Friday, November 02, 2007

HR Owen bidder pulls out


HR Owen has announced that takeover talks concerning the company have been terminated.
The luxury dealer group said the interested party, believed to be Australian wholesale vehicle company Balverona, no longer had an interest in “making an offer for the company”.

“Whilst this unsolicited approach was an encouraging endorsement of our strategy to focus on our luxury and specialist dealerships, as a board, we are unanimous in our belief that HR Owen continues to have an excellent future,” said Nicholas Lancaster, chief executive.

DATED: 02.11.07

FEED: MT

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 2:33 pm

Carmakers look east


With the world’s mature automotive markets reaching saturation point manufacturers continue to be the lured by the promise of boosting business in the emerging markets of the east.
General Motors last week unveiled plans to build a research centre for alternative energy vehicles in Shanghai as part of a $250m (£120m) investment.

GM intends to introduce hybrid cars to the Chinese market in 2008.

DATED: 02.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 2:32 pm

Thursday, November 01, 2007

GAZ goes for growth



The GAZ Group has announced it is to embark on a $2bn (£1bn) investment programme to spearhead further growth.
The Russian owners of LDV, which have reported a 30 per cent increase in revenues over the last five years, said the investment would be used to renew its product line-up.

Funds will also be made available to design a new powertrain as well as combining research and development at a unified engineering centre.
Erik Eberhardson, head of the automobile division of Russian Machines, GAZ Group’s parent company, said: “Our investment plans reflect our determination to be one of the global players in the international commercial vehicle market.”
He added that the four-year plan to achieve a global presence would be achieved through acquisitions, partnerships and strategic alliances.


DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 3:54 pm

Peugeot appoints new sales boss


Peugeot has appointed Neil Moscrop as its UK sales director.
Moscrop, who has been with the French brand for almost 30 years, replaces David Brookman who retired yesterday.

Previously Moscrop has held a variety of roles with Peugeot, including national fleet manager and most recently director of parts and servicing.

DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 3:53 pm

Daimler finalises Chrysler split


Daimler’s de-merger from Chrysler has been finalised today.
Several organisational changes have been introduced following the separation of the two companies, along with a raft of name changes.

The Mercedes-Benz Cars and Commercial Vehicle business will now be known as Mercedes-Benz UK and the company's retail subsidiary will become Mercedes-Benz Retail Group UK.
From April 2008, DaimlerChrysler Financial Services UK will be known as Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK.

DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 3:52 pm

Fiat appoints new UK boss


Fiat has appointed a new managing director to oversee the UK market.
Andrew Humberstone takes over from Giulio Salomone who is leaving the UK after two-and-a-half years in charge.

Salomone is returning to Italy where he will take over responsibility for Fiat's worldwide dealer network development, fleet and used car operations.

DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:47 am

Chrysler wields the axe on three models


Chrysler is set to axe three struggling models, including the PT Cruiser, as new owners Cerberus begin to stamp their authority on the company.
According to the Detroit News, the once-popular PT Cruiser, the Dodge Magnum station wagon and the Chrysler Pacifica all face the chop after suffering from flagging sales.

Despite building more than a million units of the C-sector model, Chrysler has seen sales of the PT Cruiser plummet by 42 per cent in September compared to the same month last year.

DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:46 am

Citroen gets C4 emissions rap


The Advertising Standards Agency has rebuked Citroen for a misleading television advert claiming the C4 was “the lowest in its class" for CO2 emissions.
Citroen based the claim on the results of a refined search of the small family car category for models with automatic gearboxes and diesel engines.

But the ASA considered that viewers would understand the claim referred to a comparison with all cars in the class, in which the Toyota Prius recorded the lowest CO2 emissions of 104 g/km.

DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:45 am

European LCV sales rise


Sales of light commercial vehicles have soared across Europe, according to the latest figures from JATO.
In the period to the end of August volumes rose 6.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

An additional 81,688 vehicles have been sold this year taking the total volume to 1.42 million units.

