Carmakers were accused by Richard Lownsbrough at the AM Used car crossroads conference of excessive pricing of used cars linked to customer satisfaction payments.
Manufacturers have attacked Government plans to reduce new car list prices and allow dealers to import from continental Europe as “unworkable”.
The edges between the new, nearly-new and used car sectors are blurring as dealers take more business from private sellers, according to Mitsubishi general manager of fleet and used cars Matthew Cheyne.
John Kiff, a director of the International Car Distribution Programme, has challenged the industry to develop a new and leaner approach to selling used cars, suggesting there was scope for a futures market.
Richard Foan, Audit Bureau of Circulations managing director, is urging dealers to get involved with the internet immediately or risk missing out on its full potential.
Peter Vardy normally works a 12-hour day running his £1.3bn turnover company which is the UK's third biggest motor retailer.
Gerard Ryan has been confirmed as the new managing director of motor finance giant GE Capital Woodchester. Mr Ryan, the former finance director, had been acting managing director since March.
Dealers turning away people with a poor credit rating - also known as sub prime - are missing out on good long-term potential business, finance adviser John Hawkins told delegates at 'Used car crossroads', the Automotive Management spring conference.
Dealer websites have “room for improvement”, according to HPI automotive director Martin Brassell who believes they need to become more interactive in order to attract used car buyers' attention and provide the dealership with more background information.
Land Rover aims to cash in on the booming double-cab pick-up market with the launch of the Defender 110 Double Cab.
Citroen's specialist commercial vehicle dealer network is now selling a Klege Europ temperature-controlled vehicle.
EasyJet entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou is challenging the car daily rental market with his Easyrentacar.com cut-price rental firm.
Ford is planning a radical shake-up of its new Land Rover division after two years of losses under BMW's ownership.
Phoenix Consortium has called on former Rover executives to fill vital board positions, believing they have the experience and background knowledge to drive the carmaker into profit.
Carmakers face an annual bill of £300m in the UK for scrapping worn-out old cars and light-medium commercial vehicles returned by owners, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Priory Motor Group has acquired Herbert Robinson as both groups seek to take advantage of potential bulk buying 'fleet-type' discounts. The move creates a £209m turnover, 27-outlet business.
Goldman Sachs has been appointed by Standard Chartered to help find a buyer for Chartered Trust. A number of approaches have been made and a likely purchase price would be up to £700m.
LDV, the specialist van maker, recorded a 26% increase in sales in April.
Mercedes-Benz has launched a new service card for all Mercedes truck and van operators.
Virgin Cars' chief executive Ian Lancaster is leading a move to form an association to fight for the rights of internet-linked motor retailers.
Reg Vardy has this week acquired from the receivers the collapsed Anderson Cars' Renault dealership in Aberdeen for £1.725m.
Alfa Romeo's market share has stabilised after a strong rise last year, thanks to the 156.
Dixon Motors has become the first AM100 group to abandon manufacturers' “fantasy” lists in favour of its own pricing scheme.
Pendragon, the AM100-topping dealer group, is to expand its operations in continental Europe. Chief executive Trevor Finn said the company planned to open more dealerships in Germany this year before moving into other European markets.
BMW appears to have overcome its faltering UK image after achieving record registrations for May. The carmaker, which offloaded Rover last month, took 3.03% of the market on sales of 5,890 units, up 18.39% on last year.
David Wilson has joined the unofficial premium brands dealer Cheynedirect to head its specialist Porsche sales division.
Motor dealers' hopes that they can continue to be the mainstay of car sales have been given a fillip by a survey of manufacturers' objectives.
Mercedes-Benz dealership Portway has appointed Mike Sands as dealer principal. He succeeds Mike Lishman who left to join another Mercedes outlet.
Franchised dealers do not believe carmakers are genuine when they claim it would be hard for them to reduce UK new car prices, according to the latest dealer opinion survey.
Peter Vardy, head of the UK's third biggest motor retail group, wants a radical rethink by manufacturers in the way they relate to their franchised dealers.
