The turnover of two of the three leading groups in the AM100 show a decline for the year compared with June when the main list was published. We are, though, also looking beneath the skin of the AM100 with the assistance of RSM Robson Rhodes.
##Piers--left## For a decade, the AM100 has been the definitive listing of the leading retail motor groups in the UK. In addition to the updated listing of turnovers, we are for the first time publishing a running order of companies based on their ability to produce a successful return on shareholders' funds. Piers Trenear-Thomas, of RSM Robson Rhodes, who produced the analysis, explains its significance.
Universal Salvage is producing a guide for insurers and vehicle salvage specialists as a basis of quality assurance for parts re-entering the market.
CCC International, the European arm of the US motor insurance claims specialist, has announced redundancies at its Peterborough headquarters. The company had recruited ahead of expected growth in the business.
The Motor Vehicle Repairers Association is challenging a court ruling that an MoT testing station should pay damages to a customer who bought a vehicle with a full certificate though it later needed repair.
SPX is to quit the UK aftermarket garage business by the end of the year. The company, whose brands include Dieseltune and Wheelforce, will offer its aftermarket operations to other companies.
Stephen Byers, the Trade and Industry Secretary, has pledged to consider the body repair industry's concerns over what insurance companies describe as anti-competitive activity.
Mercedes-Benz has vowed to “hunt out unscrupulous dealers” who sell fake parts for its vehicles in the UK. The manufacturer is taking legal action against 20 firms claiming they have infringed intellectual property rights.
Audatex is launching the first phase of its internet strategy through a web-based estimating system www.audatex.co.uk.
Two in three franchised dealerships continue to have difficulties in recruiting technicians/mechanics, and sales executives, according to the 2001 retail motor industry pay guide.
Small dealer groups can compete more effectively against larger companies if they make good use of advertising online, according to a survey.
CarsDirect.com, the US online seller, has abandoned its plans for a European operation headed by Kevin Gaskell, former BMW GB managing director.
Renault Nissan, planning to rationalise its engineering platforms, has still not decided whether to build new Micra at Sunderland.
Today, MG Rover released the first details of a vehicle codenamed MG X10, one of three new MG sports saloon cars set for launch next year.
Manchester-based RRG Group, one of the UK's largest privately-owned motor retail groups, was this week sold to a Japanese trading company. The purchase price was thought to be in the region of £15m.
Renault is planning almost to double production of diesel cars next year. Executive vice president Pierre-Alain de Smedt said this year's total of 850,000 would rise to 1.4m in 2001.
Dieter Zetsche, tipped as the successor to DaimlerChrysler boss Jurgen Schrempp, this week started to tackle the task of resolving Chrysler's problems.
Mazda will start building cars at a Ford factory in Europe from early in 2002, with a target of 100,000 a year from 2003.
Reading between the lines of a 140-page EC report on the working of Regulation 1475/95 reveals a blunt message: motor industry Block Exemption does not work.
Bates Motor Group heads a new Automotive Management listing of the top 20 motor retailers in terms of return on shareholders' funds. This month Bates won gold for leading dealer group in the Automotive Management Awards.
Leading London and South-east dealers could be asked to step into the breach left in the London motor show by major motor manufacturers pulling out.
Motor manufacturers are still hedging their bets when its comes to promoted finance packages. The number of genuinely low rate deals in the market is limited.
By any measure this has been a long, hard year for the retail motor industry. Many dealers have faced the toughest time of their business lives, with the industry close to collapse as cashflows are stretched to the limit.
Fierce competition among the direct lenders means rates are starting to edge down again. Alliance & Leicester, one of the most aggressive in the market, has cut personal loan charges at two significant price points.
DaimlerChrysler UK has acquired seven Lex Autosales outlets for £17.95m as it gears up to handle greater used car volumes over the next five years - a result of booming new car sales.
Martyn and Paul Carnell have returned to the motor industry with The Car People, a £4m used car supermarket in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
The increasing number of big-name manufacturers pulling out of next year's London Motor Show could open the door to dealers to exhibit.
Fred Maguire, deputy chairman at Lookers – No15 in the AM100 with a £556m turnover – has clear ambitions to be competing with the big guns. He spoke to Stephen Briers.
New car registrations are expected to slip below 2.2m this year, making it the smallest market since 1997. Disappointing October sales have forced the SMMT to revise its previous bullish forecast of 2.225 million down to 2.185m. Dealers say the shrinking market is due to customers waiting for the new year before placing orders. There is still a lingering belief list prices could fall further, particularly since major players such as Renault and Peugeot have still to make a move.