DATED: 01.11.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:43 am

New Co emerge from DaimlerChrysler

It was agreed at an Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting in Germany recently that DaimlerChrysler AG, parent company of the Milton Keynes-based DaimlerChrysler companies in the UK, should be renamed Daimler AG. This reflects the sale of the company's Chrysler Group business interests to Cerberus Capital Management in the US, establishing the new company, Chrysler LLC. There will, as a consequence, be changes to the Group's companies in the UK. With effect from 1 November 2007, the company's Mercedes-Benz Cars (Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, smart, Maybach) and Commercial Vehicle (Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Fuso) business will be operated by a renamed Mercedes-Benz UK Limited. The company's retail subsidiary will become Mercedes-Benz Retail Group UK Limited. A new company, Chrysler UK Limited, will take over head office operations for the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge business in this country.

DATED: 01.11.07

FEED: AW

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:42 am

Changes at Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd

Andrew Humberstone has been appointed managing director of Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd and will take up his new role on Thursday 1 November. Forty three-year-old Mr Humberstone brings with him a high level of commercial experience in addition to business development management, gained from across the globe. His knowledge and understanding of drawing up and implementing top-level business strategies puts him in an ideal position to continue the current success story for Fiat in the UK. And he comes to Britain at a particularly exciting moment - just as the company makes final preparations to launch the stunning new Fiat 500 here.

DATED: 01.11.07

FEED: AW

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:40 am

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Used car values on the rise


Used car prices have continued to rise in the third quarter despite a weaker showing in September.
Values in both the fleet and lease and part-exchange sectors rose but at a slower rate than during the same month in the past two years.

The latest Pulse report from BCA found that fleet and lease values increased to £7,345 during September – a £400 increase over August but significantly less that the £1,000 rise recorded during the same period last year.

DATED: 30.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:36 pm

SMMT appoints new chief executive


The SMMT has appointed Paul Everitt as its new chief executive.
Everitt will join the trade association in his new role from January next year and replaces Christopher Macgowan who is retiring.

He is currently director of Civil Air Transport and Communications at the Society of British Aerospace Companies and previously worked for the SMMT as head of communications.

DATED: 30.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:35 pm

Chrysler UK boss in shock departure

Chrysler UK boss Peter Lambert has left the company days before the organisation demerges from DaimlerChrysler.
Lambert’s role has already been filled on an interim basis by former managing director Simon Elliott who left the UK operation in February 2006 to head up the brand’s sales, marketing and network development programme in China.

From Thursday (1 November) the UK operation will be run by its new owner Cerberus Capital Management when it becomes Chrysler UK Ltd.

DATED: 30.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:34 pm

Ford mulls over Jaguar and Land Rover bids


Ford is assessing preliminary offers from at least five bidders for Jaguar and Land Rover after yesterday’s deadline passed.
According to press reports, Tata Motors, along with private equity firms Cerberus, Terra Firma, One Equity Partners and TPG have all lodged bids for the luxury brands.

None of the offers are binding and speculation is mounting that the race to acquire the marques will quickly narrow to a two-horse race in the second round of bidding.

DATED: 30.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:33 pm

Sytner Group reports strong third quarter


The strong performance of Sytner, the UK’s second largest dealer group, boosted the results of parent company Penske Automotive in the third quarter.
The giant US car retailer recorded a year-on-year increase in income of 17.4 per cent to $42.4m (£21.2m), with Sytner driving up business in its international division.

Year-on-year sales grew by 21.9 per cent in Penske’s overseas markets, which are predominantly in Britain.

DATED: 30.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:32 pm

Monday, October 29, 2007

SMMT Announce New CEO

SMMT has today announced that Paul Everitt will be its new Chief Executive taking up his appointment on 2 January 2008. Paul is currently Director of Civil Air Transport and Communications at the Society of British Aerospace Companies where he has specific responsibility for environmental and safety issues, as well as leading its media team and government relations programmes.

Commenting on the appointment Graham Smith, SMMT President said, 'I am delighted that Paul has agreed to be the new Chief Executive of the SMMT. He is an outstanding individual with a real enthusiasm for the sector and the experience to lead the Society at a time of tremendous change and challenge.' 'SMMT has an important job to do and I am confident its new Chief Executive will provide the leadership needed to realise its full potential.'

DATED: 29.10.07

FEED: AW

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:06 pm

Speed cameras to limit m'way to 40

Speed cameras may be installed on large sections of the UK's motorway network under a Government plan to reduce congestion and vehicle emissions by cutting and strictly enforcing the speed limit at peak times.

