F&I Management & Training

Pressure is mounting on Business and Enterprise Secretary of State John Hutton to explain the delay and spiralling cost of the official investigation into the collapse of MG Rover almost three years ago. Investigators have now run up almost £11 million of costs at the taxpayers' expense. Peter Luff, chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee for Business, said the delay was 'totally unacceptable', while other MPs plan to raise the issue in Parliament. "Justice delayed is justice denied," said Mr Luff. "On top of this, the cost to the taxpayer is going through the roof." Conservative MP David Heathcoat Amory said he was suspicious that the Government was dragging its feet to avoid political embarrassment. Weeks before the car company collapsed, ministers at the Department of Trade and Industry (now the Department for Business and Enterprise) tried to prop up the carmaker to secure a sale.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: MT

Porsche has said it plans to challenge Ken Livingstone’s increase of the London congestion charge to £25 per day for “gas guzzling” vehicles.
The luxury carmaker has said the new charge is disproportionate, and intends to request a judicial review into the changes, applying to the courts for an order getting rid of the new charge if it does not receive a satisfactory response.

While Transport for London has said the high fee will deter 22,000 cars coming into the zone in October, when it is due to come into practice, Porsche has argued it will not decrease emissions in central London.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: MT

Takeover talk has boosted the share prices of dealer groups at the start of the year helping them to buck the downward trend of declining market values in the car retailing sector.
The latest European Auto Retail and Services Stockwatch report by financial analyst Houlihan Lokey, found that HR Owen, in particular, had seen its stock rise as speculation of a bid for the group persisted.

The report said HR Owen’s value had risen with the sale of shares to Australian car wholesale and retail group Balverona.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: MT

Tata is backing a French project to develop a car which runs on compressed air.
MDI has designed the OneCAT car which features a glass fibre body, weighs 350kg and runs on compressed air stored in carbon-fibre tanks.
Tata are believed to have bought the rights to the engine, which MDI claims could be used in power generation, but not the car concept.
MDI hopes to launch the car later this year or early 2009 and it will cost as little as £2,500.
The French designers claim the car can achieve 120mpg on longer journeys, and would not emit any pollution.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: MT

A groundbreaking leasing deal is making Fiat’s new 500 model available for just £5 a day.
Fiat Group Automobile UK is hoping its latest personal contract hire plan will prove to be “a big talking point” as the Italian supermini rolls into British showrooms.
“People don’t usually make conversation about this aspect of motoring, but the daily rate of 500 pence is so unusual that we think it will create a lot of interest,” marketing director Elena Bernardelli told AM.
The £5 daily rate will apply for two years, irrespective of which version of the 500, which costs from £7,900 to £10,700, is chosen.
“After that, the rate changes, depending on the version and, after five years, the car comes back to us.
“The contract figure does not include maintenance, but we think a monthly outlay of only £152.08 is reasonable for a brand new car with a three-year warranty and 12 months’ AA roadside assistance,” Bernardelli said.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM

Vauxhall has delayed the sales introduction of the Insignia, its crucial Vectra successor, by one month until November to ensure sufficient launch stocks.
Revealing the change, Alain Visser, GM Europe’s chief marketing officer, said: “We know how important the Insignia is to our UK network and the fleet sector. We had anticipated an October sales release but the Insignia will start selling in November to ensure we have the right cars in the right markets across Europe.”
He added: “For the UK that means predominantly hatchbacks. The July London Motor Show’s international unveiling of hatches and saloons is going to plan.”

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM

Citroen's new C5 saloon will go on sale in the UK on April 2. The tourer version will follow in the summer.
Both guises will come with a choice of six engines and two suspension options.
Xavier Duchemin, managing director of Citroën UK, said “Our customers want and deserve the highest standards in comfort, reliability, performance and style and with the new Citroën C5 we have dedicated ourselves to deliver those qualities at unprecedented levels.”

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM

Rolls-Royce will unveil its new Phantom Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4.
The new model is powered by a 453bhp 6.75-litre V12 and features Phantom Coupé features rear-hinged coach doors and a brushed steel finish on the A-pillar and bonnet.
Production of the new car will start at Goodwood in the summer of 2008.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of parts for high specification cars have been found in east Kent. The discovery at a Folkestone address was part of an ongoing investigation into vehicle crime run by Kent Police. Officers recovered just under £200,000 worth of stolen vehicles and parts for Ferraris and BMWs, as well as for a Landrover and a Renault. One man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen property and released on bail pending further inquiries.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AW

Vehicle leasing specialist, Arnold Clark Finance Limited, has today announced a change in trading name to Arnold Clark Vehicle Management (ACVM). ACVM has established itself as one of the UK's leading vehicle leasing companies, providing specialist vehicle leasing services to corporate, SME and public sector clients throughout the United Kingdom. It is the largest dealer based leasing company in the country, managing a fleet of over 100,000 vehicles.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AW

Inchape, the UK’s second biggest car dealer group, has confirmed it is in negotiations to expand its Russian business.
In a statement to the stock exchange, the group said it was in“early stage exclusive discussions” regarding the possible acquisition of Musa Motors.

The Russian business is an automotive retailer based in the Moscow region.
The transaction, if concluded, is expected to be funded by existing debt facilities.
Inchcape has been quick to gain a foothold in the burgeoning Russian new car market.
In October last year it bought a 75 per cent stake in two Peugeot and Audi dealerships from its Russian joint venture partner Olimp Group for $43m (£21.6m).
The retailer also runs one Toyota and one Lexus dealership in St. Petersburg.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: MT

The RMIF has appointed two new departmental heads.
Stephen Coles has become the head of MoT operations and leads a team of specialists that provide RMIF members with advice and training to help businesses conform to the MoT standards.

Sylvia Robson has been made head of membership recruitment and is in charge of the RMIF’s team of membership managers.
Robson will be responsible for adding new members and for an upcoming series of recruitment events currently being organised.
Both have been promoted from within the organisation.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: MT

Carter & Carter is still in negotiations with lenders to help it out of its mounting debt problem, with a view to announcing its full restructuring plans next month.
The training company, which has an automotive division running apprenticeships for numerous car brands, held its EGM this morning. At the meeting, shareholders voted to allow it to increase its borrowings in order to progress with restructuring, the details of which are due to be announced next month.
If the resolution had been rejected, Carter & Carter would have faced entering administration.
The group has debts which have increased by £43 million in the last 12 months, and now total £129 million. Company directors have forecast debts to increase further as extra working capital is needed, and is predicted to peak at £175 million.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM

Hartwell Automotive Group is building new showrooms for a Renault, Nissan and Peugeot franchise in Grimsby.
The Corporation Road development will include a new parts department and workshop as well as a van service centre on site to ensure specialist fleet advice is available to commercial vehicle customers.
There are currently 12 bays to repair commercial vehicles and 15 bays to repair customers' private cars. A total of 13 more will be created, as well as the two new forecourts for used cars.
Planning permission has been granted to create a new Best Price Car Supermarket at the front of the Corporation Road, Grimsby site, for cars aged between about six months and three years.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM

An affordable, fun to drive sports car and a top-of-the-line luxury model above Laguna are on the wish list of top Renault executives.
Patrick Pélata, Renault executive vice president for product, planning and programs, said: "Think Mazda MX-5 or even Smart Roadster and you are on the right lines."
Meanwhile Stephen Norman, Renault executive vice president, global marketing, revealed the company is also planning a luxury model above the Laguna to compete with French rivals Peugeot and Citroen.

DATED: 19.02.08

FEED: AM