Thursday, May 10, 2007
FLA News
David Betteley, of Toyota Financial Services, has been elected chairman until 2009 of the Finance and Leasing Association.
Doug Moody, director of Daimler Chrysler Financial Services, has been appointed chairman of the FLA's motor finance division for a two year term.
New chairman of the asset finance division is Richard Priestman of Lombard North Central and Nigel Terrington of Paragon becomes chairman of the consumer finance division .
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: AW
Doug Moody, director of Daimler Chrysler Financial Services, has been appointed chairman of the FLA's motor finance division for a two year term.
New chairman of the asset finance division is Richard Priestman of Lombard North Central and Nigel Terrington of Paragon becomes chairman of the consumer finance division .
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: AW
JCT600 buys Bentley site from Inchcape
£3m Newcastle deal gives group second outlet with brand
JCT600 has acquired Bentley Newcastle from Inchcape in a £3m deal which brings its network up to 42 sites in the north of England.
This will be the second Bentley site operated by the group, rated 13 in the Motor Trader Top 200, having operated Leodis Court in Leeds since 1998.
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: AW
JCT600 has acquired Bentley Newcastle from Inchcape in a £3m deal which brings its network up to 42 sites in the north of England.
This will be the second Bentley site operated by the group, rated 13 in the Motor Trader Top 200, having operated Leodis Court in Leeds since 1998.
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: AW
BMW unveils new look
BMW dealers will have noted with interest the revelation that the next generation of the brand's models are set to feature design cues from the CS concept.
The luxury four-seater coupe shown in Shanghai last month bristles with new exterior elements from its low-slung proportions, broken side feature line and much wider “shark nosed” front kidney grille.
The airy inside offers lighter materials and a simpler dash including air vents and ambient lighting hidden in the joins. All such details could make production in future BMWs.
The CS is not a Mercedes CLS rival though – it's longer than a 7-series – and could make production as a range-topper for the brand. BMW group design boss Chris Bangle said: “The CS answers questions of where BMW is going next, not 15 years downstream."
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: AW
The luxury four-seater coupe shown in Shanghai last month bristles with new exterior elements from its low-slung proportions, broken side feature line and much wider “shark nosed” front kidney grille.
The airy inside offers lighter materials and a simpler dash including air vents and ambient lighting hidden in the joins. All such details could make production in future BMWs.
The CS is not a Mercedes CLS rival though – it's longer than a 7-series – and could make production as a range-topper for the brand. BMW group design boss Chris Bangle said: “The CS answers questions of where BMW is going next, not 15 years downstream."
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: AW
Bank of England Raises Bank Rate by 0.25 Percentage Points to 5.5%
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to raise the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves by 0.25 percentage points to 5.5%.
In the United Kingdom, output growth has remained firm. Business investment has been stronger than expected and, although indicators of consumer spending have been volatile, the underlying picture is one of steady growth. Credit and broad money continue to grow rapidly. The pace of expansion of the international economy remains robust.
CPI inflation picked up to 3.1% in March. Lower gas and electricity prices and weaker import price inflation mean that CPI inflation is likely to fall back to around the 2% target in the course of this year. But the margin of spare capacity in firms appears limited and there are signs that businesses are more able to push through price increases. Relative to the 2% target, the risks to the outlook for inflation in the medium term consequently remain tilted to the upside.
Against that background, the Committee judged that a further increase in Bank Rate of 0.25 percentage points to 5.5% was necessary to meet the 2% target for CPI inflation in the medium term. The Committee’s latest inflation and output projections will appear in the Inflation Report to be published on Wednesday 16 May. The minutes of the meeting will be published at 9.30am on Wednesday 23 May.
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: BoE
In the United Kingdom, output growth has remained firm. Business investment has been stronger than expected and, although indicators of consumer spending have been volatile, the underlying picture is one of steady growth. Credit and broad money continue to grow rapidly. The pace of expansion of the international economy remains robust.
CPI inflation picked up to 3.1% in March. Lower gas and electricity prices and weaker import price inflation mean that CPI inflation is likely to fall back to around the 2% target in the course of this year. But the margin of spare capacity in firms appears limited and there are signs that businesses are more able to push through price increases. Relative to the 2% target, the risks to the outlook for inflation in the medium term consequently remain tilted to the upside.
Against that background, the Committee judged that a further increase in Bank Rate of 0.25 percentage points to 5.5% was necessary to meet the 2% target for CPI inflation in the medium term. The Committee’s latest inflation and output projections will appear in the Inflation Report to be published on Wednesday 16 May. The minutes of the meeting will be published at 9.30am on Wednesday 23 May.
DATED: 10.05.07
FEED: BoE
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Renault retail group opens in Cannock
RENAULT-OWNED, Rea Group, is continuing its quest for retail presence in the midlands with the opening of Renault Cannock.
The £2m outlet is the group's 6th midland site.
"This site is testament to our commitment to the UK market and also to ensuring the best service to our customers," said managing director, Ian Plummer.
Operations on the site will be overseen by Harry Morris, who will be joined by sales manager, Ian Smith.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: AW
The £2m outlet is the group's 6th midland site.
"This site is testament to our commitment to the UK market and also to ensuring the best service to our customers," said managing director, Ian Plummer.