The Department for Transport plan comes with forecasts for congestion expected to be at least 28% up by 2025. Under the proposal motorway gantries will carry digital signs displaying the speed limit, which will be reduced to as little as 40 mph depending on traffic volume.

DATED: 29.10.07

FEED: AW

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:04 pm

Car industry welcomes training changes


The automotive industry has welcomed government plans to overhaul the UK’s student qualifications structure to place more weight on vocational based learning.
While the introduction of diplomas - that could replace A levels - is not scheduled until 2013 at the earliest, diplomas in vocational subjects will be made available at 900 schools and colleges next year.

DATED: 29.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:04 pm

Lookers completes Dutton Forshaw deal


Lookers, the UK’s fifth largest dealer group, has completed the multi-million pound acquisition of Dutton Forshaw.
The £53m deal will see 31 Dutton Forshaw and Dovercourt dealerships transfer to the Manchester-based group.

“We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues into the group and look forward to developing the operations as part of the enlarged Lookers business,” said Lookers chief executive Ken Surgenor.

DATED: 29.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:03 pm

Ford scoops Scottish Car of the Year Award


The Ford Mondeo has been named as the winner of the 2007 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.
The new model took top honours after beating more than 50 new models to the title and was also named best family car.

Other winners included Skoda’s Fabia, which won the small car category, the Lexus LS 460 won the best executive category and Mazda’s MX-5 Roadster was named as the best soft-top.

DATED: 29.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:02 pm

Porsche opens new Leicester dealership


A new Porsche dealership has opened in Leicester.
The new site, which is a collaboration between the Nick Whale dealer group and automotive real estate company Gilbran, has been appointed as the official east Midlands sales and servicing hub for the German sports car marque.

The showroom and aftersales facility sits on a two-acre site in Leicester.

DATED: 29.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 8:01 pm

Sunday, October 28, 2007

DVLA consults on smart card driving licences

THE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has launched a public consultation on proposals for a trial of smart card provisional driving licences. The trial is scheduled to begin early in 2008 and will last up to 12 months.The consultation will seek to establish public opinions on potential wider uses of smart card driving licences, for example, the ability for a driver to access electronic services offered by DVLA on a chip and pin basis, or use by a driver to authorise access to the driver record for car hire and insurance purposes. The trial will investigate the concept of using an electronic chip embedded into a provisional driving licence to improve its security and to combat the increase in the number of experienced drivers fraudulently taking driving tests on behalf of learners.The trial will be restricted to Wales and only Welsh bi-lingual provisional driving licences will be chipped. Just under 30,000, licences will be involved.

DATED: 28.10.07

FEED: HC

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:39 pm

BCA launches LCV LiveOnline

BCA has extended its internet-based selling platform LiveOnline to the wider LCV market. For the first time, commercial vehicles from the fleet, contract hire and lease sector have been sold using the state of the art technology. Sales are initially taking place fortnightly at BCA Blackbushe - Europe’s largest weekly LCV sale - before rolling out to other locations in the BCA network. Within the regular entry of almost 400 vehicles, the first LCV LiveOnline sale included 134 vehicles from BT Fleet, LeasePlan and Peugeot. A total of 73 dealers logged on for the sale from locations ranging from Cornwall to Inverness, with as many as 30 online at any one time. The online buyers bid on over 30% of the total entry and accounted for 13% of the units sold. This incremental buying power generated just under £5,000 of additional bidding value during the sale.LiveOnline is BCA’s exclusive service that allows internet bidders to compete against buyers in the auction hall.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:38 pm

New Laguna has ‘impressive’ residual values

RENAULT is claiming ‘impressive’ three-year/60,000 mile residual values for the all-new Laguna, which has now entered showrooms.Featuring a standard three-year/100,000 mile warranty, a Renault spokesman said: ‘New Laguna already has one of the most compelling sets of total cost of ownership figures in its class, so such an impressive residual value forecast will be even sweeter news, for both private and fleet buyers alike.’The likely new Laguna best-seller, the hatchback Dynamique 2.0 dCi 150 is expected to retain 32.1% over the benchmark period. This represents a 1% gain over the new Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec at 31.1% and a 4% advantage over the Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi SE 136 at 28.1%, according to CAP Monitor data released by Renault.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:37 pm

Audi to enter supermini sector with A1

AUDI is expected to enter the supermini sector with the unveiling of a model that will pave the way for the launch of an A1 range. A concept car, called the ‘metroproject quattro’ was unveiled at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show. The baby Audi will also be used to showcase a range of hybrid engines.A production version of the concept is expected to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September next year, with sales starting in early 2009. (Audi/Auto Express: October 24).

