Once upon a time having a Mercedes-Benz C-class or BMW 3-series showed you had made it in the junior executive ranks and were on your way up the corporate ladder.
Softlab Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW Group, has sold its UK automotive OEM software, systems integration and services business to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC).
BMW stole Jaguar's lead in the latest biannual RMI Dealer Attitude Survey, but Chrysler took a hammering from its Jeep dealers.
Former Ryland Group director Nick Whale this week said Damon Hill's new BMW dealership would remain outside his group “for now”.
Toyota and BMW are to encourage dealers to use HPI's GoldCheck and National Mileage Register as part of their approved used car programmes. Twenty-eight manufacturers now approve access to HPI's services.
Prices of Mercedes-Benz cars in the UK will rise by an average of 1.73% from April 2 due to “inflationary pressures”. The new C-class Sports Coupe, a direct rival for the forthcoming BMW 3 Series Compact, goes on sale from May 17 priced from £20,290. That buys the C180; the C200 Kompressor is £21,790, C230K £23,250 and C220 CDI £22,825.
BMW enjoyed its best financial performance ever in 2000 built on a determination to develop its standing in the premium sector and despite have to absorb £500m losses from the Rover Group prior to its sale in May.
BMW today announced that it will not be showing Mini at this year's London motor show. Instead the company is concentrating on creating brand awareness during the launch through a newly re-designed interactive website.
Sytner Group opened an exclusive BMW Store yesterday in Cheapside, in the centre of London's City square mile.
Ex-Formula One racing champion Damon Hill has said he has serious intentions of growing his car retail business after today announcing the acquisition of the Warwick Sytner BMW dealership for an undisclosed sum.
<b>GENEVA MOTOR SHOW:</b> The first all-new car to be introduced by MG Rover since its sell-off by BMW will be a medium sector model designed as a direct competitor to the Volkswagen Golf.
The new March Y-plate sees a number of specification improvements and upgrades to the BMW model range. The M Roadster and M Coupé make a return featuring the engine from the new M3, 3 Series Sport Saloons gain extra specification and a range of 3 Series Sport Tourings make their UK debut.
BMW will be debuting the 3 Series Compact, with the new British-built Valvetronic engine, the X5 3.0d and the M3 with Sequential M gearbox at the Geneva motor show.
BMW has made clear its commitment to prosper as a specialist producer of vehicles - finally laying to rest the ghost of its aspirations to become a volume player - at the opening of its £400m engine plant at Hams Hall.
##X30small--left## MG Rover has this morning unveiled three new MG model ranges due for launch in the autumn which it believes will show the motoring world that eight months after it gained its independence from BMW ownership it is once again a premier player in the industry.
The man behind the development of the new face of MG Rover - the X10, X20 and X30 - revealed that the company used stealth in its dealings with former owner BMW to bring the cars to the public.
Rover - or MG Rover as it is now known - is trying to rebuild itself following a tumultuous year in which the company which was reported to have cost BMW £2million a day was sold by its German owners.
BMW has signed the contracts for 150 dealerships - 95% of the network - to sell the forthcoming new Mini.
MG Rover is blaming a reduction in the volume of parts bought and the need to buy some items from BMW for a price increase.
MG Rover will begin repaying the £500m loan to BMW from 2004 - if it has moved into profit.
