Saturday, June 02, 2007
Accord and CR-V doing the business for Honda
HONDA UK is enjoying a 26% increase in fleet sales over the first 3-months of this year.
And it is the resurgent Accord which is in demand. Corporate sales of Honda's premium saloon are up by 68% to 2,202 units.
The new cleaner CR-V is also attracting corporate buyers. A total of 1,615 CR-Vs have been sold so far this year - up 10%.
DATED: 02.06.07
FEED: AW
And it is the resurgent Accord which is in demand. Corporate sales of Honda's premium saloon are up by 68% to 2,202 units.
The new cleaner CR-V is also attracting corporate buyers. A total of 1,615 CR-Vs have been sold so far this year - up 10%.
DATED: 02.06.07
FEED: AW
EU will rule on Porsche's VW take-over next month
PORSCHE will have wait another month before it learns whether its take-over of VW is given European Commission approval.
The Commission said to day that it will decide by July 2 whether the deal should win competition approval or if it requires further investigation.
DATED: 02.06.07
FEED: AW
The Commission said to day that it will decide by July 2 whether the deal should win competition approval or if it requires further investigation.
DATED: 02.06.07
FEED: AW
Proton looks elsewhere after VW says no
VOLKSWAGEN HAS ended talks with Malaysia's Proton over a possible equity stake by the German car-maker.
Proton, which is 43% owned by state investment firm Khazanah Nasional Bhd, reported its fourth consecutive quarterly loss to the end of March. It recorded a net loss of 913,000 ringgit ($268,653) in its fiscal fourth quarter.
DATED: 02.06.07
FEED: AW
Proton, which is 43% owned by state investment firm Khazanah Nasional Bhd, reported its fourth consecutive quarterly loss to the end of March. It recorded a net loss of 913,000 ringgit ($268,653) in its fiscal fourth quarter.
DATED: 02.06.07
FEED: AW
Friday, June 01, 2007
Chevrolet chasing dealers and sales in the
UK WITH SALES currently rising, Chevrolet UK is looking to appoint more dealers to help it to its sales target of 20,000 units this year.
With a current network of 93 outlets, it plans to have 100 by the end of the year. "We want to get to 120 and that will give each dealer the right throughput of sales," said managing director, Rory Harvey.
About 60% of the Chevrolet network also sells either Vauxhalls or Saabs.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
With a current network of 93 outlets, it plans to have 100 by the end of the year. "We want to get to 120 and that will give each dealer the right throughput of sales," said managing director, Rory Harvey.
About 60% of the Chevrolet network also sells either Vauxhalls or Saabs.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
Cheshire dealer closes
BRAZIER PEUGEOT, in Ellesmere Port, has closed and the outlet is now empty and deserted.
According to Companies House, the company went into administration in February.
The retailer was formed in 1986.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
According to Companies House, the company went into administration in February.
The retailer was formed in 1986.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
That's nice - working for Sytner
THE SYTNER Group has been named as one of the 100 Best Companies To Work For.
It claims to be the first motor dealership group to win a place in the Sunday Times' awards.
Geoffrey Page-Morris, group operations director, who collected the award, said it was an honour to be benchmarked against other blue chip UK businesses.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
It claims to be the first motor dealership group to win a place in the Sunday Times' awards.
Geoffrey Page-Morris, group operations director, who collected the award, said it was an honour to be benchmarked against other blue chip UK businesses.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
That's nice - working for Sytner
THE SYTNER Group has been named as one of the 100 Best Companies To Work For.
It claims to be the first motor dealership group to win a place in the Sunday Times' awards.
Geoffrey Page-Morris, group operations director, who collected the award, said it was an honour to be benchmarked against other blue chip UK businesses.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
It claims to be the first motor dealership group to win a place in the Sunday Times' awards.
Geoffrey Page-Morris, group operations director, who collected the award, said it was an honour to be benchmarked against other blue chip UK businesses.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
Proceeds of car trader's crimes seized
THE VICTIMS of rogue car trader, Elite Fleet in Brownhill, are set to get some of their money back.
