News - Page 1642

There was jubilation on the Iveco stand at the Amsterdam European road transport show for commercial vehicles as its Daily City 2000 model was voted 'Van of the Year'.

New EU measures, which are worrying for dealers, were brought into force on March 1 as part of the Data Protection Act 1998.

DaimlerChrysler is aiming to increase its UK market share of the medium commercial vehicle market from 15.2% to as high as 20% during the next four years.

Michael Smyth believes he understands the difference between opportunism and taking pride in building a profitable, forward-thinking business which serves a community.

The relationship between manufacturers and dealers often resembles that between a master and his servant in times long gone. It is out of tune with modern practice, notions of fairness and equality of bargaining position.

Trevor Finn, Pendragon chief executive, said the wait for the Competition Commission report findings, expected in the next month, was causing great uncertainty.

Rival carmakers believe Ford's 1,500 job cuts at Dagenham are the first phase of a plan that will lead to the eventual closure of the east London plant.

Carmax, the American used car supermarket chain, advertises on television that it buys cars as well as sells them.

Ford light commercial dealers are to play a key role in a plan to make new Transit appeal to a wider range of potential customers in an effort to win back former owners of the previous model and to persuade buyers to stay loyal to the brand for aftersales.

Dealers are fearing another bout of forced registrations as 20-day figures revealed February down 11.27% on last year, at 57,301 units.

The Institute of the Motor Industry reports a major drop in the number of women employed in the motor industry, despite rising numbers of female car buyers.

Roy Ward resigned as director general of the Institute of the Motor Industry during a council management meeting.

Renault has ruled out any possibility of dual franchising with its Nissan affiliate in the UK, despite widespread speculation last year that it planned to merge the two networks by 2002 (AM 222).

The Direct Line Group is investing £50m into selling new and used cars on the internet.

Dealers can improve the way their cars are electronically marketed by using the latest interactive technology.

The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association's national helpline has been plagued with technical problems.

Senior executives of Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler and Renault/Nissan were at the Geneva motor show this week briefing dealers and suppliers on why they have formed the world's largest virtual marketplace.

When they are setting residual values many forecasters do a great deal of research on the car itself. They ask the right questions, such as what market will this car fit into as a used vehicle, how desirable will it seem to the people in that market, how suitable will the spec, trim, colour, fuel and insurance groups be for those people?

Nobody should be surprised that the year began as strongly as it did - all the signs were there beforehand. Nor has the upturn been entirely trade-led, as some had feared. Re-stocking was always going to improve matters for a time but had there been no retail interest everyone would have been in big trouble.

Claims by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders that new car buyers are returning to the market have been dismissed as “rubbish” by franchised dealers.

A leading industry expert has hit out at the insurance companies whose mergers have caused chaos in the bodyshop industry.

Ford hopes to attract more all-makes vehicles, including older models, into its 300-strong Rapid Fit fast-fit network after upgrading its servicing programme.

New car registration figures for last year have been branded a “sham” by the Consumers' Association after the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders claimed 1999 was “a successful year”, reaching its sales target of 2.2m units.

Forecasters, by their very nature, tend to take the pessimistic view of future residuals - they are happier when things turn out better than expected than vice versa. Unfortunately, however, it is these forecasters who tend to make themselves heard best because doom and gloom makes better headlines.

Dealers are unanimously reporting a distinct shortage of quality used cars available for stock, despite leading auction houses enjoying brisk trade to kick-start the new year. The period between Christmas and the first couple of weeks of January, traditionally a quiet time, has seen remarkable interest in the used car market.

Mitsubishi has followed up its new year price reductions with a series of customer-focused sales initiatives which begin this month.

Vauxhall believes that consumer confidence is returning to the used car market after its Network Q operation reported strong sales last month, compared to August 1999.