Saturday, May 26, 2012
Lotus Chief Suspended
Dany Bahar, the chief executive with ambitious plans for British-based sports car maker Lotus, has been suspended by the new Malaysian owners of Group Lotus.
Group Lotus said the move followed an operational review with Bahar temporarily suspended from his role "to facilitate an investigation into a complaint about his conduct" made by DRB-Hicom.
The move adds to uncertainty about the future of the niche car maker. DRB-Hicom has denied reports that consultancy firm KPMG has been hired to sell Lotus to a Chinese buyer.
A DRB-Hicom spokesman said it was business as usual at the Lotus headquarters in eastern England, where more than 1,000 workers are employed.
In Bahar's absence, three representatives of Lotus' parent companies have been authorized by the Lotus board to manage the group, DRB-Hicom said on Friday.
Bahar, a former Ferrari sales chief, joined Lotus in 2009 with ambitious plans to launch new products and quadruple annual car sales to 8,000.
DRB-Hicom bought Proton, the Malaysian parent company of Group Lotus, in January. Proton, a maker of sedans and taxis, bought control of Lotus in 1996, but has never made a profit from the British unit.
Before Proton, Lotus's owners included General Motors. Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. has denied it is interested in buying Lotus.
Reuters contributed to this report
DATED: 26.05.12
FEED: ANE
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Mobile car search shows ‘massive growth’
Mobile search for new cars continues to soar ahead in April, according to new figures.
Visits from mobile devices have rocketed by 190 per cent year on year, according to new car online classified website Motoring.co.uk.
The Apple iPad is now the UK's most popular mobile device used to browse online, representing 39 per cent of mobile visits to the new car website in April.
Apple dominates mobile visits, with 77 per cent of mobile users visiting on an Apple device.
Motoring.co.uk managing director Terry Hogan said he continued to see “massive growth” of visitors using mobile and tablets.
“Apple is again the clear winner as it manages its own operating system and devices are tied to it, with 77 per cent using Apple iOS.
“Android devices are slowly gaining share, with 17.8 per cent of visitors using one Android version or another.
Hogan said that visitors many of whom own both an iPad and an Iphone are choosing the former to browse for cars because of the bigger screen
Why use a tiny screen that makes browsing fiddly, when you can use a larger version that can handle more complicated website designs easily,” he said.
He said the firm is taking this into account in the design of its new mobile site.
“We could start treating tablet users as if they were on a PC rather than as a mobile user,” he added.
DATED: 23.05.12
FEED: MT
Q1 used values reach seven-year high
Used car values in first quarter are at their highest for seven years with demand exceeding supply for the best cars.
The average value of a used car in the first quarter of 2012 was £6,114, according to the BCA Quarterly Pulse Report,
This is the highest Q1 value since Pulse began reporting in 2005.
Year on year, Q1 values were up 3.6%
BCA communications director Tony Gannon said: “There is little doubt the value element of the market has recovered despite the on-going economic issues.
“However, the supply side of the market equation should not be ignored. There have been well reported constraints on supply of the best, retail quality cars.
“In a competitive remarketing environment this is undoubtedly contributing to the general rise in values.”
While values are rising, the average age and mileage of used cars is also increasing, said BCA,
The average fleet and lease car had covered nearly 3,000 more miles when sold in Q1 12 compared to Q3 10.
The average age of used vehicles is also rising and passed 61 months in Q1 12 – the second highest figure on record.
DATED: 23.05.12
FEED: MT
Arnold Clark embroiled in Education row
The training arm of Arnold Clark has become embroiled in a row over education in Scotland.
GTG Training, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arnold Clark, the third largest dealer group in the UK, told MSPs that 81 per cent of applicants for its apprenticeship scheme were unemployable.
It came to the view that 1,850 of the 2,280 youngsters who applied to be an apprentice with the company were judged to be “not employable at all”.
Students hit back at the claims in a report in the Scottish Daily Record, saying they were "ridiculous".
Many displayed shock at the length of the working day because they were used much shorter working weeks in the classroom or at college.
In a written statement to MSP, GTG said: "It is desperately sad and thoroughly disheartening to hear professional recruiters with 20 plus years experience of employing school leavers describe young Scots as, ‘unsuitable for any employment.’ Yet, that was the case for 81% of our applicants.
"We really do believe that more can be achieved for the unsaved majority with intelligent and innovative interventions provided there is the political will to effect change.”
GTG said the single biggest issue causing difficulties for school leavers going into employment was working hours.
DATED: 23.05.12
FEED: MT