Michael Scragg (47) who ran the company was jailed for five and a half years in January last year. He had been buying high-performance cars with thousands of pounds of outstanding finance on them, and then selling them on to unsuspecting customers.
West Midlands Police have successfully seized Scragg's assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act and he has been ordered to pay back more than £500,000.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
Michael Scragg (47) who ran the company was jailed for five and a half years in January last year. He had been buying high-performance cars with thousands of pounds of outstanding finance on them, and then selling them on to unsuspecting customers.
West Midlands Police have successfully seized Scragg's assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act and he has been ordered to pay back more than £500,000.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
Ford Retail on profitable journey in the UK
UK-BASED Ford Retail, now rising 3-yearas old, made a £3m profit last year.
The retail group, which has around 70 outlets in the UK and a handful in other parts of Europe, saw sales of £827m in 2006.
Headed by Chris Hayden, it accounts for something over 6% of all Ford cars sold in the UK.
The journey has not been all plain-sailing. In 2005, its first year, the retailer lost £5m.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
The retail group, which has around 70 outlets in the UK and a handful in other parts of Europe, saw sales of £827m in 2006.
Headed by Chris Hayden, it accounts for something over 6% of all Ford cars sold in the UK.
The journey has not been all plain-sailing. In 2005, its first year, the retailer lost £5m.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
Europeans cast an eye over Morgan
A GROUP of European automotive industry have been casting an eye over Morgan Motor Co in Malvern.
The 'inspection', by members of the Trans-national Clustering in the Automotive Sector (TCAS) project, was made with a view to learning from one of the UK's niche manufacturers. Delegates were given a full tour of Morgan's factory which produces only a dozen cars per week across four model ranges.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
The 'inspection', by members of the Trans-national Clustering in the Automotive Sector (TCAS) project, was made with a view to learning from one of the UK's niche manufacturers. Delegates were given a full tour of Morgan's factory which produces only a dozen cars per week across four model ranges.
DATED: 01.06.07
FEED: AW
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Vardy man joins Vertu's Bristol St outlet
VERTU MOTORS has appointed Ian Reddish as general manager of the Chesterfield Vauxhall site which it bought from Blakes earlier this month.
Reddish was previously general manager of the Reg Vardy businesses of Doncaster Renault, Sheffield Citroen and Leeds Renault.
Vertu acquired the Chesterfield business along with Blakes' other outlets in Worksop and Matlock. They are all to be re-branded as Bristol Street which Vertu acquired in March.
DATED: 31.05.07
FEED: AW
Reddish was previously general manager of the Reg Vardy businesses of Doncaster Renault, Sheffield Citroen and Leeds Renault.
Vertu acquired the Chesterfield business along with Blakes' other outlets in Worksop and Matlock. They are all to be re-branded as Bristol Street which Vertu acquired in March.
DATED: 31.05.07
FEED: AW
Legal firm to help NFDA with next Block Exemption
THE NATIONAL Franchised Dealers Association has appointed European law firm, Osborne Clarke, to provide legal support for its negotiations on the forthcoming Block Exemption Regulation.
"The next Block Exemption Regulation is likely to have a huge impact, so it is vital that we cover all bases, and make sure that we make the best possible outcome for the industry," said director, Sue Robinson.
."With this in mind we have invited Osborne Clarke to assist us, so that the legal ramifications are fully considered."
Block Exemption is scheduled to be re-newed in 2010.
DATED: 31.05.07
FEED: AW
"The next Block Exemption Regulation is likely to have a huge impact, so it is vital that we cover all bases, and make sure that we make the best possible outcome for the industry," said director, Sue Robinson.
."With this in mind we have invited Osborne Clarke to assist us, so that the legal ramifications are fully considered."
Block Exemption is scheduled to be re-newed in 2010.
DATED: 31.05.07
FEED: AW
Seat's 'Plan B' will increase dealer profitability
VW'S SPANISH brand, Seat, is expanding its range in the B-Segment which includes the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis.