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:36 pm

Honda confirms next generation of ‘green’ cars

HONDA has confirmed plans to put its latest ‘green’ cars into production - the FCX hydrogen fuel cell car and a lightweight, hybrid sportscar.While the hydrogen car will go on sale in the United States and Japan next year, UK plans have yet to be revealed. A car based on Honda’s CR-Z Concept - a compact, lightweight sportscar powered by a hybrid powertrain - will go into production alongside the carmaker’s forthcoming ‘global hybrid’ family car, which is due to launch in 2009. The latter, which will definitely come to the UK, will be cheaper smaller than the current Honda Civic Hybrid.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:36 pm

Vauxhall extends LCV line-up

VAUXHALL has extended its Combo van range with the addition of the £7,995 (ex-VAT) Expression.Simultaneously, the brand has also introduced clutchless transmission on its Vivaro and Combo line-ups.The Combo Expression has a load volume of 2.76 cubic metres and a payload of up to 613kg. It is powered by a 75 PS 1.3 litre CDTi engine and standard equipment includes power steering, ABS with EBD and electronic brake assist, remote central deadlocking, a driver’s airbag, a stereo radio, half-height steel bulkhead, pyrotechnic seatbelt pretensioners, pedal release system and overhead storage shelf. Priced from £10,665 (ex-VAT), Combo 1.3 CDTi Easytronic and Vivaro 2.0 CDTi Tecshift complement existing two-pedal transmissions in Vauxhall’s portfolio, which include an automatic version of Astravan, a 2.5 litre Vivaro Tecshift and a Movano Tecshift.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:35 pm

Court ruling paves way for Volkswagen takeover

EUROPE’S largest vehicle manufacturer, Volkswagen, maybe a takeover target following the European Court of Justice’s decision to overturn laws protecting the company from a hostile takeover.The expected decision to overturn the so-called ‘Volkswagen law’ means that Porsche, which is the main shareholder in Volkswagen with a 31% stake, could launch a full scale takeover. Immediately after the court announced its decision, Volkswagen’s share price rose.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:34 pm

Kia plans major expansion

KIA plans to reduce its interest in unprofitable fleet sales while simultaneously increasing business with private customers in a bid to become a top 10 UK retail player by 2010. The company also plans to increase the size of its dealer network and to sell an increasing percentage of European-built vehicles.The move follows a tumultuous period for the brand which last year saw its aggressive sales drive falter, the exit of Paul Williams, the managing director who led the brand’s revival in the UK, and the loss of over 20% of its dealers.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:34 pm

Clocks should be going forward to save lives

Todays move to put the clocks back will cost over 100 lives on UK roads between now and April, according to the Local Authority Road Safety Officers’ Association (LARSOA). This morning the clocks were turned back one hour plunging the country into darkness during the afternoon and evening rush hour. LARSOA is campaigning to move time forward throughout the year so there is an extra hour of daylight during the afternoon in winter months. The move would save lives, reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and cut average household energy bills, it claims.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:32 pm

Gupta resigns from Accident Exchange

DAKSH Gupta, chief operating officer of credit hire company Accident Exchange has resigned and plans to return to the automotive retail sector where he has spent most of his professional career. The role of chief operating officer is not currently to be replaced as the group said its senior management team had been strengthened and expanded considerably over the last 12 months. The department heads of the key business units will now report directly to chief executive Steve Evans.

DATED: 28.10.07

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# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:31 pm

Citroën unveils new-look C5 for 2008 UK launch

CITROËN has taken the wraps off the brand new C5, which will arrive in the UK early next year in both saloon and estate versions.The C5 introduces a range of new features such as a second-generation fixed-centred controls steering wheel, a seat back massage function and a choice of suspension set-ups.The C5’s front end is characterised by the large air-intakes and long incisive headlamps that flank the prominent chrome chevrons. From the back, the car has a distinctive concave window and two-part boomerang lights.

DATED: 28.10.07

FEED: HC

# posted by Profit Training Ltd : 7:31 pm

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