F&I Management & Training

Zurich - Following an announcement today that Jonathan Browning, 48, GM Europe vice president, sales, marketing and aftersales and Chairman of Vauxhall Motor Limited, has been appointed GM vice president, global sales, service and marketing, Carl-Peter Forster, GM Group Vice President and President GM Europe, today announced a UK leadership appointment. CW (Bill) Parfitt, 60, Vauxhall Motors Limited managing director, is appointed Vauxhall Chairman, effective June 1, 2008. Bill will also maintain his existing GME sales responsibility for GME Fleet and CV activities.

DATED: 03.04.08

FEED: AW

The RMIF has announced it is in the process of buying back parts of its former training arm Remit from the now defunct Carter and Carter training company.
Remit was only sold by the trade association for £25.5m in May 2006 but it has been able to swoop on the company following Carter & Carter's entry into administration.

In a statement the RMIF said it was in the process of buying back “elements” of Remit and that the administrators for Carter & Carter had agreed to transfer the provision of non-manufacturer apprenticeship programmes.

DATED: 03.04.08

FEED: MT

Pendragon’s board of directors have cashed in their net bonuses for 2007 to rake in a £142,000 pay out.
As part of their remuneration package, which under stock market rules governing plcs must be disclosed to the market, the four directors invested their bonuses for last year in Pendragon ordinary shares, which they then sold on.

Chief executive Trevor Finn sold just over 191,000 shares (less than 0.3 per cent of the group's issued capital) for almost £64,000 and the rest was split between chief operating officer Martin Casha, finance director David Forsyth and company secretary Hilary Sykes.

DATED: 03.04.08

FEED: MT

Toyota has appointed a new dealer development manager in the UK.
Tim Copland has taken on the role and replaces Jon Pollock who moved to the position of general marketing manager last year.

DATED: 03.04.08

FEED: MT

Renault is to give between half and three-quarters of its dealers the chance to drive the smash-hit, high-value Dacia brand into the UK market next year.
After a study identifying potential customers, bosses at the French firm are in the process of choosing which of its 200-strong retail network is best placed to serve them, AM can reveal.
Outlets selected to handle the Romanian brand will need to meet strict criteria covering facilities, management, financial skills and quality – but none will be required to provide heavy funding for the line-up that has been a surprise success across western Europe.
“We will not ask our dealers to make massive investments – all we want is for this brand to have the visual forecourt identity that will allow customers to recognise Dacia is available on site,” said managing director Roland Bouchara.

DATED: 03.04.08

FEED: AM

The European Commission will rule on Tata Motor’s takeover of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford before the end of this month.
Tata said in the notification that the deal did not represent a "significant impediment to effective competition" because the companies' "combined market shares are small."
Tata bought the two British luxury brands for £1.15 billion on March 26.

DATED: 03.04.08

FEED: AM

The Dodge brand has helped give Chrysler dealers their best sales month since the US franchise returned to the UK 15 years ago. The March plate change month generated a total of 4,010 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge sales with the Dodge Caliber emerging as the biggest seller with 710 units sold.

This is the first time the franchise has sold over 4,000 vehicles in a month and follows a tough year for the franchise with Chrysler and Jeep sales both down in 2007.

DATED: 02.04.08

FEED: MT

BMW is to promote its product on social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace.
It is following a wide variety of businesses from wineries to white goods manufacturers that are now employ such sites as marketing platforms, using them to run forums, competitions and themed events.

It is understood that this year BMW’s internet activity will tie in with wider brand strategies, and that specific, model-related net initiatives will follow from this.
BMW is also considering launching a bespoke television channel as part of a broader digital marketing push, in the process following Audi, which already operates its own TV channel, and has used the recent interest in the original Quattro coupe featured in the recent BBC drama Ashes to Ashes to promote its cars.

