Friday, October 26, 2007
Audi gears up to take on Mini
Competition between Audi and BMW Group is set to intensify with Audi gearing up to launch a supermini to go head-to-head with its arch rival’s Mini.
Audi unveiled its sub-compact metroproject quattro design at the Tokyo Motor Show this week and the car could enter production as the A1 within two years.
The B-segment model, which would enter the line-up below the A3, is a high performance hybrid combining a 150PS 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor that Audi claimed would cut fuel consumption and emissions by 15 per cent.
DATED: 26.10.07
FEED: MT
Dealer part exchange values on an even keel
The value of dealer’s part exchange cars fell in August but recovered ground in September, according to Manheim Auction’s latest market study.
The average value of part exchanges fell slightly in August from £2,092 to £2,034 but rallied to £2,065 in September.
Volumes of part exchanges during the period were relatively static year-on-year, although September recorded a marginal 1.5 per cent increase in line with new car registrations.
DATED: 26.10.07
FEED: MT
Protesters urge 'no more fuel duty rises'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is under growing pressure to suspend forthcoming rises in fuel duty after it emerged that the Treasury is set to pick up an unexpected £3 billion tax windfall from the soaring price of oil. Farmers and road hauliers have threatened the Prime Minister with nationwide fuel protests in the run-up to Christmas unless the Government passes on some of the extra income to motorists. The price of oil has risen by 50%, with the AA predicting that the cost of a litre of petrol will pass through the £1 barrier for the first time in the next two to three weeks. A litre of diesel hit a record high of more than £1 last Friday. Despite this, ministers pushed ahead with a 2p rise in petrol duty this month and are planning another 2p rise in April, followed by yet another increase in 2009. All three rises were announced in the March Budget.
DATED: 26.10.07
FEED: AW
DATED: 26.10.07
FEED: AW
Volkswagen unions gear up for Porsche battle
Workers at Volkswagen have lost their legal battle to stop Porsche establishing a European holding company in a move that sets the scene for the next big struggle at Europe's largest carmaker. The battle lines have already been drawn between Volkswagen's workers, who historically have been the highest paid and last productive in the automotive industry while working the fewest hours - and Porsche, which is the largest shareholder in the volume carmaker with a 31% stake. Porsche appears keen to curb the power of the IG Metall, the main shopfloor union at Volkswagen, if, as widely anticipated it seeks to take full control of the company. Porsche wants parity between its own workers and Volkswagen's on the supervisory board of the holding company. However, Volkswagen workers launched the lawsuit because with 324,000 employees compared to Porsche's 12,000 they believe they should have more power.
DATED: 26.10.07
FEED: AW
DATED: 26.10.07
FEED: AW
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Carmakers get shock emissions reprieve
The European Parliament has softened its demands on carmakers to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
In a spectacular u-turn, the European Union assembly yesterday voted to establish a later deadline of 2015 for emissions curbs and to impose less stringent cuts.
From 2015, MEPs voted that average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the EU should not exceed 125g/km, which is three years later than the proposed deadline set by the European Commission and 5 g/km less.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: MT
Car dealers urged to exercise financial caution
Automotive real estate company Gilbran has advised dealers to review their financing arrangements and reconsider business goals during the ongoing “credit crunch”.
“The recent turmoil in the credit markets will almost certainly filter through to hit consumer confidence and ultimately impact on dealers' businesses,” said Gilbran's managing director Nigel Smith.
As well as affecting sales, an increase in interest costs will make it harder for dealers to raise money for future business plans through banks or the capital markets, the company said.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: MT
Honda unveils hybrid car plans
Honda has announced plans that it claims will bring its most exciting ‘green cars’ to market.
Honda’s president and chief executive Takeo Fukui has confirmed that the FCX hydrogen fuel cell car and a hybrid sportscar will both be built.
The production version of the FCX will make its debut next month at the Los Angeles Motor Show, with the car going on sale in Japan and the US next year.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: MT
GM sales accelerate past Toyota
General Motors has overtaken Toyota as the world's largest vehicle manufacturer after outselling the Japanese marque in the first nine months of 2007.
