Tuesday, November 07, 2006
IMI beefs up benefits for industry learners
The Institute of the Motor Industry has teamed up with the National Union of Students to offer candidates registered on IMI qualifications a range of lifestyle discounts.
More than 20,000 students of the IMI will have access to a wide range of student benefits. Nigel Beaven, director of marketing, IMI, said: “This new initiative will give students a wide range of benefits from both IMI membership and the NUS, that they would not have had access to before, which should make a real difference during their learning.”
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
More than 20,000 students of the IMI will have access to a wide range of student benefits. Nigel Beaven, director of marketing, IMI, said: “This new initiative will give students a wide range of benefits from both IMI membership and the NUS, that they would not have had access to before, which should make a real difference during their learning.”
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
Howard Basford invests in UK sites
Independent accident repair group Howard Basford has invested over £500,000 into upgrading equipment at all nine of its sites.
Every technician and welder at the company’s 300-strong workforce is also to undergo training in the latest repair method.
Chairman Tracy Howard said the investment was crucial to help the group face the technical challenges of new technologies and materials appearing in its bodyshops.
This follows a recent estimate by the Auto Body Porfessionals Club that fewer than 25 per cent of the UK’s 6000 bodyshops were trained and equipped to deal with advanced high strength steels.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
Every technician and welder at the company’s 300-strong workforce is also to undergo training in the latest repair method.
Chairman Tracy Howard said the investment was crucial to help the group face the technical challenges of new technologies and materials appearing in its bodyshops.
This follows a recent estimate by the Auto Body Porfessionals Club that fewer than 25 per cent of the UK’s 6000 bodyshops were trained and equipped to deal with advanced high strength steels.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
Used car sales set to soar
Over five million people in the UK are expected to buy used cars in the six months to February 2007.
According to research by Sainsbury's bank, total expenditure on second-hand vehicles will be close to £26bn during that period.
Steven Baillie, Sainsbury’s Bank loans manager said that figure could be significantly reduced if consumers were prepared to barter.
"Haggling could save hundreds or even thousands of pounds, unfortunately many of us are reticent to do this," he added.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
According to research by Sainsbury's bank, total expenditure on second-hand vehicles will be close to £26bn during that period.
Steven Baillie, Sainsbury’s Bank loans manager said that figure could be significantly reduced if consumers were prepared to barter.
"Haggling could save hundreds or even thousands of pounds, unfortunately many of us are reticent to do this," he added.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
New car sales see slight October upturn
October saw new car volumes take a slight upturn to mark only the second monthly gain this year.
SMMT figures showed sales up 0.9 per cent over the 2005 total, pushing the month's registrations to 153,851. The figure for the year to October, however, still remained depressed at 2.05 million units, 3.2 per cent down on the same period last year.
The SMMT revised its 2006 full-year forecast to 2.345m, 15,000 units above its previous estimate, after the stronger than expected September performance.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
SMMT figures showed sales up 0.9 per cent over the 2005 total, pushing the month's registrations to 153,851. The figure for the year to October, however, still remained depressed at 2.05 million units, 3.2 per cent down on the same period last year.
The SMMT revised its 2006 full-year forecast to 2.345m, 15,000 units above its previous estimate, after the stronger than expected September performance.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
VW considers job cuts
Volkswagen is reported to be planning to shed 2,400 jobs in its plants in Belgium, Portugal and Spain.
The carmaker is looking to significantly cut the capacity of plants in western Europe as well as to reduce production.
However, reports said there were no plans to close any plants. The supervisory board of the car maker will meet to discuss production planning over the next few years on 17 November.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
The carmaker is looking to significantly cut the capacity of plants in western Europe as well as to reduce production.
However, reports said there were no plans to close any plants. The supervisory board of the car maker will meet to discuss production planning over the next few years on 17 November.
DATED: 07.11.06
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Aston Martin attracts private equity group interest
Aston Martin could return to British ownership after it emerged two UK investment groups are preparing bids for the luxury marque.
According to reports, Permira and Alchemy Partners are each considering £500m bids for the company but will face competition from US buyout firm Texas Pacific Group.
Ford put Aston Martin up for sale this summer. It is expected to command a price of between £350m - £1bn.
DATED: 07.11.06
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According to reports, Permira and Alchemy Partners are each considering £500m bids for the company but will face competition from US buyout firm Texas Pacific Group.
Ford put Aston Martin up for sale this summer. It is expected to command a price of between £350m - £1bn.
DATED: 07.11.06
FEED: MT
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Inchcape extends BCA partnership
Inchcape Retail and BCA have announced a new remarketing deal that will see the two companies combine to sell around 60,000 vehicles over the next three years.
The UK’s second largest dealer group has been remarketing stock through BCA since 1994, with the new announcement extending that partnership until 2009. Cliff Deller, who heads up Inchcape Retail’s used car programme, said: “We will continue to work together to look for innovative ideas, identify best practice and process efficiencies, thereby improving returns to our dealerships.”