DATED: 02.04.08

FEED: MT

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is to work with elements of the brewing industry to develop ways of cutting the costs and environmental impact of its specialist transport systems. A particular aim is to explore the opportunities offered by technology transfer, as this generally means that ideas can be put to work quickly, with a minimum of expensive and often theoretical research. Already one of the most promising lines of enquiry lies in the transfer of technology and established practice from other parts of the beverage industry. "Specifically, we're looking at the possibility of freeze drying beer, said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT. "There seem to be some real opportunities here; beer is around 99.5% water, so if we could freeze dry it, deliver powder by road and the water through the normal water mains, we'd have a winner." Freeze drying has successfully delivered excellent coffee for millions of people over nearly half a century. The group believes that small vans could easily deliver the freeze dried equivalent to truck loads of draught beer. This would save huge amounts of increasingly expensive diesel and even more CO2 "Every litre of diesel burnt means over two and a half times its weight in CO2, so the environmental gains of using the existing water transport system, the mains, are very attractive." If the tests are successful following their start next year, Dickeson expects the group to turn its attention to other consumer products with a very high water content. "Wine is a clear candidate too, as one might save the weight of glass bottles as well as the weight of that 99% water content."

DATED: 01.04.08

FEED: AW

Ford has become the first carmaker to offer a ‘prescription windscreen’ with the launch of its new Kuga model. The special windscreen, which will be offered as an optional extra on the new Ford Kuga crossover, will give many drivers the chance to leave their glasses at home.

“Skiers can buy prescription goggles and some divers wear prescription masks, so why should drivers be left out?" said Dr. Rolf Apilo, Ford of Europe's Automotive Lens Specialist.
Individually crafted "This new windscreen will help many drivers to quite literally see the difference." From today, Ford dealerships across the country will be offering free eye tests to anyone ordering a new Ford Kuga. Those who already wear glasses should take them to their dealership for analysis.

Each windscreen will be individually crafted by Dr. Apilo and his team at Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany. A bi-focal option will also be available and research into prescription mirror technology is also being investigated by the Ford Automotive Lens Specialist Engineers.

DATED: 01.04.08

FEED: MT

The Rover Safety Bicycle is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary by going back into production after Chinese carmaker Yangtze Motors secured the rights to the name.
It is believed the company will approach Nanjing Automotive to see if the two-wheeler can be built at Rover's spiritual home in Longbridge, where the carmaker's first pedal cycle was made in 1908.

“Although car sales in China have rocketed, a lot of people still use bicycles, and the idea of an imported brand has a lot of appeal to lifestyle-conscious cyclists in places like Beijing and Hong Kong,” said Nanjing spokeswoman April Furst. “In recent years the British media hasn't linked the Rover' brand with success, but in China it's a designer label, up there with Gucci and Prada, and we'll be making a strong pitch for the funky. zero-emissions characteristics of the 21st Century Rover Safety Bicycle.”

Nanjing is building British designed version of the Rover 75 car in China but in an example of swapping technologies, the Rover Safety Bicycle is an adaption of a popular Chinese two wheeler, the Hoohee Flyer. “We'll be offering lifestyle accessories including monogrammed bicycle clips, a bicycle pump with a leather-look handle that resembled an MG TF gear knob and for the less self conscious a giant, gold-plated bell called the 'Bling',” said April Furst.

DATED: 01.04.08

FEED: MT

Chrysler is relaunching its three brands in the UK as it moves to reverse falling sales, poor dealer profitability and recruit new partners. UK managing director Simon Elliot, who returned to the job in November after two years running the carmaker’s Chinese operation, has streamlined the Chrysler and Jeep product ranges in a move which he believes will take stock holding pressure off dealers and improve their profitability.

“We currently have 21 models across three brands and I would like to see that dramatically reduced over the next 12 months,” said Elliott.

“If we manage our portfolio properly then our RVs will move in the right direction and dealers can reduce stocking and improve profitability.”
Elliott said dealers would no longer be expected to stock hard and soft top versions of both the PT Cruiser and Crossfire, which are now on run-out and are not due to be directly replaced.
He is also encouraging dealers to only stock cars they know will sell in their region rather than accommodate the entire line-up in their showrooms.
Last year saw Chrysler sales drop 21 per cent to 9,131 and Jeep sales fall by 9 per cent to 6,148.