In what has become a close race between the two producers, GM has regained top spot after reporting global sales of 7.06 million. Toyota sold 7.05 million units and was hit by a near 5% drop in sales in the last quarter in the United States.
Toyota said that it still hoped to sell 9.42m million units this year, a target that would probably allow it to reclaim the number one slot at year-end.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: AW
In what has become a close race between the two producers, GM has regained top spot after reporting global sales of 7.06 million. Toyota sold 7.05 million units and was hit by a near 5% drop in sales in the last quarter in the United States.
Toyota said that it still hoped to sell 9.42m million units this year, a target that would probably allow it to reclaim the number one slot at year-end.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: AW
Carmakers to face emissions penalties?
Carmakers may be forced to pay financial penalties should their vehicles exceed CO2 reduction targets if the vote in the European parliament goes against them later today.
MEPs are set to vote on whether or not failure to meet voluntary emissions levels will be penalised financially.
Car advertising is also set to come under scrutiny as MEPs debate whether a 'significant proportion' of the space used to advertise new cars should be devoted to providing information about fuel economy and emissions.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: MT
Daimler confirms alliance talks
Daimler has confirmed it remains in talks with rival carmakers to produce the next generation of its A-Class and B-Class models.
Speaking at the Tokyo Motor Show, Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche said the carmaker was still in talks with BMW over a possible collaboration and confirmed there had also been discussions with Fiat.
Zetsche added it was unlikely that Daimler would decide this year on a possible alliance to produce engines and transmissions for its small car portfolio.
DATED: 25.10.07
FEED: MT
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Inchcape reports quarterly sales rise
Inchcape, the global car dealer group, has announced that sales in the third quarter rose year-on-year. Like-for-like sales for the three months to 30 September 2007 rose 3.3 per cent and for the nine months to 30 September 2007 were up 3.1 per cent.
Total sales for the quarterly period were up 20.2 per cent on a constant currency basis.
Inchcape said it was confident of achieving its prospects for the full year.
During the third quarter the dealer group maintained its policy of investing in emerging markets with the £21m acquisition of two dealerships in Russia.
Inchcape also completed the sale of several UK businesses for a combined sum of £22.6m.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
Inchcape reports quarterly sales rise
Inchcape, the global car dealer group, has announced that sales in the third quarter rose year-on-year. Like-for-like sales for the three months to 30 September 2007 rose 3.3 per cent and for the nine months to 30 September 2007 were up 3.1 per cent.
Total sales for the quarterly period were up 20.2 per cent on a constant currency basis.
Inchcape said it was confident of achieving its prospects for the full year.
During the third quarter the dealer group maintained its policy of investing in emerging markets with the £21m acquisition of two dealerships in Russia.
Inchcape also completed the sale of several UK businesses for a combined sum of £22.6m.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
Hybrid car sales soar in UK
The UK is now one of the top five markets for hybrid car sales in the world and demand is growing dramatically, according to a new study.
In 2006 sales of hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius, grew by approximately 23 per cent in the UK and by a similar margin in other developed markets such as Japan and the US.
The study, carried out by consultants Frost & Sullivan, found that growth in the petrol/electric market had “significantly exceeded” sales forecasts.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
Skoda dismisses brand snobbery
Company car drivers prefer top-of-the-range models from affordable brands to base vehicles from premium manufacturers, according to a new survey by Skoda.
Forty-six per cent of drivers said they preferred affordable brands, while only 28 per cent preferred luxury marques.
The survey also found that the majority of UK company car drivers are satisfied with their vehicles.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
Lex clamps down
New customer service index aims to make dealers "accountable"
Having dangled the carrot to entice dealers into its leasing network Lex is now brandishing the stick at those failing to come up to scratch.
The company, which has a fleet of almost 180,000 cars and vans, has launched an online customer service index to make dealers “more accountable” for the standard of servicing and repair they deliver.
