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.
BCA has linked with Vauxhall to stage its first Live On Line auction outside the US. The sale, staged last month at the Blackbushe centre in Camberley, Surrey, combined live video and audio technology enabling dealers to compete over the internet with buyers in the auction hall.
Auction-based used car website Auto Trade-Ins.com has gone live aiming to help dealers offload slow or unwanted stock. Roger Mole, who developed the system, said: "Being able to move part-exchange and traded-in vehicles is an essential part of getting large volumes of new or replacement vehicles into the marketplace.
Autohit has made it easier for consumers to compare prices on automotive websites with the launch of the www.carpricecheck.com website. Consumers select the make and model they are interested in or type in the details of the best deal they have found on the internet.
Direct Line claims to be selling more than 100 cars a week on its Jamjar.com website since last month's launch. The website, a joint venture with Dixon Motors, supplies mostly UK-sourced cars, but also includes unofficial imports.
Motorists can now access independent car reviews on mobile phones thanks to Wap (Wireless Application Protocol) technology. Wap phones currently offer brief summaries of cars with prices. Now car buyers can download comprehensive press reviews with AutoLocate's 'dial-a-review' initiative.
eBid is set to launch a new car auction site featuring preregistered stock. The online auctions firm is near agreement with a large dealer group in the north of England to supply the cars for the venture. The auction site will have around 5,000 cars at launch, most of which are likely to be preregistered and heavily discounted.
Automotive Management is to be the exclusive media partner in the Castrol/IMI gold medal award 2000. Last year the Institute of the Motor Industry and Castrol, sponsor of the award, invited Automotive Management and AutoExpress to broaden debate in drawing up a short list. Tony Willard, Automotive Management editor, who will be on the judging panel, said: “We're delighted to be so closely associated with this award which has a unique standing in the motor industry.
Retail Motor Industry Federation Bodyshop Services' officials have met representatives from the Association of Body Repairers, sparking speculation that the two companies could merge under the RMI umbrella.
Zurich Insurance, which axed nearly one-third of its approved bodyshop network last month, continues to reject compensation claims from repairers. The insurer has also refused to talk to any trade association other than the MVRA, which helped to broker the original contract.
Plexus Online, the internet-based accident management company, goes live in September with two unnamed clients and a 300-strong bodyshop network. It aims to maximise repairer and insurer profits on every job while raising customer satisfaction.
Dealer Car Manager has teamed up with insurance giant CGU to offer dealers an opportunity to profit from courtesy cars, while minimising the expense of demonstrators and company vehicles. The service is designed to address the problems of ensuring adequate insurance cover is in force and minimise administration for dealership staff.
The booming local business market offers dealers an ideal opportunity to replace income lost as the private buyers 'strike' continues, according to Pawan Pandya, Paragon Car Finance managing director.