While the fledgling Dodge brand, sold through all its dealers, rose by 51 per cent to 3,273. Elliot said sales this year had been reforecasted and would be static - but he expects growth in 2009.
The brand, which demerged from Daimler at the end of 2007, currently has 83 dealerships and Elliott said this number is not expected to change but new dealers would be recruited to replace those who leave the franchise.
“We’re having grown-up conversations with our dealers. A small number lost their appetite for us in 2007 as they lost unacceptable levels of money and they don’t want to continue with us.
“On the other hand some made good profits and want to expand and some of our newer partners are looking at taking on a second site,” he said.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: MT

Seat has launched a sporty limited edition Leon diesel to coincide with the company entering the first diesel-engined cars into the British Touring Cars Championship.
Seat dealers have opened the order books for the BTCC inspired Leon FR550 which features a number of styling and equipment additions including bucket seats, with integrated head restraints, 18” alloy wheels, a USB connection and a FR550 tailgate badge.

The car is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit which delivers 170PS. The car is priced at £18,405 – just £400 more than the standard FR version.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: MT

Investors in Tata Motors are concerned the Indian carmaker will be forced to offload some of its subsidiaries to finance its £1.15bn acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.
The completion of the deal this week initially forced down Tata’s share price by 7.3 per cent before it recovered to finish 3.6 per cent down yesterday at £8.21p.

According to the Financial Times, investment bank Credit Suisse said Tata was likely relinquish its holding in Tata Steel, India’s largest private steelmaker, which is worth about £225m.
Investors have reacted warily to Tata’s interest in Jaguar and Land Rover since it emerged as a leading bidder in mid-2007.
Tata Motor’s stock has dropped by about 13 per cent since July last year.
Investors are concerned that Jaguar is loss making, the market for luxury cars in the US is declining and the brands do not match India’s market for budget cars.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: MT

GE Money Motor Finance is to be taken over by Banco Santander within the next few weeks.
The company, which supports UK motor retailers through stock funding and providing financial products for point of sale, will be bought by the Spanish finance house as part of a deal with GE, which sees both groups exchange certain European banking assets.
Banco Santander of Spain will acquire GE Money's businesses in Germany, Finland and Austria as well as its card and auto businesses in the United Kingdom. Banco Santander will integrate the new operations into its consumer finance and cards divisions.
GE will receive Interbanca, an Italian commercial bank Banco Santander acquired as part of the purchase of ABN Amro Holdings NV. Interbanca will become part of GE's commercial finance division.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: AM

Mini will relaunch its MINI Cherished website in response to heightened interest for its approved used cars.
From April 1, UK customers will be able to compare a shortlist of MINIs and email the car’s details to a friend directly from the website. If they can’t find exactly the right car, there is an alert service with email, SMS or MMS text formats available
In addition to a more detailed search facility, a quick search option by model, price and postcode features on the new site. A revised summary page showing pictures of all Minis matching the selected criteria is also provided.
In February of this year, searches for used MINIs totalled nearly one million through the website, equating to a 91.5 per cent increase on the same period last year.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: AM

Significant fresh product launches provided dream debuts for Volkswagen Group’s two new UK market executives at the Geneva motor show.
Volkswagen director Chris Craft and Robert Hazelwood, his replacement at Skoda, both forecast continued sales expansion after the wraps came off the Volkswagen Scirocco sports coupe and the next-generation Skoda Superb.
"Our brand has a great track record in growing its volume and share in the UK. It has also seen an improvement in retail profitability and I see my role as making sure this continues," said Craft.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: AM

Britain’s revitalised national motor show has lost a major supporter with a surprise decision by BMW not to back this summer’s event.
Two years ago, the premium German brand spent £2.5 million on lavish waterside stand facilities at the inaugural ExCel exhibition.
But a review of this year’s marketing budget has concluded that BMW UK is able to spend the cash more effectively elsewhere.
"We were keen to back what we felt was an important initiative when the show went to the Docklands but circumstances change. What it all comes down to is money – and it’s a fact that we could easily spend 20 times the amount we have at our disposal," said corporate communications director Chris Willows.
Speaking during a visit to the Geneva Motor Show, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: "Naturally, we are disappointed at the way this decision has gone, particularly as VW brands – with the exception of Seat – have again decided that this major fixture on the international show circuit is not for them.

DATED: 31.03.08

FEED: AM