In February Lex launched a scheme to reward dealers financially through a bonus fund for making its customers happy but it has now warned the new CSI index will allow it to quickly identify and replace dealers failing to provide high quality customer service.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
Small diesels make big impact on used car market
There has been a marked rise in the popularity of used diesel-powered superminis over recent months, with price premiums over equivalent petrol models more than doubling on certain vehicles since last year.
According to EurotaxGlass's, publisher of trade 'bible' Glass's Guide to Used Car Values, two- and three-year old examples of best-selling superminis such as the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 206 equipped with low-capacity diesel engines have seen their price premiums increase from around £200 last year up to £500 now.
Technological enhancements to diesel engine refinement and the opportunity for consumers to make significant cost savings have both contributed to the rise in demand.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: AW
According to EurotaxGlass's, publisher of trade 'bible' Glass's Guide to Used Car Values, two- and three-year old examples of best-selling superminis such as the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 206 equipped with low-capacity diesel engines have seen their price premiums increase from around £200 last year up to £500 now.
Technological enhancements to diesel engine refinement and the opportunity for consumers to make significant cost savings have both contributed to the rise in demand.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: AW
Porsche set to strengthen hold over VW
ECJ ruling could alter power balance of German carmaker.
Volkswagen could be transformed this week when the European Court of Justice votes on the so-called Volkswagen Law, which governs the company’s shareholdings.
If the court scraps the law, as expected, Porsche will be able to raise its 31 per cent stake in VW to a majority.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
SMMT slams London road toll proposals
SMMT slams London road toll proposals to decrease congestion in the capital and has called for an extension on the consultation process.
Figures released by the SMMT claim that the mayor’s proposals to base central London traffic charges on car emissions would lead to a reduction of just 0.084 per cent of CO2.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
General Motors achieves record global sales
General Motors sold a record 2.38m vehicles internationally in the third quarter of 2007.
The increase, which represents a four per cent increase compared with the same period last year, was bolstered by sales outside of the US that GM reported as hitting a record high.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
London traffic is the slowest in Europe
London has the slowest moving traffic in Europe with cars crawling at an average speed of 12mph.
According to the study by keepmoving.co.uk, London’s speed is less than a quarter of the speed in Hamburg - reported as Europe’s fastest city - where motorists enjoy a 50mph average.
DATED: 23.10.07
FEED: MT
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fuel prices poised to rise even higher
Fuel prices are poised to increase even further as the cost of oil is forced up by fears of Turkish military action in Iraq. With drivers in many parts of the UK paying more than £1 a litre for petrol and diesel at the pumps following the October 1 fuel duty increase, prices may again rise if suppliers are affected by a threatened strike against Kurdish rebels. Crude oil prices in London have reached more than $84 a barrel, having traded at $78.90 earlier in October prior to the Turkish threat. It takes between four and six weeks for increases in crude oil prices to feed through to forecourts, and every $2 rise in the price puts about 1p on the cost of a litre. The AA says that current national average fuel prices are 97.7p a litre for unleaded petrol and 99.8p a litre for diesel. However, the motoring organisation, says that competition between supermarkets is holding back prices.
DATED: 22.10.07
FEED: AW
DATED: 22.10.07
FEED: AW
Renault to takeover Ireland distribution
Import business now to be handled by manufacturer
Renault is to take over its Irish import business, Renault Ireland, from the start of November.
The brand intends to apply its new product plan, Renault Commitment 2009, to the Irish market where it now has a 220,000-strong car parc.
Bill Cullen, chairman of the Glencullen Group, reached an agreement with Renault to relinquish control of Glencullen Distributors, which had handled distribution in Ireland for 21 years.
DATED: 22.10.07
FEED: MT
Mercedes-Benz introduces electronic log book
Digital service arrives with new E and CLS-Class models
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled plans that will see the luxury brand introduce an electronic log book system.
The Digital Service Booklet programme begins with new vehicle sales of the E-Class and CLS-Class models and will be progressively introduced across the model range.
DATED: 22.10.07
FEED: MT