Operations on the site will be overseen by Harry Morris, who will be joined by sales manager, Ian Smith.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: AW
Aston Martin owner receives offer for shares
AN UN-NAMED suitor has offered to buy the half stake in Aston Martin owned by Kuwaiti finance group, Investment Dar.
"The company has received purchase offers but has not discussed these offers up to now," Dar said.
Dar bought nearly 50% of Aston Martin in March. It was part of a joint bid with investment fund, Adeem Investment. The £479m deal was headed by Prodrive's David Richards who was appointed chairman of the car-maker.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: AW
"The company has received purchase offers but has not discussed these offers up to now," Dar said.
Dar bought nearly 50% of Aston Martin in March. It was part of a joint bid with investment fund, Adeem Investment. The £479m deal was headed by Prodrive's David Richards who was appointed chairman of the car-maker.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: AW
Doubt over BAE's offer to buy Humvee maker
DEFENCE GROUP, BAE Systems has made a £2.1bn offer to buy Armor Holdings in the US, the maker of the US Army's Humvee vehicle.
Two years ago, BAE bought US armoured vehicle maker, United Defense Industries.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: AW
Two years ago, BAE bought US armoured vehicle maker, United Defense Industries.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: AW
Reagroup acquire Lewis Reed
Renault group strengthens north west representation
Reagroup, the Renault-owned dealer network, has acquired Lewis Reed in Birkenhead for an undisclosed sum.
The business has already been re-launched as Renault Wirral following 20 years in private ownership.
“The acquisition is part of our ongoing multi-million pound development and construction programme for 2007, which includes recently completed dealerships in Bolton and Cannock, as well as the major refurbishment of our existing sites in both Liverpool and Wolverhampton,” said Ian Plummer, Reagroup's managing director.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: MT
Reagroup, the Renault-owned dealer network, has acquired Lewis Reed in Birkenhead for an undisclosed sum.
The business has already been re-launched as Renault Wirral following 20 years in private ownership.
“The acquisition is part of our ongoing multi-million pound development and construction programme for 2007, which includes recently completed dealerships in Bolton and Cannock, as well as the major refurbishment of our existing sites in both Liverpool and Wolverhampton,” said Ian Plummer, Reagroup's managing director.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: MT
Ex-Chevy boss resurfaces at Gaz
Andy Carroll heads European sales for LDV parent
Andy Carroll, the launch boss of Chevrolet in the UK, has been appointed as head of international sales of Gaz International, the acquisitive Russian van maker and owner of LDV.
Carroll: Doubling sales
As sales and marketing director Carroll will be responsible for sales outside of Russia and the former satellite countries which make up the Commonwealth of Independent States.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: MT
Andy Carroll, the launch boss of Chevrolet in the UK, has been appointed as head of international sales of Gaz International, the acquisitive Russian van maker and owner of LDV.
Carroll: Doubling sales
As sales and marketing director Carroll will be responsible for sales outside of Russia and the former satellite countries which make up the Commonwealth of Independent States.
DATED: 09.05.07
FEED: MT
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Jardine investing in Audi move in Liverpool
JARDINE MOTOR is to invest 'many millions' developing a new Audi dealership in Liverpool.
Lancaster Audi will move from its current site in Leeds Street to the junction of Derby Road and Sandhills Lane by this October.
The group is developing the former Yes Car Credit showroom and dealership boss, Philip Price, said the move would add at least 25 jobs to the current 56-strong workforce.
DATED: 08.05.07
FEED: AW
Lancaster Audi will move from its current site in Leeds Street to the junction of Derby Road and Sandhills Lane by this October.
The group is developing the former Yes Car Credit showroom and dealership boss, Philip Price, said the move would add at least 25 jobs to the current 56-strong workforce.
DATED: 08.05.07
FEED: AW
Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland enjoy sales rises
CAR REGISTRATIONS in N.Ireland, Scotland and Wales all rose during April.
N.Ireland saw a 16.4% increase in April with sales rising to 5,406.units.
Welsh registrations increased 11% to 6,390 units and in Scotland, dealers registered 7.03% more in the month compared with April 2006.
DATED: 08.05.07
FEED: AW
N.Ireland saw a 16.4% increase in April with sales rising to 5,406.units.
Welsh registrations increased 11% to 6,390 units and in Scotland, dealers registered 7.03% more in the month compared with April 2006.
DATED: 08.05.07
FEED: AW
Celebrities to teach motorists how to buy a car
MOTORS.CO.UK, this month, is launching the UK's first car-buying Masterclass for motorists.
It has teamed-up with Vicki Butler-Henderson, presenter of Fives Fifth Gear programme and Quentin Willson, one of the country's leading consumer motoring authorities to launch, to launch a series of events to teach drivers how to master the buying process, from getting a great deal at trade-in to sourcing the best car and being a competent negotiator.
The Car Buyers Survival School event will be held in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London from 10th May - 8th June.
DATED: 08.05.07
FEED: AW
It has teamed-up with Vicki Butler-Henderson, presenter of Fives Fifth Gear programme and Quentin Willson, one of the country's leading consumer motoring authorities to launch, to launch a series of events to teach drivers how to master the buying process, from getting a great deal at trade-in to sourcing the best car and being a competent negotiator.
The Car Buyers Survival School event will be held in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London from 10th May - 8th June.
DATED: 08.05.07
FEED: AW