President, Erich Schmitt, has confirmed that the company will enter this market segment in 2009 with two variants - a saloon and an estate.
The new models will be built at the Spanish firm's Martorell plant, close to Barcelona.
DATED: 31.05.07
FEED: AW
President, Erich Schmitt, has confirmed that the company will enter this market segment in 2009 with two variants - a saloon and an estate.
The new models will be built at the Spanish firm's Martorell plant, close to Barcelona.
DATED: 31.05.07
FEED: AW
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Minis will turn others green with envy
MINI IS planning a whole raft of technical up-grades to the range which will all be in place by August.
And the Mini Cooper looks like becoming the envy of every green motorist.
The diesel-powered Cooper D - already BMW's cleanest car - is going even greener. By August it will be capable of returning an astonishing 72.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 104 g/km.
On the petrol-powered units, economy will be improved by up to 4.7mpg, and carbon emissions by as much as 15g/km as features like Auto Start/Stop are added.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
And the Mini Cooper looks like becoming the envy of every green motorist.
The diesel-powered Cooper D - already BMW's cleanest car - is going even greener. By August it will be capable of returning an astonishing 72.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 104 g/km.
On the petrol-powered units, economy will be improved by up to 4.7mpg, and carbon emissions by as much as 15g/km as features like Auto Start/Stop are added.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
Longbridge re-starting but no launch date yet
YU JIAN Wei, chief executive of Nanjing Auto, said this morning that Longbridge is now in a position to commence TF production for the UK market.
"We realised from the outset of this project that retaining a manufacturing link with the UK is of fundamental importance," he said prior to today's opening ceremony at the west midlands site.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
"We realised from the outset of this project that retaining a manufacturing link with the UK is of fundamental importance," he said prior to today's opening ceremony at the west midlands site.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
Bentley enters Turkey with VW importer
CREWE-BUILT Bentley models will soon be on sale in Turkey.
A new showroom is on the verge of being opened by Dogus Otomotiv, the importer of Volkswagen Group brands in Turkey.
Bentley now has 141 showrooms in 46 countries.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
A new showroom is on the verge of being opened by Dogus Otomotiv, the importer of Volkswagen Group brands in Turkey.
Bentley now has 141 showrooms in 46 countries.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
Private hire firm switches to Prius
LONDON PRIVATE hire firm, Pink Express, is to replace its fleet of 100 passenger cars with the Toyota Prius hybrid.
As its cars in the fleet come up for renewal, they will be replaced by the Prius in a bid to reduce its CO2 emissions and energy usage - as well as noise pollution.
"We're deeply committed to our overall environmental policy," said sales director, Ray Miles-Kingston. "Many of our clients are the London offices of multi-national companies, and having a cogent environmental approach has become more and more important.
"Our vehicles are stationary or operating at low speeds a lot of the time, and there's a distinct advantage in using zero-emission cars in such circumstances," he said.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
As its cars in the fleet come up for renewal, they will be replaced by the Prius in a bid to reduce its CO2 emissions and energy usage - as well as noise pollution.
"We're deeply committed to our overall environmental policy," said sales director, Ray Miles-Kingston. "Many of our clients are the London offices of multi-national companies, and having a cogent environmental approach has become more and more important.
"Our vehicles are stationary or operating at low speeds a lot of the time, and there's a distinct advantage in using zero-emission cars in such circumstances," he said.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
Is BMW about to buy Volvo?
A SWEDISH newspaper reported yesterday that Ford is on the verge of selling Volvo cars.
The Goteborgs Posten reported that an insider at Ford had confirmed that BMW is studying a possible purchase. The Financial Times also reported last Friday that BMW was in informal talks to buy Volvo.
"We cannot comment on speculation. This is a question for our owner," said a spokeswoman for Volvo cars.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
The Goteborgs Posten reported that an insider at Ford had confirmed that BMW is studying a possible purchase. The Financial Times also reported last Friday that BMW was in informal talks to buy Volvo.
"We cannot comment on speculation. This is a question for our owner," said a spokeswoman for Volvo cars.
DATED: 29.05.07
FEED: AW