DATED: 05.11.06
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The UK’s second largest dealer group has been remarketing stock through BCA since 1994, with the new announcement extending that partnership until 2009. Cliff Deller, who heads up Inchcape Retail’s used car programme, said: “We will continue to work together to look for innovative ideas, identify best practice and process efficiencies, thereby improving returns to our dealerships.”
DATED: 05.11.06
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New marketing boss for DCUK
DaimlerChrysler UK has appointed Ian Dutfield to the position of marketing director for the Mercedes Car Group.
Dutfield takes on the role from December, having been with the company for over 20 years. He joined as a technical adviser and was promoted through a variety of roles in aftersales to become dealer operations manager and then service support director.
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Dutfield takes on the role from December, having been with the company for over 20 years. He joined as a technical adviser and was promoted through a variety of roles in aftersales to become dealer operations manager and then service support director.
DATED: 05.11.06
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Dealers fail to stock most wanted used cars
Dealers are failing to stock the used cars consumers want and are missing out on sales and profitability as a result.
Most used car buyers are looking for vehicles over the age of three years but models less than one year old are prominent on franchised dealer forecourts, a study by Eurotaxglass’s found.
The research found that the market is still dominated by buyers seeking older used cars but many dealers are increasingly burdened with expensive late models less than one-year-old.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
Most used car buyers are looking for vehicles over the age of three years but models less than one year old are prominent on franchised dealer forecourts, a study by Eurotaxglass’s found.
The research found that the market is still dominated by buyers seeking older used cars but many dealers are increasingly burdened with expensive late models less than one-year-old.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
Lookers expands with Kia
Lookers has expanded its presence in the north west with the addition of two Kia dealerships in Macclesfield and Stockport.
The expansion also reinforces the brand’s progress towards its target of 100,000 new car sales by 2010. Ken Surgenor, chief executive of Lookers, said: “We are certain that by bringing Kia to our network of dealerships we will be complimenting our existing portfolio of franchises.”
The announcement comes ahead of next year’s launch of the Kia c’eed, the brand’s highly anticipated C-segment model.
DATED: 05.11.06
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The expansion also reinforces the brand’s progress towards its target of 100,000 new car sales by 2010. Ken Surgenor, chief executive of Lookers, said: “We are certain that by bringing Kia to our network of dealerships we will be complimenting our existing portfolio of franchises.”
The announcement comes ahead of next year’s launch of the Kia c’eed, the brand’s highly anticipated C-segment model.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
Dealer car sales plummet in October
The positive effect of the plate change month was brutally brief as dealers' new car sales in October fell at their fastest rate in ten months.
According to the Confederation of British Industry’s monthly survey of distributive trades, reported sales fell by 42 per cent – the biggest decline since December 2005 when a drop of 43 per cent was recorded.
The CBI said volumes in the sector were not expected to improve in November, with the boost to sales of new registration plates lasting just one month.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
According to the Confederation of British Industry’s monthly survey of distributive trades, reported sales fell by 42 per cent – the biggest decline since December 2005 when a drop of 43 per cent was recorded.
The CBI said volumes in the sector were not expected to improve in November, with the boost to sales of new registration plates lasting just one month.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
Mini to stand alone
Mini aims to establish an entirely solus dealer network by the beginning of 2009.
At present just under half of its 154-strong UK network operates from Mini-only outlets with the rest sharing dealerships with parent company BMW.
Mini wants all customer facing services to be dedicated solely to the brand although back office facilities could still serve both brands. The second generation Mini Cooper and Cooper S go on sale in the UK on 18 November.
DATED: 05.11.06
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At present just under half of its 154-strong UK network operates from Mini-only outlets with the rest sharing dealerships with parent company BMW.
Mini wants all customer facing services to be dedicated solely to the brand although back office facilities could still serve both brands. The second generation Mini Cooper and Cooper S go on sale in the UK on 18 November.
DATED: 05.11.06
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Pentagon to open all-brand used car site
Pentagon Group are preparing for the opening of their new all-brand used car operation in Barnsley in January .
The Pentagon Car Shop is being built on a two-acre site which once housed a Fiat dealership and a large used car operation.
The group is currently redeveloping the showroom and 8-bay aftersales facility. It is estimated that the site will house in excess of 250 used cars.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
The Pentagon Car Shop is being built on a two-acre site which once housed a Fiat dealership and a large used car operation.
The group is currently redeveloping the showroom and 8-bay aftersales facility. It is estimated that the site will house in excess of 250 used cars.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
Britain the most costly place to run a car
Britain is Europe's most expensive place to run a car, a new survey has claimed.
The average cost of running a family saloon in the UK is £4,997 a year, which is £642 more than Spain, £513 more than France and £320 more than Germany.
With an average mileage of 12,500 miles a year, UK car ownership works out at 40p per mile. The survey, carried out by Prudential Car Insurance, also found that new cars can cost up to £2,000 more here than in other European countries.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
The average cost of running a family saloon in the UK is £4,997 a year, which is £642 more than Spain, £513 more than France and £320 more than Germany.
With an average mileage of 12,500 miles a year, UK car ownership works out at 40p per mile. The survey, carried out by Prudential Car Insurance, also found that new cars can cost up to £2,000 more here than in other European countries.
DATED: 05.11.06
FEED: MT
