-branding is likely to have an impact on the marketing of its range of lubricants and a decision about their future is expected by the end of the year. The move to a single brand follows an £80bn series of mergers and acquisitions over the past two years bringing together the former British Petroleum, Amoco Corporation, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and, most recently, Burmah Castrol.
BP has launched a new range of fully synthetic engine oils called BP Visco 7000 0W/40 and 0W/30. Both oils were developed in partnership with VW. The Visco 7000 0W/40 offers greater protection for high performance engines while the 0W/30 oil is for economy motoring.
Dealer groups across the UK are making use of Esso training initiatives to improve staff sales skills and top up on lubricants sales.
Chairman Chris Trotman has pledged "to do business in the right way" after leading a management buy out of Direct Valeting. Mr Trotman won back control of his car preparation business from Direct Auto Services, two years after he sold it to the group. Neither company changed its name.
Managing director Alec Colvin-Smith has appointed two senior managers at North Eastern Land Rover as he looks toward developing other areas of the business, both motor and non-motor related.
Franchised dealers are responsible for a surge in unofficial imports from mainland Europe and Japan as they bid to win back customer confidence with promises of cheaper cars. The British Independent Motor Trade Association predicts that around 140,000 new cars sold in the UK this year will be sourced from mainland Europe.
Mitsubishi Motors UK has completed its internal restructuring programme with the appointment of two general managers and a new director of aftersales.
Employer-provided cars are younger, replaced more often and so ensure new, cleaner technology is used in significant volumes more quickly, says the latest Lex Fleet 2000 Report.
A new market research organisation has branded the findings of the highly regarded JD Power/Top Gear customer satisfaction survey as "highly susceptible to fiddling".
Vauxhall and Renault will unveil the latest van developed as part of project X83, the joint light commercials venture, at the Frankfurt LCV show on September 23. Vauxhall will call its version the Vivaro while Renault will stick with the Trafic name, which has been used since 1980.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has pre-empted growing competition from the likes of Renault and Vauxhall with a series of special offers on its Transporter and LT35 ranges. The Transporter is available with a choice of free servicing, one of five accessory packs or 0% or low rate finance until the end of the year.
Vauxhall is extending Network Q, its used car programme, to include a comprehensive van scheme. Network Q vans will be sold through participating Vauxhall Van Centres, up to a total of 195 sites nationwide. So far 40 centres are operating the scheme.
Nissan has signed a deal to put between 40-50 used cars a month onto Auto Online's business-to-business internet site. Remarketing manager Jon Pollock said Nissan was always looking to develop and exploit new routes to market.
Manheim Auctions has made its site in Mansfield, Notts, a franchised dealer-only sales centre to cope with growing demand from dealer groups in the Midlands.
Ken Thorne Cars is set to open a third World of Cars superstore later this year as it embarks on a 12-month expansion programme.
Hopes that fleet managers would take a positive lead on raising the profile of alternative fuels have been dashed by The Lex Fleet 2000 Report. Many have refused to consider other options, it reveals, despite their environmental and financial benefits. A review of fleet managers showed 73% of fleets had not thought of switching from petrol or diesel.
Jaguar is to fit its adaptive restraint technology system (ARTS) to 2001 model year XK series coupes and convertibles - but not increase prices. Ultrasonic sensors monitor the position and weight of the front passenger and measure the distance of the driver from the steering wheel.
Lubricants specialist Castrol has launched a series of initiatives following publication of the Office of Fair Trading report on car servicing, saying it could lead to a substantial increase in dealership turnover. OFT recommendations included a task force to tackle the problems of training deficiency and quality control.
Dealers stand to benefit from increased lubricants' profitability from one of the largest promotional campaigns to date for the Mobil 1 premium lubricants range. In August, Mobil 1 started one of its heaviest national TV campaigns with its 'tunnels' commercial on terrestrial and satellite stations.
An Automotive Management assessment of seven leading lubricant suppliers websites revealed most companies are ignoring the retail benefits of the internet. Vauxhall has already indicated the profitability of selling car accessories online, where shoppers can list the items they want to purchase and then get in touch with a relevant dealer. But a recent study of the Castrol, Duckhams, BP, Esso, Mobil, Total and Shell websites suggests lubricant suppliers have failed to seize opportunities for online promotions.
Duckhams has launched a summer holiday promotion on its lubricants range, with customers offered a camera with each purchase until October. The new promotion involves a free disposable compact camera worth £5.99 with every 4.5 and 5-litre purchase of Duckham's Premium QXR or Hypergrade.
An innovative solution to the problem of funding 0% finance deals on nearly-new cars has won Gary Norris £1,000 cash in this quarter's Award for Financial Excellence 2000. Mr Norris, dealer principal at Norris Bros, Tamworth, Staffs, offers his customers a bundled package of 0% with full credit protection insurance on all ex-demonstrators.
Some people in the retail motor industry are enthusiastic about information technology, others are wary. But all agree IT is more important than ever. From customer relationship marketing and data management to vehicle sourcing and online car sales, IT is now central to almost every business function. That is what makes the IT Fair such an essential event for everyone in the industry.
Shell UK has formed a joint venture with the Sainsbury's supermarket group to set up a chain of retail sites to sell its lubricants and fuel alongside food. Store trials begin in February. The new stores will combine Shell's branded forecourts with Sainsbury's local store format.
The executive sector, while home to many premium brands, has in recent times been particularly hard hit by the downturn in the used car market. This fact exposes the common misconception that high value brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz are isolated from residual pressures due to badge preference or desirability.
People always look for patterns, especially when retail activity seems sporadic. Talking to dealers it is difficult to find many who are enjoying success with both new and used. Those that are having some success tend to be dealers where separate specialists manage each side of the business.
Auto Trader Interactive managing director Peter McCullough said the recent merger of parent companies Guardian Media Group and Hurst had "lifted the lid" on its online development.<p>
Dealers have been urged to offload unpopular stock as quickly as possible, even if it means taking a loss, to minimise the impact of slumping residual values. Cap Motor Research warns dealers to enforce disciplined stocking policies or risk taking a big hit on cars that fail to find a buyer quickly enough.
